This verse contains well-balanced parallel lines, repetition of the infinitive “to see,” and singular-plural alternation (“the nut orchard … the blossoms”; “the vine … the pomegranates”).

I went down to the nut orchard: the Hebrew term rendered as nut occurs only this once in the Old Testament. Its meaning is determined on the basis of other related languages; it means “walnut.” Good News Translation has “almond.” The significance of the nut and its symbolic meaning—ranging from sexual to spiritual—are discussed fully by Pope; but it is difficult to decide on its exact sense here. A general term nut may be adequate in many languages. If there is no general term, and walnuts or almonds are unknown, it may be well to use an even more general term such as “fruit-bearing trees.” Mentioning a variety of tree that may not have grown in the Middle East is not recommended.

Orchard or “grove” gives us a noun rarely used in the Old Testament; it is equivalent to the regular term meaning “garden” (see Est 1.5; 7.7). For the most part the imagery of the garden describes the young woman as in 4.12-16; 5.1; 6.2. Describing the movement to the garden as went down is typical of the Song (6.2), so this need not be rendered literally. We say simply “I entered the garden where the nut [or, fruit] trees grow.”

To look at the blossoms of the valley is the first of two purpose clauses using the infinitive “to see.” Both describe the young man’s journey as a search for evidence of the approach of spring. Of course this journey is figurative and more than likely has sexual associations. Blossoms of the valley is literally “green plants of the valley” and portrays new plant growth. New English Bible suggests “rushes by the stream” in light of Job 8.12, while Revised English Bible has changed that to read “green shoots of the palms.” The Septuagint and Targum render the term blossoms as “fruit.” However, according to the text the fruit has not appeared, so we suggest “blossom” as the better translation. The word that Revised Standard Version translates as valley is really “stream.” But here we take the meaning to be the place where the stream flows, which is always through the lowest portion of the land, the bottom of the valley. Note also that the man went down to the place in the opening line. “Valley” or “stream” is acceptable.

For translation we can say “… to see what blossoms were in the valley [or, by the stream].”

To see whether the vines had budded: introduced by the second infinitive, to see, we understand this clause to explain the previous one more fully. The infinitive of purpose that begins this clause actually serves both this and the following clause. In translation the use of identical verbs “to see” in both lines may not be natural. Revised Standard Version has tried to avoid the repetition by first using “look” and then “see.” We can also vary the verbs in the translation, if repeating them seems unacceptable.

Vines: see notes on 1.6. As part of the singular-plural parallel development, “vine” appears in the singular in the Hebrew. In the translation either singular or plural is acceptable. Revised Standard Version/New Revised Standard Version have chosen vines as the more natural equivalent. The tree rather than the fruit is the focus here. It is early spring and the fruit has not yet appeared. Whether the vines had budded parallels the previous clause. The term budded describes the buds appearing.

Whether the pomegranates were in bloom: Revised Standard Version mirrors the Hebrew form, so it does not repeat the infinitive clause “to see.” As noted above, the infinitive can be repeated here if necessary. In 4.3 the “pomegranate” was used as a metaphor for the young woman’s cheeks. In 4.13 its reference is less clear, though it is certainly referring to her or to some part of her body. In this passage, however, the context is first the orchard and less directly the young woman. Blossoms of pomegranates are fragrant, so that may be the feature in view. Otherwise we think of this fruit as ripe, red, juicy, and delicious. Where this fruit is not known, the translation may be difficult. We can say “to see whether the trees bearing delicious fruits are in blossom” or “to see if those trees, bearing sweet juicy fruits, are in bloom.”

The Hebrew verb translated were in bloom is rare. Apart from 7.12 its only other appearance is in Eccl 12.5, though there are some noun forms used elsewhere. Three different terms are used in this verse, referring to approximately the same thing: blossoms, had budded, and in bloom. This may present quite a challenge to the translator, who may have to combine parts of the verse to avoid repetition.

Here then the young man describes one of his times of pleasure with his beloved. He again uses the image of visiting the garden, so the fruit trees are all figures for his lover. The repeated reference to plants in bloom may indicate that the woman’s wonderful fragrance is in focus. Perhaps the coming of spring means as well that he sees her as emerging into full sexual maturity and beauty. This kind of imagery is frequent in most languages, so if there are terms that can apply to both fruits and mature young women, it will be very appropriate to use them here. As this is poetry, we need to concentrate here on what is being suggested or indirectly referred to, rather than on a word-for-word literal translation.

For translation one possibility is:

• I went to the orchard where the nut trees grow, to see the blossoms in the valley, to see whether the vines were yet in bud, the pomegranates yet in bloom.

More freely we may say:

• I went down to the garden where the fruit trees grow,
To see if spring’s blossoms had come to the vines in the valley,
[To see] if its fruit trees were in bloom.

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 .