SNG 7:8 Interlinear View

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 6:4–8:4: The man praised the woman and sang about springtime

In this section the man described the woman in two separate speeches (6:4–10 and 7:1–10). Some verses are difficult to understand, especially 6:11–13, and it is important to think about them carefully. The woman responded to the man in 7:11 and continued to speak to the end of the section at 8:4.

The verse numbering in the Hebrew text is different from the BSB and a majority of English versions. The Hebrew text begins chapter 7 where the BSB begins 6:13, so in chapter 7 the verses in the Hebrew text are one number higher than the verse numbers in the BSB. For example, 6:13–7:13 in the BSB is 7:1–14 in the Hebrew text (and also in the NJB and NJPS). It is helpful to be aware that some commentaries follow the Hebrew verse numbering. The Notes will follow the verse numbers in the BSB (along with the majority of English versions).

Paragraph 7:1–10 The man praised the woman and she responded

In 7:1–9a the man sang another praise song to the woman, and then she responded in 7:9b–10. Here the man used a different order to describe her beauty. He began with her feet and moved upward to her head as the final focus. In other descriptions (4:1–5, 5:10–16, and 6:4–7) he began with the head and moved downward. Here, he described several parts of her body that he described earlier in the book (neck, eyes, breasts, hair, and head), and he mentioned some other parts for the first time. Notice that 7:3 is identical to 4:5a.

Scholars differ about whether the woman was dancing in this section. In 6:13 the woman said that she did not want spectators to look at her as though she were a dancer. In 7:1–10 the man did not describe her movements, but only her physical features. So, she was probably not dancing in this unit. Some scholars think that she was naked or dressed in transparent clothing, but that idea is not supported in the text.

These verses have many metaphors and similes, and scholars differ about how to interpret some of them. The Notes will discuss each one and give translation suggestions.

7:8–9a

These verses include several metaphors. In 7:8a–b the man continued to use the metaphor of the palm tree, which he began to use in 7:7. In 7:8c he used grapes as a metaphor, in 7:8d he used apples, and in 7:9a he used wine.

7:8a

I said, “I will climb the palm tree;

I said, “I will climb that palm tree
I have decided that I shall climb this palm tree,

I said, “I will climb the palm tree: The clause I will climb the palm tree is a metaphor. The phrase I said tells the man’s intention. It indicates that he was determined to become more intimate with the woman. He wanted to embrace her. He did not literally mean that he was going to climb her as he would climb a tree. It implies that the top of a tall palm tree is difficult to reach, and it was also difficult to persuade the woman to be intimate with him. However, the man decided that he must try hard (climb) to persuade her.

Some other ways to translate the man’s intention and the metaphor of the palm tree are:

I have decided, ‘I shall climb the palm tree… (NJB)

I want to climb the palm tree… (NET)

I will surely come to you, even if it is as difficult as climbing the palm tree…

The difficulty of climbing the palm tree is another way to imply that the woman is sometimes hard to reach. The author used this theme in other verses, for example, in 2:14; 4:8; 6:4, and 6:10.

I said: The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as I said indicates that the man was determined to accomplish his goal to come near his beloved woman. (The tree symbolizes the woman.) Translate this intention in a natural way in your language. See the examples in the preceding note.

7:8b

I will take hold of its fruit.”

and grasp those clusters of fruit/dates.”
and hold/enjoy its fruit.

I will take hold of its fruit: This clause implies that the man will touch and caress the woman’s breasts. The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as fruit occurs only here in the Old Testament. Scholars interpret it in different ways:

It refers to clusters of dates (or stalks of fruit), which represent the woman’s breasts. For example:
I will take hold of its fruit. (NIV) (BSB, NIV, ESV, GW, NASB, NCV, NET, NJB, NLT, GNT)
It refers to the arching branches of the palm tree, which represent the woman’s limbs/arms. For example:
and cling to its branches. (CEV) (CEV, NJPS, RSV)
It refers to “fronds” (the leaf-like part of the palm), which may represent the woman’s hair. For example:
Let me climb up into the palm to grasp its fronds. (REB) (REB)

It is recommended that you follow option (1), along with more English versions. In this description of the palm tree, the fruit stalks, and clusters refer to the same part of the tree as the phrase its clusters in 7:7b. Option (2) does not seem to fit the structure of the palm tree. Usually, palm trees do not have real branches. The trunk of the tree rises high without branches, and fruit, and palm leaves (fronds) are at its top.

7:8c

May your breasts be like clusters of the vine,

I long for your breasts—they are like bunches of grapes
How I want to taste your breasts, which are like sweet grape/fruit clusters!

May your breasts be like clusters of the vine: The Hebrew verb form that the BSB translates as May…be expresses the man’s wish or desire. His beloved’s breasts seem wonderful to him. He indicates that he wants to enjoy her breasts as he would enjoy grape clusters. Use a natural way in your language to express a strong desire like this.

Some ways to translate this desire are:

Oh let your breasts be like clusters of the vine for me!

I desire/long for the sweetness of your breasts as if they were grape clusters!

Your breasts are like clusters of grapes, and I really want to enjoy them.

your breasts…like clusters of the vine: Here the man compared the woman’s breasts to clusters of grapes (instead of to clusters of dates). The phrase clusters of the vine, refers to bunches of grapes. As in 7:7b, the man compared the woman’s breasts to the sweetness of the fruit, not to its shape. He referred to the way her beautiful breasts made him feel. Her breasts symbolize the sweetness and joy of love. The phrase may also imply that her love intoxicates like wine, since grapes are used to make wine (as referred to in 7:9a).

Some other ways to translate this simile are:

May your breasts be like sweet grape clusters.

Oh how I want your breasts to be like bunches of grapes for me!

clusters of the vine: Here the phrase clusters of the vine refers to bunches of grapes. The vine refers to a grapevine.

7:8d

the fragrance of your breath like apples,

and the scent of your breath is like apples.
I want to smell your breath. It has the sweet smell/fragrance of apples.

the fragrance of your breath like apples: Here the man compared the sweet scent of the woman’s breath to the sweet smell of apples. The same verb (“may be like”) that was used in 7:8c is also implied here. In some languages it is necessary to supply the same verb or a similar verb here in 7:8d. For example:

May your breath smell as sweet as apples

and your breath is like the scent of apples

Some languages have special idioms to describe the way a person’s breath smells. Use a natural phrase in your language. Some other ways to translate the meaning are:

I want to smell your breath, which is as fragrant/sweet as apples

your breath is like the sweetness of apples; I want to enjoy/smell it

the smell of your breath like apples (NCV)

the fragrance of your breath: The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as breath literally means “nose.”Some commentaries (including the UBS Handbook) understand the mention of “nose” here to be a possible euphemism for the woman’s nipples. But no versions follow this interpretation, and it is not recommended. In this context it probably refers to what the nose does—it breathes. This is why almost all English versions translate the word as your breath here. Other ways to translate the fragrance of your breath are:

your sweet breath

the smell when you breathe

apples: The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as apples refers to a type of fruit from the “pome” family, which is still called by the same name in Israel today. In English this fruit is called “apples,” though some scholars (and the NET version) interpret it as referring to apricots.In spite of the NET footnote stating that most modern botanists and lexicographers now identify this word as “apricot” rather than the traditional “apple,” even the new versions CEB (2011), (NAB (2011) and NIV (2011) continue to translate this word as “apple.” The lexicon, HALOT, continues to identify the fruit as “apple.” It seems best to follow the vast majority of versions by translating this as “apple.” If people are not familiar with apples in your area, some other ways to translate it are:

Use a more general term. For example:
as the sweetest smelling fruit
Use the name of a sweet-smelling fruit in your area that people like to eat. It is also fine to include a footnote to describe the biblical fruit.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

אָמַ֨רְתִּי֙ אֶעֱלֶ֣ה בְ⁠תָמָ֔ר אֹֽחֲזָ֖ה בְּ⁠סַנְסִנָּ֑י⁠ו