Translations
Modern
You have captured my heart, my sister, my bride; you have stolen my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your neck.
Traditional
Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse; thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck.
Literal
You have captured my heart, my sister, my bride; you have captured my heart with one of your eyes, with one jewel of your neck.
Latin
Vulnerasti cor meum, soror mea, sponsa; vulnerasti cor meum in uno oculorum tuorum, et in uno crine colli tui.
Original
Hebrew
English
You have captured my heart, my sister, my bride; you have stolen my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your neck.
Notes
my sister: The man calls the woman his sister to highlight their loving companionship and his role as her protector. This may sound unusual today, but it does not imply an incestuous relationship. Ancient Near Eastern love poetry often uses the terms brother and sister to describe two people in love.
The marriage is now complete.
This poem is the first "descriptive poem" in the book (see also Song of Solomon 5:10–16; 6:4–6; 7:2–8). Scholars often call these poems by the Arabic term wasf (meaning "description"). These poems are similar to songs sung at modern Arabic weddings. They are preludes to sexual intimacy. In describing physical beauty, they often start at the head and move downward.
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