Metaphorical Descriptions of Women in Shir HaShirim

Part of a series on metaphors in classical Hebrew literature. See previous pieces in the series in “Cataloguing My Blogposts: An Organized Breakdown by Theme”, section “Talmudic Studies and Interpretation”

"Shir HaShirim", also known as the Song of Songs, is a Biblical collection of passionate love poetry. In traditional religious circles, it is typically interpreted allegorically as the love between God and Israel.

The use of metaphor in the Song of Songs is abundant, with the woman's body often described using references to nature, animals, buildings, landscapes, and more. Here are some examples:

1. Nature and Animals

Song of Songs 4:1:

הנך יפה רעיתי 

הנך יפה 

עיניך יונים מבעד לצמתך 

שערך כעדר העזים שגלשו מהר גלעד

"Behold, you are beautiful, my love, 

behold, you are beautiful! 

Your eyes are doves behind your veil

Your hair is like a flock of goats." 

Here, her eyes are compared to doves, symbolizing peace, innocence, and gentleness. “Your hair is like a flock of goats” is not a metaphor that is especially relatable to the contemporary reader, as pointed out by Robert Alter is in a note in his translation.

Song of Songs 4:5:

שני שדיך כשני עפרים 

תאומי צביה 

הרועים בשושנים

 "Your two breasts are like two fawns,

 twins of a gazelle, 

that graze among the lilies." 

Here the woman's breasts are compared to young, gentle gazelles – the animals are symbolic of grace, beauty, and innocence. 

2. Landscapes and Buildings

Song of Songs 4:4:

כמגדל דויד צוארך 

בנוי לתלפיות 

אלף המגן תלוי עליו 

כל שלטי הגברים

"Your neck is like the tower of David,

 built in rows of stone; 

on it hang a thousand shields, 

all of them shields of warriors." 

The reference to the tower of David alludes to strength, stability, and grandeur.

Song of Songs 7:4:

צוארך כמגדל השן 

עיניך ברכות בחשבון על־שער בת־רבים 

אפך כמגדל הלבנון צופה פני דמשק

 "Your neck is like an ivory tower. 

Your eyes are pools in Heshbon, by the gate of Bat-rabbim. 

Your nose is like a tower of Lebanon, which looks toward Damascus." 

The tower-like neck suggests grace and dignity, while the eyes like pools imply depth and mystery. The nose likened to a tower shows a sense of majesty and command. This last one is not a metaphor that is especially relatable to the contemporary reader

3. Fruits and Spices

Song of Songs 4:3: 

כחוט השני שפתותיך 

ומדברך נאוה 

כפלח הרמון רקתך מבעד לצמתך 

"Your lips are like a scarlet thread, 

and your mouth is lovely. 

Your cheeks are like halves of a pomegranate behind your veil." 

The lips and cheeks compared to a scarlet thread and pomegranate respectively, capture the richness and vibrancy of her color.

These metaphors serve to depict the beauty of the woman in a way that draws on familiar images from nature, architecture, and more. They also underscore the passionate, appreciative love of the speaker for the woman.