2:4a
He has brought me to the house of wine: Here the woman imagined the man bringing her to a house of wine, or banquet hall, as in the New International Version. The Berean Standard Bible translates this as a past action. However, here it probably describes what the woman wanted the man to do. In her thoughts she imagined him doing it. Use a natural verb form in your language.
Some other ways to translate this wish or imagination are:
Let him lead me to the banquet hall… (New International Version)
-or-
He brings me to the banquet hall… (New Living Translation (1996))
The same verb is used in 1:4b, and it functions in a similar way.
house of wine: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates literally as house of wine is also translated as “banquet hall,” as in the New International Version. It can refer to any place where people go to drink wine. It does not necessarily imply a house or building. Here it probably does not refer to a formal banquet hall, because the man and woman met in a private place. It may refer to the figurative house in the forest that was mentioned in 1:17a.
In some languages it may be helpful to translate house of wine with a more general term. For example:
the place of celebration
-or-
the feasting place
wine: wine often has a romantic meaning in the Song, so the house of wine may be a euphemism for the “place of love.” It may be helpful to include a footnote to explain what the term implies in this verse. For example:
The phrase house of wine in the Hebrew text probably does not refer to a house where people come to drink wine together. It is a poetic way to say that the man took the woman to a romantic place where they could show their love for one another.
2:4b
and his banner over me is love: There is a textual issue in this verse:
(1) The Hebrew word in the Masoretic Text means “banner,” “standard” or “flag.” For example:
and his banner over me is love. (New American Standard Bible)
(2) In other ancient Hebrew manuscripts, the word has different vowels but the same consonants as in the Hebrew Masoretic Text. It means to “look” or “glance.” For example:
and he looked at me lovingly. (NET Bible)
(3) The word comes from a related language. It means “intention.” For example:
and his intention toward me was love. (New Revised Standard Version)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), as most English versions and commentators do. However, the meaning of the word is figurative in this context. See the next note on banner for more information.
banner: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as banner refers to a big flag (a large cloth attached to a long, thin piece of wood). It was carried or set in a place where people could see it from far away. Each of the tribes of Israel had a banner, and kings and armies had banners. A king’s banner had symbols or pictures that identified him and his kingdom.
When a king conquered a city, he set up his banner over it to indicate that it now belonged to him. Here in 2:4, the word banner is a metaphor. It implies that the man took responsibility for the woman to love and protect her.
Some ways to translate the metaphor “his banner over me is love” are:
• Translate the metaphor literally. For example:
He raised a flag of love over me.
• Translate the metaphor as a simile. For example:
As a king sets his flag over his people, he shows that I am protected by his love.
• Translate the meaning without the metaphor. For example:
He took me as his own and protected me with his love.
In some languages there may be a similar metaphor with the same meaning. Translate the meaning in a natural and appropriate way in your language.
is: The Berean Standard Bible supplies the word is, which implies present time, but the Hebrew text does not indicate when the events happened. Translate the statement in a way that fits with the way you translated in 2:4a. See the General Comment on 2:4 for examples.
General Comment on 2:4
Translators use different tenses and moods for the two clauses in 2:4. You should translate 2:4a and 2:4b so that the tenses and moods fit with each other. For example:
4a He brought me to his banquet hall 4b and raised the banner of love over me. (Good News Translation)
-or-
He brings me to the banquet room, and puts his flag of love over me.
-or-
How I wish he would bring me to his celebration place and raise his flag of love over me!
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