SNG 1:13 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not 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 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 very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=none Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (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 Ἀπόδεσμος τῆς στακτῆς ἀδελφιδός μου ἐμοὶ, ἀυαμέσου τῶν μαστῶν μου αὐλισθήσεται.
(Apodesmos taʸs staktaʸs adelfidos mou emoi, auamesou tōn mastōn mou aulisthaʸsetai. )

UST During the night I desire to cradle the man I love between my breasts; to me, he is like the bag of sweet-smelling perfume which I keep there.”

OEB No OEB SNG book available

WEBBE My beloved is to me a sachet of myrrh,
⇔ that lies between my breasts.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET My beloved is like a fragrant pouch of myrrh
⇔ spending the night between my breasts.

LSV A bundle of myrrh [is] my beloved to me,
Between my breasts it lodges.

FBV My love is like a pouch of myrrh,[fn] lying all night between my breasts.

1:13 A perfume placed in a small bag and worn on a string around the neck under clothes.

T4T The man who loves me is as delightful as [MET] a ◄sachet/small cloth bag► of myrrh between my breasts.

LEB • My beloved is to me a pouch[fn] of myrrh, he spends the night[fn] between my breasts.

1:? Literally “the bag”

1:? Or “he lays”

BBE As a bag of myrrh is my well-loved one to me, when he is at rest all night between my breasts.

Moff my darling is my bunch of myrr
⇔ that lies between my breasts,

JPS My beloved is unto me as a bag of myrrh, that lieth betwixt my breasts.

ASV My beloved is unto me as a bundle of myrrh,
⇔ That lieth betwixt my breasts.

DRA A cluster of cypress my love is to me, in the vineyards of Engaddi.

YLT A bundle of myrrh [is] my beloved to me, Between my breasts it lodgeth.

Drby A bundle of myrrh is my beloved unto me; He shall pass the night between my breasts.

RV My beloved is unto me as a bundle of myrrh, that lieth betwixt my breasts.
(My beloved is unto me as a bundle of myrrh, that lieth/lies betwixt my breast/chests. )

SLT A bundle of myrrh my beloved to me; he shall lodge between my breasts.

Wbstr A bundle of myrrh is my well beloved to me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts.

KJB-1769 A bundle of myrrh is my wellbeloved unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts.
(A bundle of myrrh is my well-beloved unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breast/chests. )

KJB-1611 A bundle of myrrhe is my welbeloued vnto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above)

Bshps a bundell of myrre is my loue vnto me, he wyll lye betwixt my brestes:
(a bundle of myrrh is my love unto me, he will lie betwixt my breast/chests:)

Gnva My welbeloued is as a cluster of camphire vnto me in the vines of Engedi.
(My well-beloved is as a cluster of camphire unto me in the vines of Engedi. )

Cvdl for a bodell of Myrre (o my beloued) lyeth betwixte my brestes.
(for a bodell of Myrrh (o my beloved) lieth/lies between my breast/chests.)

Wycl My derlyng is to me a cluster of cipre tre, among the vyneres of Engaddi.
(My darling is to me a cluster of cipre tree, among the vineyardes of Engaddi.)

Luth Mein Freund ist mir ein Büschel Myrrhen, das zwischen meinen Brüsten hanget.
(My friend is to_me a bushesl Myrrhen, the between my breasts hanger.)

ClVg Botrus cypri dilectus meus mihi in vineis Engaddi.[fn]
(Botrus cypri beloved mine to_me in/into/on vineyards Engaddi. )

1.13 Botrus cypri dilectus. Botrus cypri cum resurrexit: In vineis Engaddi est, cum fidelibus spiritualia dona distribuit. Arbores balsami, quæ in Engaddi crescunt, quia in modum vinearum excoluntur, vineas appellat. Sponsus Christus igitur est in vineis Engaddi, quia in carne veniens Spiritu sancto plenus, credentibus ejusdem sancti Spiritus dona largitur per chrismatis unctionem, in cujus confectione oleum et balsamum commiscentur. Engaddi fons hædi propter charismata, quæ post resurrectionem largitus est in baptismo suis participibus. Engaddi, id est oculus meæ tentationis, et tentatio est vita hominis super terram. Quia morti Mediatoris mox resurrectionis gloria successit, recte subditur, Botrus, qui fuit fasciculus myrrhæ in amaritudine passionis, in dulcedine resurrectionis exstitit botrus cypri. Quod myrrha enim tristificat, vinum lætificat.

1.13 Botrus cypri beloved. Botrus cypri when/with rose_again: In vineyards Engaddi it_is, when/with to_the_faithful spiritual_(things) gifts distributes. Arbores balsami, which in/into/on Engaddi crescunt, because in/into/on way vineyards excoluntur, vineyards appeals. The_spouse Christ/Messiah therefore it_is in/into/on vineyards Engaddi, because in/into/on flesh/meat coming By_Spirit holy full, to_believers of_the_same holy Spirit gifts largitur through chrismatis anointing, in/into/on whose confectione oil and balsamum commiscentur. Engaddi source/spring thesedi because charismata, which after resurrection largitus it_is in/into/on baptism to_his_own participibus. Engaddi, that it_is the_eye my temptationnis, and temptation it_is life of_man over the_earth/land. Because death Mediatoris soon resurrection glory successit, correctly/straight is_added, Botrus, who/which it_was fasciculus myrrh in/into/on with_bitterness passion, in/into/on sweetness resurrection exstitit botrus cypri. That myrrha because tristificat, wine makes_happy.

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.

