1:13a–b

My beloved is to me a sachet of myrrh resting between my breasts:
Here the author used a metaphor. The woman compared the man to a sachet, or bag, of myrrh lying between her breasts. Myrrh has a delightful fragrance. As the woman smelled it, she imagined the man being close to her like the myrrh was. His presence was delightful like the fragrance of the myrrh.

In some languages this metaphor may not communicate the meaning well. If that is true in your language, other ways to translate it are:

• Use a simile. For example:

My beloved is to me like a sachet of myrrh resting between my breasts.

• Indicate how the man was like the sachet of myrrh. For example:

My lover has the scent of myrrh as he lies upon my breasts. (Good News Translation)
-or-
My beloved is close to me like a sachet of myrrh between my breasts.

Translate the metaphor in a meaningful way in your language.

bag of myrrh: sachet of myrrh: myrrh is an expensive perfume, which at that time was imported into Israel from other countries. It was made from the resin of a myrrh tree. The resin could be obtained in both solid and liquid forms. As a solid, it was put in a small sachet made of cloth or leather. The woman hung the sachet around her neck. Then the fragrance of the myrrh made her body smell sweet.

In some languages myrrh may not be known. If that is true in your language, some ways to translate it are:

• Use a general term for something that people put on their bodies to make them smell sweet. For example:

perfume (Contemporary English Version)

• Indicate the meaning by other words in the context. For example:

a fragrant pouch of myrrh (NET Bible)
-or-
sweet-smelling myrrh

It may also be helpful to include a footnote. For example, the NET Bible has this footnote:

Myrrh is a fragrant resin used for perfumes. (NET Bible)

1:13a

My beloved: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as My beloved is the most common way that the woman used to refer to the man in the Song. It implies that he was the one whom she loved. It does not imply that she and he had sexual relations. Try to translate the word in a way that does not imply sexual union. For example:

my love
-or-
my darling
-or-
the one I love

1:13b

resting: There are two main interpretations of the Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as resting.

(1) It means “stay” or “spend the night.” For example:

spending the night between my breasts. (NET Bible)

(2) It means “lie” or “rest.” For example:

resting between my breasts. (New International Version)

It is recommended that you follow option (1). The verb form used here suggests an extended time such as “all night.”

between my breasts: In some languages the word breasts here may seem too sexually explicit. If that is true in your language, you may need to translate in a more general way. For example:

My beloved lies close to me just like a sweet-smelling bag of myrrh lies next to my chest.

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