the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
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THE MESSAGE
Song of Solomon 8:8
Bible Study Resources
Dictionaries:
- CharlesEncyclopedias:
- InternationalParallel Translations
Our sister is young;she has no breasts.What will we do for our sisteron the day she is spoken for?
We have a little sister. She has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister In the day when she is to be spoken for?
We have a little sister, and she hath no breasts: what shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for?
Others
We have a little sister, and she has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister on the day when she is spoken for?"We have a little sister, And she has no breasts; What shall we do for our sister On the day when she is spoken for?
We have a little sister, and her breasts are not yet grown. What should we do for our sister on the day she becomes engaged?
"We have a little sister And she has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister On the day when she is spoken for [in marriage]?
We have a little sister. She has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister In the day when she is to be spoken for?
Wee haue a litle sister, and she hath no breastes: what shall we do for our sister when she shalbe spoken for?
"We have a little sister,And she has no breasts;What shall we do for our sisterOn the day when she is spoken for?
We have a little sister, and her breasts are not yet grown. What shall we do for our sister on the day she is spoken for?
We have a little sister whose breasts are not yet formed. If someone asks to marry her, what should we do?
[Chorus]
We have a little sister; her breasts are still unformed. What are we to do with our sister when she is asked for in marriage?We have a little sister, And she hath no breasts: What shall we do for our sister In the day when she shall be spoken for?—
We have a little sister, and her breasts are not yet grown. What should we do for our sister when a man comes asking to marry her?
We have a little sister whose breasts have not developed; what shall we do for our sister in the day when they shall seek her hand?
The Woman's Brothers
We have a young sister, and her breasts are still small. What will we do for her when a young man comes courting?We have a little sister, and she does not yet have any breasts. What should we do for our sister on the day when she is betrothed?
We have a little sister, and she has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister in the day she shall be spoken for?
When oure loue is tolde oure yonge sister, whose brestes are not yet growne, what shal we do vnto her?
We have a little sister, And she hath no breasts: What shall we do for our sister In the day when she shall be spoken for?
We have a young sister, and she has no breasts; what are we to do for our sister in the day when she is given to a man?
We have a little sister, and she hath no breasts; what shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for?
We haue a litle sister, and shee hath no breasts: what shall we doe for our sister, in the day when she shall bee spoken for?
Our sister is but young and hath no brestes: what shall we do for our sister when she shalbe spoken for?
Our sister is little, and has no breasts; what shall we do for our sister, in the day wherein she shall be spoken for?
We have a little sister, and she hath no breasts: what shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for?
Oure sistir is litil, and hath no tetys; what schulen we do to oure sistir, in the dai whanne sche schal be spokun to?
We have a little sister, And she has no breasts: What shall we do for our sister In the day when she shall be spoken for?
We have a little sister, and she hath no breasts: what shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for?
The Beloved's Brothers:
We have a little sister, and as yet she has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister on the day when she is spoken for?We have a little sister, And she has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister In the day when she is spoken for?
The Young Woman's Brothers
We have a little sister too young to have breasts. What will we do for our sister if someone asks to marry her?"We have a little sister, and she has no breasts. What should we do for our sister on the day when she is promised in marriage?
We have a little sister, and she has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister, on the day when she is spoken for?
THEYA sister, have we, a little one, and, breasts, hath she none, What shall we do for our sister, in the day when she may be spoken for?
Our sister is little, and hath no breasts. What shall we do to our sister in the day when she is to be spoken to?
We have a little sister, and she has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister, on the day when she is spoken for?
We have a little sister, and breasts she hath not, What do we do for our sister, In the day that it is told of her?
"We have a little sister, And she has no breasts; What shall we do for our sister On the day when she is spoken for?
Contextual Overview
The Chorus
Who is this I see coming up from the country, arm in arm with her lover?The Man
I found you under the apricot tree, and woke you up to love. Your mother went into labor under that tree, and under that very tree she bore you.The Woman
Hang my locket around your neck, wear my ring on your finger. Love is invincible facing danger and death. Passion laughs at the terrors of hell. The fire of love stops at nothing— it sweeps everything before it. Flood waters can't drown love, torrents of rain can't put it out. Love can't be bought, love can't be sold— it's not to be found in the marketplace. My brothers used to worry about me: "Our little sister has no breasts. What shall we do with our little sister when men come asking for her? She's a virgin and vulnerable, and we'll protect her. If they think she's a wall, we'll top it with barbed wire. If they think she's a door, we'll barricade it." 10 Dear brothers, I'm a walled-in virgin still, but my breasts are full— And when my lover sees me, he knows he'll soon be satisfied. 11The Man King Solomon may have vast vineyards in lush, fertile country, Where he hires others to work the ground. People pay anything to get in on that bounty. But my vineyard is all mine, and I'm keeping it to myself. You can have your vast vineyards, Solomon, you and your greedy guests!Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
a little: Ezekiel 16:46, Ezekiel 16:55, Ezekiel 16:56, Ezekiel 16:61, Ezekiel 23:33, John 10:16, Acts 15:14-17, Romans 15:9-12
she hath: Song of Solomon 8:10, Song of Solomon 4:5, Song of Solomon 7:3, Psalms 147:19, Psalms 147:20, Acts 7:38, Romans 3:1, Romans 3:2, Ephesians 2:12
what: Psalms 2:8, Psalms 72:17-19, Isaiah 49:6, Isaiah 60:1-5, Isaiah 60:10, Isaiah 60:11, Acts 10:1-48, Acts 11:1-18, Acts 16:9, Acts 22:21, Acts 26:17, Acts 26:18, Romans 10:12-15, Ephesians 2:13-15, Ephesians 2:19-22
in the day: Luke 19:44, 1 Peter 2:12
Reciprocal: Psalms 144:12 - the similitude Song of Solomon 7:7 - thy breasts Isaiah 54:1 - O barren
Cross-References
He waited seven more days and sent out the dove again. It came back in the evening with a freshly picked olive leaf in its beak. Noah knew that the flood was about finished.
He waited another seven days and sent the dove out a third time. This time it didn't come back.
The Man
Oh, my dear friend! You're so beautiful! And your eyes so beautiful—like doves!class="poetry"> I'm just a wildflower picked from the plains of Sharon, a lotus blossom from the valley pools.
The Man
A lotus blossoming in a swamp of weeds— that's my dear friend among the girls in the village.The Woman
As an apricot tree stands out in the forest, my lover stands above the young men in town. All I want is to sit in his shade, to taste and savor his delicious love. He took me home with him for a festive meal, but his eyes feasted on me! Oh! Give me something refreshing to eat—and quickly! Apricots, raisins—anything. I'm about to faint with love! His left hand cradles my head, and his right arm encircles my waist! Oh, let me warn you, sisters in Jerusalem, by the gazelles, yes, by all the wild deer: Don't excite love, don't stir it up, until the time is ripe—and you're ready. Look! Listen! There's my lover! Do you see him coming? Vaulting the mountains, leaping the hills. My lover is like a gazelle, graceful; like a young stag, virile. Look at him there, on tiptoe at the gate, all ears, all eyes—ready! My lover has arrived and he's speaking to me!The Man
Get up, my dear friend, fair and beautiful lover—come to me! Look around you: Winter is over; the winter rains are over, gone! Spring flowers are in blossom all over. The whole world's a choir—and singing! Spring warblers are filling the forest with sweet arpeggios. Lilacs are exuberantly purple and perfumed, and cherry trees fragrant with blossoms. Oh, get up, dear friend, my fair and beautiful lover—come to me! Come, my shy and modest dove— leave your seclusion, come out in the open. Let me see your face, let me hear your voice. For your voice is soothing and your face is ravishing."Stay alert. This is hazardous work I'm assigning you. You're going to be like sheep running through a wolf pack, so don't call attention to yourselves. Be as cunning as a snake, inoffensive as a dove.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
We have a little sister,.... Which seems to be the Gentile church, so called by the Jewish church; for as the church catholic, or universal, with respect to its parts, is called a mother, as often in this Song; so these parts, with respect to each other, as the Jewish and Gentile churches, may be called sisters; and the rather, as they belong to the same Father and family, are partakers of the same grace, and are of the same faith and religion as to the substance of them; and the object and nature of their worship the same, though as to circumstances different: and it may be observed that the Gentile church is not only sister to the Jewish church, but to Christ, and therefore she says, not I, but we, have such a sister; of which relation, see Song of Solomon 4:9; also that she stood in this relation to Christ and to the Jewish church before the coming of Christ, and before the Gospel was preached to her, and she was called and separated from the world; as elect Gentiles are also called the sheep of Christ, and children of God, before that time, John 10:16. This church is described as a "little sister", younger in age than the Jewish church, and in some respects less honourable, Romans 3:1; the same with the younger son and brother, in the parable of the prodigal; little in esteem among men, especially the Jews, Ephesians 2:11; little in stature, light, knowledge, and faith, at first conversion; and but few in number, particularly at first, and in comparison of the world: and so the church of Christ, consisting both of Jews and Gentiles, is called a little flock, Luke 12:32. As a further description of her, it is added,
