I reviewed the Song of Songs and chose to do it with the NIV version for two reasons. (1) To show that there are definitive differences in English versions sometimes they are the product of poor translation (2) To show in detail who the speakers are and how they interact and a paraphrased version like NIV was best suited for this because of unit titles like "Lover" & "Beloved". This editorial distinction is based on the fact that certain pronouns in Hebrew are different for masculine or feminine gender.
Primarily on the basis of the gender of the Hebrew pronouns used, male and female speakers are indicated in the margins by the captions Lover and Beloved respectively. The labeling of “Friends” is anyone other than these two. The caption to this book also says, in some instances the divisions and their captions are debatable in the NIV. The ESV Beloved is replaced with She, Lover is replaced with He and Friends are replaced with Others. In some cases the ESV drops the designation completely and doesn’t distinguish (example: Ch 2). The NASB refers to the female (Beloved) as Shulammite Bride and/or Jerusalem's Daughters, the male (Lover) is Solomon. What we appear to have is (pun) schizophrenic gender labeling or eisegesis of “jots and tittles” or cantillations. Thank goodness we are not dealing with the TNIV or “gender neutral” Bible…that must have been a real nightmare to transliterate / translate *{chuckle}*. In actuality, the TNIV makes a gender distinction in Song of Solomon . Either way, the English versions are clearly not consistent with labels although the versions I looked at did get the gender correct. What I will say is that this book is a Hebrew song and being so is subject to the possible allegory, literal, or metaphorical interpretation.
There are multiple important meanings and/or distinctions found in this book in reference to the identity of the Beloved and the Lover. I will list four of them.
(1) The Song of Solomon puts forth the glory of wedded love:
(a)The Masculine and Feminine roles would have their normal human gender specific meanings here. When taken in this context there is a sensual/sexual connotation that adds (eh…hmmm) tension to the narrative. In the past it was debated whether or not to even teach this to young men and women until they reached a certain age and maturity level. Origen and Jerome have told us that the Jews would not even allow this to be taught to men until they were 30 yrs old (McGee 143)
(2) The Song of Solomon puts forth the Love or God (Yahweh) for Israel:
(a) The Masculine/He being God and the Feminine/She Israel
(b) The problem with this is that it sexualizes the relation between Jesus and the believer.
(3) The Song of Solomon puts forth the Love and Relationship of Christ and the Church:
(a) The Masculine/Bridegroom being Christ and the Feminine/She is the Church /Bride of Christ
(4) The Song of Solomon puts forth the Relationship and Communion of Christ and Individual Believers:
(a) The Masculine/He being Christ and the Feminine/She the individual
The bottom-line regardless of who HE and SHE are is that this book is about a Divine love or a love that has its under-girding and/or strength drawn from a Divine source, God. If we miss this about this book we have missed the entire point. It is about unity in a relationship between two beings that are unequal or a relationship that would require a compromise on one side. I’ll let you figure which side that would be ;).
Holy Bible: New International Version (NIV). [electronic].
McGee, Dr. J. Vernon. "Song of Solomon-Intro." Thru the Bible, Vol. 3: Proverbs-Malachi. Waco, TX: Thomas Nelson, 1983. 143-144. Print.
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