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Wednesday, September 25th, 2024
the Week of Proper 20 / Ordinary 25
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World English Bible

Song of Solomon 8:9

If she is a wall, We will build on her a turret of silver. If she is a door, We will enclose her with boards of cedar. Beloved

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Silver;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Palaces;   Walls;  

Dictionaries:

- Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Popery;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Canticles;   ;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Palace;   Song of Solomon;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Song of Songs;   Table, Tablet;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Song of Solomon;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Board;   Palace;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Board;   Cedar;   Song of Songs;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Seth;   Shila of Kefar Tamarta;  

Parallel Translations

Legacy Standard Bible
If she is a wall,We will build on her a battlement of silver;But if she is a door,We will barricade her with planks of cedar."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"If she is a wall, We will build on her a battlement of silver; But if she is a door, We will barricade her with planks of cedar."
Bishop's Bible (1568)
If she be a wall, we shall builde a siluer bulwarke thervpon: yf she be a doore, we shall fasten her with boordes of Cedar tree.
Darby Translation
If she be a wall, We will build upon her a turret of silver; And if she be a door, We will enclose her with boards of cedar.
New King James Version
If she is a wall, We will build upon her A battlement of silver; And if she is a door, We will enclose her With boards of cedar.
Literal Translation
If she is a wall, we will build a turret of silver on her. And if she is a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar.
Easy-to-Read Version
If she were a wall, we would put silver trim around her. If she were a door, we would put a cedar board around her.
King James Version (1611)
If she be a wall, we will build vpon her a palace of siluer: and if she bee a dore, we will inclose her with boards of Cedar.
King James Version
If she be a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver: and if she be a door, we will inclose her with boards of cedar.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Yf she be a wall, we shal buylde a syluer bollworke there vpon: Yf she be a tower, we shal festen her with bordes of Cedre tre.
THE MESSAGE
class="poetry"> I wish you'd been my twin brother, sharing with me the breasts of my mother, Playing outside in the street, kissing in plain view of everyone, and no one thinking anything of it. I'd take you by the hand and bring you home where I was raised by my mother. You'd drink my wine and kiss my cheeks. Imagine! His left hand cradling my head, his right arm around my waist! Oh, let me warn you, sisters in Jerusalem: Don't excite love, don't stir it up, until the time is ripe—and you're ready.

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."
Amplified Bible
"If she is a wall (discreet, womanly), We will build on her a turret (dowry) of silver; But if she is a door (bold, flirtatious), We will enclose her with planks of cedar."
American Standard Version
If she be a wall, We will build upon her a turret of silver: And if she be a door, We will inclose her with boards of cedar.
Bible in Basic English
If she is a wall, we will make on her a strong base of silver; and if she is a door, we will let her be shut up with cedar-wood.
Update Bible Version
If she is a wall, We will build on her a turret of silver: And if she is a door, We will enclose her with boards of cedar.
Webster's Bible Translation
If she [is] a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver: and if she [is] a door, we will inclose her with boards of cedar.
New English Translation
If she is a wall, we will build on her a battlement of silver; but if she is a door, we will barricade her with boards of cedar.
Contemporary English Version
She isn't a wall that we can defend behind a silver shield. Neither is she a room that we can protect behind a wooden door.
Complete Jewish Bible
If she is a wall, we will build on her a palace of silver; and if she is a door, we will enclose her with panels of cedar.
Geneva Bible (1587)
If shee be a wall, we will builde vpon her a siluer palace: and if she be a doore, we wil keepe her in with bordes of cedar.
George Lamsa Translation
If she be a wall, we will build upon her an upper chamber of silver; and if she be a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar.
Hebrew Names Version
If she is a wall, We will build on her a turret of silver. If she is a door, We will enclose her with boards of cedar. Beloved
JPS Old Testament (1917)
If she be a wall, we will build upon her a turret of silver; and if she be a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar.
New Living Translation
If she is a virgin, like a wall, we will protect her with a silver tower. But if she is promiscuous, like a swinging door, we will block her door with a cedar bar.
New Life Bible
If she is a wall, we should build on her a tower of silver. But if she is a door, we should cover her with strong pieces of cedar wood."
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
If she is a wall, let us build upon her silver bulwarks; and if she is a door, let us carve for her cedar panels.
English Revised Version
If she be a wall, we will build upon her a turret of silver: and if she be a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar.
Berean Standard Bible
If she is a wall, we will build a tower of silver to protect her. If she is a door, we will enclose her with panels of cedar.
New Revised Standard
If she is a wall, we will build upon her a battlement of silver; but if she is a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
If, a wall, she is, we will build upon it a battlement of silver, - but if, a door, she is, we will close it up with a plank of cedar.
Douay-Rheims Bible
If she be a wall: let us build upon it bulwarks of silver: if she be a door, let us join it together with boards of cedar.
Lexham English Bible
If she is a wall, we will adorn her with a turret of silver; but if she is a door, we will barricade her with boards of cedar.
English Standard Version
If she is a wall, we will build on her a battlement of silver, but if she is a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar.
New American Standard Bible
"If she is a wall, We will build on her a battlement of silver; But if she is a door, We will barricade her with planks of cedar."
New Century Version
If she is a wall, we will put silver towers on her. If she is a door, we will protect her with cedar boards.
Good News Translation
If she is a wall, we will build her a silver tower. But if she is a gate, we will protect her with panels of cedar.
Christian Standard Bible®
If she is a wall, we will build a silver parapet on it. If she is a door, we will enclose it with cedar planks.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
If it is a wal, bilde we theronne siluerne touris; if it is a dore, ioyne we it togidere with tablis of cedre.
Revised Standard Version
If she is a wall, we will build upon her a battlement of silver; but if she is a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar.
Young's Literal Translation
If she is a wall, we build by her a palace of silver. And if she is a door, We fashion by her board-work of cedar.

