Discovery BoxThe Song of Songs 8:3-4
ContextThe Beloved about Her Lover:
8:3 His left hand caresses my head,
and his right hand stimulates me. 1
The Beloved to the Maidens:
8:4 I admonish you, O maidens 2 of Jerusalem:
“Do not 3 arouse or awaken love until it pleases!”
[8:3] 1 tn See the notes on 2:6, which is parallel to this verse.
[8:4] 2 tn Heb “daughters of Jerusalem.”
[8:4] 3 tn Heb “Why arouse or awaken …?” Although the particle מָה (mah) is used most often as an interrogative pronoun (“What?” “Why?”), it also can be used as a particle of negation. For example, “How (מָה) could I look at a girl?” means “I have not looked at a girl!” (Job 31:1); “What (מַה) do we have to drink?” means “We have nothing to drink” (Exod 15:24); “What (מַה) part do we have?” means “We have no part” (1 Kgs 12:16); and “Why (מַה) arouse or awaken love?” means “Do not arouse or awaken love!” (Song 8:4). See HALOT 551 s.v. מָה C.
