The Song of Songs A New Version

by Sam Torode

The Song of Songs is one of the shortest books of the Bible, but it's also the most unusual. A love poem that doesn't mention God, it was the last book to be accepted into the Old Testament; and its celebration of sexuality is unlike anything else in the scriptures of the world's great religions.

Unfortunately, traditional English translations suppressed the Song's sexuality, muddled its structure, and buried the voice of the original poet under layers of churchly verbosity. This new version reveals the full meaning of the Song in fresh, accessible language. It also restores the Song's true structure, presenting it as a cycle of six poems.

Above all, this version bids us to listen anew to the bold and intimate voice of the Song's author, who almost certainly was a woman.

Genres: Poetry, Classics, Religion

140 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 3, 2009

About the author

Author of the bestselling humorous novel “The Dirty Parts of the Bible”—now a graphic novel—and paraphrase editions of classic wisdom books from philosophers like Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius, and Ralph Waldo Emerson. Host of the “Living from the Soul” podcast, available on all platforms.

Please visit www.samtorode.com.

Reviews

[Phrodrick slowed his growing backlog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sam Torode, author and editor of The Song of Songs: A New Version Kindle Edition proposes a reorganization of the Song of Songs. His argument is that the version in most modern English language bibles is muddled and influenced by misogynist translators. Most commentary was written by Christian clergy who were afraid of, or increasing out of touch with the intent and meaning of the original. It is his belief that this is not just a series of love poems, but passionate ones and definitely the creation of a woman.

Torode’s version presents the song as six beautiful dialogues between a male shepherd and a dark-skinned woman. They are deeply in love, physically involved, likely not married. Their affair is opposed by a chorus of her brothers and urged on by a female chorus of the women of Jerusalem.

In making a studied claim for this version he links it with an ancient Israeli festival where the single women would dance for the single men in an effort to get them paired in marriage. He refers to a related tradition in ancient Jewish literature, linked with an older Egyptian tradition of similarly erotic, love poems written and sung by women, again as part of festivals designed to bring together unmarried men and women. I have elsewhere seen references to a tradition of Jewish and Muslims erotic poetry but neither that source nor Torode provide any titles or references that would complete the research aspect of the book.

His research continues into the Christian era quoting some of the interpretations made by later priests determined to make the Song into a pledge of love between man and God. Usually at the cost of the organization and voice of the original.

I would have liked if he had addressed the use of a chorus. This may have been a typical aspect of Egyptian/Israeli love poems, but I think it is more closely associated with the Greeks and especially Greek Theater. If I am right, such a relationship in no way diminishes the heart of his case, but left unaddressed it leaves the question open. An unfortunate decision was to include as bonus material which is a longer restatement of the research already presented. A better use of the space would have been a printing of the Song of Songs as might be found in any modern Christian Bible. Still more useful would have been an additional translation from the oldest available Hebrew Torah.

[Cynthia Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is actually a scholarly study of women's love poetry which preceded the writing and inclusion of the Song of Songs in the Old Testament and then the New Testament. It is fascinating stuff. Relates to the last 4,000 years of literary and cultural history. Don't be put off by " scholarly." This book is delightful.

[Jordan Blaylock · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has inspired me to go back to my own poems I once wrote. I shied away because 1) I was often ridiculed in school for them and 2) no one could understand them. This is an inspiration and it will also set any bookworm or poetry love or poet on fire over the way a beautiful love poem, an ode to someone, was taken and twisted because it was deemed dirty.

[Necalli Calavera · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's informative; it unfortunately wasn't what I thought it was.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up on Kindle for 99 cents because another book by Sam Torode looked interesting. His version of Song of Songs (and introduction) argues for a literal reading of the story, as love story between shepherd and Shulamite woman. As the woman has most of the narrative voice in these poems, Torode assumes it was written by a female author (which would be rare in that time).

I didn't read this along side the Hebrew, but for what I can remember, Torode does a fair rendering of the poems, even if stylized for English readers. From his introduction, and website, he nowhere claims to be an expert on the ANE or ANE languages. He is therefore dependent on secondary literature (Euguene Peterson's message is listed in the bibliography and I wonder if it forms the basis for his interpretation).

So I wouldn't necessarily trust the scholarship and would refer you to some good commentaries which make a similar case as Torode (though not exactly in its details). That being said, he recaptures some of the vitality and scandal of the language.

[Martha Templeton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perspective

A beautiful perspective on a story long told. I do love the translation, and the points of view for each piece make such a difference in the reading. I think I'd have rather had it without the commentary at the end, as it took my mind away from this beautiful celebration of love.

[Richel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice annotation by the author.