Song of Songs 8

{{Short description|Eighth chapter of the Song of Songs}}  {{Bible chapter|letname= Song of Songs 8 |previouslink= Song of Songs 7 |previousletter= chapter 7|nextlink= Isaiah 1|nextletter= Isaiah 1 |book=[[Song of Songs]] |biblepart=[[Old Testament]] | booknum= 22 |category= [[Ketuvim]] | filename=Un sceau sur mon coeur 04222.JPG| size=250px |caption=<div style="width: 250px; text-align: center; line-height: 1em">French tapestry with the text of Song 8:6 in Latin: "''Pone me ut signaculum super cor tuum''" (English: "Set me as a seal upon thine heart"). Palais du Tau, Reims, [[Hauteville, Aisne]] (17th century).</div>}}

'''Song of Songs 8''' (abbreviated {{where|date=January 2023}} as '''Song 8''') is the eighth (and the final) chapter of the [[Song of Songs]] in the [[Hebrew Bible]] or the [[Old Testament]] of the [[Christianity|Christian]] [[Bible]].{{sfn|Halley|1965|p=279}}<ref name=Holman>Holman Illustrated Bible Handbook. Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee. 2012.</ref> This book is one of the [[Five Megillot]], a collection of short books, together with [[Book of Ruth|Ruth]], [[Book of Lamentations|Lamentations]], [[Ecclesiastes]] and [[Book of Esther|Esther]], within the [[Ketuvim]], the third and the last part of the Hebrew Bible.{{sfn|Brenner|2007|p=429}} [[Jewish tradition]] views [[Solomon]] as the author of this book (although this is now largely disputed), and this attribution influences the acceptance of this book as a canonical text.{{sfn|Brenner|2007|p=429}}

This chapter contains dialogues between the woman and the daughters of Jerusalem, the woman and her brothers, then finally, the woman and the man,{{sfn|Brenner|2007|p=431}} the "bride" and the "bridegroom".<ref name=cambridgebible />

==Text== The original text is written in [[Biblical Hebrew|Hebrew language]]. [[Chapters and verses of the Bible|This chapter is divided into]] 14 verses.

===Textual witnesses=== Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in [[Biblical Hebrew|Hebrew]] are of the [[Masoretic Text]], which includes the [[Leningrad Codex|Codex Leningradensis]] (1008).{{sfn|Würthwein|1995|pp=36-37}}{{efn|Since 1947 the current text of [[Aleppo Codex]] is missing Song of Songs 3:11, after the word {{lang|he|ציון}} ("Zion"), to the end.<ref>{{citation | author=P. W. Skehan | contribution=BIBLE (TEXTS) | title=[[New Catholic Encyclopedia]] | edition=2nd | volume=2 | publisher=Gale | year=2003 | pages=355–362}}</ref>}}

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'''; <math> \mathfrak{G}</math><sup>B</sup>; 4th century), [[Codex Sinaiticus]] ('''S'''; [[Biblia Hebraica (Kittel)|BHK]]: <math> \mathfrak{G}</math><sup>S</sup>; 4th century), and [[Codex Alexandrinus]] ('''A'''; <math> \mathfrak{G}</math><sup>A</sup>; 5th century).{{sfn|Würthwein|1995|pp=73-74}}

==Structure== The [[Modern English Version|Modern English Version (MEV)]] identifies the speakers in this chapter as: *{{bibleverse|Song|8:1–4|MEV}} = The Woman (continuing from [[Song of Songs 7]]:10-13) *{{bibleverse|Song|8:5|MEV}}a = Friends of the Woman *{{bibleverse|Song|8:5b–7|MEV}} = The Woman *{{bibleverse|Song|8:8–9|MEV}} = Brothers of the Woman *{{bibleverse|Song|8:10–12|MEV}} = The Woman *{{bibleverse|Song|8:13|MEV}} = The Man *{{bibleverse|Song|8:14|MEV}} = The Woman Kugler and Hartin treat verses 5 onwards as an appendix.<ref>{{Citation |last1=Kugler |first1=Robert A.|last2=Hartin |first2=Patrick |title=The Old Testament between theology and history: a critical survey |location=Grand Rapids |publisher=Eerdmans |year=2009 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L8WbXbPjxpoC&pg=PA219 |isbn=978-0-8028-4636-5}}</ref> The [[Jerusalem Bible]] treats verse 7b onwards (from ''Were a man to offer all the wealth of his house to buy love ...'') as "appendices".<ref>Jerusalem Bible (1966), Song of Songs 8:7b-14</ref>

==Female: Springtime and love (8:1–4)== This female passage is the last part of a long section concerning the desire and love in the country which runs from [[Song of Songs 6|chapter 6]] until verse 4 here.{{sfn|Hess|2005|p=36}} It consists probably or possibly of more than a single song, describing the woman's wish that her lover to be her brother, so that they can be together in her 'mother's house' (verses 1–2; cf. {{bibleverse|Song|3:4|KJV}}); they embrace (verse 3; cf. {{bibleverse|Song|2:6|KJV}}) and another appeal to the daughters of Jerusalem ([[#Verse 4|verse 4]]).{{sfn|Brenner|2007|p=431}}

===Verse 1=== :''Oh, that you were like my brother,'' :''Who nursed at my mother’s breasts!'' :''If I should find you outside,'' :''I would kiss you;'' :''I would not be despised.''<ref>{{bibleverse|Song of Songs|8:1|NKJV}}: [[New King James Version]]</ref> For "like my brother", or "as my brother" in the [[King James Version]],<ref>{{bibleverse|Song of Songs|8:1|KJV}}: King James Version</ref> the [[International Standard Version]] notes that the Hebrew text lacks the preposition "[[like#comparisons|like]]".<ref>{{bibleverse|Song of Songs|8:1|ISV}}: International Standard Version</ref> Andrew Harper argues that the word 'as' "should probably be omitted, as the accidental repetition of the last letter of the preceding word".<ref name=cambridgebible />

===Verse 4=== :''I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem,'' ::''do not stir up or awaken love'' ::''until it pleases.''<ref>{{bibleverse|Song|8:4|MEV}} [[Modern English Version|MEV]]</ref> *Cross references: [[Song of Songs 2:7]]; [[Song of Songs 3:5|3:5]].{{sfn|Coogan|2007|p=961 Hebrew Bible}} *"Charge" or "adjure"<ref>Note [a] on Song 2:7 in NKJV</ref> The names of God are apparently substituted with similar sounding phrases depicting 'female gazelles' ({{lang|he|צְבָא֔וֹת}}, ''{{Strong-number|tseḇā’ōṯ|H|6643}}'') for [God of] hosts ({{lang|he|צבאות}} ''{{Strong-number|tseḇā’ōṯ|H|6635}}''), and 'does of the field'/'wild does/female deer' ({{lang|he|אילות השדה}}, ''{{Strong-number|’ay-lōṯ|H|355}} ha-{{Strong-number|śā-ḏeh|H|7704}}'') for God Almighty ({{lang|he|אל שדי}}, ''{{Strong-number|’êl|H|410}} {{Strong-number|shaddai|H|7706}}'').{{sfn|Bergant|2001|p=26}}

==Chorus: Search for the couple (8:5a)== Verse 5 opens the last section or [[epilogue]] of the book, speaking about the power of love which continues to verse 14 (the end of the book).{{sfn|Hess|2005|p=36}}

===Verse 5=== [Friends of the Woman] :''Who is that coming up from the wilderness,'' ::''leaning upon her beloved?'' [The Woman] :''Under the apple tree I awakened you.'' ::''There your mother was in labor with you;'' ::''there she who bore you was in labor.''<ref>{{bibleverse|Song|8:5|MEV}} MEV</ref> *"Who is that coming up from the wilderness": a reprise of {{bibleverse|Song|3:6|KJV}}.{{sfn|Coogan|2007|p=967 Hebrew Bible}} *"Your mother": this is the only time the man's mother is mentioned, whereas the woman's mother is mentioned in five places ([[Song 1:6]]; {{bibleverse-nb|Song|3:4|KJV}}, {{bibleverse-nb|Song|6:9|KJV}}; {{bibleverse-nb|Song|8:1,2|KJV}}), and one mention of Solomon's mother ({{bibleverse|Song|3:11|KJV}}).{{sfn|Bergant|2001|p=16}}{{sfn|Exum|2005|p=141}}

==Female: The power of love (8:5b-7)== There are two fragments of the female voice in this part ([[#Verse 5|verse 5]]; cf. {{bibleverse-nb|Song|3:6-12|KJV}}, {{bibleverse-nb|Song|2:3|KJV}}) and verses 6-7 containing her declaration of love which 'might have constituted a suitable end for the whole book'.{{sfn|Brenner|2007|p=431}}

===Verse 6=== :''Set me as a seal upon your heart,'' ::''as a seal upon your arm;'' :''for love is strong as death,'' ::''passion fierce as the grave.'' :''Its fires of desire are as ardent flames,'' ::''a most intense flame.''<ref>{{bibleverse|Song|8:6|MEV}} MEV</ref> *"Fierce": "cruel" (in KJV and NKJV), "severe", ''lit.'' "hard".<ref>Note [a] on Song of Solomon 8:6 in [[New King James Version|NKJV]]</ref> from Hebrew: {{lang|he|קָשָׁ֥ה}}, ''{{Strong-number|qā-shāh|H|7186}}''.<ref name="So8_6h"/> *"The grave": or "[[Sheol]]".<ref>Note [b] on Song of Solomon 8:6 in NKJV</ref> *"A most intense flame": ''lit.'' "a flame of Yah", poetic form of "[[YHWH]]", "the Lord".<ref>Note [c] on Song of Solomon 8:6 in NKJV</ref> from Hebrew: {{lang|he|שלהבתיה}}, ''{{Strong-number|shal-he-ḇeṯ-yāh|H|7957}}''.<ref name="So8_6h">[https://biblehub.com/text/songs/8-6.htm Hebrew Text Analysis: Song of Solomon 8:6]. Biblehub</ref>

