Dialogue between Maiden and Her Beloved

¹ I am a rose¹ of Sharon, a lily of the valleys.

1. More likely “meadow saffron” or “crocus.” Hebrew scholars and botanists suggest the term refers to Ashodelos (lily family), Narcissus tazetta (narcissus or daffodil), or Colchicum autumnale (meadow saffron or crocus) (e.g., Isa 35:1). The location of this flower in Sharon suggests a common wild flower rather than a rose. The maiden compares herself to a simple, common flower of the field

² Like a lily among the thorns,¹ so is my love among the maidens.

1. Or “brambles”

Banquet Hall of Love

³ As an apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved among the young men. In his shade ⌞I sat down with delight⌟,¹ and his fruit was sweet to my palate.

1. Literally “I sat down and I delighted”

⁴ He brought me to the house of the wine, and his intention was love toward me.

Double Refrain: Embrace and Adjuration

⁵ Sustain me with the raisins, refresh me with the apples, ⌞for I am lovesick⌟.¹

1. Literally “for I myself am sick with love”

⁶ His left hand is under my head, and his right hand embraces¹ me.

1. Or “would embrace me”

Rendezvous in the Countryside

⁷ I adjure you, ⌞O maidens of Jerusalem⌟,¹ by the gazelles or by the does of the field, do not arouse or awaken love until it pleases!²

1. Literally “O daughters of Jerusalem”
2. Or “Do not stir up or awaken the love until it is willing,” or “Do not disturb or interrupt our lovemaking until it is satisfied”

⁸ The voice of my beloved! Look! Here ⌞he⌟¹ comes leaping upon the mountains, bounding over the hills!

1. Literally “this one”

⁹ My beloved is like a gazelle or ⌞a young stag⌟.¹ Look! ⌞He is⌟² standing behind our wall, gazing ⌞through⌟³ the window, looking ⌞through⌟⁴ the lattice.

1. Literally “the fawn of the stag”
2. Literally “This is he”
3. Literally “from”
4. Literally “from”

¹⁰ My beloved answered and said to me, “⌞Arise⌟,¹ my beloved! ⌞Come, my beauty⌟!²

1. Literally “Arise, you”
2. Literally “And come, you”

¹¹ For look! The winter is over; ⌞the rainy season⌟¹ ⌞has turned and gone away⌟.²

1. Literally “the rain”
2. Literally “is over; it is gone”

¹² The blossoms ⌞appear⌟¹ ⌞in the land⌟;² ⌞the time of singing³ has arrived⌟;⁴ the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.

1. Literally “is seen”
2. Literally “on the earth”
3. Most likely, a subtle word play occurs here since there are two different words in Hebrew spelled the same way: “pruning” and “singing.” The former plays upon the first line and the latter upon the third line
4. Literally “the time of the song arrived”

¹³ The fig tree puts forth her figs, and the vines are in blossom; they give fragrance. ⌞Arise⌟,¹ my beloved! ⌞Come, my beauty⌟!”²

1. Literally “Arise, to you!”
2. Literally “My beauty, come, you”

¹⁴ My dove, in the clefts of the rock, ⌞in the secluded place⌟¹² ⌞in the mountain⌟,³⁴ Let me see your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet and your face is lovely.

1. Literally “in the secret place”
2. Or “in the covering”
3. Literally “foothold in the rock”
4. Or “cliff”

Poetic Refrain(s)

¹⁵ Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes destroying vineyards, for¹ our vineyards are in blossom!

1. Or “while”

¹⁶ ⌞My beloved belongs to me and I belong to him⌟;¹ he pastures his flock among the lilies.

1. Literally “My beloved for me and I for him”

¹⁷ Until the day breathes and the shadows flee, turn, my beloved! ⌞Be like⌟¹ a gazelle² or ⌞young stag⌟³ on the cleft mountains.⁴

1. Literally “Be like for you”
2. Or “a buck gazelle”
3. Literally “the fawn of the stag”
4. Or “the mountains of Bether”