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  • From: Harold Holmyard <hholmyard AT ont.com>
  • To: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] b-hebrew.questions on the Suares translation of the The Song of Songs
  • Date: Mon, 05 Dec 2005 20:46:43 -0600

Brett Casben wrote:

B Hebrew,
I have been working through the Song of Songs using Fox as a reference
complemented by the new Bloch translation. Recently I was referred to a
commentary by Carlos Suares which raises several questions in relation to the
actual translation of certain words in the original Hebrew which I would be
grateful of some assistance in resolving if possible.

1. Suares translates the double dallet/yod as it appears in several
places through the text as being 'nipples' where it is is generally referred
to 'lovemaking' in other texts.


It means "beloved": "my beloved one."

2. The root sheen/mem somehow equates to name, essence, being
and the like and is varyingly interpreted in 1:3 as oils, your oils, your
essence, your name in its various parts but there doesn't seem any clear
analysis as to which means what. Any suggestions?


There are two different words. $MN is "oil," and $M is "name."

3. The word Turaq is interpreted in some cases as a name and
sometimes as a verb, 'to pour out' surely there must be a clearer indication
as to its meaning. Fox favours pour out but Suares states it as a name and
indicates it is the name of the person who is being addressed whereas
according to my enquiries it seems to be a place name. However it also crops
up in the original Hebrew tav waw raysh quof as an alternative spelling for
the Torah. Is this a possible interpretation, I mean, a reasonable meaning?


It is the verb "empty" in a passive form (Hophal) that means "poured out."

4. Suares interprets the 'chamber' in 1:4 as specifically
referable to a place of religious study where almost all other commentators
have it as a bedroom. Any thoughts?


It generally is an inner room and most often, if I remember, the bedroom.

5. In 1:6 Suares has the opening word order changed and
translates Al as El extracting an interpretation 'toward God'. This is
obviously totally at variance with most other translations.


It sounds wrong. That is a significant change since AL is a negative ("not").

6. Also in this verse the vineyard is varying interpreted as a
symbol of 'a full life' (Suares), sexual development, (Fox), isn't there some
more clear statement as to its imagery? Is this the same 'vineyard' referred
to in Hosea 2:15?


It is not the same vineyard as in Hosea 2:15. The language there is figurative. Here it is an actual vineyard. However, at the end of the verse "her own vineyard" may be a way of figuratively describing her own body, whose skin she somewhat neglected in caring for the family vineyards.

7. In 1:7 Suares has sheen lamed mem hay as Shalomah (phonetic)
not sallamah (lest/Fox) followed by aleph hay yod hay as it appears in
Genesis for 'I am' as Yahweh describes himself. This seems extraordinarily
divergent in meaning. Is there any support for the Suares interpretation or
is it considered completely out of field.


I've never heard it. The phrase is a relative pronoun and the verb "love," with "my soul" as the subject: "whom my soul loves."

8. Suares makes consistent use of tracking the root meaning to
extract the idiom and this throws up two consistent interpretations at
variance with the accepted translations. The first is ghimel dallet as it
appears in 1:9 et seq which he interprets from its root 'goat' to mean new
journey. How does this square off with his interpretation of ayn yod noun -
ghimel dallet yod as a reference to 'a vine no longer wanted'.


You seem to have the wrong verse. There is no "ghimel dallet" sequence in 1:9.

9. The second is dallet ghimel 2:4 et seq which he interprets from its root 'first borne of the sea' to mean a fish. In this regard can I also refer you to Ruth 3:9 where the same root word seems to appear and ask if this is the same referent.


HH: The word probably means "banner." His banner over her is love. The same root does not occur in Ruth 3:9. Here's a lexical definition of it:

: I d≈g≈ll; MHb.2; Akk. diglu eyesight, view (what is looked at) (Volterra AANL 1963:131ff, ˘ ZAW 76:202); i) banner, (cf. Arb. ra}yat from r}y to see), and ii) “row of flags”, army, EgArm. (DISO 55), Eg. dgr, dgryr (Burchardt 1197f = (}l)d≈g≈ll; :: alt. Arb. dajjaœlat, large crowd, Tigr. Wb. 541b dagal crowd): = d≈ig≈lo®, d≈ig≈le®hem: —1. banners, standards (BRL 160ff; Reicke-R. 194; BA 20:43f) Nu 152 and 22 (|| }oœt◊oœt◊); —2. division of a tribe (d≈e mahΩ∞ne®h) Nu 2310.17f.25.31.34 1014.18.22.25; —3. sign (?) of an inn ?, Song 24 (˘ Gesenius-B., Rudolph:. Zolli Bibl. 21:273f: look, cf. diglu v.s.)

10. In 2:7 et seq Suares rejects the interpretation Jerusalem
insisting that it omits the customary yod in favour of 'peaceful city' which
maybe all Jerusalem is anyway (although it has hardly ever been that, eh?).


This is the standard form for the name "Jerusalem," occurring regularly.

10A. In 2:9 the word commonly translated as 'gazelle' Suares
identifies by its root as 'substance/thickness' and that for young stag as
'dust'. Are you able to assist as to whether there is support for either of
these translations?


I don't know and don't care. The word here is "gazelle."

11. In 4:3 Suares translates kaf hhayt waw tayt as sin and hay
sheen noun yod as dull or foolish which stands rather at odds with the
traditional interpretation. Again is their any other support for this
interpretation?


Since you seem relatively unfamiliar with Hebrew, let me say that Suares is probably not a commentary you should be using. I have not used it, but the man seems to play around with words in a way that is not helpful for a relative newcomer to biblical hebrew.

12. Suares also identifies the word as it appears in 6:6 as hay
mem waw raysh as derivative of mem waw raysh, to exchange not, as most often
translated as myrrh which he points out is elsewhere identified in the Song
as mem raysh without the interposed waw. If this is the case is the
construction the same as that appearing in Hosea 4:13?
13. Suares identifies the season in 2:11 as autumn rather than
spring as ayn bayt raysh he translates as 'prepare, rather than 'past'. Any
comments?
14. In 2:13 Suares states that the fig tree is a 'well known
symbol' but omits to tell us precisely for what, is it new life, is it the
productive spirit, is it faithfulness, what?
15. In 4:1 Suares translates sheen ayn raysh khaf as price, value
or measure. This is a long way away from the standard translation. Any
support for this?
16. In 4:5 Suares translates the word usually interpreted as
breasts, sheen dallet yod khaf, as a reference to 'the Almighty' Elohim. Now
there is a leap I wouldn't want to make alone. Any help there?
17. In 5:1 yod ayn raysh yod - dallet bayt sheen is translated in
Bloch as 'my honeycomb with my honey' whereas Suares gived the first word the
meaning of either 'forest' or 'wilderness' and the second as a 'spoilt
fermentation'.
I realise there is an awful lot to lay on you however if some of the issues
could be addressed that would be very much appreciated.


Yours,
Harold Holmyard






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