Song of Songs 7
Song of Songs 7 | |
---|---|
Book | Song of Songs |
Category | Ketuvim |
Christian Bible part | Old Testament |
Order in the Christian part | 22 |
Song of Songs 7 (abbreviated[
This chapter contains a poem in which the man describes the woman, his lover, and one or more songs in the woman's voice issued as invitations to the man.[4]
Text
The original text is written in Hebrew language. This chapter is divided into 13 verses.
Textual witnesses
Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text, which includes the Codex Leningradensis (1008).[5][a] Some fragments containing parts of this chapter were found among the Dead Sea Scrolls: 4Q106 (4QCanta); 30 BCE-30 CE; extant verses 1–7).[7][8][9]
There is also a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint, made in the last few centuries BCE. Extant ancient manuscripts of the Septuagint version include Codex Vaticanus (B; B; 4th century), Codex Sinaiticus (S; BHK: S; 4th century), and Codex Alexandrinus (A; A; 5th century).[10]
Structure
The Modern English Version (MEV) identifies the speakers in this chapter as:
- Song 7:1–9 = The Man (continuing from Song of Songs 6:13b)
- Song 7:10–13 = The Woman (continuing to Song of Songs 8:4)
Biblical scholar Athalya Brenner notes that verses 1 to 10 are "probably in a male voice", and 11 to 14 in a female voice.[4] However, Andrew Harper argues that the opening verses (verses 1 to 6) contain the praises sung by "the ladies of the hareem".[11]
Male: Third descriptive poem for the female (7:1-9; [Masoretic 7:2-10])
A voice, likely of the man, calling to the woman ("the Shulammite" in
Verse 5
- Your head crowns like Carmel,
- and your flowing hair is like purple;
- a king is held captive in the tresses.[14]
- "Tresses" (KJV: "galleries"): from Hebrew: רהטים, rə-hā-ṭîm,[15] is only found here in the Bible.[16] Marvin Pope describes how it may have developed from a root rhṭ (known from Aramaic in the sense of "to run") used in connection with water (cf. Genesis 30:38, 41: Exodus 2:16), here as "the coursing of water" evoking the idea of "flowing hair".[17]
Female: Springtime and love (7:10–13; [Masoretic 7:11–14])
In this section, one song (or several songs) in a female voice, seductively invites the man to go outdoors where the woman will give herself to him (cf. 4:9-14).
Verse 10
- I am my beloved's, and his desire is toward me.[19]
Although similar to the line in
Verse 13
- The mandrakes give forth fragrance,
- and at our doors are all choice fruits,
- new as well as old,
- which I have laid up for you, my beloved.[21]
- A "mandrake" in the ancient Near East was known "as an aid of fertility and as an aphodisiac"[22] (Genesis 30:14–19).[23]
See also
- Bathrabbim
- Carmel
- Damascus
- Heshbon
- Lebanon
- Related Bible parts: Song of Songs 6
Notes
- ^ Since 1947 the current text of Aleppo Codex is missing Song of Songs 3:11, after the word ציון ("Zion"), to the end.[6]
References
- ^ Halley 1965, p. 279.
- ^ Holman Illustrated Bible Handbook. Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee. 2012.
- ^ a b Brenner 2007, p. 429.
- ^ a b c d Brenner 2007, p. 431.
- ^ Würthwein 1995, pp. 36–37.
- ^ P. W. Skehan (2003), "BIBLE (TEXTS)", New Catholic Encyclopedia, vol. 2 (2nd ed.), Gale, pp. 355–362
- ISBN 9789004181830. Retrieved May 15, 2017.
- ^ Dead sea scrolls - Song of Songs.
- ISBN 9780802862419. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
- ^ Würthwein 1995, pp. 73–74.
- ^ Harper, A. (1902), Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges on Song of Solomon 7, accessed 16 January 2023
- ^ Hess 2005, p. 36.
- ^ a b Hess 2005, p. 127.
- ^ Song 7:5 MEV or Song 7:6 in Hebrew Bible
- ^ Hebrew Text Analysis: Song of Solomon 7:5. Biblehub
- ^ Longman 2001, p. 190.
- ^ Pope, Marvin H. (1995) "Song of Songs", Yale University Press, p. 630; apud Longman 2001, p. 190.
- ^ Assis 2009, p. 224.
- ^ Song 7:10 KJV or Song 7:11 in Hebrew Bible
- ^ Assis 2009, p. 223.
- ^ Song 7:13 MEV or Song 7:14 in Hebrew Bible
- ^ Assis 2009, p. 225.
- ^ Coogan 2007, p. 967 Hebrew Bible.
Sources
- Assis, Elie (2009). Flashes of Fire: A Literary Analysis of the Song of Songs. T & T Clark. ISBN 9780567027641.
- Bergant, Dianne (2001). Cotter, David W.; Walsh, Jerome T.; Franke, Chris (eds.). The Songs of Songs. Berit Olam (The Everlasting Covenant): Studies In Hebrew Narrative And Poetry. Liturgical Press. ISBN 9780814650691.
- Brenner, Athalya (2007). "21. The Song of Solomon". In Barton, John; Muddiman, John (eds.). The Oxford Bible Commentary (first (paperback) ed.). Oxford University Press. pp. 429–433. ISBN 978-0199277186. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
- ISBN 9780195288810.
- Exum, J. Cheryl (2005). Songs of Songs: A Commentary. Old Testament library (reprint ed.). Westminster John Knox Press. ISBN 9780664221904.
- ISBN 0-310-25720-4.
- Hess, Richard S. (2005). Songs of Songs. Baker Commentary on the Old Testament Series. Baker Academic. ISBN 9780801027123.
- Longman, Tremper (2001). Songs of Songs. The New International Commentary on the Old Testament. Vol. 26. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. ISBN 9780802825438.
- ISBN 0-8028-0788-7. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
External links
- Jewish translations:
- Shir Hashirim - Song of Songs - Chapter 7 (Judaica Press) translation [with Rashi's commentary] at Chabad.org
- Christian translations:
- Online Bible at GospelHall.org (ESV, KJV, Darby, American Standard Version, Bible in Basic English)
- Song of Solomon Chapter 7 King James Version
- Song of Solomon public domain audiobook at LibriVox Various versions