SNG 1:3 Parallel Verse View

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Text critical issues=minor/spelling 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 μῦρον ἐκκενωθὲν ὄνομά σου· διὰ τοῦτο νεάνιδες ἠγάπησάν σε,
(muron ekkenōthen onoma sou; dia touto neanides aʸgapaʸsan se, )

BrTr And the smell of thine ointments is better than all spices: thy name is ointment poured forth; therefore do the young maidens love thee.

ULT As for the scent of your oils—they are good;
⇔ oil poured out is your name.
⇔ Therefore, marriageable women love you.

UST The fragrance of the perfume on your skin is very pleasing.
⇔ More and more people are honoring you,
⇔ just as the fragrance of the perfume that you have put on your skin is spreading farther and farther.
⇔ That is why the other young women are attracted to you.

OEB No OEB SNG book available

WEBBE Your oils have a pleasing fragrance.
⇔ Your name is oil poured out,
⇔ therefore the virgins love you.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET The fragrance of your colognes is delightful;
⇔ your name is like the finest perfume.
⇔ No wonder the young women adore you!

LSV For fragrance [are] your good perfumes. Perfume emptied out—your name,
Therefore have virgins loved you!

FBV I love the way you smell from the perfumed oils you use. You have quite a reputation[fn]—it spreads like spilled perfumed oil. It's not surprising that all the young women adore you!

1:3 Literally, “name.”

T4T The fragrance of the cologne on your skin is very sweet/pleasing [CHI].
⇔ And your reputation is very good and spreads,
⇔ like [SIM] the fragrance of the special oil spread on your skin.
⇔ That is why the other young women are attracted to you.

LEB • As fragrance, your perfumes[fn] are delightful ;[fn] your name is poured out perfume ;[fn]
• therefore young women love you.

1:? Literally “your oil lotions”

1:? Literally “good”

1:? Literally “oil lotion”

BBE Sweet is the smell of your perfumes; your name is as perfume running out; so the young girls give you their love.

Moff rare is the fragrance of your perfumes,
⇔ the sound of your name is wafted like scent.
⇔ The girls are all in love with you;

JPS Thine ointments have a goodly fragrance; thy name is as ointment poured forth; therefore do the maidens love thee.

ASV Thine oils have a goodly fragrance;
⇔ Thy name is as oil poured forth;
⇔ Therefore do the virgins love thee.

DRA Draw me: we will run after thee to the odour of thy ointments. The king hath brought me into his storerooms: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, remembering thy breasts more than wine: the righteous love thee.

YLT For fragrance [are] thy perfumes good. Perfume emptied out — thy name, Therefore have virgins loved thee!

Drby Thine ointments savour sweetly; Thy name is an ointment poured forth: Therefore do the virgins love thee.

RV Thine ointments have a goodly fragrance; thy name is as ointment poured forth; therefore do the virgins love thee.
(Thine ointments have a goodly fragrance; thy/your name is as ointment poured forth; therefore do the virgins love thee/you. )

SLT To the odor of the good ointments thy name shall be poured forth an ointment; for this, the maidens loved thee.

Wbstr Because of the savor of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee.

KJB-1769 Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee.
(Because of the savour of thy/your good ointments thy/your name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee/you. )

KJB-1611 Because of the sauour of thy good ointments, thy name is as ointment powred forth, therefore doe the virgins loue thee.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps and that because of the good and pleasaunt sauour of thy most precious baulmes. Thy name is a sweet smelling oyntment when it is shed foorth, therfore do the maydens loue thee.
(and that because of the good and pleasant savour of thy/your most precious balms/ointments. Thy/Your name is a sweet smelling ointment when it is shed forth, therefore do the maidens love thee/you.)

