SNG 2:8 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 Φωνὴ ἀδελφιδοῦ μου, ἰδοὺ οὗτος ἥκει πηδῶν ἐπὶ τὰ ὄρη, διαλλόμενος ἐπὶ τοὺς βουνούς.
(Fōnaʸ adelfidou mou, idou houtos haʸkei paʸdōn epi ta oraʸ, diallomenos epi tous bounous. )

BrTr The voice of my kinsman! behold, he comes leaping over the mountains, bounding over the hills.

ULT The voice of my beloved! Behold, this one is coming,
⇔ leaping over the mountains,
⇔ jumping over the hills.

UST Listen! Look! The man whom I love is coming.
⇔ It is as though he is leaping over the mountains
⇔ and skipping over the hills,

OEB No OEB SNG book available

WEBBE ⇔ The voice of my beloved!
⇔ Behold, he comes,
⇔ leaping on the mountains,
⇔ skipping on the hills.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET Listen! My lover is approaching!
⇔ Look! Here he comes,
⇔ leaping over the mountains,
⇔ bounding over the hills!

LSV The voice of my beloved! Behold, this—he is coming,
Leaping on the mountains, skipping on the hills.

FBV Listen! I hear the voice of my love! Look! Here he comes, leaping on the mountains, skipping over the hills—

T4T ⇔ I hear the voice of the man who loves me.
⇔ It is as though [MET] he is leaping over the mountains
⇔ and skipping over the hills

LEB • The voice of my beloved! Look! Here he[fn] comes leaping upon the mountains,
• bounding over the hills!

2:? Literally “this one”

BBE The voice of my loved one! See, he comes dancing on the mountains, stepping quickly on the hills.

Moff Listen, it is my darling,
⇔ there he is, coming to me
⇔ leaping across the mountains
⇔ bounding over the hills!

JPS Hark! my beloved! behold, he cometh, leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills.

ASV ⇔ The voice of my beloved! behold, he cometh,
⇔ Leaping upon the mountains,
⇔ Skipping upon the hills.

DRA The voice of my beloved, behold he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping over the hills.

YLT The voice of my beloved! lo, this — he is coming, Leaping on the mountains, skipping on the hills.

Drby The voice of my beloved! Behold, he cometh Leaping upon the mountains, Skipping upon the hills.

RV The voice of my beloved! behold, he cometh, leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills.
(The voice of my beloved! behold, he cometh/comes, leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills. )

SLT The voice of my beloved I behold him coming leaping upon the mountains, springing upon the hills.

Wbstr The voice of my beloved! behold, he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills.

KJB-1769 ¶ The voice of my beloved! behold, he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills.
(¶ The voice of my beloved! behold, he cometh/comes leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills. )

KJB-1611 ¶ The voice of my beloued! behold! hee commeth leaping vpon the mountaines, skipping vpon the hils.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps I charge you (O ye daughters of Hierusalem) by the roes and hindes of the fiede, that ye wake not vp my loue, nor touche her, tyll she be content her selfe.
(I charge you (Oh ye/you_all daughters of Yerusalem) by the roes and hinds/does of the field, that ye/you_all wake not up my love, nor touch her, till she be content herself.)

Gnva It is the voyce of my welbeloued: beholde, hee commeth leaping by the mountaines, and skipping by the hilles.
(It is the voice of my well-beloved: behold, he cometh/comes leaping by the mountains, and skipping by the hills. )

Cvdl Me thynke I heare the voyce of my beloued: lo, there commeth he hoppinge vpon ye mountaynes, and leapinge ouer the litle hilles.
(Me think I hear the voice of my beloved: lo, there cometh/comes he hopping upon ye/you_all mountains, and leaping over the little hills.)

Wycl this derlyng cometh leepynge in mounteyns, and skippynge ouer litle hillis.
(this darling cometh/comes leaping in mountains, and skipping over little hills.)

Luth Da ist die Stimme meines Freundes. Siehe, er kommt und hüpfet auf den Bergen und springet auf den Hügeln!
(So is the voice(n) my friend. See/Look, he comes and hops on/in/to the mountain(s)/hill(s) and vault/spring(v) on/in/to the hills!)

ClVg Sponsa Vox dilecti mei; ecce iste venit, saliens in montibus, transiliens colles.[fn]
(The_bride The_voice beloved my/mine; behold this he_came, saliens in/into/on the_mountains, transiliens the_hills. )

2.8 Vox dilecti mei. Hac est quam audivi adjurantem filias Jerusalem ne me suscitarent: gaudeo consolatoriam ejus vocem audiens, cum ejus faciem nondum video; tamen sublevato ad cœlum animo, aliquam suavitatem futuræ beatitudinis prægusto, etiam in hoc præsenti. Saliens in montibus. Salit in montibus, et quasi pedes ponit, quo signo ibi fuisse dignoscitur, quia eum per passionem et vitæ conversationem imitatur. Saltum fecit de cœlo in uterum, de utero in præsepe, de præsepi in crucem, de cruce in sepulcrum, de sepulcro rediit in cœlum. Ipse est qui elevatus est super omnes montes et colles, id est, sanctorum tam majorum quam minorum altitudines. Transiliens colles. In collibus non apparent signa pedum, sed umbram supervolantis susceperunt: quia etsi non ut illi majores, tamen aliquatenus imitantur et ab eo visitantur, Montes et colles sunt, qui generalem Ecclesiæ conversationem quasi floridam camporum planitiem, singulari mentis puritate transcendunt, et ab infimis recedentes vicinius superna contemplantur. In quibus salit, quia corda sublimium crebra visitatione illustrat; et non manet, sed salit et transilit: quia hæc dulcedo contemplationis brevis est et rara, propter gravedinem carnis, quia terrena inhabitatio aggravat sensum multa cogitantem.

2.8 The_voice beloved my/mine. Hac it_is how I_heard adyurantem daughters Yerusalem not me to_awakennt: gaudeo consolatoriam his voice hearing, when/with his face not_yet I_see; nevertheless sublevato to sky in_mind, some suavitatem future of_happiness beforegusto, also in/into/on this present. Saliens in/into/on the_mountains. Salit in/into/on the_mountains, and as_if feet puts, where sign/seal(v) there to_have_been worthycitur, because him through passion and of_life conversation imitates. Saltum he_did from/about sky in/into/on uterum, from/about the_womb in/into/on beforesepe, from/about beforesepi in/into/on cross/frame, from/about stake/cross in/into/on tomb/grave, from/about grave/tomb returned in/into/on sky. Exactly_that it_is who/which elevatus it_is over everyone mountains and the_hills, that it_is, holy_place tam of_elders how minorum heights. Transiliens the_hills. In hills not/no apparent signs feet, but shadow supervolantis they_undertook: because even_though not/no as them elders, nevertheless sometenus they_imitate and away by_him visitantur, Mountains and the_hills are, who/which generalem Assemblies/Churches conversation as_if floridam of_the_fields planitiem, eachr of_the_mind puritate transcendunt, and away lowest recedentes closer heavenly they_contemplate. In to_whom salit, because hearts sublimium crebra visitatione illustrates; and not/no remains, but salit and transilit: because these_things sweet/pleasantlydo contemplation shortlys it_is and rara, because gravedinem of_flesh, because earthly inhousing aggravat sense fine they_thinkem.

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 2:8–3:5: The man called the woman, but later she could not find him

The author began this scene at a different place and time from the ending of the preceding section (1:1–2:7). At the end of that section, the woman and man were together, but at the beginning of this section (2:8) the woman was in her room at home, and the man was coming to her over the hills.

There are two poems in Section 2:8–3:5. In the first poem (2:8–17) the man came and stood outside the woman’s room. She quoted what he said as he invited her to come out with him and enjoy a beautiful spring day. The second poem (3:1–5) describes a time when the woman searched for her beloved at night. This second poem has much in common with Section 5:2–6:3. See the discussion of similarities at the beginning of that section.

Both parts of this section (2:8–17 and 3:1–5) may describe what the woman imagined or what she dreamed. The descriptions may not refer to actual events in the poem.

Paragraph 2:8–17

This beautiful poem (2:8–17) describes springtime. In springtime, new plants begin to grow, flowers bloom, and fruit trees begin to blossom. In these lines springtime symbolizes that love was growing between the woman and the man. The woman first spoke to herself, but then she quoted the man as he invited her to come out of her house and go away with him.

This poem begins and ends in a similar way. At the beginning (2:8–9) the man came to the woman over the mountains like a gazelle or stag. At the end (2:17) he again roamed on the mountains like a gazelle or stag.

In these lines the woman spoke. However, from 2:10b through 2:14 she quoted what the man said. Then she continued speaking in 2:15–17.

2:8a–10a

Here the woman began the section by saying that she heard the voice or sound of her beloved (2:8a). In 2:8b–2:9e she described how he came to her family’s home where she lived. Then in 2:10a she introduced what he said to her.

2:8a

Listen! My beloved approaches.

I hear the voice of my beloved!
Listen! I hear my beloved!

Listen! My beloved approaches: The Hebrew wordqol that the BSB translates as Listen has different meanings in different contexts. Here it may refer specifically to the beloved’s voice or more generally to the sound of his coming. Some ways to translate it are:

Refer to the voice of the beloved. For example:
I hear my beloved’s voice. (GW)
Refer more generally to the sound of his coming. For example:
Ah, I hear my lover coming! (NLT)
Listen! My beloved is coming!

The author uses the same Hebrew word in this way in 2:14 when the man wants to hear his beloved’s voice. Use a natural way in your language to communicate excitement in this context.

My beloved: Suggestions for translating My beloved are given in the notes on 1:13a–b.

