Commentary— Tyndale Open Study Notes (plain English)
8:8-10 In the midst of a passionate exchange of romantic compliments and commitments, here again is strong praise for sexual abstinence until marriage. 8:8 We have a little sister: The wife’s brothers express concern for their sister’s chastity. According to ancient Near Eastern custom, they are the protectors of their sister’s sexuality until her marriage.
Commentary— Tyndale Open Study Notes (plain English)
8:8-10 In the midst of a passionate exchange of romantic compliments and commitments, here again is strong praise for sexual abstinence until marriage. 8:8 We have a little sister: The wife’s brothers express concern for their sister’s chastity. According to ancient Near Eastern custom, they are the protectors of their sister’s sexuality until her marriage.
Literal English (Darby)ⓘThe Darby Bible (1890) — a deliberately literal, word-for-word translation used here as the Old Testament comparison text.The Darby Bible (1890) — a deliberately literal, word-for-word translation used here as the Old Testament comparison text.
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? —
Hebrew (Masoretic Text)ⓘThe Masoretic Text — the authoritative Hebrew manuscript tradition behind most Old Testaments, standardized by Jewish scribes (the Masoretes) between roughly the 7th and 10th centuries AD.The Masoretic Text — the authoritative Hebrew manuscript tradition behind most Old Testaments, standardized by Jewish scribes (the Masoretes) between roughly the 7th and 10th centuries AD.
King James VersionⓘKing James Version (1611) — the classic formal, word-for-word English translation. Historic and widely memorized, but uses Early Modern English vocabulary.
King James Version (1611) — the classic formal, word-for-word English translation. Historic and widely memorized, but uses Early Modern English vocabulary.
¶ 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?
American Standard VersionⓘAmerican Standard Version (1901) — a more literal, precision-focused revision in the King James tradition.American Standard Version (1901) — a more literal, precision-focused revision in the King James tradition.
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?
World English BibleⓘWorld English Bible — a modern, public-domain update to the KJV/ASV formal style, without archaic language.World English Bible — a modern, public-domain update to the KJV/ASV formal style, without archaic language.
We have a little sister. She has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister in the day when she is to be spoken for?
Bible in Basic EnglishⓘBible in Basic English (1949) — deliberately written using a limited vocabulary of about 1,000 words.Bible in Basic English (1949) — deliberately written using a limited vocabulary of about 1,000 words.
We have a young sister, and she has no breasts; what are we to do for our sister in the day when she is given to a man?