What do you think?
Rate this book
The Song of Songs: A New Translation
HARDCOVER GIFT EDITION
The Song of Songs, often referred to as the Song of Solomon, is one of the greatest love poems of all time. In their lyrical new translation, Ariel Bloch and Chana Bloch restore the sensuousness of the original language and strip away the veils of mistranslation that have obscured the power and meaning of the poem. Presented en face , this translation is scrupulously faithful to the Hebrew text.
The Song of Songs, often referred to as the Song of Solomon, is one of the greatest love poems of all time. In their lyrical new translation, Ariel Bloch and Chana Bloch restore the sensuousness of the original language and strip away the veils of mistranslation that have obscured the power and meaning of the poem. Presented en face , this translation is scrupulously faithful to the Hebrew text.
253 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1935
4 people are currently reading
306 people want to read
About the author
Anonymous
791k books3,395 followersBooks can be attributed to "Anonymous" for several reasons:
* They are officially published under that name
* They are traditional stories not attributed to a specific author
* They are religious texts not generally attributed to a specific author
Books whose authorship is merely uncertain should be attributed to Unknown.
See also: Anonymous
* They are officially published under that name
* They are traditional stories not attributed to a specific author
* They are religious texts not generally attributed to a specific author
Books whose authorship is merely uncertain should be attributed to Unknown.
See also: Anonymous
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
Read
May 25, 2017Place me like a seal over your heart,
like a seal on your arm;
for love is as strong as death,
its jealousy unyielding as the grave.
It burns like blazing fire,
like a mighty flame.
Many waters cannot quench love;
rivers cannot sweep it away.
If one were to give
all the wealth of one’s house for love,
it would be utterly scorned.
like a seal on your arm;
for love is as strong as death,
its jealousy unyielding as the grave.
It burns like blazing fire,
like a mighty flame.
Many waters cannot quench love;
rivers cannot sweep it away.
If one were to give
all the wealth of one’s house for love,
it would be utterly scorned.
Read
February 6, 2026To have access to scholarship of this level is simply incredible. The translators do a good job of explaining obscure passages and the many descisions that go into interpreting and translating an ancient text. Whether or not the translators always make the right choices is beyond my ability to judge (I'm out of my depth when it comes to translation, ancient poetry, linguistics, or ancient near Eastern languages), but they explain their reasoning in a way that I could usually understand, which was quite helpful. Also I'm inclined to say that any translator endorsed by Robert Alter knows what they're doing.
And as for the content, it speaks for itself-- it's the word of God speaking on one of the greatest earthly gifts and largest cosmic realities in creation. What more could you ask for.
And as for the content, it speaks for itself-- it's the word of God speaking on one of the greatest earthly gifts and largest cosmic realities in creation. What more could you ask for.
September 24, 2012
I thought I understood this book when I was 14. Rereading it now, I find mystery after mystery...which only adds to the poignancy of the Song, and brings the thought that Love was God's story long before it was man's, and though I may wish to understand it, it is far deeper than time-bound human experience can ever measure.
That last chapter ... is it the chapter of happily-ever-after or is it a triumphant death scene?
All I know is that I know nothing.
That last chapter ... is it the chapter of happily-ever-after or is it a triumphant death scene?
All I know is that I know nothing.
May 13, 2015
Omg, and I thought my cover was ugly! Wonderful book that could do with some different packaging, but that's okay.
Precisely up my alley. Hits the trifecta of RSIM, language, and poetry. Really fascinating. I enjoyed the translation notes perhaps even more than the text itself. I pored over this book and devoured it. I'm a little sad it has to go back to the library, although if I ever get a copy to keep then at least I can choose the cover. Three cheers to the Blochs; I laughed at how many times in the commentary it was just like '....uh, free translation on this verse.......'
Also, whoever read it before me at the library left a scan of a bilingual Bible version, which was cool. I'm guessing they were comparing translations.
Precisely up my alley. Hits the trifecta of RSIM, language, and poetry. Really fascinating. I enjoyed the translation notes perhaps even more than the text itself. I pored over this book and devoured it. I'm a little sad it has to go back to the library, although if I ever get a copy to keep then at least I can choose the cover. Three cheers to the Blochs; I laughed at how many times in the commentary it was just like '....uh, free translation on this verse.......'
Also, whoever read it before me at the library left a scan of a bilingual Bible version, which was cool. I'm guessing they were comparing translations.
