SNG 4:3 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: .
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 Ὡς σπάρτίον τὸ κόκκικον χείλη σου, καὶ ἡ λαλιά σου ὡραῖα, ὡς λέπυρον ῥοᾶς μῆλόν σου ἐκτὸς τῆς σιωπήσεώς σου.
(Hōs spartion to kokkikon ⱪeilaʸ sou, kai haʸ lalia sou hōraia, hōs lepuron ɽoas maʸlon sou ektos taʸs siōpaʸseōs sou. )

BrTr Thy lips are as a thread of scarlet, and thy speech is comely: like the rind of a pomegranate is thy cheek without thy veil.

ULT Like a thread of scarlet are your lips,
⇔ and your mouth is lovely.
⇔ Like a slice of pomegranate are your cheeks
⇔ from behind your veil.

UST Your lips are the color of bright red thread,
⇔ and your mouth is beautiful.
⇔ Beneath your veil,
⇔ your cheeks are round and rosy like the halves of a pomegranate.

OEB No OEB SNG book available

WEBBE Your lips are like scarlet thread.
⇔ Your mouth is lovely.
⇔ Your temples are like a piece of a pomegranate behind your veil.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET Your lips are like a scarlet thread;
⇔ your mouth is lovely.
⇔ Your forehead behind your veil
⇔ is like a slice of pomegranate.

LSV As a thread of scarlet [are] your lips,
And your speech [is] lovely,
As the work of the pomegranate [is] your temple behind your veil,

FBV Your lips are as red as scarlet thread. Your mouth is gorgeous. Your cheeks[fn] are the blushing color of pomegranates behind your veil.

4:3 Or “temples.” One of the Dead Sea Scrolls (4Q Canta) can be read as “chin.”

T4T Your lips are like [SIM] a scarlet ribbon,
⇔ and your mouth is lovely.
⇔ Beneath your veil,
⇔ your round, rosy/red cheeks are like [SIM] the halves of a pomegranate.

LEB • Your lips are like a thread of crimson, and your mouth is lovely.
• Your temple is like pomegranate
• from behind your veil.

BBE Your red lips are like a bright thread, and your mouth is fair of form; the sides of your head are like pomegranate fruit under your veil.

Moff your lips like a scarlet thread,
⇔ your mouth so delicious
⇔ your cheeks like slices of pomegranate
⇔ behind your veil;

JPS Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy mouth is comely; thy temples are like a pomegranate split open behind thy veil.

ASV Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet,
⇔ And thy mouth is comely.
⇔ Thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate
⇔ Behind thy veil.

DRA Thy lips are as a scarlet lace: and thy speech sweet. Thy cheeks are as a piece of a pomegranate, besides that which lieth hid within.

YLT As a thread of scarlet [are] thy lips, And thy speech [is] comely, As the work of the pomegranate [is] thy temple behind thy veil,

Drby Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, And thy speech is comely; As a piece of a pomegranate are thy temples Behind thy veil.

RV Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy mouth is comely: thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate behind thy veil.
(Thy/Your lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy/your mouth is comely: thy/your temples are like apiece of a pomegranate behind thy/your veil. )

SLT As a scarlet thread thy lips, and thy speech becoming: as a piece of pomegranate, thy temples from behind thy veil.

Wbstr Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy speech is comely: thy temples are like a piece of pomegranate within thy locks.

KJB-1769 Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy speech is comely: thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate within thy locks.
(Thy/Your lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy/your speech is comely: thy/your temples are like apiece of a pomegranate within thy/your locks. )

KJB-1611 Thy lips are like a threed of scarlet, and thy speach is comely: thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate within thy lockes.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above)

Bshps Thy lippes are lyke a rose coloured ribande, thy wordes are louely, thy cheekes are like a peece of a pomegranate within thyne heeres.
(Thy/Your lips are like a rose coloured ribande, thy/your words are lovely, thy/your cheeks are like a piece of a pomegranate within thine/your hairs.)

Gnva Thy lippes are like a threede of scarlet, and thy talke is comely: thy temples are within thy lockes as a piece of a pomegranate.
(Thy/Your lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy/your talk is comely: thy/your temples are within thy/your locks as apiece of a pomegranate. )

Cvdl Thy lippes are like a rose coloured rybende, thy wordes are louely: thy chekes are like a pece of a pomgranate, besydes that which lyed hyd within.
(Thy/Your lips are like a rose coloured rybende, thy/your words are lovely: thy/your cheeks are like a piece of a pomegranate, besides that which lied hid within.)

Wycl Thi lippis ben as a reed lace, and thi speche is swete; as the relif of an appil of Punyk, so ben thi chekis, with outen that, that is hid with ynne.
(Thy/Your lips been as a red lace, and thy/your speech is sweet; as the relif of an apple of Punyk, so been thy/your cheeks, without that, that is hid within.)

Luth Deine Lippen sind wie eine rosinfarbene Schnur, und deine Rede lieblich. Deine Wangen sind wie der Ritz am Granatapfel zwischen deinen Zöpfen.
(Your lips are as/like a/one rosy-coloured string/cord, and your speech lovely/delightful. Your cheeks are as/like the/of_the Ritz in/at/on_the Granatapfel between your(s) pigtails/braids.)

ClVg Sicut vitta coccinea labia tua, et eloquium tuum dulce. Sicut fragmen mali punici, ita genæ tuæ, absque eo quod intrinsecus latet.[fn]
(Like vitta coccinea lips your, and speech your(sg) sweet/pleasantly. Like fragment evil punishment, so/thus cheeks yours, without by_him that internally/inwards latet. )

4.3 Sicut vitta. Prædicatores vitta dicuntur, quia fluxas cogitationes in cordibus hominum suis prædicationibus restringunt, ne diffluant et cordis oculos premant. Coccinea. Quia Dominici sanguinis, quo redempta est Ecclesia, pretium prædicare non cessat: vel quia prædicatio sancta charitatis ardore flammescit. Labia tua. Dentes qui terunt: labia quæ trita aperiunt. Eloquium tuum dulce. Dum, quæ dicunt faciunt suas prædicationes hominibus quasi sapidas escas apponunt. Sicut fragmen mali punici, ita genæ. In colore exterius puniceo, voluntas martyrii: in albis granis quæ cortice fracto videntur, candor virtutum: qui augetur, dum caro colliditur: candor etiam, cum impleta passione miraculis nitent. In genis verecundia, in malo punico passio Christi. Habet ergo ruborem Ecclesia in genis, cum sacramentum Dominicæ passionis fatetur verbis, et ostendit candorem cum pulsata pressuris, castitatem puri cordis probat, et factis, quid gratiæ salutaris crux habeat, pandit. Absque eo. Licet sint magna, quæ exterius apparent: majora tamen in occulto retinent, quæ divini oculi soli vident. Latet. Confessionem vivificæ crucis possunt omnes in Ecclesia audire, pressuras Ecclesiæ videre, vel etiam miracula quæ ipsi Ecclesiæ sunt divinitus collata, possunt infideles cum fidelibus intueri: ipsa autem sola anima novit quanto teneatur amore vitæ invisibilis, quanto amore erga Deum et proximum flammescat.

4.3 Like vitta. Prædicatores vitta are_said, because fluxas thoughts in/into/on hearts of_men to_his_own preachingnibus restringunt, not diffluant and of_the_heart the_eyes premant. Coccinea. Because Masterci blood, where redempta it_is Assembly/Church, price/ransom/value to_preach not/no ceases: or because preaching holy of_charity with_ardour/enthusiasm flammescit. lips your. Dentes who/which terunt: lips which trita aperiunt. Eloquium your(sg) sweet/pleasantly. Dum, which they_say they_do their_own preachings to_humans as_if sapidas food apponunt. Like fragment evil punishment, so/thus cheeks. In coloure outside puniceo, will/desire(n) martyrdom: in/into/on albis granis which cortice broken they_seem, whiteness/brilliance virtues: who/which augetur, while flesh/meat neckditur: whiteness/brilliance also, when/with filled passionately with_miracles nitent. In genis really/trulycundia, in/into/on I_prefer punico passion Christi. Habet therefore ruborem Assembly/Church in/into/on genis, when/with sacrament Sunday passion fatetur with_words, and he_showed whiteness when/with pulsata pressuris, castitatem puri of_the_heart approves, and deeds/activities, what thanks saving/healing stake/cross have, pandit. Without by_him. It’s_possible let_them_be big, which outside apparent: bigger nevertheless in/into/on hide retinent, which divine eyes alone they_see. Latet. Confessionem aliveficæ cross/frame they_can everyone in/into/on Assembly/Church to_hear, pressuras Assemblies/Churches to_see, or also miracles which themselves Assemblies/Churches are divinitus necksta, they_can infidels when/with to_the_faithful intueri: herself however alone the_soul he_knows how_much holdur with_love of_life invisibilis, how_much with_love towards God and next_door flammescat.

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 3:6–5:1: The man and woman married and the man praised her

In 3:6 a new section begins. The author indicates this by several obvious changes from (3:1–5):

The scene changes from a nighttime dream to a public daytime event.
There is a change of speaker.
The search theme in the preceding verses changes to a wedding theme in this section.
The mood changes from anxious searching to joyful celebration.