and she hath no breasts: is not arrived to years of ripeness, nor marriageable; see Ezekiel 16:7; the time of her open espousal to Christ was not yet come: at this time she had no ministers nor ordinances, from whence she could have the sincere milk of the word, or share it with others; and it was some time after the Gospel came among the Gentiles before they had a settled ministry;
what shall we defer our sister? or, "what shall be done for her?" being moved with pity to her, in her forlorn and helpless condition, like a little infant, Ezekiel 16:4; and willing to do anything for her that lay in her power, though seeming at a loss to know what to do for her: the believing Jews were very assisting to the Gentiles, in carrying the Gospel among them at first; and in supplying them with ministers, and with money too, to carry on the interest of Christ among them. The Jewish church here is not forgetful of the chief and principal agent, Christ, and therefore says, what shall we do? she was willing to do what she could; but she knew all would be insignificant without Christ, his agency and blessing. The time she was concerned what should be done for her in is,
in the day when she shall be spoken for, or "with", or "unto" y: when she should be wooed or treated with for marriage, by the ministers of the word, at the first preaching of the Gospel to her; or be spoken to by her enemies, by fair words, or severe menaces, to desert the faith. Or, "be spoken of" z; the fame of her be spread abroad, far and near, for her light, knowledge, and faith; for her profession, and her sufferings for it; and the concern is, how she should behave under all the noise and talk about her: or, "be spoken against" a; as she would be by unbelieving Jews, and by ignorant Heathens, for embracing the Christian religion, for receiving the Gospel of Christ, submitting to his ordinances, and professing his name, Acts 28:22. Now the old church might be concerned, that she might stand firm to her faith and the profession of it, notwithstanding the reproaches and persecutions of men.
y שידבר בה "alloquenda est", V. L. "fiet sermo cum ea", Pagninus; "in colloquendum", Tigurine version. z "Sermo fiet de ea", Brightman, Mercerus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Michaelis, so Cocceius. a So the Targum, Shir Hashirim Rabba, & Jarchi in loc. Bereshit Rabba, s. 39. fol. 34. 1.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
A brief dialogue commencing with a question and answer probably made by brothers of the bride concerning a younger sister who will soon be old enough to be asked in marriage. The answer is given in the form of a parable: “If she be a wall,” i. e., stedfast in chastity and virtue, one on whom no light advances can be made, then let us honor and reward her. This fortress-wall shall be crowned as it were with a tower or battlement of silver. But “if she be a door,” light-minded and accessible to seduction Proverbs 7:11-12, then let us provide against assailants the protection of a cedar bar or panel.
Song of Solomon 8:10
The bride herself replies with the pride of innocence and virtue already crowned. She has shown herself to be such a fortress-wall as her brothers have alluded to, and her reward has been the royal favor.
Song of Solomon 8:11, Song of Solomon 8:12
She next turns to the king, and commends her brothers to his favorable regard by means of another parable. Solomon owns a vineyard in Baal-hamon (possibly Baalbak, or identical with Amana (Conder)), situated in the warm and fertile plains of Coele-Syria, overshadowed by the heights of Lebanon Song of Solomon 4:8. This vineyard he has let out to tenants etc.
The bride also has a vineyard of her own Song of Solomon 1:6, her beauty and virtue faithfully guarded by these same brothers in time past. This vineyard now belongs to Solomon. Let him have “the thousand” which is his due - she is indeed herself henceforth entirely his - but let the faithful keepers have their meed as well. At least two hundred silverlings should be theirs - a double tithe of royal praise and honor.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Song of Solomon 8:8. We have a little sister — This young girl belonged most probably to the bride.
She hath no breasts — She is not yet marriageable.
What shall we do for our sister — How shall we secure her comfort and welfare?
In the day when she shall be spoken for? — When any person shall demand her in marriage.