May 26, 2017
Edition read: Giant Print Reference Bible-KJV-Classic book #22 (~7 pages)
I'm so amazed by this edition. I read this beautiful book several times before in German and Polish and struggled because I was never sure if I was able to determine the correct POV. This edition includes (in form of headings) the person for all the verses and makes it so much easier to understand and enjoy the book so much more.
I'm sure it's not the last time I read the book and now I'm looking even more forward for the in-depth study I planned for the foreseeable future and there's a real chance Song of Songs could become a favorite Bible book now!
I'm so amazed by this edition. I read this beautiful book several times before in German and Polish and struggled because I was never sure if I was able to determine the correct POV. This edition includes (in form of headings) the person for all the verses and makes it so much easier to understand and enjoy the book so much more.
I'm sure it's not the last time I read the book and now I'm looking even more forward for the in-depth study I planned for the foreseeable future and there's a real chance Song of Songs could become a favorite Bible book now!
October 28, 2019
I found this work of immense interest and importance.
The compilation of historical accounts, wisdom & proverbial insights, and thought provoking texts, along with descriptive and informative footnotes, are of great value.
Explanations, including varying scholarly views depicting the material related in this book, are available for each of the 66 individual books of the Bible.
This book is but one of the individual 66 books/letters which were written by forty different authors over at least 1500 years in three different languages on three different continents, which comprise the Bible.
Read for life-related reasons and personal research.
Overall, a great resource for the researcher, enthusiast, and devotee.
The compilation of historical accounts, wisdom & proverbial insights, and thought provoking texts, along with descriptive and informative footnotes, are of great value.
Explanations, including varying scholarly views depicting the material related in this book, are available for each of the 66 individual books of the Bible.
This book is but one of the individual 66 books/letters which were written by forty different authors over at least 1500 years in three different languages on three different continents, which comprise the Bible.
Read for life-related reasons and personal research.
Overall, a great resource for the researcher, enthusiast, and devotee.
July 10, 2013
Excellently formatted, beautifully translated, with wonderful forwards and afterwards going into detail on both the translation and the original text. Seeing the Song of Songs lifted from millennia of dogmatic (and boring) interpretation and re-interpretation makes me a very happy person.
September 28, 2021
I don't think the 5-star rating system is really applicable to ancient religious texts. This translation and its accompanying writings by Ariel and Chana Bloch, however, emphasizes the singularity of the Song and its lush language really beautifully and succinctly, while also interrogating notions of Biblical canon, gender, and the interplay of religion and sexuality in an intricate and informative way. So, 5 it is.
January 25, 2026
I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.
As the Lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.
As the Lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.
July 4, 2018
SONG OF SOLOMON CHAPTER 1:
The song of songs, which is Solomon's.
2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine.
3 Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee.
4 Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee.
5 I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.
6 Look not upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me: my mother's children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept.
7 Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions?
8 If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds' tents.
9 I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh's chariots.
10 Thy cheeks are comely with rows of jewels, thy neck with chains of gold.
11 We will make thee borders of gold with studs of silver.
12 While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof.
13 A bundle of myrrh is my well-beloved unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts.
14 My beloved is unto me as a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of Engedi.
15 Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves' eyes.
16 Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: also our bed is green.
17 The beams of our house are cedar, and our rafters of fir.
BLESS THE NAME OF JESUS!
The song of songs, which is Solomon's.
2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine.
3 Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee.
4 Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee.
5 I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.
6 Look not upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me: my mother's children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept.
7 Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions?
8 If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds' tents.
9 I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh's chariots.
10 Thy cheeks are comely with rows of jewels, thy neck with chains of gold.
11 We will make thee borders of gold with studs of silver.
12 While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof.
13 A bundle of myrrh is my well-beloved unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts.
14 My beloved is unto me as a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of Engedi.
15 Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves' eyes.
16 Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: also our bed is green.
17 The beams of our house are cedar, and our rafters of fir.
BLESS THE NAME OF JESUS!
August 11, 2017
Set me as a signet upon thy heart, as a signet upon thy arm!
For strong as death is love, hard as Sheol is passion. The flames of
it are flames of fire: a flame of Jehovah.
Great waters are not able to quench love, and floods drown it
not.
Poetry will forever be that child—both ever-youthful and ancient—that playfully slips into the cracks of the centuries and laughingly says, ''I'm wordy silence and silent words.'' The Song of Songs proves that, indeed, good poetry has always the ability to move the reader regardless of the era of its composition.
Good poetry immerses the reader not merely in a world where beautiful words abound, but in a world brimming with eternal, human truths cocooned in the sacred veil of mysticism.
The Song of Songs reads not only as one of the finest examples of poetic creation but, also, as one of the most exquisite erotic compositions ever conceived. With stunning imagery and resourceful, vibrant language, it offers a unique celebration of passion and sexual love between two lovers. The reader is exposed to the voices of two lovers who praise each other and yearn for each other's physical presence.
The two lovers rejoice in their profound desire for each other, expressing their sexual intimacy with a burning holiness that paints their union with a mystical spirituality. Thus, this part of the Ketuvim is rendered a text of unparalleled literary value.
For strong as death is love, hard as Sheol is passion. The flames of
it are flames of fire: a flame of Jehovah.
Great waters are not able to quench love, and floods drown it
not.
Poetry will forever be that child—both ever-youthful and ancient—that playfully slips into the cracks of the centuries and laughingly says, ''I'm wordy silence and silent words.'' The Song of Songs proves that, indeed, good poetry has always the ability to move the reader regardless of the era of its composition.
Good poetry immerses the reader not merely in a world where beautiful words abound, but in a world brimming with eternal, human truths cocooned in the sacred veil of mysticism.
The Song of Songs reads not only as one of the finest examples of poetic creation but, also, as one of the most exquisite erotic compositions ever conceived. With stunning imagery and resourceful, vibrant language, it offers a unique celebration of passion and sexual love between two lovers. The reader is exposed to the voices of two lovers who praise each other and yearn for each other's physical presence.
The two lovers rejoice in their profound desire for each other, expressing their sexual intimacy with a burning holiness that paints their union with a mystical spirituality. Thus, this part of the Ketuvim is rendered a text of unparalleled literary value.
February 9, 2009
Some good insights, but overall a fairly liberal approach to the book. In just the first few chapters, they end up asserting that the Shulamite girl and the Shepherd boy were sleeping together before the marriage covenant was established. It should be a good reminder to evangelicals that if you take the book to be an historical documentary love-tale, then you are forced to accept that fornication is condoned by God. Otherwise, you must take the story first and foremost as a love poem between Yahweh and His bride. Just flip forward a few pages in your bible, and read the first five chapters in Isaiah. You will see much of the same imagery as is found in the SoS. God loves Mt. Zion more than all the tents of Jacob (Ps 87:7).
October 15, 2011
This is a new scholarly translation of the book The Song of Songs, including extensive notes on the translation, summary of the texts, commentaries, information about the author (whatever is known), information about the historical setting of the author at the time of writing, etc.
It is a very interesting read, and enlightens the reader much more of the contents of this books (song(s) really) than any bible. It gives the reader much more about which to think.
It is a very interesting read, and enlightens the reader much more of the contents of this books (song(s) really) than any bible. It gives the reader much more about which to think.
June 13, 2012
The second of the most beautiful religious texts I've ever found. Reads like music. I loved this version especially because of all the additions at the end explaining different meaning possibilities for the words along side the actual Hebrew. Fantastic book for anyone seeking knowledge and understanding across the religious pantheon.
September 13, 2012
I love the limpidity of this translation. I was brought up on the King James, which is certainly gorgeous, but as the translators note here, it was translated with liturgical emphases in mind. Even so, the sensuality of the older versions is evident. Here, that sensuality and passion is not merely evident, it is radiant.
November 30, 2008
I think of this book and of Sappho's oeuvre as my two more venerable forebears, my Adam and my Eve. A lot of people call the KJV translation of Shir HaShirim "poetic," but the Blochs' intimate and lushly sensual translation knocks it out of the park.
December 28, 2014
To my taste, one of the most beautiful books of the Bible - the purest and least tainted by alternate agendas. This translation is exquisite.
September 12, 2008
beautiful. highly recommended.
October 5, 2011
A beautiful translation with great interpretive notes. Worth re-reading many times.
March 24, 2012
on the elegiac and ecstatic crossings of amatory mortals
August 31, 2013
beautiful translation
September 9, 2013
Taking a course this semester about the Song of Songs. This is a great translation.
October 31, 2013
in order to translate poetry well, the translators must also be poets; so it is with translators, Chana and Ariel Bloch:
My king lay down beside me
and my fragrance
wakened the night.
My king lay down beside me
and my fragrance
wakened the night.
August 24, 2017
There is some stunning love poetry here.
May 17, 2018
Note: I read the NIV translation but can’t find it listed on Goodreads.
September 13, 2021
Oh boy. I'm not even religious and I adored this!
March 9, 2025
some great quotes for wedding ceremonies
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews