The young woman’s invitation continues. The verb phrase let us go out early means either to “rise early” or to “make an early start.” Here it suggests getting up early to go down to the vineyards. Jerusalem Bible suggests “In the morning we will go…,” which is certainly the sense present in the verb. We can follow this example or use a less formal expression, “Let’s get up early and go….”

To the vineyards: see comments on 1.6.

And see whether the vines have budded: see comments on 6.11.

Whether the grape blossoms have opened: another use of springtime imagery. The young woman speaks of the grape blossoms having opened. This represents the stage of growth after the appearance of the buds on the vine. Translate as “whether [or, if] the flowers on the grapevine have opened [yet].”

And the pomegranates are in bloom: see comments on 6.11.

There I will give you my love: this is the climax line. Everything the young woman has been saying from the beginning of verse 12 has been leading up to this promise. There refers back to the vineyards, the garden where henna flowers grow and bloom. This word occurs at the beginning of the sentence and certainly is where the focus lies. Most languages will be able to imitate this means of providing emphasis. On the significance of love, see comments at 1.2. The sense here is that she will give herself completely to her lover. Not every language will be able to describe this promise in exactly the same way. Jerusalem Bible suggests “There I will give you the gift of my love.” We can also say “There I will give myself to you.”

The entire verse can say:

• We’ll get up early to go to the vineyards
to see if there are buds on the vines,
to see if their blossoms have opened,
and whether the pomegranates [or, fruit trees] have bloomed.
There I’ll give my love to you.

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 .