Songofsolomon 8 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.
Time Period
Traditionally the reign of Solomon, around 970 to 930 BC
Location
A family home and its vineyards in the Israelite countryside, with a nod to Solomon's vineyard at Baal Hamon
Audience
Ancient Israelites, who read and sang this as love poetry belonging to their sacred writings
Situation
The woman wishes her beloved were her brother so she could kiss him openly in the street, then declares that love is as strong as death and cannot be bought. Her brothers speak about protecting their young sister, and she answers that she has become a walled city at peace.
Key Background
Public affection between unmarried adults was socially off limits, while a sister could greet a brother freely in the street, which is why the wish to treat him as a brother is a wish for freedom rather than a wish to change the relationship. A signet was a personal seal worn on a cord or ring and pressed into clay to sign documents, so asking to be set as a seal on his heart and arm asks for permanent, identifying attachment. Brothers commonly held responsibility for a sister's marriage prospects, so their debate over whether she is a wall or a door is a family council about guarding or opening her future, and her reply claims the decision as her own.
If only you were like a to me, one who at my — then if I found you outside, I could kiss you, and no one would look down on me.
I would lead you, bring you into my — she who me. I would give you to drink, the of my
His left arm beneath my head, his right arm me
I you, of — do not do not awaken love until it desires to rise on its own.
Who is this up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved? Beneath the I you — there your mother labored with you, there she who bore you was in labor.
Set me as a over your heart, as a on your arm — for love is as as death, its as unyielding as the grave. Its flames are flames of fire, a of
cannot extinguish love, rivers cannot sweep it away. If a man offered all the wealth of his house for love, he would be
We have a sister whose breasts have not yet grown. What will we do for our sister on the day she is for?
If she is a wall, we will build on her a turret of silver. If she is a door, we will enclose her with panels of cedar.
I am a wall, and my breasts are like towers. So in his eyes I have become who
Solomon had a at Baal-hamon. He entrusted the to keepers; each would bring for its fruit a of
My — my own — is to give. The thousand is yours, Solomon, and two hundred for those who tend its fruit.
You who sit in the gardens, our are listening — let me hear your voice.
to me, my love! Be like a gazelle, like a young stag on the of