Song of Songs 4

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RBT Paraphrase

Behold yourself! | Behold yourself!

1 Behold yourself! A beautiful one, companion of myself! Behold yourself! A beautiful one! The dual eyes of yourself are doves separated against the tightly bound one of yourself, the hair of yourself is as an arrangement of the Fierce Ones who have sat up from the mountain of Uncovered Witness!¹
2 The teeth of yourself are as an arrangement of the Carved Ones who have climbed up from out of the Bathing Place, all of whom are those who duplicate, and there is not a child-bereaved one among themselves!3 As a scarlet thread are the lips of yourself, and the place of words/mouth of yourself is lovely like a half of the Pomegranate is the tender side of yourself separated against the tightly bound one of yourself.4 Like a tower of Beloved ("David"), is the neck of yourself, he who is built into turrets of mouths,² one thousand of the Shield, he who is hung upon himself all the dominating of the Strong Warriors!5 Twofold are your dual breasts, like two dust/stags, twins of a roe/beauty, those who pasture within the Lilies.6 Until Today is breathing, and the Dark Shadows have fled, I am walking to myself toward a mountain of the Myrrh and toward a hill of frankincense.
7 The entirety of yourself is a beautiful one, companion of myself,there is not a blemish within yourself!8 My eternal self from White Mountain, a complete one, My eternal self from White Mountain, you are coming in you are turning from the head of Pledge, from the head of Sharp Point and Forbidden from the dens of lionesses, from mountains of leopards.
9 You have robbed myself of the heart, sister of myself, a complete one, you have robbed myself of the heart within one from the eyes of yourself,within one of the necklace from the inner neck of yourself.³ 10 How handsome they are, the beloved ones of yourself, my sister, complete one, How the beloved ones of yourself have become better than wine, and the aroma of the olive-oils of yourself than all the spices!
11 The dual-lips of yourself are dripping honey of a honeycomb, completed one, honey and milk under the tongueand the aroma of the dresses of yourself are like the aroma of White Mountain!

Locked out

12 A garden of him who is barred, sister of myself, a perfect one, a rolled heap barred, a fountain source of him who is signet-sealed.

A Paradise

13 The sent ones of yourself are a paradise of pomegranates, a people of fruit, excellent ones, ransomed ones, a people of fragrant nard plants.14 Spikenard and saffron, calamus reed and cinnamon bark, in company with all the trees, frankincense, myrrh, and aloes in company with all the heads spices!
15 A fountain of gardens, as well of the dual waters of living ones and flows from out of White Mountain.

The Breath of Life

16 Awake hidden/darkened side ("north")! Come right side ("south")! Breathe in, my garden! The spices of himself are flowing! He is coming, the beloved one of myself, to his garden, and he is eating the fruit of his excellent ones!

