2:6–7
These two verses are a refrain that is repeated in 8:3–4.
2:6a–b
His left hand is under my head, and his right arm embraces me: In Hebrew this verse is more literally, “his left hand under my head and his right hand embraces me.” The Hebrew clause in 2:6a does not have a verb. Scholars interpret this verse in different ways:
(1) The woman described what the man was doing. He was embracing her. For example:
His left arm is under my head, and his right arm embraces me. (New International Version)
(2) The woman wished or requested that the man would embrace her. For example:
O that his left hand were under my head and his right hand embraced me! (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
Put your left hand under my head and embrace me with your right arm. (Contemporary English Version)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).
His…his: In this verse the pronoun his refers to the man whom the woman loved. In some languages it may be more natural to make this explicit. For example:
my love
left hand…right arm: In Hebrew there is a word that means “left hand/arm” and a different word that means “right hand/arm.” Both words refer to either a person’s hand or his whole arm (from shoulder to fingertips).
Use an appropriate word to refer to the part of the hand or arm that would be used in this context. In some languages different words may be needed in 2:6a and 2:6b. For example:
6a My lover’s left hand is under my head, 6b and his right arm holds me tight. (New Century Version)
His left hand…under my head: This clause probably indicates that the man supported the woman’s head with his left arm as she lay in his arms. Some other ways to translate this meaning are:
His left arm/hand is the place where I rest my head
-or-
His left arm pillows my head
his right arm embraces me: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as embraces can refer generally to any embrace or specifically to a sexual caress. Most English versions translate it in the general way. Use an appropriate expression in your language. Some other ways to translate it are:
his right arm is round me. (Revised English Bible)
-or-
he holds me ⌊lovingly⌋ with his right arm.
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