SNG 1:6 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.)

OET (OET-RV) Don’t look at me, that I’m black.
⇔ That the sun scorched me.
⇔ My brothers were angry with me.
⇔ They forced me to look after our vineyards—
⇔ but I haven’t maintained my own vineyard.

Key: khaki:verbs, red:negative.
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 Μὴ βλέψητέ με ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι μεμελανωμένη, ὅτι παρέβλεψέ με ὁ ἥλιος· υἱοὶ μητρός μου ἐμαχέσαντο ἐν ἐμοὶ, ἔθεντό με φυλάκισσαν ἐν ἀμπελῶσιν, ἀμπελῶνα ἐμὸν οὐκ ἐφύλαξα.
(Maʸ blepsaʸte me hoti egō eimi memelanōmenaʸ, hoti pareblepse me ho haʸlios; huioi maʸtros mou emaⱪesanto en emoi, ethento me fulakissan en ampelōsin, ampelōna emon ouk efulaxa. )

BrTr Look not upon me, because I am dark, because the sun has looked unfavourably upon me: my mother's sons strove with me; they made me keeper in the vineyards; I have not kept my own vineyard.

ULT Do not look at me, that I am black,
⇔ that the sun scorched me.
⇔ The sons of my mother were angry with me;
⇔ they appointed me as keeper of the vineyards—
⇔ my vineyard that is mine I have not kept.

UST But do not stare at me because the sun has made my skin dark;
⇔ my brothers were angry with me,
⇔ so they forced me to work outside in the sunshine in the vineyards,
⇔ so I was not able to take good care of my skin.

OEB No OEB SNG book available

WEBBE Don’t stare at me because I am dark,
⇔ because the sun has scorched me.
⇔ My mother’s sons were angry with me.
⇔ They made me keeper of the vineyards.
⇔ I haven’t kept my own vineyard.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET Do not stare at me because I am dark,
⇔ for the sun has burned my skin.
⇔ My brothers were angry with me;
⇔ they made me the keeper of the vineyards.
⇔ Alas, my own vineyard I could not keep!

LSV Do not fear me, because I [am] very dark,
Because the sun has scorched me,
The sons of my mother were angry with me,
They made me keeper of the vineyards,
My vineyard—my own—I have not kept.

FBV Don't look down on me because I'm black, because the sun has burned me. My brothers were angry with me and made me look after the vineyards, so I couldn't look after my own vineyard.[fn]

1:6 In other words, the woman could not look after herself. Note also that in literature of the time, “vineyard” was often used as a fertility metaphor.

T4T But do not stare at me because of the sun having caused my skin to become dark;
⇔ my brothers were angry with me,
⇔ so they forced me to work out in the sunshine in the vineyards,
⇔ so I was not able to take good care of my body/skin [CHI, MET].

LEB   • Do not gaze at me because I am black,[fn] because the sun has stared at me.
• The sons of my mother were angry with me;
  • they made me keeper of the vineyards,
   • but my own “vineyard”[fn] I did not keep.

1:? This is figurative for the maiden’s physical appearance; her skin was darkly tanned

1:? Literally “my vineyard that for me”

BBE Let not your eyes be turned on me, because I am dark, because I was looked on by the sun; my mother's children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vine-gardens; but my vine-garden I have not kept.

Moff Scorn me not for being dark
⇔ for the sun has tanned me
⇔ my brothers in anger set m
⇔ to look after the vineyard
⇔ but I did not look after the vineyard of my charms.
¶ 

JPS Look not upon me, that I am swarthy, that the sun hath tanned me; my mother's sons were incensed against me, they made me keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept.'

ASV Look not upon me, because I am swarthy,
⇔ Because the sun hath scorched me.
⇔ My mother’s sons were incensed against me;
⇔ They made me keeper of the vineyards;
⇔ But mine own vineyard have I not kept.

DRA Shew me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou liest in the midday, lest I begin to wander after the flocks of thy companions.

