Translations
Modern
There are sixty queens and eighty concubines, and maidens without number,
Traditional
There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, and virgins without number.
Literal
Sixty are they, the queens, and eighty the concubines, and maidens without number.
Latin
Sexaginta sunt reginæ, et octoginta concubinæ, et adolescentularum non est numerus.
Original
Hebrew
English
There are sixty queens and eighty concubines, and maidens without number,
Notes
If the Song were an allegory of the Lord’s love for his people, it would be a weak comparison. Solomon's many marriages poorly represent God's love and faithfulness (see 1 Kings 11:1–13).
sixty queens: Solomon married many wives through international treaties (see 1 Kings 11:1–3, 8).
Concubines were wives with lower status than a primary wife but higher than a slave. People acquired concubines through war, debt repayment, or purchase.
In the anthology view, mentioning queens and concubines means the woman is more desirable than all others.
The man describes the woman's physical beauty again. He repeats parts of the description from Song of Solomon 4 almost word for word, showing his high regard for his wife.
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