Discovery BoxThe Song of Songs 5:8-9 
ContextThe Triumph of Love: The Beloved Praises Her Lover
The Beloved to the Maidens:
5:8 O maidens of Jerusalem, I command you –
If you find my beloved, what will you tell him?
Tell him that I am lovesick! 1
The Maidens to The Beloved:
5:9 Why is your beloved better than others, 2
O most beautiful of women?
Why is your beloved better than others,
that you would command us in this manner?
1 tn The genitive construct חוֹלַת אַהֲבָה (kholat ’ahavah, “sick of love”) denotes “lovesick.” This is an example of a genitive of cause, that is, the Beloved was (physically/emotionally) sick because of her unrequited love for him. See study note on Song 2:5.
2 tn Heb “How is your beloved [better] than [another] lover?”