YLT Fear me not, because I [am] very dark, Because the sun hath scorched me, The sons of my mother were angry with me, They made me keeper of the vineyards, My vineyard — my own — I have not kept.

Drby Look not upon me, because I am black; Because the sun hath looked upon me. My mother's children were angry with me: They made me keeper of the vineyards; Mine own vineyard have I not kept.

RV Look not upon me, because I am swarthy, because the sun hath scorched me. My mother’s sons were incensed against me, they made me keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept.
(Look not upon me, because I am swarthy, because the sun hath/has scorched me. My mother’s sons were incensed against me, they made me keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept. )

SLT Thou shalt not see me, I am black; the sun searched me: my mother’s sons were angry with me; they set me to watch the vineyards; my vineyard I watched not for me.

Wbstr Look not upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me: my mother's children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but my own vineyard have I not kept.

KJB-1769 Look not upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me: my mother’s children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept.
(Look not upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath/has looked upon me: my mother’s children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept. )

KJB-1611 Looke not vpon me because I am blacke, because the Sunne hath looked vpon me: my mothers children were angry with me, they made me the keeper of the vineyards, but mine owne vineyard haue I not kept.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation)

Bshps Marueyle not at me that I am so blacke, for why? the sunne hath shined vpon me: my mothers chyldren haue euyll wyll at me, they made me the keper of the vineyardes, but mine owne vineyarde haue I not kept.
(Marvel not at me that I am so black, for why? the sun hath/has shined upon me: my mothers children have evil will at me, they made me the keeper of the vineyards, but mine own vineyard have I not kept.)

Gnva Shewe me, O thou, whome my soule loueth, where thou feedest, where thou liest at noone: for why should I be as she that turneth aside to the flockes of thy companions?
(Show me, Oh thou/you, whom my soul loveth/loves, where thou/you feedest, where thou/you liest at noone: for why should I be as she that turneth aside to the flocks of thy/your companions? )

Cvdl but yet am I faire & welfauoured withal. Maruell not at me yt I am so black, & why? ye Sonne hath shyned vpo me. For whan my mothers childre had euell wil at me, they made me ye keper of the vynyarde. Thus was I fayne to kepe a vynyarde, which was not myne owne.
(but yet am I fair and welfauoured withal. Marvel not at me it I am so black, and why? ye/you_all Son hath/has shined upon me. For when my mothers children had evil will at me, they made me ye/you_all keeper of the vineyard. Thus was I gladly to keep a vineyard, which was not mine own.)

Wycl Thou spouse, whom my soule loueth, schewe to me, where thou lesewist, where thou restist in myddai; lest Y bigynne to wandre, aftir the flockis of thi felowis.
(Thou/You spouse, whom my soul loveth/loves, show to me, where thou/you lesewist, where thou/you restist in myddai; lest I begin to wander, after the flocks of thy/your fellows.)

Luth Sehet mich nicht an, daß ich so schwarz bin; denn die Sonne hat mich so verbrannt. Meiner Mutter Kinder zürnen mit mir. Man hat mich zur Hüterin der Weinberge gesetzt; aber meinen Weinberg, den ich hatte, habe ich nicht behütet.
(Behold me not an, that I so black bin; because/than the sun has me so burnt. Mine mother children get_angry with to_me. They has me to/for guardianin the/of_the vineyards set(v); but my vineyard, the I had, have I not protected/sheltered.)

