SNG 7:1 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) Your feet are so beautiful in sandals, daughter of a noble.
⇔ The curves of your thighs are like ornaments—the work of a craftsman’s hands.

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 Ἐπίστρεφε ἐπίστρεφε ἡ Σουναμίτις· ἐπίστρεφε ἐπίστρεφε, καὶ ὀφόμεθα ἐν σοί.
¶ Τί ὄψεσθε ἐν τῇ Σουναμίτιδι; ἡ ἐρχομένη ὡς χοροὶ τῶν παρεμβολῶν.
(Epistrefe epistrefe haʸ Sounamitis; epistrefe epistrefe, kai ofometha en soi.
¶ Ti opsesthe en taʸ Sounamitidi; haʸ erⱪomenaʸ hōs ⱪoroi tōn parembolōn. )

BrTr Return, return, O Sunamite; return, return, and we will look at thee.
¶ What will ye see in the Sunamite? She comes as bands of armies.

ULT How your feet are beautiful in sandals, daughter of a noble!
⇔ The curves of your thighs are like ornaments,
⇔ the work of the hands of a craftsman.

UST You who are the daughter of a prince,
⇔ have very lovely feet in your sandals!
⇔ Your curved hips are like jewels
⇔ that have been made by a man who shapes jewels very well.

BSB How beautiful are your sandaled feet,
⇔ O daughter of the prince!
⇔ The curves of your thighs are like jewels,
⇔ the handiwork of a master.

OEB No OEB SNG book available

WEBBE How beautiful are your feet in sandals, prince’s daughter!
⇔ Your rounded thighs are like jewels,
⇔ the work of the hands of a skilful workman.

WMBB (Same as above)

MSG ^(1-12)Shapely and graceful your sandaled feet,
  and queenly your movement—
Your limbs are lithe and elegant,
  the work of a master artist.
Your body is a chalice,
  wine-filled.
Your skin is silken and tawny
  like a field of wheat touched by the breeze.
Your breasts are like fawns,
  twins of a gazelle.
Your neck is carved ivory, curved and slender.
  Your eyes are wells of light, deep with mystery.
  Quintessentially feminine!
Your profile turns all heads,
  commanding attention.
The feelings I get when I see the high mountain ranges
  —stirrings of desire, longings for the heights—
Remind me of you,
  and I’m spoiled for anyone else!
Your beauty, within and without, is absolute,
  dear lover, close companion.
You are tall and supple, like the palm tree,
  and your full breasts are like sweet clusters of dates.
I say, “I’m going to climb that palm tree!
  I’m going to caress its fruit!”
Oh yes! Your breasts
  will be clusters of sweet fruit to me,
Your breath clean and cool like fresh mint,
  your tongue and lips like the best wine.
The Woman

NET How beautiful are your sandaled feet,
⇔ O nobleman’s daughter!
⇔ The curves of your thighs are like jewels,
⇔ the work of the hands of a master craftsman.

LSV As the chorus of “Mahanaim.” How beautiful were your feet with sandals, O daughter of Nadib. The turnings of your sides [are] as ornaments,
Work of the hands of a craftsman.

FBV How beautiful are your sandaled feet, princess![fn] Your curved thighs are like ornaments made by a master craftsman.

7:1 “Princess”: literally, “daughter of a noble.”

T4T You who are the daughter of a prince/king,
⇔ you have lovely feet in your sandals.
⇔ Your curved hips/thighs are like [SIM] jewels
⇔ that have been made by a ◄skilled craftsman/man who shapes jewels very well►.

LEB No LEB SNG 7:1 verse available

BBE How beautiful are your feet in their shoes, O king's daughter! The curves of your legs are like jewels, the work of the hands of a good workman:

Moff How neatly you trip it,
⇔ O princess mine
⇔ your thighs are swaying like links of a chai
⇔ that a master-hand has moulded;

JPS (7-2) How beautiful are thy steps in sandals, O prince's daughter! The roundings of thy thighs are like the links of a chain, the work of the hands of a skilled workman.

ASV How beautiful are thy feet in sandals, O prince’s daughter!
⇔ Thy rounded thighs are like jewels,
⇔ The work of the hands of a skilful workman.

DRA What shalt thou see in the Sulamitess but the companies of camps? How beautiful are thy steps in shoes, O prince’s daughter! The joints of thy thighs are like jewels, that are made by the hand of a skillful workman.

YLT As the chorus of 'Mahanaim.' How beautiful were thy feet with sandals, O daughter of Nadib. The turnings of thy sides [are] as ornaments, Work of the hands of an artificer.