1:13a–b

My beloved is to me a sachet of myrrh resting between my breasts: Allegorical interpreters said that the two breasts referred to something other than actual breasts of the woman. For example, some said that it refers to the Old and New Testaments. There are many different allegorical interpretations that have been suggested here. But there is nothing in the immediate context or in the book to suggest such interpretations. It is recommended to take “breasts” literally. Here the author used a metaphor. The woman compared the man to a sachet, or bag, of myrrhThe BSB supplied the verb is, but in the Hebrew text such a verb does not occur, since the meaning is already implied. lying between her breasts. Myrrh has a delightful fragrance. As the woman smelled it, she imagined the man being close to her like the myrrh was. His presence was delightful like the fragrance of the myrrh.This metaphor is similar in some ways to the comparison in 1:3 where the man’s fragrance figuratively represents his wonderful character.

In some languages this metaphor may not communicate the meaning well. If that is true in your language, other ways to translate it are:

Use a simile. For example:
My beloved is to me like a sachet of myrrh resting between my breasts.
Indicate how the man was like the sachet of myrrh. For example:
My lover has the scent of myrrh as he lies upon my breasts. (GNT)
My beloved is close to me like a sachet of myrrh between my breasts.

Translate the metaphor in a meaningful way in your language.

bag of myrrh: sachet of myrrh: myrrh is an expensive perfume, which at that time was imported into Israel from other countries. It was made from the resin of a myrrh tree. The resin could be obtained in both solid and liquid forms. As a solid, it was put in a small sachet made of cloth or leather. The woman hung the sachet around her neck. Then the fragrance of the myrrh made her body smell sweet.

In some languages myrrh may not be known. If that is true in your language, some ways to translate it are:

Use a general term for something that people put on their bodies to make them smell sweet. For example:
perfume (CEV)
Indicate the meaning by other words in the context. For example:
a fragrant pouch of myrrh (NET)
sweet-smelling myrrh

It may also be helpful to include a footnote. For example, the NET has this footnote:

Myrrh is a fragrant resin used for perfumes. (NET)

1:13a

My beloved is to me a sachet of myrrh

My love is to me like a sachet/bag of myrrh,
My darling is a bag of sweet-smelling perfume,
As a bag of sweet-smelling myrrh lies between my breasts, so my beloved king

My beloved: The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as My beloved is the most common way that the woman used to refer to the man in the Song. It implies that he was the one whom she loved. It does not imply that she and he had sexual relations. Try to translate the word in a way that does not imply sexual union. For example:

my love

my darling

the one I love

1:13b

resting between my breasts.

lodging between my breasts.
lying on my chest.
spends the night with me in close embrace.

resting: There are two main interpretations of the Hebrew word that the BSB translates as resting.

It means “stay” or “spend the night.” For example:
spending the night between my breasts. (NET) (NASB, NCV, NET, NJPS)
It means “lie” or “rest.” For example:
resting between my breasts. (NIV) (BSB, CEV, ESV, NIV, NJB, NLT, REB, RSV, GNT)

It is recommended that you follow option (1). The verb form used here suggests an extended time such as “all night.”

between my breasts: In some languages the word breasts here may seem too sexually explicit.Some interpreters in the early Church also felt uncomfortable interpreting the word “breasts” here in a literal way. Breasts were thought to represent something else, for example, the Old and New Testaments. However, this interpretation is not the best way to understand the verse. The best interpretation is the natural meaning. If that is true in your language, you may need to translate in a more general way. For example:

My beloved lies close to me just like a sweet-smelling bag of myrrh lies next to my chest.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

צְר֨וֹר הַ⁠מֹּ֤ר ׀ דּוֹדִ⁠י֙ לִ֔⁠י בֵּ֥ין שָׁדַ֖⁠י יָלִֽין

sachet_of of_(the),myrrh lover_of,my to=me between breasts_of,my lies

In the author’s culture, women sometimes wore a small bag or pouch of myrrh on a necklace so they could enjoy its pleasant fragrance. The woman makes a comparison between that enjoyable experience and that of having the man she loves near her. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [I enjoy having my beloved near me throughout the night just like I enjoy the fragrance of a bag of myrrh]

Note 2 topic: translate-unknown

הַ⁠מֹּ֤ר

of_(the),myrrh

Here, myrrh is a pleasant-smelling incense made from resin obtained from the bark of a certain kind of tree. If your readers would not be familiar with myrrh, you could use the name of something similar in your area, or you could use a more general term. Alternate translation: [pleasant-smelling perfume]

דּוֹדִ⁠י֙

lover_of,my

Alternate translation: [is my lover]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / euphemism

צְר֨וֹר הַ⁠מֹּ֤ר ׀ דּוֹדִ⁠י֙ לִ֔⁠י בֵּ֥ין שָׁדַ֖⁠י יָלִֽין

sachet_of of_(the),myrrh lover_of,my to=me between breasts_of,my lies

If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a polite way of referring to breasts, or state the meaning of the phrase between my breasts it stays by using a more general expression. Alternate translation: [My beloved stays very close to me during the night, like a bundle of myrrh around my neck]

Note 4 topic: writing-pronouns

יָלִֽין

lies

Here the original language word that the ULT translates it stays is ambiguous regarding what it is that stays. This word could: (1) indicate that the bundle of myrrh is what stays. Alternate translation: [the bundle of myrrh stays] (2) mean that the man does not leave that location throughout the night. Alternate translation: [he lingers]

Parallel SNG 1:13

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

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

1:13a–b

1:13a

1:13b