ClVg Indica mihi, quem diligit anima mea, ubi pascas, ubi cubes in meridie, ne vagari incipiam post greges sodalium tuorum.[fn]
(Indica to_me, which he_loves the_soul my, where feed, where cubes in/into/on noon, not to_wander I_will_begin after flocks members yours. )

1.6 Indica mihi, etc. Vox incipientis Ecclesiæ de gentibus ad sponsam, quia multi pseudoprophetæ exeunt in mundum, dicentes: Ecce hic Christus, ecce illic; exorat ut possit discernere, in quorum professione et opere possit inveniri. Indica mihi, pastorem meum, quem tota anima diligo, et in quibus requiem et pascua habeat, ne æstu turbata tentationum, per sodalium, id est hæreticorum conventicula eam quærere incipiam. Vel, in voce prædicatorum ad sponsum, ut discernere possint quibus vitæ verba ministrare debeant. Deinde conspicit sponsum, qui conspectus abscessit. Et frequenter hoc facit in toto carmine, quod expertus in se probavit, sæpe habitus sponsus, sæpe elabitur, donec vere tenebitur. In meridie, etc. Id est in splendore majestatis tuæ, quod perfectis convenit, non mane, vel vespere. Vel, meridie, id est in exustione tribulationum, quam immittit diabolus dolens mundum sibi subripi. Solet rerum qualitas ex tempore notari. Abraham meridie angelos suscepit. Joseph meridie cum fratribus epulatur. Sodalium tuorum. Hæretici sodales dicuntur, quia nominis ejus et confessionis mysteria circumferunt.

1.6 Indica to_me, etc. The_voice incipientis Assemblies/Churches from/about nations to bride, because many pseudothe_prophets exeunt in/into/on the_world, saying: Behold this/here Christ/Messiah, behold there; exorat as can discernere, in/into/on whose professione and by_work can I_foundri. Indica to_me, shepherd mine, which the_whole the_soul diligo, and in/into/on to_whom rest/repose and pasture have, not brasstu crowdta temptations, through members, that it_is of_heretics conventicula her to_seek/search_for I_will_begin. Or, in/into/on voice preachers to groom, as discernere can to_whom of_life words to_serve they_should. Then/Next sees groom, who/which in_sights abscessit. And frequenter this he_does in/into/on throughout carmine, that expertus in/into/on himself probavit, often habit groom, often elabitur, until really/truly will_be_held. In noon, etc. That it_is in/into/on with_splendour majesty yours, that perfectis agreed, not/no mane, or in_the_evening. Or, noon, that it_is in/into/on exustione tribulationum, how immittit the_devil dolens the_world to_himself subripi. Solet things qualitas from at_the_time to_be_known. Abraham noon messenger/angels he_accepted. Yoseph noon when/with brothers epulatur. Sodalium yours. Theseretici sodales are_said, because of_the_name his and confession mysteries circumferunt.

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 1:5–6 The woman spoke about herself to the young women of Jerusalem

In these two verses, the woman spoke to the women of Jerusalem. They were the same women who spoke in 1:3–4. She asked the women not to disapprove of her because her skin was darkened by the sun. Then she explained that her brothers became angry with her and made her work in the vineyards.

1:6a

Do not stare

Do^(plur) not gaze at me
Do^(plur) not look at me with disgust

1:6a-b

Do not stare because I am dark: In this verse the woman continued to speak to the young women of Jerusalem. Scholars have different views about the way she interpreted their attitude toward her here:

She thought that they stared at her because they disapproved of her.
She thought that they stared at her because they admired her and were amazed that she was so beautiful.

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) for these reasons:

It seems likely that they did not approve of her because in 1:6d–e she explained to them why her skin was dark.
The Hebrew text of 1:6 uses a “play on words” that has three parts:
The women gazed at her (1:6a)
the sun gazed-at/burned her skin (1:6c)
her brothers burned with anger (1:6d) In 1:6c and 1:6d there is obviously a harsh sense, so it is likely that 1:6a also implies a harsh sense.