Drby How beautiful are thy footsteps in sandals, O prince's daughter! The roundings of thy thighs are like jewels, The work of the hands of an artist.

RV How beautiful are thy feet in sandals, O prince’s daughter! the joints of thy thighs are like jewels, the work of the hands of a cunning workman.
(How beautiful are thy/your feet in sandals, Oh prince’s daughter! the joints of thy/your thighs are like jewels, the work of the hands of a cunning workman. )

SLT How beautiful were thy steps with shoes, O daughter of a noble! the circuits of thy thighs a necklace, the work of the hands of an artist.

Wbstr How beautiful are thy feet with shoes, O prince's daughter! the joints of thy thighs are like jewels, the work of the hands of a skillful workman.

KJB-1769 How beautiful are thy feet with shoes, O prince’s daughter! the joints of thy thighs are like jewels, the work of the hands of a cunning workman.
(How beautiful are thy/your feet with shoes, Oh prince’s daughter! the joints of thy/your thighs are like jewels, the work of the hands of a cunning workman. )

KJB-1611 ¶ Howe beautifull are thy feete with shooes, O princes daughter! the ioynts of thy thighs are like iewels, the worke of the hands of a cunning workman.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps O howe pleasaunt are thy treadynges with thy shoes, thou princes daughter? the ioyntes of thy thighes are like a faire iewell, which is wrought by a cunnyng workemaister.
(Oh how pleasant are thy/your treadynges with thy/your shoes, thou/you princes daughter? the joints of thy/your thighs are like a fair jewel, which is wrought/done by a cunning workemaister.)

Gnva Howe beautifull are thy goings with shooes, O princes daughter! the ioynts of thy thighs are like iewels: the worke of the hande of a cunning workeman.
(How beautiful are thy/your goings with shoes, Oh princes daughter! the joints of thy/your thighs are like jewels: the work of the hand of a cunning workman. )

Cvdl O how pleasaunt are thy treadinges with thy shues, thou prynces daughter? Thy thees are like a fayre iewell, which is wrought by a connynge workmaster:
(Oh how pleasant are thy/your treadinges with thy/your shoes, thou/you princes daughter? Thy/Your thees are like a fair jewel, which is wrought/done by a cunning workmaster:)

Wycl Douytir of the prince, thi goyngis ben ful faire in schoon; the ioyncturis of thi heppis ben as brochis, that ben maad bi the hond of a crafti man.
(Daughter of the prince, thy/your goings been full fair in shoen; the junctures of thy/your hips been as brochis, that been made by the hand of a crafty man.)

Luth Kehre wieder, kehre wieder, o Sulamith! Kehre wieder, kehre wieder, daß wir dich schauen! Was sehet ihr an Sulamith? Den Reigen zu Mahanaim.
(Sweep again, turn/return again, o Sulamith! Sweep again, turn/return again, that we/us you/yourself look! What see you(pl)/their/her at/to Sulamith? The round_dance to/for Mahanaim.)

ClVg [Sponsa Quid videbis in Sulamite, nisi choros castrorum? Chorus Quam pulchri sunt gressus tui in calceamentis, filia principis ! Juncturæ femorum tuorum sicut monilia quæ fabricata sunt manu artificis.[fn]
([The_bride What you_will_see in/into/on Sulamite, except dances/choirs of_the_camp? Chorus How beautiful are steps yours(sg) in/into/on shoes/sandals, daughter to_the_princes ! Yuncturæ femorum yours like monilia which carpenterscata are by_hand artificis. )

7.1 Quid videbis in Sulamite. Dum Ecclesia monet Synagogam, ipse Redemptor annuens hortamentis illius, se effectum daturum promittit. Elias enim et Enoch in illis convertendis non laborarent, nisi divinis Scripturis et apostolicis testimoniis certitudinem conversionis eorum haberent. Quid videbis. Quasi diceret: Doles de incredulitate Synagogæ; sed scias in proximo convertendam, ut in ea jam non appareat infidelitas, sed opera spiritualium agonum, et virtutum. Quam pulchri sunt gressus. In præmissis descriptionibus est descensus a superioribus ad inferiora, et superiorum tantum fit commendatio membrorum. In hac commendantur etiam inferiora, et ab inferioribus ascenditur ad superiora; ut ostendatur, quod illa Ecclesia in novissimo, ex illis ante reprobis convocata, habebit tamen membra superioribus non imparia; in qua fit mentio gressuum, quia non in otio futura, sed ad certamen processura, primam pulchritudinem ex certamine ostenditur habitura. Quam pulchri sunt. Primo operum constantiam et mortificationem voluptatum in ea laudat: Quam pulchri sunt. Hæc dicens ad laudem ipsius Ecclesiæ conjunctæ ex dulcedine se convertit, ut Judæi facilius convertantur, et Ecclesia de illis convertendis plus laboret. Juncturæ femorum. Recte post gressus calceatos, junctura femorum laudatur: quia per ministerium prædicantium perficit unanimis conjunctio credentium populorum. Monilia. Mundissima, cum jam non dissentiant hi ab illis, sed in omnibus conveniant: et operum attestatione clarescant. Quæ fabricata sunt. Quæ conjunctio, arte inscrutabilis consilii ordinata est: quis enim novit quare Deus usque ad illud tempus Judæos excæcaverit. Quæ fabricata sunt manu. Id est, ineffabili largitate firmata conditoris. Umbilicus tuus. Illi etiam inter molles, qui gignunt, etsi mundo licite hærent, tamen bene annuntiant.

