Song of Songs 1:1-4: The Greatest of Songs

One of the most helpful kinds of Biblical commentary are biblical paraphrases. If you read New Living Translation or other similar translations, then you are really reading an interpretive paraphrase of the Bible. The paraphraser makes explicit his or her interpretation of the text. But this is really a commentary. It makes interpretive decisions for you. 

For my devotional study of the Scripture, I will be writing paraphrases of the Bible that accord with my interpretation of the Bible. My goal is to sharpen my understanding of God's word and help people to understand what the Bible says. Yet I am only providing a paraphrase. Read the Bible for yourself and see if my paraphrase matches the context and meaning of the passage that I translate. 

I continue this series with Song of Songs 1:1-4!

The Greatest of Songs

[1] A Song of Songs which is written by Solomon.

[2] Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth, for your love is better than wine. [3] The fragrance of your oil is good. Your name pours out like oil. Therefore virgins love you. [4] Draw me after you. Let us run!

Let us shout and be glad in you! Let us remember that your love is better than wine! The upright ones love you! (v. 4)

Interpretation. Song 1:1 provides the title for the song (Song of Songs) as well as the name of the author, Solomon. The song opens with the bride singing (vv. 2-4). Another group of singers enters the scene at the end of verse 4, shouting praises to the king. The group probably also includes the bride because verse 4 transitions without break from the singular ("me") to the plural ("us").