15 The twin themes of the enclosed garden and sealed spring are highlighted by the wordplay (paronomasia) between the Hebrew expressions גַּן נָעוּל (gan na’ul, “a garden locked up”) and גַּל נָעוּל (gal na’ul, “an enclosed spring”).
16 The noun פַּרְדֵּס (pardes, “garden, parkland, forest”) is a foreign loanword that occurs only 3 times in the Hebrew Bible (Song 4:13; Eccl 2:5; Neh 2:8). The original Old Persian (Avestan) term pairidaeza designated the enclosed parks and pleasure-grounds which were the exclusive domain of the Persian kings and nobility in the Achaemenid period ( פַּרְדֵּס; ). The Babylonian term pardesu means “marvelous garden,” in reference to the enclosed parks of the kings ( 2:833.a and 3:1582.a). The term passed into Greek as παραδείσος (paradeisos, “enclosed park, pleasure-ground”), referring to the enclosed parks and gardens of the Persian kings ( ). The Greek term was transliterated into English as “paradise.”
17 Or “with all the finest balsam trees.” The Hebrew term בֹּשֶׂם (bosem) can refer either to the balsam tree, the spice associated with it, or by extension any fragrant aroma used as perfuming oil or incense.
18 Heb “a fountain of gardens” or “a headwaters for gardens.” The term מַעְיַן (m’yan, “fountain”) denotes “source, headwaters” as the place of origin of streams ( מַעְיַן). The term does not refer to a water fountain such as commonly found in modern cultivated gardens or parks; rather, it refers to the headwaters of streams and rivers, such as Banyas as the headwaters of the Jordan. The genitive construct מַעְיַן גַּנִּים (m’yan gannim, “a fountain of gardens”) is an unusual expression that has been treated in various ways: (1) “a garden fountain,” that is, a fountain located in a garden ( גַּן); (2) “a fountain of gardens,” that is, the headwaters of many spring-watered gardens. The latter is preferred. In Song 4:12–14 the bride is figuratively described as a garden with exotic plants; however, in 4:15 the metaphor shifts to the source of the water for the garden: מַעְיַן (“headwaters”) and בְּאֵר (bé’er, “well”) of fresh water flowing down from Lebanon.
19 Heb “a watering place” or “well of underground water.” The term בְּאֵר (bé’er, “well”) refers to an underground well that is dug in the ground to provide fresh water for humans and beasts (e.g., Gen 21:19, 25, 30; 26:15, 18, 19, 22, 32) ( I בְּאֵר; 2:87 I בְּאֵר). The term is often used in parallelism with בּוֹר (bor, “cistern”), עַיִן (’ayin, “spring”), and שׁוּחָה (shukhah, “water-hole”).
20 Heb “living water.” The phrase מַיִם חַיִּים (mayim khayyim, “living water”) refers to flowing, fresh water in contrast to standing, stagnant water (Gen 26:19; Lev 14:5–6, 50–52; 15:13; Num 19:17; Jer 2:13; 17:13; Zech 14:8; Song 4:15; 8:7, 16; 4Q418 103.2:6; 4QDibHama 1.5:2; 11QT 45:16) ( 3:202 I חַי 1; חיה 1; 312 חַי f). The adjective חַיִּים (“living”) frequently refers to what is fresh (Gen 26:19), healthy (Sir 30:14), or thriving (Gen 43:7, 27). Fresh, flowing water is pictured as pure (Lev 14:5–6, 50–52; 15:13) and a source of refreshment (Gen 26:19). See P. Reymond, L’eau, sa vie, et sa signification dans l’Ancien Testament (), 136.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

A garden locked is my sister, my bride,

a spring locked, a fountain sealed.

Your shoots are an orchard of pomegranates

with all choicest fruits,

henna with nard,

nard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon,

with all trees of frankincense,

myrrh and aloes,

with all choice spices—

a garden fountain, a well of living water,

and flowing streams from Lebanon.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

You are a garden locked up, my sister, my bride;

you are a spring enclosed, a sealed fountain.

Your plants are an orchard of pomegranates

with choice fruits,

with henna and nard,

nard and saffron,

calamus and cinnamon,

with every kind of incense tree,

with myrrh and aloes

and all the finest spices.

You are a garden fountain,

a well of flowing water

streaming down from Lebanon.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

My sister, my bride, you are a locked garden—

a locked garden and a sealed spring.

Your branches are a paradise of pomegranates

with choicest fruits;

henna with nard,

nard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon,

with all the trees of frankincense,

myrrh and aloes,

with all the best spices.

You are a garden spring,

a well of flowing water

streaming from Lebanon.

NLTNew Living Translation

You are my private garden, my treasure, my bride,

a secluded spring, a hidden fountain.

Your thighs shelter a paradise of pomegranates

with rare spices—

henna with nard,

nard and saffron,

fragrant calamus and cinnamon,

with all the trees of frankincense, myrrh, and aloes,

and every other lovely spice.

You are a garden fountain,

a well of fresh water

streaming down from Lebanon’s mountains.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

A garden locked is my sister bride,

a spring enclosed, a fountain sealed.

Your shoots are an orchard of pomegranates with choice fruit,

henna with nard;

nard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon spice with all trees of frankincense,

myrrh and aloes with all chief spices.

A garden fountain, a well of living water,

flowing (streams) from Lebanon.

KJV 1900King James Version

A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse;

A spring shut up, a fountain sealed.

Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits;

Camphire, with spikenard,

Spikenard and saffron;

Calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense;

Myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices:

A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters,

And streams from Lebanon.

Public Domain