It is helpful to translate in a way that implies that the brothers had a harsh attitude toward their sister. Some English versions use an idiom. For example:

Don’t look down on me…. (GNT)

1:6b

because I am dark,

because I am swarthy
because you^(plur) think my darkened/tanned skin makes me ugly.

because: There are two ways to interpret the Hebrew connectorMost versions interpret the Hebrew relative pronoun in this context with a causal meaning, “because I am dark.” A few versions and commentaries interpret it as a relative pronoun, “who am dark.” that the BSB translates as for in this verse:

It introduces the reason that the people might stare at the woman. For example:
Do not stare at me because I am dark, because I am darkened by the sun. (NIV) (BSB, CEV, GW, NASB, NET, NIV, NJPS, NLT, RSV, GNT)
It introduces a clause that describes the woman: “Do not stare at me who (I) am dark.” The literal wording is not natural in English, so English versions translate the connection in a different way. For example:
Don’t look at how dark I am, at how dark the sun has made me. (NCV) (NCV, NJB, REB)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). It is followed by the majority of English versions.

1:6c

for the sun has gazed upon me.

from being burned by the sun.
It was the sun that burned my skin.

for the sun has gazed upon me: This clause tells what caused the woman’s dark skin. The sun burned the woman and made her skin dark. Some other ways to translate this meaning are:

for the sun has burned my skin. (NET)

because I was scorched by the sun. (REB)

In some languages there may be a figure of speech to translate this meaning, as in the BSB.

It is important to translate in a way that implies harshness, like “scorched,” as in the RSV, or “burned.” A more neutral expression like “tanned” does not imply the right meaning in many cultures.

General Comment on 1:6a–c

In 1:6a–c there are two clauses that begin with a purpose word:

Do not stare at me because I am dark,

do not stare at me for the sun has gazed upon me.

In some languages it may be difficult to translate two purpose clauses in the same sentence like this. If that is true in your language, you may be able to combine the clauses. (Notice the implied information before the second purpose clause.) For example:

Don’t stare at me just because the sun has darkened my skin. (CEV)

1:6d

My mother’s sons were angry with me;

My older brothers were angry with me,
The sons of my mother were upset with me,

My mother’s sons were angry with me: In 1:6d-e the woman explained that she was exposed to the sun, not by her own choice, but because her brothers were angry with her. In some languages it may be helpful to make this connection explicit. For example:

That happened because my brothers became angry with me

My mother’s sons: This phrase refers to the woman’s brothers who were sons of her mother. They may have a different father or the same father. Use the appropriate term in your language for this relationship. Some English versions use the more general term “brothers.”

In some languages it is necessary to specify whether the brothers were older or younger than the woman. Probably at least some of her brothers were older because in 8:8a her brothers said that they “have a little sister.”

were angry with me: The reason for the brothers’ anger with the woman is not stated in the text, and the context also does not indicate the reason.

1:6e

they made me a keeper of the vineyards,

so they made me take care of the family vineyards.
they forced me to take care of the vineyards,
and they sent me out to guard the family vineyards

they made me a keeper of the vineyards: The word they refers to the woman’s brothers. Their decision to make her keeper of the vineyards was a result of their being angry with her (1:6d). In some languages it may be helpful to make this connection explicit. For example:

so they made me

The context implies that they forced her rather than just appointed her to care for the vineyard. It was because of their decision that she was often in the sun. She had no choice. Here is another way to translate this:

they forced me to care for their vineyards… (NLT)

keeper of the vineyards: The phrase keeper of the vineyards indicates that the woman took care of the family vineyards. Her responsibilities probably included protecting the vineyards, cultivating them, and pruning the vines. To do that work, she had to spend many hours in the hot sun. Some other ways to translate the phrase are:

to watch over the vineyards

work in the vineyard (CEV)

vineyards: The word, vineyards, refers to farms where people plant and cultivate grapes. Grapes can be eaten as fruit or used to make wine.

Some ways to translate vineyards are:

grape farm

fields of grape plants

1:6f

but my own vineyard I have neglected.

