SNG 7:7 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) You’re tall like a palm tree,
⇔ and your breasts like its clusters of dates.

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 Τί ὡραιώθης, καὶ τί ἡδύνθης ἀγάπη;
(Ti hōraiōthaʸs, kai ti haʸdunthaʸs agapaʸ; )

ULT This is your height—it is like a palm tree,
⇔ and your breasts like its clusters.

UST You are tall like a palm tree,
⇔ and your breasts are full and round like date clusters that hang from palm trees.

OEB No OEB SNG book available

WEBBE This, your stature, is like a palm tree,
⇔ your breasts like its fruit.

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 Your stature is like a palm tree,
⇔ and your breasts are like clusters of grapes.

LSV This your stature has been like to a palm,
And your breasts to clusters.

FBV You are as tall and slender as a palm tree; your breasts are like its clusters of fruit.

T4T You are stately like [SIM] a palm tree,
⇔ and your breasts are like [SIM] clusters/bunches of dates/fruit.

LEB • Your stature[fn] is like the palm tree, and your breasts are like clusters.

7:? Literally “this your height”

BBE You are tall like a palm-tree, and your breasts are like the fruit of the vine.

Moff You stand there straight as a palm,
⇔ with breasts like clusters of fruit;

JPS (7-8) This thy stature is like to a palm-tree, and thy breasts to clusters of grapes.

ASV This thy stature is like to a palm-tree,
⇔ And thy breasts to its clusters.

DRA Thy stature is like to a palm tree, and thy breasts to clusters of grapes.

YLT This thy stature hath been like to a palm, And thy breasts to clusters.

Drby This thy stature is like to a palm-tree, And thy breasts to grape clusters.

RV This thy stature is like to a palm tree, and thy breasts to clusters of grapes.
(This thy/your stature is like to a palm tree, and thy/your breast/chests to clusters of grapes. )

SLT This thy height was like to a palm tree, and thy breasts to clusters.

Wbstr This thy stature is like to a palm tree, and thy breasts to clusters of grapes .

KJB-1769 This thy stature is like to a palm tree, and thy breasts to clusters of grapes.
(This thy/your stature is like to a palm tree, and thy/your breast/chests to clusters of grapes. )

KJB-1611 This thy stature is like to a palme tree, and thy breasts to clusters of grapes.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above)

Bshps Thy stature is lyke a paulme tree, and thy breastes lyke the grapes.
(Thy/Your stature is like a palm tree, and thy/your breast/chests like the grapes.)

Gnva This thy stature is like a palme tree, and thy brestes like clusters.
(This thy/your stature is like a palm tree, and thy/your breast/chests like clusters. )

Cvdl Thy stature is like a date tre, and thy brestes like the grapes. I sayde:
(Thy/Your stature is like a date tree, and thy/your breast/chests like the grapes. I said:)

Wycl Thi stature is licned to a palm tree, and thi tetis to clustris of grapis.
(Thy/Your stature is likened to a palm tree, and thy/your teats/nipples to clusters of grapes.)

Luth Wie schön und wie lieblich bist du, du Liebe in Wollüsten!
(How beautiful and as/like lovely/delightful are you(sg), you(sg) love(n) in Wollüsten!)

ClVg Statura tua assimilata est palmæ, et ubera tua botris.[fn]
(Stature/Height your assimilated it_is palm_trees, and breasts your cluster. )

7.7 Statuta tua. Quia Ecclesia in certamine præsentis vitæ gaudia futuræ vitæ prægustat, subditur: Assimilata est palmæ. Hæc est rectitudo bonæ operationis, quæ ad terrena despicit incurvari, totam se ad cœlestia erigit, et in certamine posita tendit ad bravium, quo finito agone, victrix donanda est palma. In inferioribus aspera est, sed desuper pulchra est, et fructum gerit. Sic Ecclesia in terra asperos tolerat labores, sed sperat in cœlo se accepturam præmium. Palma conservat folia: sic Ecclesia, variante sæculi statu, eadem tenet fidei sacramenta. Ubera. Id est, magistri, qui pro capacitate audientium suam temperant doctrinam, et unumquemque ad sublimia ab ubertate domus Dei inebriant Psal. 35., et corda exhilarant.

