English Standard Version
Song of Songs 1:9
9I compare you, my love, to a mare among Pharaoh's chariots.
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.
- New King James Version (NKJV)I have compared you, my love, To my filly among Pharaoh’s chariots.
- New Living Translation (NLT)You are as exciting, my darling, as a mare among Pharaoh’s stallions.
Context of Song of Songs 1:9
7Tell me, you whom my soul loves, where you pasture your flock, where you make it lie down at noon; for why should I be like one who veils herself beside the flocks of your companions? 8If you do not know, O most beautiful among women, follow in the tracks of the flock, and pasture your young goats beside the shepherds' tents. I compare you, my love, to a mare among Pharaoh's chariots. 10Your cheeks are lovely with ornaments, your neck with strings of jewels. 11We will make for you ornaments of gold, studded with silver.
Read all of Song of Songs 1Song of Songs 1:9 word by word
לְסֻסָתִי֙ בְּרִכְבֵ֣י פַרְעֹ֔ה דִּמִּיתִ֖יךְ רַעְיָתִֽי׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
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
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries