Translation
but there is only one,
Go to footnote numbermy dove, my undefiled one,
Go to footnote numbershe is unique, she was
the only daughter of her mother,
Go to footnote numbershe was special
Go to footnote numberto the one who bore her.
The daughters
Go to footnote numbersaw her and called her blessed; the queens and concubines praised her.
Paraphrase
but there is one that is unique, my gentle one, my virtuous one; she is not like any of the others, she was not cut out with a cookie cutter, from birth she was special because she maintained her purity.
Her daughters know she is blessed, the royal women and those willing to do my bidding praise her.
Footnotes
1
Notice the emphasis on the number one which stands in stark contrast to 60 and 80 and all other women. In the midst of so many other women, all of them beautiful in their own way, she is the only one, she is unique. You may wonder how Solomon could say that if he had so many other wives. I invite you to read my study on this topic called Solomon 2 Could Solomon be committed to the Shulammite? It will not make all your concerns go away, but it will likely help you understand the situation better.
2: “My undefiled one”
Translators must choose between an emphasis on moral uprightness and physical perfection. However, the definition of the word leans toward a moral perfection, and the context does not require it to be physical. I have felt that calling her “my perfect one” would fail to include the proper moral element that the word usually carries.
3: “the only daughter of her mother”
This statement serves to emphasize the special relationship the Shulammite had with her mother. It does not necessarily mean that she was the only daughter.
4: "special"
The word used here usually means “pure or clean,” however, that does not fit the mother daughter relationship very well. On the other hand, when used as an adjective, as it is here, the word is never employed elsewhere in the Old Testament in any sense other than to denote purity. The reality is that the Hebrews of old would have understood that the context favors the idea of “the choice one” or, as we way in English, “the favorite one,” while also keeping in mind the idea of purity. How to translate that in one word is difficult so I have tried to convey both ideas in the paraphrase.
The imagery: He is making the point that, compared to all other women, the Shulammite is unique and special. But he proves his point in a way that seems strange to us. Instead of providing an “apples to apples” comparison between her and other women, he refers to her relationship with her mother. He is simply saying that she was unique since birth. In Solomon’s mind that trumps all other arguments. Before any of them matured into adult women, with their accompanying physical beauty, this one was already special.
5: "daughters"
Solomon did not use the same series of words, or the same order each time. In the first instance he used the common word for maiden, or virgin, here he used the common word for daughter (although it can mean a variety of relational connections, unlike our word for daughter which is very specific). I am convinced that this entire Song was written for the daughters of Solomon and the Shulammite, therefore, the daughters are never very far away from the “conversation,” and it is natural to bring them into it at any time. The point being made here is that everyone blesses and praises her.