2:8b–9e

There is parallelism in 2:8b–9e. In the following example, the similar phrases are indicated in similar ways:

^8aListen! My beloved approaches.

^8b Look! Here he comes,

^8c leaping across the mountains,

^8d bounding over the hills.

^9a My beloved is like a gazelle,

^9b or a young stag.

^9c Look, he stands behind our wall:

^9d gazing through the windows,

^9e peering through the lattice.

The phrase “ Look! Here he comes” (2:8b) is parallel to “Look, he stands behind our wall” (2:9c). After 2:8b, there are two more parallel phrases “leaping across the mountains” (2:8c) and “bounding over the hills” (2:8d). These phrases have almost the same meaning. Line 2:9c is followed by two more parallel lines “gazing through the windows” and “peering through the lattice” (2:9d–e).

In some languages it is more natural to combine the parallel lines that follow each other. See the General Comment on 2:9d–e following the notes for 2:9e for an example.

comes…leaping…bounding…stands…gazing…peering: The Hebrew verb forms that the BSB translates as comes, leaping, bounding, stands, gazing, and peering do not indicate when these actions happened.They are participles, which may indicate continuing action in the past, present, or future. The verb forms help people imagine the actions happening as they read about them. That makes the action seem more vivid and exciting. Use a natural way in your language to do that.

2:8b

Look! Here he comes,

Here he comes!
Behold! I see him coming.

Look! Here he comes: The phrase Look! Here he comes is an exclamation. It indicates that the woman was excited and happy that her beloved was approaching her. It implies that she wanted others to share her excitement that he was coming.

Some ways to translate this exclamation are:

Behold, he comes… (RSV)

Here he comes… (NCV)

He’s coming!

Many languages have special ways to express excitement like this. Sometimes there is a special exclamation or form of the verb. For example:

Oh listen! I hear him coming!

Indicate the woman’s excitement or surprise in a natural way in your language.

Look!: The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as Look calls attention to the statement, word, or phrase that follows it. In this context, it also communicates excitement. Consider how you call attention to a word or phrase in your language. You may be able to use an exclamation word like “Behold!” or “Listen!” or you may be able to communicate the excitement by making the sentence itself more emphatic or exciting.

Look occurs four times in the Song. Three of these are in this section (2:8, 9, 11). In each context translate its function in a natural way in your language.

2:8c–9e

In these lines there is a complex simile that continues for several lines. It describes a gazelle or stag, and it also describes the man whom the woman loves. The author used verbs that can refer to both the man and to an animal, but the actions are more like an animal’s actions. It is easy to imagine a lively animal running to the window to gaze into it. The woman implied that her beloved did that. The tone of the simile can be described as “playful.”

Other places in the OT that mention the leaping and swift running of gazelles or stags are 2 Samuel 2:18, 1 Chronicles 12:8, Psalm 18:33, and Isaiah 35:6.Keil-Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament, Volume 6, page 48.

2:8c

leaping across the mountains,

He is leaping on the mountains,
He jumps/bounds over the rugged hills

2:8d

bounding over the hills.

he is jumping over the hills.
and soars across the highlands.

2:8c–d

leaping across the mountains, bounding over the hills: The two phrases leaping across the mountains and bounding over the hills have similar meanings. leaping and bounding describe the way the man hurried toward the woman. It emphasizes that he was eager to see her. It also implies her excitement as she saw him jump across the hills and rush toward her. Translate this excited description in a natural and poetic way in your language. For example:

running over the mountains,

racing across the hills to me. (GNT)

The two parallel lines have the same meaning. In some languages it may be more natural to combine them. For example:

Oh, look! He’s coming toward me, bounding over the mountains!

He runs and leaps on the mountains and hills!

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

ק֣וֹל דּוֹדִ֔⁠י

sound/voice my_lover_of,of

Here the word voice either refers to: (1) the man’s words that he is speaking or (2) the sound of his voice which indicates he is approaching. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [Listen, I hear my beloved speaking] or [Listen, I hear my beloved approaching]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / exclamations

הִנֵּה

see/lo/see!

Behold is an exclamation word that is used to bring attention to the man’s approach. Use an exclamation that would communicate that meaning in your language. See how you translated Behold in [1:15](../01/015.md). Alternate translation: [See]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / go

בָּ֑א

he/it_came

Your language may say “going” rather than coming in contexts such as this. Use whichever is more natural. Alternate translation: [is going]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / parallelism

מְדַלֵּג֙ עַל־הֶ֣⁠הָרִ֔ים מְקַפֵּ֖ץ עַל־הַ⁠גְּבָעֽוֹת

leaping on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in the,mountains bounding on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in the,hills

These two phrases mean the same thing. The second emphasizes the meaning of the first by repeating the same idea with different words. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could combine these two phrases and provide emphasis in another way. Alternate translation: [leaping over the mountains!] or [leaping and jumping over the mountains and hills!]

Parallel SNG 2:8