RBT Hebrew Literal

1 Behold yourself! beautiful one my companion Behold yourself! beautiful one the dual eyes of yourself doves separated against your bound fast one hair of yourself as an arrangement the Fierce Ones who have sat up from a mountain Uncovered Witness ("Gilead")
2 your teeth as an arrangement the Carved Ones who have climbed up from out of the Bathing Place of whom everyone those who double/duplicate and a child-bereaved one there is not within themselves
3 as a thread the Second One/scarlet your lips and your place of words/speech lovely half/millstone the Pomegranate your tender side separated against your bound fast one
4 like a tower Beloved ("David") your neck he who is built to turret of mouths a thousand the Shield he who is hanging upon himself all dominating ones the Mighty Warriors
5 twofold your dual breasts as twofold dust/stags twins of a roe/beauty those who pasture within the lilies
6 until/perpetually/witness he is blowing/breathing the Day/Today they have fled the Dark Shadows I am walking to myself a god/dont/toward mountain the Myrrh and toward/do not hill frankincense
7 your all beautiful one my companion and a blemish there is not within yourself
8 my eternal self from White Mountain complete one/bride/daughter-in-law my eternal self from White Mountain you are coming in you are turning from the head pledge/support from the head sharp point and Forbidden from the dens of lionesses from mountains leopards
9 you have robbed me of the heart my sister complete one/bride/daughter-in-law you have robbed me of the heart within one from the eyes of yourself within one necklace from the inner neck of yourself
10 what/why They Are Beautiful ("Yaph-o") teats/beloveds of yourself my sister complete one/bride/daughter-in-law what/why they are become good teats/beloveds of yourself from wine and an aroma oils of yourself from all/every spices/in the dual heavenly ones
11 sieve/honeycomb they are dripping dual-lips of yourself complete one/bride/daughter-in-law honey and milk below to the tongue and an aroma the dresses like the aroma White Mountain
12 a garden he who locked my sister complete one/bride/daughter-in-law a garden he who locked a fountain/source he who is sealed
13 your sent ones/missiles a paradise pomegranates together with/a people fruit excellent ones ransomed/covered ones/villages together with/a people fragrant nard plants
14 Spikenard and saffron calamus reed and cinnamon bark together with/a people all trees frankincense myrrh/bitter and aloes together with/a people all my head/heads spices/in the dual heavenly ones
15 a fountain/source gardens dug well dual water living ones and flowing ones from out of White Mountain
16 Awake hidden side north Come! right side south breathe garden of myself they are flowing the spices of himself he is coming beloved of myself to his garden and he is eating fruit his excellence

AI Commentary

This chapter bursts forth as a jubilant, self-reflective celebration of beauty and inner divinity. It commands the reader—and the self—to "Behold yourself!" as if to say that true beauty and sacred worth reside within every aspect of our being.

A Call to Self-Adoration

The repeated refrain “Behold yourself!” functions as both an exhortation and an invitation. It urges us to look deeply into our own image, to recognize the divine qualities that we often overlook. This isn’t vanity for vanity’s sake; it’s a sacred recognition that the self is a temple of beauty and a reflection of something eternal.

Luscious Sensory Imagery

The text employs a sumptuous palette of sensory images:

• Eyes, Hair, and Lips: The dual eyes are likened to doves—a symbol of peace and purity—while the hair is arranged with the strength of those from the mountain of Witness Heap (Gilead). The scarlet thread of the lips and the imagery of a pomegranate evoke both passion and fertility.
• Anatomical Splendor: The neck is described as a tower akin to the famed Beloved (“David”), fortified by the metaphor of warriors and shields. The dual breasts, compared to twin stags, emphasize a nurturing yet dynamic energy.
• Fragrances and Flavors: The text moves from visual splendor to aromatic and gustatory delights, mentioning honey, olive oil, and an array of spices—spikenard, saffron, cinnamon, and more. This mélange of scents and tastes not only enhances the sensual experience but also symbolizes the richness and abundance of life.

Spiritual and Symbolic Dimensions

• Sacred Architecture: The mention of majestic elements—pillars of silver, rails of gold, and the palatial imagery drawn from White Mountain—elevates the human form to that of a sacred edifice. The body becomes a constructed space of divine artistry, merging natural beauty with spiritual fortitude.
• Integration of Dualities: The text also calls on the hidden or darkened side (the “north”) to awaken and join with the illuminated side (the “south”). This speaks to the necessity of integrating all parts of ourselves—the shadow and the light—to achieve wholeness.
• Communal Celebration: While the language is intensely personal (“companion of myself”), there is also an invitation to witness and share in this celebration of self. The imagery of gardens and flowing waters suggests a communal space of renewal and joyous unity.

Conclusion

In this exuberant chapter, every image—from the delicate doves for eyes to the robust towers of the neck—converges to remind us of our intrinsic beauty and the divine spark within. It challenges us to celebrate our physical and spiritual forms, to see ourselves as masterpieces of creation, and to nurture that inner garden where passion, strength, and eternal beauty reside.