SNG 1:12 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not necessarily natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for Bible-translators and others doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still early looks into the drafted texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal Speaker(s)=The bride (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

BrLXX Ἕως οὗ ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐν ἀνακλίσει αὐτοῦ· νάρδος μου ἔδωκεν ὀσμὴν αὐτοῦ.
(Heōs hou ho basileus en anaklisei autou; nardos mou edōken osmaʸn autou.)

ULT While the king, was on his couch,
⇔ my nard gave off its scent.

UST During the time that he who is like a king to me reclined on his couch,
⇔ the fragrance of my perfume spread around the room.

BSB & MSB While the king was at his table,
⇔ my perfume spread its fragrance.

OEB No OEB SNG 1:12 book available

WEBBE & WMBB While the king sat at his table,
⇔ my perfume spread its fragrance.

NET While the king was at his banqueting table,
⇔ my nard gave forth its fragrance.

LSV While the king [is] in his circle,
My spikenard has given its fragrance.

FBV As the king lay on his couch, my nard perfume gave off its fragrance.

T4T While the king was on his couch,
⇔ the smell of my perfume spread around the room.

LEB • While the king was on his couch,
• my nard gave its fragrance.

BBE While the king is seated at his table, my spices send out their perfume.

Moff When my king lies on his diwan
⇔ my charms breathe out their fragrance;

JPS While the king sat at his table, my spikenard sent forth its fragrance.

ASV ⇔ While the king sat at his table,
⇔ My spikenard sent forth its fragrance.

DRA (SNG 1:11) While the king was at his repose, my spikenard sent forth the odour thereof.

YLT While the king [is] in his circle, My spikenard hath given its fragrance.

Drby While the king is at his table, My spikenard sendeth forth its fragrance.

RV While the king sat at his table, my spikenard sent forth its fragrance.
(While the king sat at his table, my spikenard/nard sent forth its fragrance.)

SLT The king yet in his divan, my spikenard gave its odor.

Wbstr While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth its smell.

KJB-1769 ¶ While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof.
(¶ While the king sitteth/sits at his table, my spikenard/nard sendeth/sends forth the smell thereof.)

KJB-1611 ¶ While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth foorth the smell thereof.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above)

Bshps When the king sitteth at the table, he shall smell my Nardus:
(When the king sitteth/sits at the table, he shall smell my Nard:)

Gnva My welbeloued is as a bundle of myrrhe vnto me: he shall lie betweene my breasts.
(My well-beloved is as a bundle of myrrh unto me: he shall lie between my breasts.)

Cvdl When the kynge sytteth at the table, he shal smell my Nardus:
(When the king sitteth/sits at the table, he shall smell my Nard:)

Wycl (SNG 1:11) Whanne the kyng was in his restyng place, my narde yaf his odour.
(When the king was in his resting place, my nard gave his odour.)

Luth Da der König sich herwandte, gab meine Narde seinen Geruch.
(So the/of_the king itself/yourself/themselves turned_here, gave my spikenard his odour.)

ClVg (SNG 1:11) Sponsa Dum esset rex in accubitu suo, nardus mea dedit odorem suum.[fn]
(The_bride While was king in/into/on squatting his_own, nard-oil my he_gave smell his_own.)

1.11 Dum esset. Acceptis Ecclesia tantis a conditore suo muneribus et promissis, qua hæc devotione operum susceperit, manifestat, dicens: Dum esset rex, quod est, cum Dei Filius in carne apparuit, Ecclesia per ipsum mysterium incarnationis in virtutum cœlestium fervorem excrevit. Vel, cum esset in humiliatione crucis humanum genus per crucem redemptum, exercitatio bonorum operum odorem suavitatis aspersit. Christo rege in beatitudine cœlestis secreti quiescente, sanctorum virtus in Ecclesia magna nobis gratiam suavitatis ministrat, qui quo eum, quem appetunt, non vident, tanto ardentius per desiderium flagrant. Vel, dum esset cum patre, nardus, id est dilectio, qua prior dilexit nos, dedit odorem, quia per dilectionem propter nos assumpsit carnem. Mirandus ordo verborum. Accubante rege nardus mea dedit odorem suum, dum propter nimiam charitatem, qua dilexit nos, filius factus est mulieris. Nardus, quæ dicitur expellere tumores, fugare frigus et afferre calorem; cui assimilatur homo Dominicus, qui carnem assumendo se humiliavit, et se humiliando omnem tumorem superbiæ abstulit, frigus infidelitatis removit, et fervorem charitatis intulit. Herba etiam hæc, quanto plus atteritur, tanto majorem reddit odorem, sic Christus.