Gnva Drawe me: we will runne after thee: the King hath brought me into his chabers: we will reioyce and be glad in thee: we will remember thy loue more then wine: the righteous do loue thee.
(Draw me: we will run after thee/you: the King hath/has brought me into his chambers/rooms: we will rejoice and be glad in thee/you: we will remember thy/your love more then wine: the righteous do love thee/you. )

Cvdl & that because of the good and pleasaunt sauoure. Thy name is a swete smellynge oyntment, therfore do the maydens loue the:
(and that because of the good and pleasant savour. Thy/Your name is a sweet smelling ointment, therefore do the maidens love them:)

Wycl Drawe thou me after thee; we schulen renne in to the odour of thin oynementis. The kyng ledde me in to hise celeris; we myndeful of thi teetis aboue wyn, schulen make ful out ioye, and schulen be glad in thee; riytful men louen thee.
(Draw thou/you me after thee/you; we should run in to the odour of thin ointments. The king led me in to his celeris; we mindful of thy/your teats/nipples above wine, should make full out joy, and should be glad in thee/you; rightful men love thee/you.)

Luth daß man deine gute Salbe rieche. Dein Name ist eine ausgeschüttete Salbe, darum lieben dich die Mägde.
(that man your good ointment smell(v). Your Name is a/one distributed ointment, therefore love(v) you/yourself the maids/young_women.)

ClVg Chorus Adolescentularum Trahe me, post te curremus in odorem unguentorum tuorum. Introduxit me rex in cellaria sua; exsultabimus et lætabimur in te, memores uberum tuorum super vinum. Recti diligunt te.[fn]
(Chorus Adolescentularum Trahe me, after you(sg) curremus in/into/on smell of_perfumes yours. He_introduced me king in/into/on cellaria his_own; exsultabimus and joybimur in/into/on you(sg), memores uberum yours over wine. Recti they_love you(sg). )

1.3 Trahe me post te. Respondent adolescentulæ: Trahe me post te. Sponsa non post tergum sequitur, sed sponsi juncta lateri, famulæ post eam ingrediuntur. Trahe me post te. Hucusque vox exspectantium incarnationem Salvatoris, et dona ipsius commendantium: hinc subinfertur vox illorum, qui post tempora incarnationis ad fidem venerunt. Illa ut veniret, et osculum offerret rogabat; hæc non ad se ultra eum descendere taliter flagitat, sed ipsa potius ad cœlos sequi desiderat: quod quia per se non posse fieri conspicit, ejus ducatum implorat, ad quem venire desiderat. In odorem unguentorum. In consideratione miraculorum. Introduxit me rex, etc. Sponsa in penetrale sponsi ingressa revertitur ad juvenculas, et nuntiat illis: Introduxit me. Vel, per spem in æternam beatitudinem induxit, pluraliter, pro omnimoda bonorum copia, quasi jam dulcedinem regni cœlestis prælibavi, quæ mihi in cœlis parata sunt, ipso revelante cognovi: moxque ad eum conversa, qui sibi hoc revelat, gratias agit pro beneficiis. Quatuor sunt in domo: porta, ascensus, triclinium, cubiculum. Per portam, fidem: per ascensum, spem: per triclinium charitatem: per cubiculum, ipsam beatitudinem intelligimus. Exsultabimus et lætabimur. Quasi diceret: Non de perceptis muneribus ipsi nos extollimus, sed te: memores per omnia quanta pietate austeritatem legis, gratia fidei evangelicæ mitigare dignatus es: ideo non in nobis, sed in te exsultabimus, quia recti omnes diligunt te, et super omnia diligendum didicerunt. Rursus in penetrale sponsa ingressa, adolescentulæ, dum illius præstolantur adventum, læte concinunt pro sponsæ perfectione. Memores uberum. Et recti diligunt, ad sponsæ commendationem refertur. Memores uberum, etc. Illa quæ major est jam tuorum lacte uberum perfruitur. Nos quoque non quidem diligimus, sed diligemus. Deinde loquuntur ad sponsum, Recti diligunt te. Recti, omnes qui sunt recti corde super omnia te diligunt, nec recti sunt qui tuo amori aliquid præponunt, a quo solo habent quidquid boni habent. Recti diligunt. Frustra se conditorem diligere credunt, qui ejus monita contemnunt. Vere justi, nec actu, nec cogitatu, nec dicto Deum violant.

