Song of Solomon 1 · Verse 9

Song of Solomon 1:9

I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh’s chariots.
Song of Solomon 1:9, King James Version

Song of Solomon 1:9 in other translations

BSBI compare you, my darling, to a mare among Pharaoh’s chariots.
WEBI have compared you, my love, to a steed in Pharaoh’s chariots.
ASVI have compared thee, O my love, To a steed in Pharaoh’s chariots.
YLTTo my joyous one in chariots of Pharaoh, I have compared thee, my friend,
DARBYI compare thee, my love, To a steed in Pharaoh's chariots.
BBEI have made a comparison of you, O my love, to a horse in Pharaoh's carriages.
WebsterI have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh's chariots.

What does Song of Solomon 1:9 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
9. 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 Sea accords with the allusion to the tabernacle (So 1:5; 3:6, 7); it rightly is put at the beginning of the Church's call. The ardor and beauty of the bride are the point of comparison; (So 1:4) "run"; (So 1:5) "comely." Also, like Pharaoh's horses, she forms a great company (Re 19:7, 14). As Jesus Christ is both Shepherd and Conqueror, so believers are not only His sheep, but also, as a Church militant now, His chariots and horses (So 6:4).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 9 I 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 beautiful as a fine well-bred horse or mare; and the finest woman in the universe, Helen, has been compared to a horse in a Thessalian chariot, by Theocritus. Idyl. 18: ver. 28: - Ὡδε και ἁ χρυσεα Ἑλενα διαφαινετ' εν ἡμιν, Πιειρη, μεγαλη, ἁτ' ανεδραμεν ογμος αρουρᾳ, Η καπῳ κυπαρισσος, η ἁρματι Θεσσαλος ἱππος. "The golden Helen, tall and graceful, appears as distinguished among us as the furrow in the field, the cypress in the garden, or the Thessalian horse in the chariot." This passage amply justifies the Hebrew bard, in the simile before us. See Jer 6:2.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Song of Solomon 1:9-17
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 received from Christ's fulness, springs forth into lively exercises of faith, affection, and gratitude. Yet Christ, not his gifts, is most precious to them. The word translated "camphire," signifies "atonement or propitiation." Christ is dear to all believers, because he is the propitiation for their sins. No pretender must have his place in the soul. They resolved to lodge him in their hearts all the night; during the continuance of the troubles of life. Christ takes delight in the good work which his grace has wrought on the souls of believers. This should engage all who are made holy, to be very thankful for that grace which has made those fair, who by nature were deformed. The spouse (the believer) has a humble, modest eye, discovering simplicity and godly sincerity; eyes enlightened and guided by the Holy Spirit, that blessed Dove. The church expresses her value for Christ. Thou art the great Original, but I am but a faint and imperfect copy. Many are fair to look at, yet their temper renders them unpleasant: but Christ is fair, yet pleasant. The believer, Song 1:16, speaks with praise of those holy ordinances in which true believers have fellowship with Christ. Whether the believer is in the courts of the Lord, or in retirement; whether following his daily labours, or confined on the bed of sickness, or even in a dungeon, a sense of the Divine presence will turn the place into a paradise. Thus the soul, daily having fellowship with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, enjoys a lively hope of an incorruptible, undefiled, and unfading inheritance above.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Song of Solomon 1:9 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

לְסֻסָתִי֙le.su.sa.Tito mare myH5484
בְּרִכְבֵ֣יbe.rikh.Veiamong [the] chariots ofH7393
פַרְעֹ֔הfar.'OhPharaohH6547
דִּמִּיתִ֖יךְdi.mi.TikhI liken youH1819
רַעְיָתִֽי\׃ra'.ya.TiO friend myH7474

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Song of Solomon 1:9

  • Song of Solomon 2:10

    My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.

  • Song of Solomon 2:13

    The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.

  • John 15:14-15

    Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

  • Isaiah 31:1

    Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the Lord!

  • Song of Solomon 2:2

    As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.

  • Song of Solomon 1:15

    Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves’ eyes.

  • Song of Solomon 4:7

    Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.

  • Song of Solomon 5:2

    I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night.

  • 2 Chronicles 1:14-17

    And Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, which he placed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem. And the king made silver and gold at Jerusalem as plenteous as stones, and cedar trees made he as the sycomore trees that are in the vale for abundance. And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the king’s merchants received the linen yarn at a price. And they fetched up, and brought forth out of Egypt a chariot for six hundred shekels of silver, and an horse for an hundred and fifty: and so brought they out horses for all the kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria, by their means.

  • Song of Solomon 4:1

    Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves’ eyes within thy locks: thy hair is as a flock of goats, that appear from mount Gilead.

  • 1 Kings 10:28

    And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the king’s merchants received the linen yarn at a price.

  • Song of Solomon 6:4

    Thou art beautiful, O my love, as Tirzah, comely as Jerusalem, terrible as an army with banners.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
O my.
2:2,10,13; 4:1,7; 5:2; 6:4; Joh 15:14,15
to a.
1Ki 10:28; 2Ch 1:14-17; Isa 31:1

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Song of Solomon 1:8

    If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds’ tents.

  • Song of Solomon 1:9

    I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh’s chariots.

  • Song of Solomon 1:10

    Thy cheeks are comely with rows of jewels, thy neck with chains of gold.

Read all of Song of Solomon 1

Song of Solomon 1:9 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		A yegua de los carros de Faraón te he comparado, amiga mía.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Je te compare, mon amie, à une jument aux chars du Pharaon.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Einem Rosse an des Pharao Prachtwagen vergleiche ich dich, meine Freundin.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Pulchræ sunt genæ tuæ sicut turturis; collum tuum sicut monilia.