SNG 8:1 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=minor/spelling Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

8:1 OSHB note: Marks a place where we agree with BHQ against BHS in reading L.

8:1 OSHB note: Marks an anomalous form.

8:1 OSHB note: We read punctuation in L differently from BHS.

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 Τίς δῴη σε, ἀδελφιδέ μου, θηλάζοντα μαστοὺς μητρός μου; εὑροῦσά σε ἔξω φιλήσω σε, καί γε οὐκ ἐξουδενώσουσί μοι.
(Tis dōaʸ se, adelfide mou, thaʸlazonta mastous maʸtros mou; heurousa se exō filaʸsō se, kai ge ouk exoudenōsousi moi. )

BrTr I would that thou, O my kinsman, wert he that sucked the breasts of my mother; when I found thee without, I would kiss thee; yea, they should not despise me.

ULT Who will give you like a brother to me,
⇔ who nursed at the breasts of my mother?
⇔ If I found you outside, I would kiss you.
⇔ Yes, they would not despise me.

UST I wish that you were like my brother,
⇔ my own brother, who nursed from my mother’s breasts when he was a baby.
⇔ Because then, whenever I met you outside the house, I could kiss you,
⇔ and no one would criticize me.

OEB No OEB SNG book available

WEBBE Oh that you were like my brother,
⇔ who nursed from the breasts of my mother!
⇔ If I found you outside, I would kiss you;
⇔ yes, and no one would despise me.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET Oh, how I wish you were my little brother,
⇔ nursing at my mother’s breasts;
⇔ if I saw you outside, I could kiss you –
⇔ surely no one would despise me!

LSV Who makes you as a brother to me,
Suckling the breasts of my mother? I find you outside, I kiss you,
Indeed, they do not despise me,

FBV How I wish you were like a brother to me, one who nursed at my mother's breasts! Then if I met you on the street I could kiss you and no one would tell me off.

T4T I wish that you were my brother
⇔ who ◄nursed at/drank milk from► my mother’s breasts when you were a baby,
⇔ because, if you were my brother, if I saw you when you were outside the house,
⇔ I could kiss you,
⇔ and no one would say that my doing that was wrong.

LEB No LEB SNG 8:1 verse available

BBE Oh that you were my brother, who took milk from my mother's breasts! When I came to you in the street, I would give you kisses; yes, I would not be looked down on.

Moff Ah, were you but my brother,
⇔ nursed at the breasts of my mother,
⇔ I would kiss you wherever I met you,
⇔ with none to despise me;

JPS Oh that thou wert as my brother, that sucked the breasts of my mother! When I should find thee without, I would kiss thee; yea, and none would despise me.

ASV Oh that thou wert as my brother,
⇔ That sucked the breasts of my mother!
⇔ When I should find thee without, I would kiss thee;
⇔ Yea, and none would despise me.

DRA Who shall give thee to me for my brother, sucking the breasts of my mother, that I may find thee without, and kiss thee, and now no man may despise me?

YLT Who doth make thee as a brother to me, Sucking the breasts of my mother? I find thee without, I kiss thee, Yea, they do not despise me,

Drby Oh that thou wert as my brother, That sucked the breasts of my mother! Should I find thee without, I would kiss thee; And they would not despise me.

RV Oh that thou wert as my brother, that sucked the breasts of my mother! when I should find thee without, I would kiss thee; yea, and none would despise me.
(Oh that thou/you were as my brother, that sucked the breast/chests of my mother! when I should find thee/you without, I would kiss thee/you; yea, and none would despise me. )

SLT Who will give thee as a brother to me, sucking the breasts of my mother? I shall find thee without, I shall kiss thee; also they shall not despise me.

Wbstr O that thou wert as my brother, that was nourished at the breasts of my mother! when I should find thee without, I would kiss thee; yes, I should not be despised.

KJB-1769 O that thou wert as my brother, that sucked the breasts of my mother! when I should find thee without, I would kiss thee; yea, I should not be despised.[fn]
(Oh that thou/you were as my brother, that sucked the breast/chests of my mother! when I should find thee/you without, I would kiss thee/you; yea, I should not be despised. )

8.1 I should not…: Heb. they should not despise me

KJB-1611 ¶ [fn]O that thou wert as my brother that sucked the brests of my mother, when I should find thee without, I would kisse thee, yet I should not be despised.
(¶ Oh that thou/you were as my brother that sucked the breast/chests of my mother, when I should find thee/you without, I would kiss thee/you, yet I should not be despised.)

8:1 Hebr. they should not despise me.

Bshps O that I might finde thee without and kisse thee, whom I loue as my brother whiche suckt my mothers brestes, and that thou shalt not be dispised,
(Oh that I might find thee/you without and kiss thee/you, whom I love as my brother which sucked my mothers breast/chests, and that thou/you shalt/shall not be despised,)

Gnva Oh that thou werest as my brother that sucked the brestes of my mother: I would finde thee without, I would kisse thee, then they should not despise thee.
(Oh that thou/you werest/were as my brother that sucked the breast/chests of my mother: I would find thee/you without, I would kiss thee/you, then they should not despise thee/you. )

Cvdl O that I might fynde the without & kysse ye, whom I loue as my brother which suckte my mothers brestes: & that thou woldest not be offended,
(Oh that I might find the without and kiss ye/you_all, whom I love as my brother which sucked my mothers breast/chests: and that thou/you would not be offended,)

Wycl Who `mai grante to me thee, my brother, soukynge the tetis of my modir, that Y fynde thee aloone without forth, and that Y kisse thee, and no man dispise me thanne?
(Who may grant to me thee/you, my brother, sucking the teats/nipples of my mother, that I find thee/you alone without forth, and that I kiss thee/you, and no man despise me then?)

Luth O daß ich dich, mein Bruder, der du meiner Mutter Brüste saugest, draußen fände und dich küssen müßte, daß mich niemand höhnete!
(O that I you/yourself, my brother, the/of_the you(sg) mine mother breasts sucked, outside found and you/yourself kiss would_have_to, that me no_one sneered!)

ClVg [Quis mihi det te fratrem meum, sugentem ubera matris meæ, ut inveniam te foris, et deosculer te, et jam me nemo despiciat?[fn]
([Who to_me give you(sg) brother mine, sucking breasts mother my, as I_will_find you(sg) outside, and kiss_off you(sg), and already me nobody/no_one let_him_look_down? )

8.1 Quis mihi. Introducitur Judæa jam inspirata et edocta, et summo desiderio Deum investigat. Foris. Intus erat dilectus, dum in principio erat Verbum: foris, dum Verbum caro factum est Joan. 1.. Deosculer te, etc. Id est facie ad faciem videam, et ore ad os loquar.

8.1 Who to_me. Introducitur Yudea already inspirata and edocta, and top desire God investigat. Foris. Intus was beloved, while in/into/on at_the_beginning was The_word/saying: outside, while The_word/saying flesh/meat done it_is Yohan 1.. to_Godsculer you(sg), etc. That it_is face to face seeam, and vocally to mouth I_will_speak.

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 8:1–4 The woman longed for more intimacy with the man

In these verses, the woman continued to speak to the man. She told him that she longed to express her love for him openly. She wished that her beloved were like a brother so that she could kiss him in public without shame. The section ends with a refrain that is also found in 2:6–7 and 3:5. Here she was probably thinking of a time before they married.

8:1a

O that you were to me like a brother

If only you were to me like a brother (NIV)
I wish that you were like a brother to me,

8:1

This verse indicates that the woman wanted the freedom to kiss her beloved in public without anyone blaming her. In that culture, it was not proper for a man and woman to kiss in public if they were not related by blood. Even married couples were not supposed to kiss in public. However, it was common for a brother and sister to greet each other with a kiss. So the woman wished that her beloved were like a brother to her so that she could kiss him in public.

The verse does not imply that the woman wanted to greet her own brother with a kiss that implies sexual interest or desire for sexual relations. That would be a sin of incest, which God forbids in the Bible. It is important to translate in a way that refers only to an affectionate public greeting.

O that you were to me like a brother: This clause is an idiom that tells what the woman wished. It is more literally, “Who will make you like a brother to me?” In this context it indicates that the woman wished that the man were like a brother to her so that she could kiss him in public. There are two ways to interpret the clause:

She wished that the man were like a brother to her. For example:
If only you were to me like a brother (NIV) (BSB, ESV, NASB, NCV, NIV, NJPS, REB, RSV)
She wished that the man actually were her brother. For example:
I wish that you were my brother. (GNT) (GW, NAB, NET, NJB, NLT, GNT)

It is recommended that you follow option (1). In that culture it was fine for a brother and sister to show affection for each other in public. The woman wanted to have that same freedom to kiss her beloved. She did not wish that the man was really her brother.

Some other ways to translate option (1) are:

If only you were to me like a brother (NIV)

If only it could be as with a brother (NJPS)

I wish that I could treat you like a brother in public

8:1b

who nursed at my mother’s breasts!

who fed at my mother’s breasts. (NCV)
like a son of my own mother.

who nursed at my mother’s breasts: The clause who nursed at my mother’s breasts indicates that the woman referred to a “brother” who had the same mother as she did. Use a natural way in your language to indicate that relationship. For example:

who fed at my mother’s breast (NCV)

who has the same mother as I have

8:1c

If I found you outdoors,

If I met/saw you in public,
Then, when I see you on the street

8:1d

I would kiss you,

then, I would kiss you,
I could kiss you

8:1e

and no one would despise me.

and no one would criticize me. (NLT)
without anyone thinking badly of me.

8:1c–e

If I found you outdoors, I would kiss you, and no one would despise me: Here the woman told her reason for what she said to the man in 8:1a–b. She said that she wished he were her brother because she wanted to kiss him when she saw him in public. In that culture it was a custom for a sister to greet her brother with a kiss, but otherwise, a man and woman did not kiss each other in public. If the woman kissed the man, other people would criticize them. In 8:1c–e the woman only desired to kiss him, but she did not do it.

Some other ways to translate 8:1c–e are:

Then, if I met you in the street, I could kiss you and no one would mind.

If I saw you outside, I could kiss you, and no one would criticize me.

Then I could kiss you when I saw you in public, and no one would say that I was bad to do it.

outdoors: The word outdoors refers here to a public place where other people may be present. See the translation examples in the preceding note.

and no one would despise me: The phrase and no one would despise me indicates that no person would think or say that the woman should not have kissed the man. They would not think that she was bad because she kissed him in public if he were her brother. However, because he was not her brother and she kissed him in public, they would think that she was wrong to do that. Some other ways to translate 8:1e are:

and no one would say I did wrong. (CEV)

without people thinking ill of me. (NJB)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

מִ֤י יִתֶּנְ⁠ךָ֙ כְּ⁠אָ֣ח לִ֔⁠י יוֹנֵ֖ק שְׁדֵ֣י אִמִּ֑⁠י

who? will,he_give_you like,a_brother to=me who_nursed breasts_of my_mother_of,my

Here the woman is using the Hebrew idiom Who will give you to express her wish that the man she loves be like a brother to her (so that she could publicly kiss him). If this phrase does not have that meaning in your language, you could use a comparable expression from your language that does have that meaning, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [How I wish that you were like a brother to me, who nursed at the breasts of my mother] or [How I desire that you were like a brother to me, who nursed at the breasts of my mother]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

מִ֤י יִתֶּנְ⁠ךָ֙ כְּ⁠אָ֣ח לִ֔⁠י יוֹנֵ֖ק שְׁדֵ֣י אִמִּ֑⁠י

who? will,he_give_you like,a_brother to=me who_nursed breasts_of my_mother_of,my

The woman is referring implicitly to cultural norms which prohibited a display of public affection toward a spouse and/or a romantic partner but allowed siblings to show affection in public. If it would be helpful in your language, you could include this information in a footnote.

Note 3 topic: writing-poetry

מִ֤י יִתֶּנְ⁠ךָ֙ כְּ⁠אָ֣ח לִ֔⁠י יוֹנֵ֖ק שְׁדֵ֣י אִמִּ֑⁠י

who? will,he_give_you like,a_brother to=me who_nursed breasts_of my_mother_of,my

The phrase who nursed at the breasts of my mother describes the word brother and has a similar meaning. This is poetic language. Saying the same thing in slightly different ways is a common feature of Hebrew poetry. If your language has a way to indicate poetry, you could use it here. Alternate translation: [Who will give you like a brother to me]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

גַּ֖ם

also/yet

Here the word Yes is used to strongly affirm what follows it in this sentence. Use a natural form that would communicate that meaning in your language.

Note 5 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

לֹא־יָב֥וּזוּ לִֽ⁠י

not despise to=me

The woman is saying that if the man she loved were like a brother and she found him outside and kissed him, the result is that they would not despise me. Use a natural form in your language for expressing a statement like this. Alternate translation: [then they would not despise me]

Parallel SNG 8:1

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

Paragraph 8:1–4 The woman longed for more intimacy with the man

8:1a

8:1

8:1b

8:1c

8:1d

8:1e

8:1c–e