7.1 What you_will_see in/into/on Sulamite. While Assembly/Church advises Synagogam, exactly_that/himself Redemptor annuens hortamentis of_that, himself effectum givenum promises. Elias because and Enoch in/into/on to_them convertendis not/no to_worknt, except divine Scripturis and apostolicis testimonys certitudinem conversionis their they_would_have. What you_will_see. As_if would_say: Doles from/about incredulitate Synagogæ; but know in/into/on the_next convertendam, as in/into/on them already not/no appear infidelitas, but works spiritual agonum, and virtues. How beautiful are steps. In beforemissis descriptionibus it_is descensus from to_the_above to inferiora, and superiorum only fit recommendsio members. In this_way commendantur also inferiora, and away lower_ones went_upur to higher; as be_shown, that that Assembly/Church in/into/on the_last, from to_them before reprobates convocata, will_have nevertheless members to_the_above not/no imparia; in/into/on which fit mentio gressuum, because not/no in/into/on leisure the_future, but to competition processura, the_first beauty from competition is_shown dressra. How beautiful are. At_first works constantiam and mortificationem of_pleasures in/into/on them praises: How beautiful are. This saying to praise of_his/her_own Assemblies/Churches conyunctæ from sweetness himself he_turned, as Jews easier they_are_converted, and Assembly/Church from/about to_them convertendis plus work. Yuncturæ femorum. Recte after steps shod, yunctura femorum is_praised: because through ministry they_preachium completes unanimis conyunctio believers of_the_peoples. Monilia. Mundissima, when/with already not/no dissentiant these away to_them, but in/into/on to_all conveniant: and works attestatione clearlyscant. Which carpenterscata are. Which conyunctio, closely inscrutabilis advice organized it_is: who/any because he_knows why God until to it/this/that time/season Yudahos excæcaverit. Which carpenterscata are by_hand. That it_is, ineffabili largitate firmata of_the_founder. Umbilicus your(sg). Those also between molles, who/which gignunt, even_though to_the_world licite theserent, nevertheless well announcent.

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 6:4–8:4: The man praised the woman and sang about springtime

In this section the man described the woman in two separate speeches (6:4–10 and 7:1–10). Some verses are difficult to understand, especially 6:11–13, and it is important to think about them carefully. The woman responded to the man in 7:11 and continued to speak to the end of the section at 8:4.

The verse numbering in the Hebrew text is different from the BSB and a majority of English versions. The Hebrew text begins chapter 7 where the BSB begins 6:13, so in chapter 7 the verses in the Hebrew text are one number higher than the verse numbers in the BSB. For example, 6:13–7:13 in the BSB is 7:1–14 in the Hebrew text (and also in the NJB and NJPS). It is helpful to be aware that some commentaries follow the Hebrew verse numbering. The Notes will follow the verse numbers in the BSB (along with the majority of English versions).

Paragraph 7:1–10 The man praised the woman and she responded

In 7:1–9a the man sang another praise song to the woman, and then she responded in 7:9b–10. Here the man used a different order to describe her beauty. He began with her feet and moved upward to her head as the final focus. In other descriptions (4:1–5, 5:10–16, and 6:4–7) he began with the head and moved downward. Here, he described several parts of her body that he described earlier in the book (neck, eyes, breasts, hair, and head), and he mentioned some other parts for the first time. Notice that 7:3 is identical to 4:5a.

Scholars differ about whether the woman was dancing in this section. In 6:13 the woman said that she did not want spectators to look at her as though she were a dancer. In 7:1–10 the man did not describe her movements, but only her physical features. So, she was probably not dancing in this unit. Some scholars think that she was naked or dressed in transparent clothing, but that idea is not supported in the text.

These verses have many metaphors and similes, and scholars differ about how to interpret some of them. The Notes will discuss each one and give translation suggestions.

7:1a–b

(reordered) My noble lady, your feet are beautiful in sandals!

(reordered) You are like a queen/princess, and your feet in sandals are gorgeous/lovely.

How beautiful are your sandaled feet, O daughter of the prince: Here the man spoke directly to the woman, using the phrase daughter of the prince like a name for her. In some languages it is more natural to begin the verse with this phrase. For example:

Daughter/Child of noblemen, your feet are very beautiful in sandals.

For more information, see the note on 7:1b.

7:1a

How beautiful are your sandaled feet,

Your feet are/look beautiful in your sandals,
Your feet in sandals are so beautiful,

How beautiful are your sandaled feet: The Hebrew clause that the BSB translates as How beautiful are your sandaled feet is an exclamation. It is similar to the exclamation in 4:10. Here the man told the woman that her feet looked beautiful in the sandals that she wore. Some other ways to translate the exclamation are:

Your feet with sandals are so beautiful

Your sandaled feet are lovely!

Your feet look beautiful in your sandals

sandaled: The word sandaled indicates that the woman was wearing “sandals.” The word “sandals” refers here to leather footwear held on with straps. Sandals leave most of the top of the foot uncovered, so when the woman wore sandals, the man was able to see much of her foot. The sandals also added to the natural beauty of her feet. In that culture sandals were often decorative, and they were sometimes used in ceremonies.

7:1b

O daughter of the prince!

O prince’s daughter! (NIV)
and you are a noblewoman.

O daughter of the prince: The word O is not in the Hebrew text. It is commonly used for direct address in English poetry, and the BSB and some other versions add it. In most languages it is more natural not to add it. Some other ways to translate the phrase are:

noble daughter (GW)

you are a princess (CEV)

O queenly maiden (RSV)

The phrase daughter of the prince is used in a figurative way here. It indicates that the woman was a person of noble character, like a queen should be. It does not literally indicate that the woman was the child of a king and queen, princes, or other noble men and women. This is another example of the royalty theme. Here is another way to translate this:

What a magnificent young woman you are! (GNT)

Use a natural way in your language to describe a woman who is greatly respected for her good character.

7:1c–d

The curves of your thighs are like jewels, the handiwork of a master: Here the man compared the woman’s thighs to jewels that were shaped by a skilled artist. The phrase the handiwork of a master describes the jewels, not the woman’s thighs. Jewels that are shaped by an expert are especially beautiful. The woman’s thighs were also beautifully shaped like such fine jewels. Their curves matched perfectly.

Some other ways to translate this meaning are:

The curve of your thighs is like the work of an artist (GNT)

Your thighs have beautiful curves. They are like jewels that a master craftsman shaped perfectly.

7:1c

The curves of your thighs are like jewels,

Your rounded thighs are like jewels, (RSV)
The rounded shape of your thighs is like ornaments

The curves of your thighs are like jewels: The clause The curves of your thighs are like jewels is a simile. It compares the woman’s thighs to jewels. The text does not indicate exactly how the curves of her thighs were like jewels. However, it is likely that curves refers to the roundness of her thighs. Other ways to translate the simile are:

Your rounded thighs are beautiful like smooth/rounded jewels.

The curves of your thighs are like ornaments (GW)

The curves of your thighs: The phrase The curves of your thighs can also be translated “rounded thighs,” as in the GNT. The word thighs refers to the upper part of the leg. Here the phrase The curves of your thighs probably refers to the curve of the outer part of the thigh. It does not refer to the whole leg.

Some ways to translate The curves of your thighs are:

rounded thighs (RSV)

Your well-shaped thighs

7:1d

the handiwork of a master.

that were formed by a great artist.
devised by a skilled craftsman. (REB)

the handiwork of a master: The phrase the handiwork of a master refers to the work that an expert does. Such an expert has the skill to create beautiful art. In this context the text implies that the curves of the woman’s thighs were like beautiful jewels that were shaped by an expert artist. Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

the work of a skilled craftsman (NLT)

that were shaped by an artist

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / extrainfo

מַה־יָּפ֧וּ פְעָמַ֛יִ⁠ךְ בַּ⁠נְּעָלִ֖ים בַּת־נָדִ֑יב חַמּוּקֵ֣י יְרֵכַ֔יִ⁠ךְ כְּמ֣וֹ חֲלָאִ֔ים מַעֲשֵׂ֖ה יְדֵ֥י אָמָּֽן