==Brothers: Their younger sister (8:8-9)== These two verses form a part describing how the woman's maternal brothers decide to keep their sister's virginity, when necessary. {{sfn|Brenner|2007|p=431}} However, they do that in disparaging way, which recalls their maligning attitude in [[Song of Songs 1|chapter 1]].{{sfn|Assis|2009|p=248}}

==Female: Her defense; Solomon's vineyard (8:10–12)== As a response, the woman answers her brothers mockingly.{{sfn|Brenner|2007|p=431}} When in [[Song 1:5]]–[[Song 1:6|6]] she "ineffectually complained" about her brothers' antagonism towards her, here she can stand up for herself and has found her peace.{{sfn|Assis|2009|p=248}}

===Verse 12=== [[File:Leningrad Codex Song 8-12 כרמי.jpg|150px|right|thumb|A full-color photograph of the word {{lang|he|כרמי}} in the [[Leningrad Codex]], Song of Songs 8:12, showing that the vowel under the first letter is [[Patach|''patah'']] and not [[Kamatz|''qamaz'']].]] :''My vineyard, my very own, is before me;'' ::''you, O Solomon, may have the thousand,'' ::''and the keepers of the fruit two hundred.'' *"My vineyard": the emphatic Hebrew expression {{lang|he|כרמי}}, ''kar-mî'' (from ''kerem'' for "vineyard"),<ref>[https://biblehub.com/text/songs/8-12.htm Song 8:12 Hebrew text analysis]. Biblehub</ref> as the first word of this verse, is to provide contrast to Solomon’s large possession and yet beyond his reach.<ref name=cambridgebible>Harper, A. (1902), [[Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges]]. [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/cambridge/songs/8.htm "Song of Solomon 8"], accessed 28 April 2019.</ref> *"Solomon": one of the seven times this name is mentioned in the whole book (in [[Song 1:1]], [[Song 1:3|3]], three times in {{bibleverse-nb|Song|3:6-11|KJV}} and two times in this chapter: {{bibleverse-nb|Song|8:10-12|KJV}}).{{sfn|Longman|2001|pp=88, 132}}

==Male: Listening (8:13)== No doubt that this part contains the words of the man addressing the bride that 'it is delightful to him to hear her voice'.<ref name=pulpit>Exell, Joseph S.; Spence-Jones, Henry Donald Maurice (Editors). [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/pulpit/songs/8.htm On "Song of Solomon 8".] In: ''The [[Pulpit Commentary]]''. 23 volumes. First publication: 1890. Accessed 24 April 2019.</ref> ===Verse 13=== :''You who dwell in the gardens,'' :''The companions listen for your voice—'' :''Let me hear it!''<ref>{{bibleverse|Song|8:13|NKJV}} [[New King James Version|NKJV]]</ref> The man (or the bridegroom) calls upon his bride (the Shulammite) to let his companions, that is 'his friends who may have come to congratulate him on his bride's safe return', hear her voice.<ref name=cambridgebible/>

In the community of [[Sephardic Jews|Sephardic]] and Oriental Jews, the congregation in traditional synagogues goes back and recites verse 13 after reciting verse 14 to avoid ending a reading in a negative note.{{efn|This practice is similar to the custom of ending the reading of the book of Lamentations on the Fast of Ab, by repeating verse [[Lamentations 5:21|5:21]] after reading the last verse of the book, [[Lamentations 5:22|5:22]].{{sfn|Assis|2009|p=259}}}}{{sfn|Assis|2009|p=259}}

==Female: Departure (8:14)== The very last verse: the woman's voice calls to her male lover to run, like a gazelle or deer, to “the distant nevernever land of the perfume hills”. With that, ‘the love's game can begin afresh, suspended in timelessness and moving cyclically’.{{sfn|Brenner|2007|p=431}}

===Verse 14=== :''Make haste, my beloved,'' ::''and be like a gazelle or a young stag'' ::''on the mountains of spices!''<ref>{{bibleverse|Song|8:14|MEV}} MEV</ref> This verse is almost identical to {{bibleverse|Song|2:17|KJV}} and just like in the situation of the earlier verse, it implies another meeting and prolongs "indefinitely the moment of young and love".{{sfn|Bloch|Bloch|1995|pp=18–19}} *"Make haste": "hurry", ''lit.'' "flee",<ref>Note [a] on Song of Solomon 8:14 in NKJV</ref> from Hebrew: {{lang|he|ברח}}, ''{{Strong-number|bə-rakh|H|1272}}'',<ref>[https://biblehub.com/text/songs/8-14.htm Hebrew Text Analysis: Song of Solomon 8:14]. Biblehub</ref>

==See also== *[[Gazelle]] *[[Jerusalem]] *[[Vineyard]] *Related [[Bible]] parts: [[Song of Songs 1]], [[Song of Songs 7]]

==Notes== {{notelist}}

==References== {{reflist}}

==Sources== * {{Cite book |last=Assis |first=Elie |title=Flashes of Fire: A Literary Analysis of the Song of Songs |publisher=T & T Clark |year=2009 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yoWsTqUCVjEC|isbn=9780567027641}} *{{cite book|last= Bergant |first= Dianne |author-link=Dianne Bergant |title= The Songs of Songs |series= Berit Olam (The Everlasting Covenant): Studies In Hebrew Narrative And Poetry |editor1-first=David W. |editor1-last= Cotter|editor2-first= Jerome T. |editor2-last= Walsh|editor3-first= Chris |editor3-last= Franke |publisher= Liturgical Press |date= 2001|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=xkwtwLQ_QCQC |isbn= 9780814650691}} * {{Cite book |last1=Bloch |first1=Ariel |last2=Bloch |first2=Chana |title=The Song of Songs: A New Translation, With an Introduction and Commentary |publisher=Random House |year= 1995 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r_sUl5TN1oIC |isbn=9780520213302}} *{{cite book|last= Brenner | first= Athalya |chapter = 21. The Song of Solomon | title=The Oxford Bible Commentary | editor-first1=John| editor-last1=Barton | editor-first2=John| editor-last2= Muddiman | publisher = Oxford University Press |edition= first (paperback) | date = 2007 | pages = 429–433 | isbn = 978-0199277186 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZJdVkgEACAAJ| access-date=February 6, 2019}} *{{cite book|last= Coogan|first = Michael David| authorlink= Michael D. Coogan |title = The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books: New Revised Standard Version, Issue 48 |editor-last1=Coogan |editor-first1=Michael David |editor-first2=Marc Zvi |editor-last2= Brettler |editor-first3=Carol Ann |editor-last3= Newsom |editor-first4= Pheme |editor-last4= Perkins |edition= Augmented 3rd |publisher = Oxford University Press |year =2007 |isbn = 9780195288810 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=HmpMPgAACAAJ}} *{{cite book|last= Exum |first= J. Cheryl |title= Songs of Songs: A Commentary |series= Old Testament library |edition= reprint|publisher= Westminster John Knox Press |date= 2005 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=mLKBcC5ND30C |isbn= 9780664221904}} *{{cite book|last= Halley| first= Henry H.| authorlink= Henry Hampton Halley| title= Halley's Bible Handbook: an abbreviated Bible commentary |edition=24th (revised)|publisher= Zondervan Publishing House |date= 1965 |url= https://archive.org/details/halleysbiblehand00henr |url-access= registration| isbn= 0-310-25720-4}} *{{cite book|last= Hess |first= Richard S. |title= Songs of Songs |series= Baker Commentary on the Old Testament Series |publisher= Baker Academic |date= 2005 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=AWoEZ2bWauAC |isbn= 9780801027123}} *{{cite book|last= Longman |first= Tremper |title= Songs of Songs |volume= 26 |series= The New International Commentary on the Old Testament |publisher= Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing |date= 2001 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=PDnMuOcIUjEC |isbn= 9780802825438}} *{{cite book | last = Würthwein | first = Ernst | authorlink = Ernst Würthwein | title = The Text of the Old Testament | publisher = Wm. B. Eerdmans |location = Grand Rapids, MI | year= 1995 | translator-first1 = Erroll F.| translator-last1 = Rhodes |isbn = 0-8028-0788-7 | url= https://books.google.com/books?id=FSNKSBObCYwC | access-date= January 26, 2019}}

==External links== * [[Judaism|Jewish]] translations: ** [https://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/16452 Shir Hashirim - Song of Songs - Chapter 8 (Judaica Press)] translation [with [[Rashi]]'s commentary] at Chabad.org * [[Christianity|Christian]] translations: ** [http://www.gospelhall.org/bible/bible.php?passage=Song+8 ''Online Bible'' at GospelHall.org] (ESV, KJV, Darby, American Standard Version, Bible in Basic English) * [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=26&chapter=8&version=9 Song of Solomon Chapter 8 King James Version] * {{librivox book | title=Song of Solomon}} Various versions

{{DEFAULTSORT:Song 08}}  [[Category:Song of Songs chapters|08]]