Song of Songs 1:9

Song of Songs 1:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh’s chariots.
• New International Version (NIV)I liken you, my darling, to a mare among Pharaoh’s chariot horses.
• English Standard Version (ESV)I compare you, my love, to a mare among Pharaoh's chariots.
• New King James Version (NKJV)I have compared you, my love, To my filly among Pharaoh’s chariots.

Context of Song of Songs 1:9

7I love you, my dear one. Tell me where you take your sheep to eat grass. Where will you take them to rest at midday? I do not want to look for you everywhere among the sheep of your friends. They might not understand what I am doing. 8You are the most beautiful woman of all. If you do not know where to find me, follow the marks from the feet of my sheep. Take your young goats to eat grass among the tents of the shepherds. My dear friend, you are very beautiful. You seem to me like a beautiful horse that pulls one of Pharaoh's chariots. 10Your face is beautiful with jewels. A necklace makes your neck beautiful too. 11We will use gold to make ear rings for you, and we will add pieces of silver.

Song of Songs 1:9 word by word

לְסֻסָתִי֙ בְּרִכְבֵ֣י פַרְעֹ֔ה דִּמִּיתִ֖יךְ רַעְיָתִֽי׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• I have comparedדָּמָהdâmâh · to resembleH1819
• thee, O my loveרַעְיָהra‛yâh · darlingH7474
• to a company of horsesסוּסָהsûsâh · mareH5484
• in Pharaoh’sפַּרְעֹהpar‛ôh · PharaohH6547
• chariotsרֶ֫כֶבrekeb · chariotH7393

Commentaries on Song of Songs 1:9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9I have compared thee - to a company of horses - This may be translated, more literally, "I have compared thee, to my mare, in the chariots or courses of Pharaoh;" and so the versions understood it. Mares, in preference to horses, were used both for riding and for chariots in the East. They are much swifter, endure more hardship. and will go longer without food, than either the stallion or the gelding. There is perhaps no brute creature in the world so…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-17Verses 9-17 The Bridegroom gives high praises of his spouse. In the sight of Christ believers are the excellent of the earth, fitted to be instruments for promoting his glory. The spiritual gifts and graces which Christ bestows on every true believer, are described by the ornaments then in use, Song 1:10,11. The graces of the saints are many, but there is dependence upon each other. He who is the Author, will be the Finisher of the good work. The grace…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9The shepherd often calls the woman "darling" (literally companion) to show his respect for her as a partner, friend, and lover (Song of Solomon 1:15; 2:2, 10, 13; 4:1, 7; 5:2; 6:4). In the ancient Near East, a charge of horsemen on stallions was sometimes stopped by releasing a mare in heat. This distracted the attacking horses and broke the charge. Similarly, the woman's beauty distracts other men.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. horses in Pharaoh's chariots--celebrated for beauty, swiftness, and ardor, at the Red Sea (Ex 14:15). These qualities, which seem to belong to the ungodly, really belong to the saints [Moody Stuart]. The allusion may be to the horses brought at a high price by Solomon out of Egypt (2Ch 1:16, 17). So the bride is redeemed out of spiritual Egypt by the true Solomon, at an infinite price (Is 51:1; 1Pe 1:18, 19). But the deliverance from Pharaoh at the Red…Read the comment
• Rashi on Tanakh · v. 9At the gathering of the steeds of Pharaoh’s chariots have I silenced you, my beloved Heb. לְסֻסָתִי . This “lammed” is like the “lammed” of (Jer. 10:13): “At the sound of (לְקוֹל) His giving a multitude of waters,” and like (above verse 3): “At the fragrance of (לְרֵיחַ) your oils.” At the gathering of many stee ds, for I gathered my camps to go forth toward you in the chariots of Pharaoh to save you, as it is said (Hab. 3:15): “You trampled in the sea…Read the comment

In the dictionaries

• Draw
• Compare
• Horse
• Mare
• Palestine
• Papyrus

Commentaries on Song of Songs 1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary