As noted above, verses 10-16 are the young woman’s response to the question just asked. Following the same pattern as the young man’s speech in 4.1-6, this one lists the man’s various physical charms. In this way the young woman indicates why she finds him more attractive than all others. We note a kind of inclusio or bracket around this unit, with the word beloved occurring in the first and last verses.
In the following description of her lover, many terms are used that are found elsewhere describing kings such as David. The reason for choosing such vocabulary is clear; it shows that the young woman thinks her lover is as great as the royal heroes of the past.
My beloved is all radiant and ruddy: the Hebrew term for radiant can mean “dazzle,” or describe something as “bright,” “shining.” Although in Lam 4.7 the same word is used to describe milk, it probably does not carry that sense here. Pope indicates that it is used widely of a person who is healthy and fit. Thus radiant or “looks healthy” is a better rendering. It is much more appropriate than Good News Translation “handsome,” which means he is what some people consider good-looking and attractive.
Ruddy is linked with the adjective “red.” Whether redness indicates good health or here describes cosmetics applied to the skin are matters discussed in some commentaries. However, its association with the adjective “radiant” leads us to believe that the person looks healthy. It is a term used to describe David in 1 Sam 16.12. Translators should take care to use adjectives that can apply to a grown man. Traduction œcuménique de la Bible gives “pale and pink,” but this hardly fits the circumstance. Good News Translation “handsome and strong” seems very general. We can translate as “My lover is radiant and healthy” or “My lover looks healthy and fit.”
Distinguished among ten thousand: the passive participle distinguished has been linked with a term meaning “see.” The ancient versions related it to a military unit, but modern translations understand it to refer to a person’s supremacy. Thus New English Bible has “a paradigm,” and New American Bible “he stands out.” The latter is probably closer to its sense here, so we can say “he is outstanding.” See also the discussion of this root in 6.4.
Among ten thousand: this expression uses the largest number known in Hebrew and is a metaphor for a number that is uncountable. Thus the young woman is suggesting that her lover is outstanding above every other male. Good News Translation “one in ten thousand” is idiomatic, but we do not have to retain the literal numeral of the Hebrew. We can also say “he is one in a million,” or “he stands out above everyone else,” or “he has no equal.”
Quoted with permission from Ogden, Graham S. and Zogbo, Lynell. A Handbook on the Book of Song of Songs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1998. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .