Song of Songs 8:8

Song of Songs 8:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)We have a little sister, and she hath no breasts: what shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for?
• New International Version (NIV)We have a little sister, and her breasts are not yet grown. What shall we do for our sister on the day she is spoken for?
• English Standard Version (ESV)We have a little sister, and she has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister on the day when she is spoken for?
• New King James Version (NKJV)We have a little sister, And she has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister In the day when she is spoken for?

Context of Song of Songs 8:8

6Set me as a seal upon thy heart, as a seal upon thy arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals of it are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame. 7Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be despised. We have a little sister, and she hath no breasts: what shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for? 9If she is a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver: and if she is a door, we will inclose her with boards of cedar. 10I am a wall, and my breasts like towers: then was I in his eyes as one that found favour.

Song of Songs 8:8 word by word

אָח֥וֹת לָ֙נוּ֙ קְטַנָּ֔ה וְשָׁדַ֖יִם אֵ֣ין לָ֑הּ מַֽה־נַּעֲשֶׂה֙ לַאֲחֹתֵ֔נוּ בַּיּ֖וֹם שֶׁיְּדֻבַּר־בָּֽהּ׃Read the interlinear

• littleקָטָןqâţân qâţôn · smallH6996
• sisterאָחוֹת'âchôth · sisterH269
• breastsשַׁדshad shôd · breastH7699
• doעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• forדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696

Commentaries on Song of Songs 8:8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8We have a little sister - This young girl belonged most probably to the bride. She hath no breasts - She is not yet marriageable. What shall we do for our sister - How shall we secure her comfort and welfare? In the day when she shall be spoken for? - When any person shall demand her in marriage.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-12Verses 8-12 The church pleads for the Gentiles, who then had not the word of God, nor the means of grace. Those who are brought to Christ themselves, should contrive what they may do to help others to him. Babes in Christ are always seen among Christians, and the welfare of their weak brethren is an object of continual prayer with the stronger believers. If the beginning of this work were likened to a wall built upon Him the precious Foundation and…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8We have a little sister: The wife's brothers worry about their sister's purity. In ancient Near Eastern culture, they protect their sister's sexuality until she marries.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. The Gentile Church (Eze 16:48). "We," that is, the Hebrew Church, which heretofore admitted Gentiles to communion, only by becoming Judaic proselytes. Now first idolatrous Gentiles are admitted directly (Ac 11:17-26). Generally, the saint's anxiety for other souls (Mr 5:19; Joh 4:28, 29). no breasts--neither faith nor love as yet (see on So 4:5), which "come by hearing" of Him who first loved us. Not yet fit to be His bride, and mother of a spiritual…Read the comment
• Rashi on Tanakh · v. 8We have a...sister in the lower realms, who is united, attaches herself [to us], and is desirous to be with us; she is small and humbles herself more than all the [other] nations, as it is stated (Deut. 7: 7): “Not because you are more numerous, etc.,” for they consider themselves insignificant.Read the comment

In the dictionaries

• Breast
• Laban
• Relationships, Family
• Sister
• Song of Songs

Commentaries on Song of Songs 8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary