Introduction to Song of Songs 6:1
Song of Songs 6:1 presents a question directed to the beloved woman, asking about the whereabouts of her lover. The interrogative particle אָ֚נָה (ʾānāh) plays a crucial role in shaping the inquiry, as it introduces a directional or locative question rather than a simple “where” question. This analysis will explore its morphology, syntactic role, and semantic nuances within Biblical Hebrew.
אָ֚נָה הָלַ֣ךְ דֹּודֵ֔ךְ הַיָּפָ֖ה בַּנָּשִׁ֑ים אָ֚נָה פָּנָ֣ה דֹודֵ֔ךְ וּנְבַקְשֶׁ֖נּוּ עִמָּֽךְ׃
Analysis of Key Words/Phrases
The interrogative particle אָ֚נָה (ʾānāh) appears twice in the verse:
אָ֚נָה הָלַ֣ךְ דֹּודֵ֔ךְ
אָ֚נָה פָּנָ֣ה דֹּודֵ֔ךְ
Each phrase consists of:
- אָ֚נָה (ʾānāh) – “Where (to)?” (interrogative particle, indicating direction).
- הָלַךְ (hālak) – “Has gone” (Qal perfect 3rd masculine singular).
- דֹּודֵךְ (dōḏēk) – “Your beloved” (noun with 2nd-person feminine singular possessive suffix).
Similarly, in the second instance:
- אָ֚נָה (ʾānāh) – “Where (to)?” (same function).
- פָּנָה (pānāh) – “Has turned” (Qal perfect 3rd masculine singular).
- דֹּודֵךְ (dōḏēk) – “Your beloved.”
The particle אָ֚נָה is the focus of our grammatical analysis.
Explanation of Grammatical Function
Morphological Analysis of אָ֚נָה
The word אָ֚נָה is an interrogative adverb used to inquire about direction or destination. It differs from אֵיפֹה (ʾêpōh), which asks “where” in a static sense, as אָ֚נָה specifically asks “to where?” or “whither?”.
Parsing Details
- Form: Interrogative particle (adverb of direction).
- Translation: “Where to?” or “Whither?”
Semantic and Syntactic Role
The function of אָ֚נָה is to introduce a directional question, meaning it does not simply inquire about location but about movement or destination. This makes it different from static locative interrogatives in Hebrew:
- אָ֚נָה (ʾānāh): “Where to?” – directional or goal-oriented.
- אֵיפֹה (ʾêpōh): “Where?” – locational, asking about position.
In Song of Songs 6:1, the repetition of אָ֚נָה emphasizes the urgency and desire of the inquirers to follow and find the beloved.
Word Order and Syntax
The phrase אָ֚נָה הָלַךְ דֹּודֵךְ follows a standard interrogative particle-verb-subject structure:
- אָ֚נָה – “Where to?” (interrogative particle).
- הָלַךְ – “Has gone” (verb, expressing past action).
- דֹּודֵךְ – “Your beloved” (noun, subject).
Similarly, אָ֚נָה פָּנָה דֹּודֵךְ follows the same order but with פָּנָה (“has turned”) instead of הָלַךְ (“has gone”), reinforcing the idea of movement and change in direction.
The Role of אָ֚נָה in Song of Songs 6:1
The interrogative particle אָ֚נָה in Song of Songs 6:1 is central to the theme of pursuit and longing in the passage. It conveys the directional nature of the search, emphasizing the movement of the beloved and the urgency of the inquirers’ desire to follow him.
This grammatical choice underscores the romantic and spiritual metaphor of seeking the beloved, a motif that runs throughout the Song of Songs.