Contextual Overview

8 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? 9 If she is a wall, We will build on her a turret of silver. If she is a door, We will enclose her with boards of cedar. Beloved 10 I am a wall, and my breasts like towers, Then I was in his eyes like one who found peace. 11 Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon. He leased out the vineyard to keepers. Each was to bring a thousand shekels of silver for its fruit. 12 My own vineyard is before me. The thousand are for you, Solomon; Two hundred for those who tend its fruit. Lover

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

a wall: Song of Solomon 2:9, Revelation 21:12-19

we will: Isaiah 58:12, Isaiah 60:17, Isaiah 61:4, Zechariah 6:12-15, Matthew 16:18, Acts 15:16, 1 Corinthians 3:10-12, Ephesians 2:20-22

a door: Acts 14:27

Reciprocal: Psalms 144:12 - the similitude Song of Solomon 1:11 - General Song of Solomon 1:17 - beams Song of Solomon 8:10 - a wall Ezekiel 16:61 - when

Cross-References

Deuteronomy 28:65
Among these nations shall you find no ease, and there shall be no rest for the sole of your foot: but Yahweh will give you there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and pining of soul;
Psalms 116:7
Return to your rest, my soul, For Yahweh has dealt bountifully with you.
Isaiah 60:8
Who are these who fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows?
Ezekiel 7:16
But those of those who escape shall escape, and shall be on the mountains like doves of the valleys, all of them moaning, every one in his iniquity.
Matthew 11:28
"Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest.
John 16:33
I have told you these things, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have oppression; but cheer up! I have overcome the world."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

If she [be] a wall,.... Built upon a sure foundation; and firmly established in her faith on Christ, and love to him; and is constant therein, and stands as a wall against the attacks of enemies b;

we will build upon her a palace of silver; though at first but as a side wall, yet should become a complete habitation, even a palace for Christ, the King of kings, and, being designed for so illustrious an inhabitant, should be a "silver" one, denoting its worth, value, and splendour; the builders of it are the church and her ministers; though Christ is the principal builder, Zechariah 6:12. Or, "a tower of silver" c, signifying, that she should be well fortified, and be put into a posture of defence against her enemies: the Gentile church at first had but a very small appearance of a building, a foundation just laid, a side wall erected; but, in a short time, a noble structure, a stately tower, a silver palace, were built for God;

and if she [be] a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar; if the door of the Gospel was opened among the Gentiles, it should be succeeded to the building a holy temple to the Lord; which should be not only ornamented, but so well fenced, that it should not be in the power of their enemies to deface and demolish it: or if the door of their hearts was opened, to receive Christ, and his glorious train of grace, they should be adorned and beautified with a larger measure of them; or if being come into a church state, and the door of it was set open to receive good men, and exclude bad men, this would be to their honour comfort and safety: or this phrase is expressive of the finishing of the building, the gate or door being set up; though it rather seems to intend the low and mean estate of the Gentile church at first, when there was but little appearance of a building, only a door set up; which afterwards grew up into a stately and magnificent palace, like that of Solomon's, built of cedar boards of the wood of Lebanon; which may denote her fragrancy, perpetuity, and incorruptibleness.

b So Ajax is called the wall of the Grecians, Homer. Iliad. 6. v. 5. 7. v. 211. c טירת כסף "propugnaculum argenteum", Tigurine version "arcem argenteam", Mercerus; "castellum argenti", Michaelis.

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 9. If she be a wall — All these expressions, says Calmet, show that it was necessary to provide a husband for this young sister. For a woman without a husband is like a wall without towers, and without defense; is like a gate or door without bar or lock; and like a city without walls. They must therefore provide for their sister a rich, powerful, and illustrious man; qualities here figured by towers or palaces of silver, and doors of cedar. As it is customary to build towers upon a wall, and to put bolts and bars upon a door in order to secure it, so the expressions may point out the defense, protection, and guardianship which they imagined this young woman to require.


 
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