4:13a

Your branches are an orchard: Here the author again compares the woman to a garden. The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Your branches occurs only here in the OT, and its meaning is uncertain. It seems to refer in general to what comes out from something else, like the shoots of plants, the streams of a river, or the legs and arms of a person. Because of its general meaning, it must be translated in different ways in different contexts.

The phrase Your branches are an orchard is a metaphor. Some other ways to translate it in this context are:

• Keep the metaphor. For example:

You are paradise that produces… (God’s Word)

• Use a simile. For example:

You are like a private garden (New Living Translation (1996))

When you translate this metaphor, be careful that what it communicates is beautiful, and not ugly, humorous, or shocking. It should imply that the woman was refreshing and lovely like a garden. In some languages it may be more natural to speak of the woman herself instead of using the metaphor of branches. For example:

You are like a lovely orchard (New Living Translation (1996))
-or-

You are paradise that produces pomegranates (God’s Word)

an orchard: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as orchard also means “paradise,” and some versions translate it this way. orchard or “paradise” is parallel to “garden” in 4:12a.

of pomegranates: The word pomegranates refers to the fruit that grows on small bush-like trees that are also called “pomegranate trees.” The pomegranate fruit is smooth and red on the outside. Inside, its seeds are surrounded with a jelly-like pulp. Its juice is sweet and refreshing and was sometimes made into syrup or wine. The pomegranate fruit symbolized beauty. For more information and a picture of the fruit, see the note on 4:3c.

4:13b

with the choicest of fruits: The phrase with the choicest of fruits introduces a list of the finest fruits and spices. The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as with is used several times in the list to introduce another fruit or spice.

In some languages (as in English), a connector like with may be confusing here. It may wrongly imply that pomegranate trees produce many kinds of fruit besides pomegranates. However, the meaning here is “along with” or simply “and.” Other ways to translate the connection between 4:13a and 4:13b are:

pomegranates along with many other choicest fruits…
-or-
pomegranates and the best fruits (God’s Word)

For the list in 4:13–14 use natural connectors in your language.

the choicest of fruits: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as fruits is a general word for fruit. The phrase the choicest of fruits indicates a variety of the best and most delicious kinds of fruit. Some other ways to translate the phrase are:

the best/finest fruits
-or-
rare spices (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
as well as many other wonderful fruits

4:13c

In 14:13c the list of orchard plants continues.

with henna and nard: The phrase henna and nard refers to two plants that smell sweet. Some other ways to translate the phrase are:

henna ⌊bushes⌋ and nard ⌊plants⌋
-or-
henna and nard

henna: The word henna refers to a shrub (bush) with very fragrant flowers.