gazelle

Both the Hebrew and Greek names are probably general terms for gazelle. At least two types of gazelle the Dorcas Gazelle Gazella dorcas and the Palestine or Arabian Gazelle Gazella arabica were found in the Middle East. They are still to be found in secluded areas.

Gazelles are small to medium sized plains antelopes, inhabiting savannah plains and semideserts. Both sexes have horns, except for the female impala, which is without horns. The horns of the gazelle species mentioned above are lyre-shaped about 25-50 centimeters (10-20 inches) in length. Gazelles are reddish brown with almost white underparts. They are long-legged and graceful and are expert jumpers. They live in small herds of up to about thirty. Females become sexually active at one year and bear young every year. This high rate of reproduction ensures their survival. They feed on both grass and the leaves of acacia and other bushes.

A breeding herd consists of one dominant breeding male and a group of females. The other males are chased from the herd when they become sexually active and they then form bachelor herds. These bachelor herds are the prime target for human and animal hunters since they provide a convenient source of meat while leaving the breeding cycle intact. In biblical times gazelles were trapped in nets or snares or were shot with bows and arrows.

The gazelle was seen as the cleanest of game animals since it met all the requirements of the Law concerning cloven hooves and cud-chewing. It was also a symbol of speed grace and beauty (the Hebrew root means beauty) and of female sexuality and fertility.

Where a language distinguishes between male and female animals, tsvi should be translated by the male form and tsviyah by the female form.

In East Africa where gazelles are well-known, a generic word for gazelles or the specific word for one of the smaller gazelles, such as the Thompson’s Gazelle Gazella thompsonii, is suitable. Elsewhere in Africa where the impala is known, the word for this antelope can be used.

Elsewhere, the word for a small antelope or deer that lives in herds can be used for the references that are literal, and the word for some swift, graceful antelope or deer can be used in the contexts where speed, grace, or beauty are being symbolized. As usual, in areas where gazelles, antelopes, and deer are unknown, a transliteration from the dominant international language or from the Hebrew original can be used. In such cases a description should be given in the glossary.

Gazella dorcas, Wikimedia Commons

Source: All Creatures Great and Small: Living things in the Bible (UBS Helps for Translators)

complete verse (Song of Solomon 2:17)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Song of Solomon 2:17:

  • Kupsabiny: “until the sun sets
    and the shadows disappear.
    Please, my beloved, come back
    hurry like the child of an antelope
    or like a young antelope
    who is there in the hills.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “till the sun rises in the morning.
    Before the shadows disappear
    return, O my beloved,
    be a gazelle or young hart upon the cleft mountains.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Before (the day) dawns and before the darkness has-disappeared/is-gone, [you (sing.)] return to me, my beloved. [You (sing.)] return just (as)-fast-(as) a deer in the lower-part of two mountains.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “You who love me, come and be like a gazelle or like a young deer on the hills of Bether,
    and then flee like a deer at dawn tomorrow morning,
    when the darkness fades.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Japanese benefactives (natte)

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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between. One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a benefactive construction as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017.

Here, natte (なって) or “become” is used in combination with kudasaru (くださる), a respectful form of the benefactive kureru (くれる). A benefactive reflects the good will of the giver or the gratitude of a recipient of the favor. To convey this connotation, English translation needs to employ a phrase such as “for me (my sake)” or “for you (your sake).” (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Translation commentary on Song of Songs 2:17

Here we meet the concluding bracket of the inclusio, which opened in verse 8. The repeated terms include “my beloved” (verses 8-9), “gazelle” and “young stag” (verse 9), and “mountain” (verse 8).

There are many problems of interpretation here. First, commentators do not agree about the time of day referred to—whether it is late night or early morning. More important, there is no agreement as to whether the young woman is asking the young man to stay with her or to go away!

Traditionally verse 17a has been closely linked to verse 17b. The young man is called to “be like a gazelle,” probably until morning (see below). However, another possibility presents itself, and that is that this clause is connected rather to what has gone before—the love scene (“feeding on the lilies”). Extending this scene until the morning would be quite appropriate. This is the approach Good News Translation takes.

Until the day breathes is a most unusual phrase, which Revised Standard Version and many others render literally, probably because they could not decide what it meant. The preposition Until can also be translated “While,” though Jerusalem Bible and some commentators suggest “Before.” Its translation depends partly on how we render the verb “turn” later in the verse. We will anticipate that decision and state that we prefer “Before” over Until.

The Hebrew verb here means “blow” or “breathe.” The idea that the day breathes is an idiomatic expression for the soft, cool wind that blows in the early morning or evening. Some commentators see a link with Gen 3.8 “in the cool of the day,” but there is no direct evidence to link these two verses. We can determine that it refers to the cooler part of the day, but we cannot as yet decide whether it is morning or evening. Revised English Bible has “while the day is cool.”

And the shadows flee: this line is parallel with the previous one and points to the same time of day. When do shadows flee? Some think this happens at dawn; others think it takes place in the evening. However, when the sun rises then shadows begin to appear, not flee; similarly, as the sun sets the shadows grow longer. Some argue that, as the shadows disappear at night, this is equivalent to the shadows “fleeing.” However, the majority of commentators and translations seem to favor morning as the meaning. Thus Good News Translation says “until the morning breezes blow.” Some, like New American Bible and New English Bible, do not indicate the time of day at all.

Shadows is the term that challenges us. This word comes from the same root that appeared in verse 3, “With great delight, I sat in his shadow.” In that passage the word obviously means “shade” with all its positive connotations of freshness and protection. However, elsewhere the term means a dark shadow (see, for example, Job 3.5, where it is parallel to “darkness”). In view of the ambiguity of the phrase shadows flee, it is simpler to adopt the view that the poet is talking of the darkness becoming light. This would be appropriate to the morning time.

The entire episode in which the young man stands outside the young woman’s home in verse 9, calling her to come out, probably took place during the night. We may conclude that she asks him to leave her before the daylight comes, when family members would inevitably see him.

For translation:

• Before morning dawns and the darkness flees.

• Before day breaks and the darkness ends.

Turn, my beloved: major problems in this verse can be linked to the verb turn, because its meaning is unclear. It can mean “turn to,” “turn back,” or even “turn around.” The question is, what is meant here? Further, what has happened since the young man spoke so pleadingly (verses 10-14)? Has the young woman responded?

There are in fact several possibilities. The young woman may have kept her lover waiting outside all night, and she may now be telling him “Go back home.” However, the content of verse 16 and especially the participle “feeding among the lilies” seems to argue against this explanation.

The young man may still be waiting outside, but at this point (verse 16) the young woman is declaring her love. Then logically verse 17 would be her appeal to him to stay or “come back.” In this case “being like a gazelle and a young stag on the mountain of spice” is a euphemistic way of expressing their lovemaking, which will take place until morning.

Finally verse 15 may be her teasing answer to tell him she is ready to receive him. Verse 16 can refer to their lovemaking, in which case verse 17 is telling him to go back home, now that morning has come. She would not want her family to know he was there.

We think this last suggestion makes the most sense: first, because of the intensity of expression in verse 16; secondly, because we know from the beginning she is not free to be seen openly with her lover; and thirdly, because this would be the exact mirror image of her lover coming on the hills to her (verses 8 and 9). Having the lover go in the same way as he came is a most appropriate way to end the poem. We can say, then, “Before the morning light is here, go [or, return].”

Be like a gazelle, or a young stag: see comments on verse 9. The comparison probably refers to his wild beauty and speed. Thus be can mean “be swift like…,” or even “run like….” This part of the verse represents the end of the inclusio that began with verses 8-9.

Upon rugged mountains is literally “upon the mountains of Bether.” The term “Bether” is our problem. King James Version, Good News Translation, and New American Bible take it to be a place name, indicating a mountain near Jerusalem. They translate as “mountains of Bether.” The Hebrew root may mean “divide in two” and is reflected in Traduction œcuménique de la Bible as “separated mountains.” The Syriac suggests that the term is a kind of spice, a sense accepted by Revised English Bible and New Jerusalem Bible, for example, with a translation “hills where cinnamon grows” or “hills of spice.” This interpretation is supported by the parallel phrase from 8.14.

Revised Standard Version rugged mountains is thought by some commentators to be a figurative reference to the young woman’s breasts. We suggest retaining the proper noun “Bether,” with a footnote stating “this may mean divided mountains.” This last solution will allow the double meaning to show through.

Possible translations are:

• Turn back, my lover. Be swift like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of Bether.

• Turn back, my lover, run like a wild animal on the rugged mountains.

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 .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Song of Songs 2:17

2:17

This important verse ends the poem that began in 2:8–9. It also prepares readers for the next paragraph (3:1–5). There are different ways to interpret the verse. The Notes interprets it to refer to a time before the woman and man had sexual relations. In this section, their love was still like the first blossoms in springtime. The Bible indicates that a couple must wait until they marry to have sexual relations.

2:17a–b

Before the day breaks and shadows flee: The statements in 2:17a and 2:17b are parallel. The subjects and the verbs are also parallel. The similar parts are underlined or written in bold print here:

17a Before the day breaks

17b and shadows flee

In 2:17b the word “before” is implied before the phrase shadows flee. The parallel lines, 2:17a and 2:17b refer to the same time of day. Scholars differ about the time of day that the phrases refer to:

(1) The phrases refer to evening. In the evening, breezes cool the land. The shadows become longer and then disappear into the darkness of night. For example:

When the day brings a cooling breeze and the shadows flee (God’s Word)

(2) The phrases refer to morning (or specifically to dawn). In the morning or at dawn, cool breezes blow and shadows disappear in the sunlight. For example:

until the morning breezes blow and the darkness disappears (Good News Translation)

It is recommended that you follow option (1), which refers to an evening breeze. Some reasons for this choice are:

(a) In Palestine, the west wind is the breeze that cools the land. It typically blows in the afternoon or evening, not in the morning.

(b) Two of three lexicons, as well as several reliable commentaries, support evening.

(c) Evening fits the context of 2:8–16 better than morning. In these verses the woman seemed too shy to come out when the man called, so it is not likely that they spent the night together. As the sun set, the man probably returned home through the “mountains” (2:8).

Use a natural or poetic way in your language to describe a cool, pleasant time toward evening. Some ways to translate it in English are:

When the day brings a cooling breeze and the shadows flee (God’s Word)
-or-
As the ⌊setting sun causes⌋ a cool wind to blow and shadows disappear ⌊in the darkness⌋
-or-
My love, when the sun sets and you feel the cool air of evening

Before: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Before can express different meanings depending on the context. English versions translate it in different ways here.

(1) It means “until.” For example:

Until the day breathes (English Standard Version)

(2) It means “before.” For example:

Before the day breeze rises (New Jerusalem Bible)

(3) It means “when, while.” For example:

When the day blows gently (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). In this context, the word Before sets a time limit for a particular continuing action. It implies that this action will continue Before the evening breeze blows and shadows begin to lengthen. The text may imply that at evening time, the gazelle (man) would leave.

2:17c–d

Notice the parallelism in 2:17c–d:

17c turn, my beloved, and be like a gazelle,

17d
or a young stag on the mountains of Bether.

turn, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag: In the Hebrew text 2:17c is more literally “turn, be like, my love, a gazelle.” Notice that the verbs turn and be like occur next to each other. There are different interpretations of the verbs here. The two main interpretations are:

(1) The verb turn means “go around” or “turn about.” Along with be like in this context, it probably indicates that the man should roam/run as a gazelle does. It may also imply that he should turn and return to where he came from. For example:

roam, my lover, like a gazelle or a young stag (New American Bible)
-or-
turn around….Run like a gazelle or a young stag (God’s Word)

(2) It means to “turn towards.” This is an invitation for the man to stay with her (perhaps for the night). For example:

return to me, my love, like a gazelle or a young stag (New Living Translation (2004))

Some English versions are ambiguous or translate in a unique way. It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). The woman seemed to want the man to behave like a gazelle on the mountains—running and leaping. The context, which refers to evening breezes and shadows (2:17c), may imply that he would return home before dark. This interpretation fits the context well.

be like a gazelle or a young stag: In 2:8–9 the author also compared the man to a gazelle or young stag. There the comparison implied characteristics such as speed, strength, and grace. In 2:16b the author also uses animal imagery to imply calm and contentment (“he pastures his flock among the lilies”).

In 2:17, the gazelle leaping on hills and feeding on flowers may symbolize the man’s happiness about enjoying the beautiful spring day with the woman until sunset. It is similar to his feelings in 2:16b as he fed among the lilies.

2:17d

on the mountains of Bether: The meaning of the Hebrew word beter that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Bether is uncertain. Some ways to interpret it are:

(1) It is related to a similar Hebrew root that means “split” or “divided.” It refers to rugged hills or to a mountain that has more than one peak. For example:

rugged hills (New International Version)
-or-
cleft mountains (New Revised Standard Version)

(2) It is the name of a certain town or of certain mountains located near Jerusalem. Versions that follow this interpretation transliterate the Hebrew name. For example:

on the mountains of Bether (Good News Translation)

(3) It refers to spices, and the phrase means “hills of spices.” For example:

the hills where aromatic spices grow (Revised English Bible)

Both interpretations (1) and (2) have good support, but it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). It helps readers picture the man moving over the mountains. You may want to mention interpretation (2) in a footnote.