Then I was not able to care for my own vineyard!
but I was not able to take care of myself, my own vineyard.
so I had to neglect my appearance.

but: The statements in 1:6e and 1:6f contrast with each other. The Hebrew text does not have a conjunction. It indicates the contrast within the statements themselves. Most English versions also emphasize the contrast within the statements, often by adding the word “own.” Some versions also add a conjunction.The UBS Handbook points out that the contrast here is also indicated by a chiastic structure between the two clauses. For example:

but my own vineyard I have not kept! (ESV)

so I haven’t tended my own vineyard! (NCV)

Show the contrast in a natural way in your own language.

my own vineyard I have neglected: This clause indicates that the woman did not take care of her own vineyard. The word vineyard is often used as a metaphor in the Song. In this verse also, it is a metaphor. It refers to the woman’s appearance, not to a real vineyard.Some scholars believe that in this context the phrase “my own vineyard” refers here to the woman’s sexuality. They suggest that the woman had not been able to guard her own sexuality and so was no longer a virgin. This view raises serious moral problems regarding what was considered proper sexual behavior in ancient Israel. It also does not seem appropriate in the context of the biblical canon. Here in the Song, this interpretation does not seem to be consistent with the woman’s virtuous character. She was forced to work long hours outside in the hot sun. As a result, her skin was burned and very dark.

In some languages this metaphor may be confusing, or it may communicate a wrong meaning. If that is true in your language, there are two other possibilities for translation:

Keep the metaphor and indicate its meaning. For example:
so I couldn’t care for myself—my own vineyard (NLT)
Translate only the meaning of the metaphor. For example:
I had no time to care for myself. (GNT)
and so I neglected my complexion. (CEV)

Use an appropriate option for your language in this context.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

אַל־תִּרְא֨וּ⁠נִי֙ שֶׁ⁠אֲנִ֣י שְׁחַרְחֹ֔רֶת

not look,at_me who,I dark

The phrase Do not look at me could mean: (1) the woman does not want people to look at her with contempt. Alternate translation: [Do not look at me with contempt, that I am black] or [Do not look at me disapprovingly, that I am black] (2) the woman does not want people to stare at her in admiration of her beauty. Alternate translation: [Do not stare at my beauty, that I am black]

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

שֶׁ⁠אֲנִ֣י

who,I

The word that indicates that what follows is a reason for what came before. Use a connector in your language that makes it clear that what follows is a reason for what came before. Alternate translation: [because I]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

שֶׁ⁠אֲנִ֣י שְׁחַרְחֹ֔רֶת

who,I dark

Solomon assumes that his readers will understand that here, I am black means “my skin is black” or “my skin is very dark,” as it did in [1:5](../01/05.md). If it would be helpful to your readers, you could include this information. Alternate translation: [that my skin is black] or [that my skin is very dark]

Note 3 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

שֶׁ⁠שֱּׁזָפַ֖תְ⁠נִי הַ⁠שָּׁ֑מֶשׁ

whom,it,has_looked_on_me the,sun

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

שֶׁ⁠שֱּׁזָפַ֖תְ⁠נִי הַ⁠שָּׁ֑מֶשׁ

whom,it,has_looked_on_me the,sun

The author assumes that his readers will understand that the sun scorched me means “the sun made my skin color turn very dark.” You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [that the sun darkened my skin]

נֹטֵרָ֣ה אֶת־הַ⁠כְּרָמִ֔ים כַּרְמִ֥⁠י שֶׁ⁠לִּ֖⁠י לֹ֥א נָטָֽרְתִּי

keeper DOM the,vineyards vineyard_of,my_own which_[belongs],to,me not kept

Alternate translation: [as caretaker of the vineyards— I have not taken care of my own vineyard]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

כַּרְמִ֥⁠י שֶׁ⁠לִּ֖⁠י לֹ֥א נָטָֽרְתִּי

vineyard_of,my_own which_[belongs],to,me not kept

The woman is probably using the phrase my vineyard to refer to her skin. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [my skin I have not protected from the sun] or [I have not protected my complexion from the sun]

Parallel SNG 1:6