> [[song-of-songs-07|← Previous]] | [[song-of-songs-00|TOC]] --- # Song of Songs, Chapter 8 ## Chapter 8 1 Would that you were a brother to me, ^song-of-songs-08-1 nursed at my mother’s breasts! If I met you out of doors, I would kiss you and none would despise me. 2 I would lead you, bring you to my mother’s house, ^song-of-songs-08-2 where you would teach me, Where I would give you to drink spiced wine, my pomegranate juice. 3 His left hand is under my head, ^song-of-songs-08-3 and his right arm embraces me. 4 I adjure you, Daughters of Jerusalem, ^song-of-songs-08-4 do not awaken or stir up love until it is ready! ### The Return from the Desert 5 D? Who is this coming up from the desert, ^song-of-songs-08-5 leaning upon her lover? W Beneath the apple tree I awakened you; there your mother conceived you; there she who bore you conceived. ### True Love 6 Set me as a seal upon your heart, ^song-of-songs-08-6 as a seal upon your arm; For Love is strong as Death, longing is fierce as Sheol. Its arrows are arrows of fire, flames of the divine. 7 Deep waters cannot quench love, ^song-of-songs-08-7 nor rivers sweep it away. Were one to offer all the wealth of his house for love, he would be utterly despised. ### An Answer to the Brothers 8 W “We have a little sister; ^song-of-songs-08-8 she has no breasts as yet. What shall we do for our sister on the day she is spoken for? 9 If she is a wall, ^song-of-songs-08-9 we will build upon her a silver turret; But if she is a door, we will board her up with cedar planks.” 10 I am a wall, ^song-of-songs-08-10 and my breasts are like towers. I became in his eyes as one who brings peace. ### A Boast 11 M? Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon; ^song-of-songs-08-11 he gave over the vineyard to caretakers. For its fruit one would have to pay a thousand silver pieces. 12 My vineyard is at my own disposal; ^song-of-songs-08-12 the thousand pieces are for you, Solomon, and two hundred for the caretakers of its fruit. ### The Lovers’ Yearnings 13 M You who dwell in the gardens, ^song-of-songs-08-13 my companions are listening for your voice— let me hear it! 14 W Swiftly, my lover, ^song-of-songs-08-14 be like a gazelle or a young stag upon the mountains of spices. \* (8:2) Wine…pomegranate: sexual connotations are implied, since the root “drink” (*shaqah*) is a wordplay on “kiss” (*nashaq*) in v. [1]; cf. [1:2]. \* (8:5) Awakened you: the speakers in this verse are difficult to identify. Someone (the poet? Daughters?) hails the couple in v. [5a]. According to the Masoretic vocalization, the woman is the speaker in v. [5b]. \* (8:6) Seal: this could be worn bound to the arm, as here, or suspended at the neck, or as a ring ([Jer 22:24]). It was used for identification and signatures. Strong…fierce: in human experience, Death and Sheol are inevitable, unrelenting; in the end they always triumph. Love, which is just as certain of its victory, matches its strength against the natural enemies of life; waters cannot extinguish it nor floods carry it away. It is more priceless than all riches. Flames of the divine: the Hebrew is difficult: the short form (-Yah) of the divine name Yhwh found here may associate love with the Lord, or it may be acting as a superlative—i.e., god-sized flames. \* (8:7) Deep waters: often used to designate chaos ([Ps 93:4]; [144:7]; [[isaiah-17|Is 17]]:12 – [13]; [Hb 3:15]). The fires of love cannot be extinguished, even by waters of chaos. Wealth: love cannot be bought. \* (8:8] – [9) The woman quotes the course of action her elder brothers had decided on. While she is yet immature, they will shelter her in view of eventual marriage. Wall…door: if she is virtuous, she will be honored; if she is not, she will be kept under strict vigilance. Silver turret: a precious ornament. \* (8:10) In reply to the officious and meddling attitude of the brothers, she answers with their terms: she is mature (“wall,” “towers”). Brings peace: or, “finds peace.” \* (8:11] – [12) These enigmatic verses have been variously interpreted, depending on who is taken to be the speaker. In v. [11], if the woman, she boasts that she is a vineyard of great value. If the man, he boasts over his possession of her. \* (8:13] – [14) As in [2:14], her lover asks for a word or a song and she replies in words similar to those found in [2:17]. a. (8:2) [Sg 3:4]. b. (8:3) [Sg 2:6]. c. (8:4) [Sg 2:7]; [3:5]. d. (8:5) [Sg 3:6]; [6:10]. e. (8:7) [Prv 6:31]. f. (8:14) [Sg 2:9], [17]; [4:6]. --- _New American Bible, revised edition_ (2010, 1991, 1986, 1970) Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. > [[song-of-songs-07|← Previous]] | [[song-of-songs-00|TOC]]