In this section the author describes the couple’s wedding day. The section has several parts:

3:6–11 The man and woman came to their wedding in a grand procession

4:1–15 The man described his beautiful bride

4:16–5:1 The man and woman consummated their marriage

Paragraph 4:1–7 The man told his bride how beautiful she is

In 4:1–7 the man used figures of speech to tell his bride how beautiful and majestic she was.Bergant (page 42) explains the two aspects of the description in this way: “It is a descriptive song that uses metaphors and similes both representationally (highlighting physical similarity) and presentationally (eliciting an emotional response).” This type of physical description of one’s beloved is called a “wasf” (an Arabic word). It was a common type of poetry in the ancient Near East. Such figures of speech were common in the love poetry of nearby cultures. The man also describes his bride in 6:4–10 and 7:1–9. In one example (5:10–16) the woman describes the man. He first praised her eyes and hair, then he praised her mouth, lips, and teeth. He described her temples and neck and then her breasts. Paragraph 4:1–7 begins and ends with similar statements that summarize her beauty:

:1 How beautiful you are, my darling—

how very beautiful!

:7 You are altogether beautiful, my darling;

there is no flaw in you.

Cultures have different ideas about what is beautiful. In some cultures the figures of speech that the man used to describe the woman may seem strange or insulting, but in his culture, they were powerful ways to praise her. Sometimes they described the man’s feelings about her instead of describing her appearance. For example, in 4:4 the man compared the woman’s neck (or her necklaces) to the tower of King David. Her neck did not look like the tower, but to him she seemed as majestic as that tower where warriors’ shields hung to represent their power.

Standards for respectful speech and actions in the Song

In 4:1–7 the man often referred to the woman’s body. In most cultures certain parts of the body are “private” or “sexual,” and those parts should not be uncovered in public. In some cultures, women must be covered from the waist to the ankles.In some cultures certain references may embarrass people who read or hear them. It may not be modest to mention a woman’s breasts or her belly or navel (as in some verses of the Song). Other cultures have different standards. Scholars are not sure about the specific standards in Israel when the Song was written, but the Song does not violate the standards of modesty in the OT. Two facts about the Song may help to indicate the standards of modesty in Israel’s culture in OT times:

The Song refers to parts of the female body more than 40 times, but only three of these mention areas below the waist.Two of these references are to the feet, which were usually uncovered. The other is to “rounded thighs” in 7:1. It probably refers to the general shape of the thighs, which may be obvious even when a woman is fully clothed. This may imply that the area below the waist was the “private” area, which must be covered in public.
In 8:8–10 both the woman and her brothers spoke casually about her breasts. This probably indicates that in that culture a woman did not always cover her breasts. For example, it was common to breast-feed babies openly (as in 8:1 and other OT verses).

These two facts imply that the author described the woman’s body in a more modest way than some scholars assume. When the man described the woman’s beauty (as in 4:1–7 and 7:1–9), he did it in a proper way. He did not describe “private sexual” parts. In some languages it may be helpful to include a footnote to explain that cultures have different standards of what is proper, decent, and respectful. Translate in a way that does not violate your culture’s standards.

4:3a

Your lips are like a scarlet ribbon,

Your lips are like a red ribbon,
Your lips attract/delight me with their lovely color.

Your lips are like a scarlet ribbon: Here the author compares the woman’s lips to a scarlet ribbon. The word scarlet refers to a bright red color. In ancient Palestine red lips were considered beautiful, so the woman probably put something on her lips to make them a bright red color.One suggestion is that she used juice made from the nests of a certain insect.

In some cultures people do not consider red lips to be beautiful, or red lips may imply something bad about a woman. If that is true in your language, you may translate in a more general way. For example:

Your lips are a glorious color.

Your lips are beautiful.

Your lips shine.

scarlet thread: scarlet ribbon: The phrase scarlet ribbon probably emphasizes the color scarlet, which is bright red. The phrase does not imply that the woman’s lips were thin like some ribbon may be. In your translation you may need to compare her lips to something thick. For example:

Your lips are as beautiful as fine scarlet cord

4:3b

and your mouth is lovely.

and your mouth is beautiful.
Oh, how beautiful they are!

and your mouth is lovely: The phrase and your mouth is lovely is parallel to 4:3a, and it probably has a similar meaning. However, scholars interpret the Hebrew word that the BSB translates as mouth in different ways here:

It means “mouth.” For example:
your mouth is lovely. (NIV) (BSB, CEV, GW, NAB, NASB, NCV, NET, NIV, NJPS, NLT, REB, RSV)
It means “words” or “speech.” For example:
and your words enchanting. (NJB) (KJV, NEB, NJB, GNT)

It is recommended that you follow option (1), as most English versions do. The Hebrew word can have either meaning, but in this context the man described the woman’s beauty. It seems unlikely that he suddenly changed to describing what she said. However, in Hebrew the word for “lips” can also mean “language” (Genesis 11:1, 6, 7). That meaning may be implied here also.

4:3c

Your brow behind your veil is like a slice of pomegranate.

Your cheeks behind your veil are like pomegranate halves.
Your cheeks under your veil fascinate/draw me like two halves of a pomegranate.

Your brow behind your veil is like a slice of pomegranate: This clause is a simile. The author does not indicate how the woman’s brow…is like a slice of pomegranate behind her veil. There are at least two ways to interpret the simile:

It indicates that her skin has a reddish color like a pomegranate’s skin. For example:
Your cheeks are like rosy pomegranates behind your veil. (NLT) (GNT, CEV, NLT)
It indicates that the pattern of light shining through the threads in the girl’s veil make her cheeks look like the inside of the pomegranate with its white membranes and red seeds.

Most English versions do not indicate how the girl’s cheeks are like a pomegranate. It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). It is probably more likely that the woman’s skin had a healthy reddish color and was smooth like the outside reddish skin of the pomegranate. The rough inside texture seems less attractive.

Some ways to translate this meaning are:

Translate the metaphor without indicating its meaning. For example:
Your cheeks behind your veil are like slices of a pomegranate.
Translate the metaphor and indicate its meaning. For example:
Your cheeks are like rosy pomegranates behind your veil. (NLT)
Your cheeks behind your veil are like pomegranate halves—lovely and delicious. (NLT96)
Translate the meaning without the metaphor. For example:
behind your veil are hidden beautiful rosy cheeks. (CEV)

Your brow: Here the man compared the woman’s brow to a slice of a pomegranate. There are different ways to interpret the phrase Your brow here:

It refers to the woman’s “cheeks” (the sides of her face below her eyes). For example:
Your cheeks are like halves of a pomegranate… (ESV) (CEV, ESV, NAB, NCV, NJB, NLT, RSV, GNT)
It refers to the woman’s templesThe word “temple” here refers to the region on each side of the head in front of the ear and above the cheek bone. or forehead/brow (the sides of her face beside her eyebrows and above them). For example:
Your temples behind your veil are like the halves of a pomegranate. (NIV) (BSB, GW, NASB, NIV, NET, KJV, NJPS)The REB translates this as “parted lips.” No other versions consulted followed this interpretation.

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), but interpretation (2) is also acceptable. The literal meaning of the Hebrew word seems closest to “temple.” However, many scholars believe that this word could also include the cheeks. Languages use different words to refer to different parts of a person’s face. Use a natural description in your language.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / simile

כְּ⁠ח֤וּט הַ⁠שָּׁנִי֙ שִׂפְתֹתַ֔יִ⁠ךְ

[are]_like_(the),thread_of of_(the),scarlet lips_of,your

The writer is stating that the woman’s lips are Like a thread of scarlet because they are a bright red color. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state that explicitly. You could also use a term for a material that is thicker than thread such as ribbon. Alternate translation: [Your lips are a beautiful red like scarlet thread] or [Your lips are a beautiful red like scarlet ribbon]

כְּ⁠פֶ֤לַח הָֽ⁠רִמּוֹן֙ רַקָּתֵ֔⁠ךְ

[is]_like_(the),slice_of of_(the),pomegranate temple_of,your

The term translated as cheeks could: (1) refer to the woman’s two cheeks on the side of her mouth. (2) be translated as “temples” and refer to the woman’s two temples on the side of her forehead. Alternate translation: [Like a slice of pomegranate are your temples] (3) be translated as “forehead.” Alternate translation: [Like a slice of pomegranate is your forehead]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / simile

כְּ⁠פֶ֤לַח הָֽ⁠רִמּוֹן֙ רַקָּתֵ֔⁠ךְ

[is]_like_(the),slice_of of_(the),pomegranate temple_of,your

The writer could be comparing: (1) the shape of the woman’s cheeks to the shape of a pomegranate which has been sliced in half and to the red outside color of a pomegranate. Alternate translation: [Your cheeks are red and rounded like a slice of pomegranate] or [Your cheeks resemble the color and shape of a slice of pomegranate] or (if you decided that the term cheeks refers to the woman’s temples) [Your temples are red like a slice of pomegranate] (2) the way the woman’s cheeks looked through the inside of the veil to the color and pattern of a pomegranate which has been sliced in half. Alternate translation: [Your cheeks resemble the color and pattern of the inside of a slice of pomegranate] or (if you decided that the term cheeks refers to the woman’s temples) [Your temples are the color of the inside of a slice of pomegranate]

מִ⁠בַּ֖עַד לְ⁠צַמָּתֵֽ⁠ךְ

from,behind to,veil_of,your

See how you translated the phrase from behind your veil in [4:1](../04/01.md).

Parallel SNG 4:3

Section 3:6–5:1: The man and woman married and the man praised her

Paragraph 4:1–7 The man told his bride how beautiful she is

4:3a

4:3b

4:3c