Scripture Text: Song of Solomon 2:3 – 6 (22a, page 178)
Verse 3
In his shade I longed to stay, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.
Verses 4 – 6
He has brought me to the house of wine, and his banner over me is love.
Sustain me with raisin cakes and refresh me with apples because I am faint from love.
Oh, may his left hand be under my head and his right hand embrace me.
Below are some selections from other versions
Verse 4
He brought me to the banquet hall,
and he looked on me with love.
Verse 4
He brought me to his special large room for eating, and his colors over me were love. NLV
Verse 6
Or Let his left hand be under . . . ,and his right hand embrace me HCSB
Verse 6
[I can feel] his left hand under my head and his right hand embraces me! AMP
Verse 6
Let his left hand be under my head and his right hand embrace me.” NASBb
Verse 6
Put your left hand under my head and embrace me with your right arm CEV
Verse 6
Let his left hand be under my head and his right hand hold me close.’ NLV
Verse 6
Oh may his left hand be under my head, and his right hand embrace me GLK
I included the end of verse 3 in this section. In the first part of the verse, she was speaking to him. In the last part of the first she is sharing her thoughts with us. this continues on through the end of verse 6. There is a big question to answer in verse 6. Is she saying that he has his left hand under her head and his right hand is embracing her? Or is she wishing for him to be doing this? The word could also be translated groping, fondling. It definitely is implying more than just kissing. Is she faint from all the sexual activity? Or is she faint from thinking about it? It has been translated both ways. We have to figure out which is more accurate. I’m going with the translations where this is a wish, something she would like to be happening. One phrase that helped swing me this way is the one I am faint from love. She used this same phrase when she is looking for him after a fight. The other girls are asked to help find him and they want to know what to say to him if they find him. Her answer is to tell him that she is ‘faint with love’. Since she is trying to get him back, I can’t image that she is saying ‘we had a fight, you went off, I’m wearing out with all the sexual activity I’m having while you are gone.’ No, I think in both cases she is wishing for love and the activities that go with it.
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