1.11 While was. Receiving Assembly/Church so_much from founder his_own functions and promises, which these_things devotion works will_undertake, makes_visible, saying: While was king, that it_is, when/with of_God Son in/into/on flesh/meat appeared, Assembly/Church through him mystery incarnation in/into/on virtues heavenly fervour grew. Or, when/with was in/into/on humiliation cross/frame human(n) kind/class through cross/frame redeemed, exercise of_goods works smell sweetness sprinkled. to_Christ/Messiah king in/into/on happiness heavenly secret resting, holy_place virtue in/into/on Assembly/Church big us grace sweetness serves, who/which where him, which they_desire, not/no they_see, so_much more_ardent/zealous through desire/wish flagrant. Or, while was when/with to_his_father, nard-oil, that it_is love/delight, which prior he_loved us, he_gave smell, because through love(n) because us assumed the_flesh. To_be_wondered order(n) of_words. Lying_near king nard-oil my he_gave smell his_own, while because too_much charity, which he_loved us, son became it_is woman’s. Nard-oil, which it_is_said to_expel swellings, to_drive_away cold and to_bring heat; to_whom is_made_like man Sunday, who/which the_flesh to_be_taken_up himself he_humbled, and himself to_be_humiliated all swelling pride(pl) took_away, cold of_infidelity/unfaithfulness moved_back, and fervour of_charity brought. Grass also these_things, how_much plus is_rubbed, so_much greater returns smell, so Christ/Messiah.

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 1:2–2:7: The woman and man admired each other

In Section 1:2–2:7, the woman and man praised each other, and they became more confident that they loved each other. In the introduction (1:2–4) the woman spoke about her desire for the man. Then she spoke of her humble life working in the family vineyard (1:5–6), and she seemed to question whether she was worthy for him to love her. Then he praised her, and she praised him. When she spoke at the end of the section (2:3–6), she felt secure that he loved her.

In this section, the woman used several comparisons to speak of her feelings about the man. She spoke as though he were a shepherd (1:7–8) or a king (1:4; 1:12), implying that he was like a shepherd or king to her in certain ways. He was also like a bag of myrrh (1:13), henna blossoms (1:14), and an apple tree (2:3–4) to her. The woman compared herself to “a rose of Sharon,” and “a lily of the valleys” (2:1). The man compared her to “a mare of Pharaoh’s chariots” (1:9). The Notes will discuss the meaning of each of these comparisons as it occurs in its section.

Lines 1:2–4 are the introduction to Section 1:2–2:7. In these lines, the poet summarizes the Song’s message and introduces its main characters: the woman, the man, and a group of young women. In the Song the woman spoke more often than the man spoke. After the title (1:1), she began the Song by saying that she wanted him to kiss her. She referred to him only as “him” or “you.” In Hebrew poetry, the authors do not introduce their characters as they do in stories, but in some languages it may be more natural to introduce them and identify them. Some ways to do this are:

Provide headings to identify the characters. Some headings may apply only to a verse or part of a verse. For example:
1:4e The Woman commented about the young women of Jerusalem You may need to use a different form the first time a character is introduced. For example:
1:2–4b A woman speaks to the man she loves
Use a speech introducer in the first part of the verse. If you use this option, you may want to indicate in some way that the speech introducer is not in the text itself. For example:
1:4e (The woman said to her beloved,) “Rightly do they love you.”
1:2a [There were a certain woman and man. She said to/about him,] “Let him kiss me…

Choose an option that fits your situation, and use it consistently throughout the book. You should also decide how you will refer to the speakers in the headings. Some ways to do that are:

woman, man, women (GNT)

beloved, lover, friends (NIV)

bride, groom, companions (REB)

she, he, others (ESV)

The woman often referred to the man as “my beloved” (RSV), and she also called him “the one whom my soul loves,” “the king,” and “my friend.” The man often referred to her as “my love” and also as “fairest among women,” “my dove,” “my sister,” “my bride,” and “queenly maiden.”

Paragraph 1:12–14 The woman replied to the man

In 1:12–14 the woman replied to what the man said in 1:9–11 about her beauty. Here in 1:12–14 she also admired him and indicated that she desired him. She mentioned the sweet fragrance that was present when they were together. In 1:12 it was the fragrance of the woman’s perfume that affected the man.A few Bible commentators (e.g., Fox and Murphy) think that “my nard” refers to the king. In other words, they view it as a metaphor describing the king, as in 1:13–14. However, 1:12 does not at all parallel the form of the two comparisons in verses 13–14. It seems more likely that nard in 1:12 refers to the woman’s perfume, not to the king himself.

In 1:13–14 the woman used two metaphors to compare the man with fragrances. The metaphors imply that the man delighted her like a wonderful fragrance. In these lines she probably imagined or dreamed about being with her beloved. She was probably not actually with him.

1:12a–b

While the king was at his table, my perfume spread its fragrance: The clause While the king was at his table (1:12a) tells where the king was while the scent of the woman’s perfume was in the air. In OT times, people reclined, or lay, on couches when they ate, so the REB has “While the king reclines on his couch.” Use natural verb forms in your language to describe this. Some ways to do this in English are:

While the king reclines on his couch, my spikenard gives forth its scent. (REB)

My king is sitting at his table, and the scent of my perfume is in the air.

1:12a

While the king was at his table,

My “king” sits at his table,

the king: In this context the woman used the word king as a poetic term of affection to refer to her beloved. He was not an actual king. It is good to translate the term here as you did in 1:4b. For example:

my chief

my king

at his table: The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as table describes something round. The phrase at his table is more literally “in his circle/round.” Scholars differ about what the word “circle/round” refers to here:

It refers to a “couch.” For example:
his couch (REB) (CEV, ESV, NCV, NJPS, NLT, REB, RSV, GNT)
It refers to a “table.” For example:
his table (NIV) (BSB, GW, NASB, NET, NIV)
It refers to “an enclosure,” maybe to his room or to a different enclosed place. For example:
his own room (NJB) (NJB)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), as most versions and scholars do. It is possible that the word is another way to refer to the same couch that is mentioned in 1:16c.

1:12b

my perfume spread its fragrance.

my nard spread its fragrance.
and the odor of my perfume fills the room/air.

my perfume spread its fragrance: The Hebrew word translated as perfume in the BSB, is more literally, “nard.” Nard refers to an expensive perfume imported from India. It had a beautiful fragrance, and it seemed to encourage sexual desire in that culture. The clause my perfume spread its fragrance indicates that the smell of the woman’s perfume spread through the air. Everyone around could smell it. Other ways to translate this are:

my perfume fills the air with its fragrance. (GW)

the smell/odor of my perfume spread throughout the room.

Describe the spreading fragrance of perfume in a way that is natural in your language. In some languages, it may be possible to translate the idea with an idiom that would fit the poetic style.

my perfume: The phrase my perfume refers here to a type of perfumed oil that the woman spread on her body. In some languages it may be necessary to make this explicit. For example:

the perfume that I rubbed on my body

my expensive nard perfume

perfume: The word perfume refers here to perfumed oil that was made from the nard plant. This plant grows in the Himalaya mountains far away, so the nard oil was rare and expensive in Israel. For more information about the nard plant and a picture of it, see the note on perfume in 4:13c.

General Comment on 1:12

In some languages, a time clause does not occur first in the sentence. So the order of the two clauses in this verse may need to be reversed. For example:

My perfume spread its fragrance while my king was at his table.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

שֶׁ֤⁠הַ⁠מֶּ֨לֶךְ֙

(Some words not found in UHB: until that,the,king [was]_at,table_of,his nard_of,my he/it_gave odor_of,its )

See how you translated the phrase the king in [1:4](../01/04.md) where it is used with the same meaning.

Note 2 topic: translate-unknown

בִּ⁠מְסִבּ֔⁠וֹ

(Some words not found in UHB: until that,the,king [was]_at,table_of,his nard_of,my he/it_gave odor_of,its )

The word which the ULT translates as couch could: (1) refer to a couch, which is a long upholstered piece of furniture. (2) refer to a table. Alternate translation: [was at his table]

Note 3 topic: translate-unknown

נִרְדִּ֖⁠י

(Some words not found in UHB: until that,the,king [was]_at,table_of,his nard_of,my he/it_gave odor_of,its )

The term nard refers to pleasant-smelling, perfumed oil that was made from the roots of the nard plant. If your readers would not be familiar with nard plants, you could use a general expression or describe what nard is. Alternate translation: [my perfumed oil] or [my pleasant-smelling perfume made from the nard plant]

נָתַ֥ן רֵיחֽ⁠וֹ

he/it_gave odor_of,its

Alternate translation: [gave off its good odor] or [spread its pleasant aroma]

Parallel SNG 1:12

Section 1:2–2:7: The woman and man admired each other

Paragraph 1:12–14 The woman replied to the man

1:12a–b

1:12a

1:12b

General Comment on 1:12