Song of Solomon 8:8

⁶ Set me as a seal over your heart, as a seal upon your arm. For love is as strong as death, its jealousy as unrelenting as Sheol. Its sparks are fiery flames, the fiercest blaze of all.

⁷ Mighty waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away. If a man were to give all the wealth of his house for love, his offer would be utterly scorned.

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?

⁹ If she is a wall, we will build a tower of silver to protect her. If she is a door, we will enclose her with panels of cedar.

¹⁰ I am a wall, and my breasts are like towers. So I have become in his eyes like one who brings peace.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: 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?
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?
WEB: 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?
ASV: 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?
DARBY: 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?
BLB: A little sister [is] unto us, and breasts are not unto her. What shall we do for our sister, on the day one should speak for her?

ÅB: Vi har en liten søster, hun har enda ikke bryster. Hva skal vi gjøre med vår søster når den tid kommer at hun får beilere?
OTB: Vi har en liten søster, Og hun har ennå ikke modnet; Hva skal vi gjøre for vår søster Den dagen hun blir bedt om?
B1930: Vi har en liten søster, hun har ennu ikke bryster. Hvad skal vi gjøre med vår søster når den tid kommer at hun får beilere?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

1 Peter 2:12
Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.
Read in context
Ezekiel 16:55–56
And your sisters, Sodom with her daughters and Samaria with her daughters, will return to their former state. You and your daughters will also return to your former state.
Read in context
Acts 22:21
Then He said to me, ‘Go! I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”
Read in context
Psalms 2:8
Ask Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance, the ends of the earth Your possession.
Read in context
Romans 3:1–2
What, then, is the advantage of being a Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision?
Read in context
Isaiah 60:10–11
Foreigners will rebuild your walls, and their kings will serve you. Although I struck you in anger, yet in favor I will show you mercy.
Read in context
Psalms 147:19–20
He declares His word to Jacob, His statutes and judgments to Israel.
Read in context
Luke 19:44
They will level you to the ground—you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God.”
Read in context