1.3 Trahe me after you(sg). Respondent adolescentulæ: Trahe me after you(sg). The_bride not/no after back(n) follows, but grooms joined lateri, famulæ after her they_enter. Trahe me after you(sg). So_far voice they_are_waitingium incarnation Saviour, and gifts of_his/her_own commendantium: from_here subinfertur voice of_them, who/which after times incarnation to faith they_came. Illa as would_come, and osculum would_offer he_asked; these_things not/no to himself beyond/besides him to_descend suchter flagitat, but herself rather to heavens to_follow desires: that because through himself not/no posse to_be_done sees, his leadership implorat, to which to_come desires. In smell of_perfumes. In considersione miraclerum. He_introduced me king, etc. The_bride in/into/on penetrale grooms entered he_returns to yuvenculas, and nuntiat to_them: He_introduced me. Or, through hope in/into/on eternal happiness induxit, moreliter, for omnimoda of_goods copia, as_if already sweetnessm of_the_kingdom heavenly beforelibavi, which to_me in/into/on heavens parata are, himself revelante I_knew: soonque to him conversa, who/which to_himself this revelat, graces acts for benefits. Four are in/into/on at_home: gate/door, ascent, triclinium, cubiculum. Per gate/doorm, faith: through ascent, hope: through triclinium charity: through cubiculum, itself happiness we_understand. Exsultabimus and joybimur. As_if would_say: Not/No from/about perceptis functions themselves us extollimus, but you(sg): memores through everything how_much with_piety austeritatem law, grace of_faith evangelicæ mitigare worthytus you_are: therefore/for_that_reason not/no in/into/on us, but in/into/on you(sg) exsultabimus, because straight everyone they_love you(sg), and over everything diligendum didicerunt. Again in/into/on penetrale bride entered, adolescentulæ, while of_that beforestolantur arrival, læte concinunt for brides perfection. Recall/Rememberes uberum. And straight they_love, to brides recommendsionem it_is_reported. Recall/Rememberes uberum, etc. Illa which major/greater it_is already yours milk uberum to_enjoytur. We too not/no indeed diligimus, but diligemus. Then/Next they_speak to groom, Recti they_love you(sg). Recti, everyone who/which are straight heart over everything you(sg) they_love, but_not straight are who/which your lovei something beforeponunt, from where solo they_have whatever good they_have. Recti they_love. In_vain himself founderem to_love they_believe, who/which his warnings they_despise. Vere just, but_not actu, but_not thinksu, but_not sayto God violant.

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 1:2–4b The woman said that she desired her beloved

In the Hebrew text of 1:2–4b, the woman spoke about the man, using forms like “him” and “his.” Then she seemed to speak to him with forms like “you” and “your.” In 1:4b she spoke about him again, calling him “the king.” Most scholars agree that the phrase “the king” refers to the same man whom she loved, not to a different man.

In Hebrew poetry it is common to have such changes in the way people refer to each other. These changes can have different functions.See “Shifting persons” in Zogbo and Wendland, pages 50–53 for more discussion of such changes. This change of person reference is one type of grammatical substitution called “enallage.” This type of enallage may also function as: 1) an indication of the poem’s structure (e.g., the beginning or end of a poem); 2) morphologic parallelism; 3) movement from distance to proximity; 4) expressing awe or respect (3^rd person). One possible explanation of the enallage in this context is that in 1:2 the change from “him” to “your” indicates an increase of emotion and intimacy. In 1:3–4 it changes back from “your” to third person “king.” This indicates a decrease in intimacy as she comes to realize in her dream how unlikely it is that this wonderful man could choose to love her. Assis, pages 34–37. Here the changes probably emphasize that the woman desired the man. In some languages such changes may be confusing or imply a wrong meaning. If that is true in your language, some other ways to translate the verses are:

Make the changes clear by introducing them in some way. For example, notice the phrases in brackets:
Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth!
I want to tell him,
“For your love is more delightful than wine.
The fragrance of your perfume is pleasing;
your name is like perfume poured out.
No wonder the maidens adore you.”
Take me away with you—let us hurry!
He is like a king, my king.
May the king bring me to his chambers.
Translate all the woman’s words in 1:2–4b as spoken directly to the man. For example:
Your lips cover me with kisses; (GNT)
your love is better than wine,
There is a fragrance about you;
the sound of your name recalls it.
No woman could keep from loving you.
Take me with you,
and we’ll run away;
be my king
and take me to your room.

Probably these verses tell the woman’s private thoughts and desires.Jensen (page 16) says, “The woman’s shifts between third person and second person reference to her lover are initially disconcerting, but we should probably think of verses 2–3 as soliloquy spoken in the physical absence of the lover, and so as encompassing both absence and imagined presence….” The poet did not imply that the man was actually with her while she was saying these things. In some languages there are ways to indicate that a person is talking to someone who is not there to listen to what is said.

1:3a

The fragrance of your perfume is pleasing;

The scent of your^(sing)/his ointments is pleasing/sweet,
You have anointed your skin with perfumed oil that smells wonderful,
His skin is rubbed with sweet-smelling oils,

The fragrance of your perfume is pleasing: In Hebrew this clause more literally says, “For fragrance, your oils are good.” The phrase “for fragrance” is emphatic. It indicates that the odor of the oils was very pleasing. The word “good” was also used to describe the man’s name in 1:3b.

Some other ways to translate the clause are:

The smell of your perfume is pleasant (NCV)

The fragrance of your cologne is delightful (NET)

Your ointments yield a sweet fragrance (NJPS)

perfume: In Israel and nearby countries at that time, people added sweet-smelling spices to olive oil to make perfume. Some of the spices were expensive, and both men and women used these fragrances. Your translation should emphasize the wonderful fragrance of the perfume, rather than how the oils were made.

In some cultures men do not use scented oil, spices or other types of scent on their bodies. If that is true in your language, you may focus on the pleasing odor of the man himself. For example:

You smell so sweet (CEV)

You have a good fragrance

1:3b

your name is like perfume poured out.

your^(sing)/his name/reputation is like the spreading fragrance of your^(sing)/his ointments.
and your^(sing) character is as good as the scent of that perfumed oil when it spills.
and his good name/reputation spreads like scented oil spilling/pouring from its container.

In 1:3b there are special features of Hebrew poetic style. For example, in Hebrew the words for “perfume” (shemen) and “name” (shem) sound similar. This helps to show the connection between 1:3a and 1:3b.

Such use of similar sounds is common throughout the Song. However, these similar sounds usually cannot be translated into another language, so the Notes will not usually focus on them.If you are especially interested in Hebrew poetic features, you may learn about them from other commentaries that discuss them. See especially the commentary by Richard Hess. However, it is good for you to consider special ways in your own language that could make your translation poetic or beautiful like a song.

your name is like perfume poured out: This statement is a simile. It indicates that the man’s name was as pleasing as the smell of the fragrant oil when it was poured from a container. In some languages this metaphor may be hard to understand. Other ways to translate it are:

Use a metaphor. For example:
your name is oil poured out. (RSV)
Include the meaning of the comparison in the simile. For example:
your name is pleasant like expensive perfume. (NCV)
Translate the comparison without using a figure of speech. This option can be used when a metaphor or simile would give a wrong meaning. For example:
How fragrant your cologne, and how pleasing your name! (NLT96)

Use an appropriate option for your language.

your name: In Hebrew, the word name often represents the person himself, including the person’s character and reputation. So when the woman praised her beloved’s name here, she praised his wonderful character. She compared his good character to the good fragrance of cologne. Some other ways to translate your name here are:

your good reputation

your fine character

the good things you do and say

perfume poured out: The Hebrew phrase that the BSB translates as perfume poured out is difficult to interpret.Some scholars think there is a problem with interpreting the Hebrew word Turaq as a verb meaning “poured out.” The grammatical gender of poured out is feminine. But the gender of “perfume” is masculine. Since they are used together here, we would normally expect the gender of the two words to be the same. So, some of these scholars say that the word may be a place called “Turaq” where costly perfumes were made. Other scholars think that the Hebrew text needs to be corrected on the basis of the Greek Septuagint to read tamruq, which means “purification.” So they think the word means “purified oil.” But many scholars say that unmatched gender is fairly common in Hebrew. So they say it really is not a problem, and they understand turaq as a verb meaning “poured out.” (This interpretation is reflected in options 1 and 2.) Some different interpretations are based on how scholars understand the Hebrew verb that the BSB translates as poured out. Here are the two main options:

The phrase refers to the spreading fragrance of the oil. For example:
your name is like the spreading fragrance of scented oils. (NLT) (BSB, CEV, ESV, NIV, NJB, NLT,For 1:3a–b, the NLT96 translates in a more general way: “How fragrant your cologne, and how pleasing your name!” REB, RSV, GNT)
The phrase refers to the quality of the oil. For example:
your name is like the finest perfume. (NET) (NASB, NCV, NET, NJPS)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), as more English versions do.

1:3c

No wonder the maidens adore you.

That is why the young women love you^(sing)/him.
For this, girls adore/admire you!^(sing)
It is no surprise that all women love him.

No wonder: The phrase No wonder refers back to what the woman said about the man in 1:3b. It was because of his wonderful character and reputation that maidens loved him.

the maidens: The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as maidens refers to young women who were old enough to be married. In the context of the Song, it probably refers to young women who were still virgins.

adore: The Hebrew word adore here is different from the word translated “love” in 1:2b. Here it means that the young women admired the man and were attracted to him. Express this type of admiration in a natural way in your language. Other ways to translate it are:

No woman could keep from loving you. (GNT)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

לְ⁠רֵ֨יחַ֙

to,odor

The Hebrew word which the ULT translates as As for could: (1) indicate reference, in which case it should be translated with an equivalent phrase or as the ULT translates it. Alternate translation: [In reference to the scent of] (2) indicate emphasis or be making an assertion. Alternate translation: [Truly, the scent of] or [Indeed, the scent of]

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

שְׁמָנֶ֣י⁠ךָ טוֹבִ֔ים

oils_of,your intoxicating

Here, oils refers to colognes or perfumes. The author is assuming the reader knows that pleasant-smelling spices were mixed into olive oil in order to make a pleasant-smelling perfume, which was then applied to the skin. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. If men do not put pleasant-smelling things on their skin in your culture, you could say that the scent of the man being spoken of here is pleasant. Alternate translation: [your colognes—they are good] or [your scented oils—they are good] or [your skin—it is good] or [your body—it is good]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

שֶׁ֖מֶן תּוּרַ֣ק שְׁמֶ֑⁠ךָ

perfume poured_out your(ms)=name

Here, your name represents her beloved’s reputation. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [oil poured out is your reputation] or [your name is pleasant like good perfume is pleasant]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

שֶׁ֖מֶן תּוּרַ֣ק שְׁמֶ֑⁠ךָ

perfume poured_out your(ms)=name

The woman makes a comparison between the man’s reputation (which she refers to as his name) and scented oil that is poured out, after which the good smell of the oil spreads as the air moves. If it would be helpful in your language, you could explain the comparison. Alternate translation: [your reputation spreads like the fragrance of scented oil spreads after it has been poured out] or [your reputation spreads like the scent of perfumed oil after it has been poured out]

Note 4 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

עַל־כֵּ֖ן

on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in yes/correct/thus/so

The Hebrew words translated as Therefore indicate that what follows is a result of what came before. Use a connector in your language that makes it clear that what follows is a result of what came before. Alternate translation: [As a result]

Note 5 topic: translate-unknown

עֲלָמ֥וֹת

maidens

Here, marriageable women refers to young women who are old enough to be married or who have been recently married but not yet given birth to a child. Your language may have a term for women during this stage of life that you could use here, or you could use a more general term.

Parallel SNG 1:3

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

Paragraph 1:2–4b The woman said that she desired her beloved

1:3a

1:3b

1:3c