7.7 Statuta your. Because Assembly/Church in/into/on competition presents of_life joys future of_life beforegustat, is_added: Assimilata it_is palm_trees. This it_is straighttudo good operation, which to earthly looks_down incurvari, the_whole himself to heaven raises, and in/into/on competition placed tends to bravium, where finito agone, victrix donanda it_is palm_tree. In lower_ones rough it_is, but from_above beautiful it_is, and fruit wears. So Assembly/Church in/into/on earth/land roughs tolerat with_hard_works, but hopes in/into/on sky himself accepturam prize. Palma conservat leaves(n): so Assembly/Church, variante of_the_world/of_the_ages state, the_same holds of_faith sacraments. Ubera. That it_is, teachers, who/which for capacitate of_listeners his_own temperant teaching, and each_one to sublimia away abundantly home of_God inebriant Psal. 35., and hearts exhilarant.

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.

7:7–9a

In these verses the man describes the woman with metaphors of a palm tree and various fruits. (In 5:15c–d she compared the man to a cedar tree.)

7:7a

Your stature is like a palm tree;

Your stature/figure is like that of the date palm,
You are tall and slender like a palm tree. (CEV)

Your stature is like a palm tree: The Hebrew clause that the BSB translates as Your stature is like a palm tree is literally “This your stature is-like a date-palm tree.” A date palm tree is taller and more slender than many other trees. The man implied that the woman was tall and slender, like a date palm tree.

Some other ways to translate the comparison are:

You are tall and slender like a palm tree (CEV)

Your figure/stature is like a palm tree

You are tall like a palm tree (NCV)

palm tree: The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as palm tree refers specifically to the date palm tree. It is a type of tropical tree that produces sweet fruit called “dates.” In some languages the date palm tree is not known. If that is true in your language, some other ways to translate it are:

Use a more general word that refers to a tree like the palm tree, as in the BSB.
Refer more generally to a tree that is tall and slender and produces fruit. For example:
tall slender fruit tree

7:7b

your breasts are clusters of fruit.

and your breasts are like its clusters of dates.
and your breasts are as sweet/delicious as its fruits.

your breasts are clusters of fruit: The phrase your breasts are clusters of fruit compares the woman’s breasts to the bunches of fruit called “dates” on the date palm tree. These clusters of dates probably reminded the man of the full shape of the woman’s breasts on her tall slender body. Her breasts did not literally look like date clusters.

In some languages people are not familiar with the date palm tree and its clusters of dates. Some other ways to translate this comparison are:

Use a more general term for clusters of fruit. For example:
your breasts are like bunches of fruit
Substitute a different fruit that is known to people in your area and is appropriate for the comparison. For example:
your breasts are like clusters of grapes. (NET)
Indicate how the woman’s breasts were like clusters of dates or other fruit. For example:
your breasts are as lovely as clusters of dates.
your breasts are well-shaped like beautiful fruit

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / simile

זֹ֤את קֽוֹמָתֵ⁠ךְ֙ דָּֽמְתָ֣ה לְ⁠תָמָ֔ר

(Some words not found in UHB: what? beautiful and,how! pleasant love with,delights )

The man is saying that the woman is tall like a palm tree. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state that explicitly. Alternate translation: [You are tall]

Note 2 topic: translate-unknown

לְ⁠תָמָ֔ר & לְ⁠אַשְׁכֹּלֽוֹת

(Some words not found in UHB: what? beautiful and,how! pleasant love with,delights )

A palm tree refers to a date palm, which is tall, thin, and produces small fruits called dates. The term clusters refers to bunches of dates that grow on the date palm. If your readers would not be familiar with this type of tree or its fruit, you could use the name of something similar in your area, or you could use a more general term. Alternate translation: [a tall and slender fruit tree … its clusters of fruit] or [a tall fruit tree … like its clusters of delicious fruit]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / simile

וְ⁠שָׁדַ֖יִ⁠ךְ לְ⁠אַשְׁכֹּלֽוֹת

(Some words not found in UHB: what? beautiful and,how! pleasant love with,delights )

The man is saying that the woman’s breasts are like the clusters of plump dates that grow on date palms. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state that explicitly. Alternate translation: [and your breasts are plump and round] or [and your breasts are plump and round like its clusters]

Parallel SNG 7:7

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

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

7:7–9a

7:7a

7:7b