This verse is notorious for the problems it raises for interpretation. It is difficult to determine who is speaking, and how it connects to the rest of the passage. Most versions connect it to the young man’s discourse (Good News Translation, New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible). Other versions introduce a third speaker, the young woman’s mother (Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Bible en français courant); Revised English Bible suggests it is spoken by “Companions.” Jerusalem Bible along with various commentators assumes that the young woman is speaking.

Before we can decide who the speaker is, we must try to determine what the passage is saying. Again, however, there is no consensus on what the verse means.

Catch us the foxes, the little foxes: the words themselves seem clear, but our first problem is to know who us is referring to. A second problem is to understand what lies behind the word foxes.

From the context we note that the term foxes refers to small animals that are capable of spoiling the vineyards. These animals are known to dig around grapevines and to eat their tender shoots and blossoms. This causes the plants to die, or prevents them from bearing fruit. The term appears in Psa 63.10 as “jackal,” where the animal’s destructive nature is evident. Foxes and jackals both live in pairs, but jackals often gather in groups. Foxes, however, are not associated with destruction and ruin as much as jackals are, so “jackal” is probably a better rendering here.

The destruction that jackals cause is probably what has led many of those who interpret the Song as an allegory to equate them with little nations around Israel wanting to invade it (as in footnote in Jerusalem Bible). However, for our interpretation here we need to limit ourselves to the context of the love poem. In Egyptian love poems jackals frequently represent lusty young men, so this may suggest how the verse may relate to the rest of the poem.

The next problem is the plural reference us, which occurs in this line and the next, in connection with our vineyards. We have seen that in the Song the word vineyard consistently refers to the young woman. It may indicate her person, sometimes her beauty, and it seems also to convey sexuality (see discussion on 1.6). Thus a reference to us and our vineyards can have one of two meanings: the young woman may be referring to herself, or the young man may be referring to his lover. We note that in the rest of the book the word “vineyard” occurs exclusively in the speech of the young woman when referring to herself. We note also that in several passages she appears to use a plural form to refer to herself (1.4).

These facts lead us to conclude that it is probably the young woman who is speaking, rather than the man. She may be warning her lover to help her defend herself against other young men who would come and “ravage” her vineyard. The next verse seems to confirm this interpretation, because she states absolutely that she and her lover belong exclusively to one another: “My lover belongs to me, and I belong to him. He is the one who pastures among the lilies.” Fox presents another possibility, suggesting that perhaps this is a “tease,” and that she considers him the little jackal. This view has some merit and is typical of the young woman’s character; but it does not connect easily with verse 16. We therefore tend to think the first suggestion, that the young woman is referring to herself when using us, is the better one to follow.

The little foxes renders the Hebrew literally and further qualifies the first word foxes. It creates a rhythmic effect as it repeats what has been said and opens the way for another description, that spoil the vineyards. If indeed these animals represent men she is not interested in, then little has a negative sense. Bible en français courant understands this when it translates “catch these foxes, those little beasts who make a mess of the vineyards.” If on the other hand the lover is in view, little is used in an affectionate, light-hearted way.

Spoil the vineyards tells us what these jackals are doing. The translator needs to choose a word that can be used with grapes and vines; for example, “destroy” or “ruin.” The Hebrew text here uses a participle, indicating a regular or common activity of these animals. Translators can try to match this sense. Good News Translation “before they spoil” does not seem accurate and so should not be followed.

For our vineyards are in blossom: Revised Standard Version, Jerusalem Bible, and New Jerusalem Bible, among many others, translate the conjunction used in Hebrew to mark the reason for their action. Certainly this does sound like the reason for the young woman’s concern, so any similar word such as “because” can be used. The translator must find a conjunction that fits this context, or possibly leave it out, as New International Version does.

As foxes was repeated twice in the first line, so vineyards is repeated here. This time the meaning becomes clearer with the use of the possessive our. As indicated earlier, this is best understood as the young woman referring to herself (in the plural). It is possible, then, to translate “my vineyards are in bloom.” Again the literal meaning of vineyards are in blossom is clear, but we find it more difficult to determine its figurative sense. Elsewhere the young woman’s fragrance is described and praised, but this may also be a reference to her sexual maturity or even her willingness for love.

This verse, then, is filled with hidden meanings that will be difficult to capture in translation. Since commentators differ so much over its interpretation, and since the text itself is filled with double meanings, the best approach may be to translate literally. Footnotes can certainly help convey more of the deeper meaning and may be needed here, though care must be taken not to offend readers. We can say:

• Catch those little jackals*
out to spoil my vineyard
because it is in bloom.
* “Jackals” probably refers to other men competing for the young woman’s affections.

We can change the order of the clauses, if this will give a more natural rendering:

• The buds in my vineyard are opening,
so let’s catch those little jackals*
intending to ruin them.

Quoted with permission from Ogden, Graham S. and Zogbo, Lynell. A Handbook on the Book of Song of Songs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1998. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .