Song of Solomon 1:9 — Word Study
WLCלְסֻסָתִי֙ בְּרִכְבֵ֣י פַרְעֹ֔ה דִּמִּיתִ֖יךְ רַעְיָתִֽי׃
BSAI compare youdâmâh■ [to resemble, liken] my darlingraʻyâh [female companion, beloved] to a mareçûwçâh△ [company of horses, steed] among Pharaoh’sParʻôh [the king of Egypt's] chariotsrekeb [vehicles, teams of horses]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| לְסֻסָתִי֙ | to mare my | Preposition, noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
| בְּרִכְבֵ֣י | among [the] chariots of | Preposition, noun common masculine plural construct |
| פַרְעֹ֔ה | Pharaoh | Noun |
| דִּמִּיתִ֖יךְ | I liken you | Verb piel perfect first person common singular, suffix |
| רַעְיָתִֽי׃ | O friend my | Noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | I compare you, my darling, to a mare among Pharaoh’s chariots. |
| KJV | I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh’s chariots. |
| ASV | I have compared thee, O my love, To a steed in Pharaoh’s chariots. |
| YLT | To my joyous one in chariots of Pharaoh, I have compared thee, my friend, |
| WEB | I have compared you, my love, to a steed in Pharaoh’s chariots. |
| BBE | I have made a comparison of you, O my love, to a horse in Pharaoh's carriages. |
Where they part company is סֻסָתִי — see How Translations Differ.
The main clause is supported by two prepositional phrases that elaborate on the comparison being made.
1 of 5 occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament — a word chosen on purpose.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Song of Solomon 1:9
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Beauty of Lovegenerated
Song of Solomon 1:9 presents a vivid comparison, where the speaker likens their beloved to a mare among Pharaoh’s chariots. This imagery emphasizes both beauty and strength, suggesting the beloved stands out magnificently among others, much like a prized horse among royal vehicles. The surrounding verses further enhance this theme of admiration and affection, creating a rich tapestry of romantic expression.
The Key Word — סֻסָתִי, le.su.sa.Tigenerated
The word סוּסָה (susah) is a feminine noun meaning 'mare,' derived from the root word for horse, סוּס (sus). It conveys not just the idea of a single horse but can also refer to a company of horses, highlighting the strength and beauty associated with them.
In this verse, the parsing indicates that it is in the construct state, suggesting a close relationship with the following noun, רֶכֶב (rekeb), which means 'chariots.' This connection reinforces the imagery of the beloved's beauty being likened to a magnificent mare among the royal chariots of Pharaoh.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses compare for דִּמִּיתִ֖יךְ and mare for סֻסָתִי, aligning with the KJV and ASV.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb of the verse is דִּמִּיתִ֖יךְ, I liken, which governs the direct object ךְ, you. The phrase לְסֻסָתִי describes what the beloved is likened to, followed by the prepositional phrase בְּרִכְבֵי פַרְעֹה, indicating the context of the comparison.
The structure emphasizes the action of comparison, placing the beloved at the forefront of admiration, while the imagery of Pharaoh’s chariots adds a layer of royal grandeur.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates סֻסָתִי as μου (mou), which means 'my.' This choice suggests a personal connection, emphasizing the beloved's unique status in the speaker's eyes.
The Greek word ἅρμασιν (harma) for בְּרִכְבֵי indicates a focus on the chariots themselves, reinforcing the grandeur of the comparison.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Song of Solomon 1:9 compares the beloved to a mare among Pharaoh’s chariots, highlighting her beauty and strength. This poetic imagery captures the admiration the speaker feels, placing the beloved in a position of royal elegance.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The comparison to a mare suggests beauty, strength, and grace, as mares are often admired for their elegance and power.
Pharaoh represents power and royalty, enhancing the imagery of the beloved being as magnificent as a prized horse among the king's chariots.
The term 'darling' conveys affection and intimacy, indicating a close relationship between the speaker and the beloved.
This verse fits into the broader theme of love and admiration, using rich imagery to express deep affection and appreciation for the beloved.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What qualities do you admire in those you love, and how can you express that admiration?
- How does the imagery of strength and beauty in this verse resonate with your understanding of love?
- In what ways can you celebrate the unique qualities of those close to you?
- How can the comparisons in this verse inspire you to appreciate beauty in your relationships?
The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
I compare you, my darling, to a mare among Pharaoh’s chariots.
I have compared you, my love, to a steed in Pharaoh’s chariots.
I compare you, my darling, to a mare among Pharaoh’s chariots.
O my beloved, you are like a mare among Pharaoh’s stallions.
Tyndale line
I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh’s chariots.
I have compared thee, O my love, To a steed in Pharaoh’s chariots.
I have compared thee, O my love, to a steed in Pharaoh’s chariots.
I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh's chariots.
Thy cheekes are comely with rowes of stones, and thy necke with chaines.
Strictly literal
I compare thee, my love, To a steed in Pharaoh's chariots.
To my joyous one in chariots of Pharaoh, I have compared thee, my friend,
To my joyous one in chariots of Pharaoh, I have compared you, my friend,
Unto the horse in Pharaoh's chariot do I compare thee, my beloved.
I compare you, my love, to a mare among Pharaoh's chariot horses.
From the Latin
Thy cheeks are beautiful as the turtledove’s, thy neck as jewels.
Simplified
My darling, to me you're like a mare among Pharaoh's horses that pull his chariots,
I have made a comparison of you, O my love, to a horse in Pharaoh's carriages.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
Both the Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree on the wording of this verse. The Septuagint matches the Hebrew word-for-word, confirming the consistency of the imagery and meaning across these ancient texts.
לְסֻסָתִי֙ בְּרִכְבֵ֣י פַרְעֹ֔ה דִּמִּיתִ֖יךְ רַעְיָתִֽי׃
5 of the 5 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Song of Solomon 1:9
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
סוּסָה (cuwcah) is a feminine noun meaning 'mare.' It is derived from the root word for horse, סוּס (sus), and is noted in the context of a company of horses. The only specific verse reference provided is in Song of Solomon 1:9.
[סוּסָה] n.f. mare;—c. sf. Ct 1:9
ref
H5484 סוּסָה
5484 cuwcah soo-saw'
feminine of 5483; a mare:--company of horses.
see HEBREW for 05483
סוּסָה (su.sah) — mare.
mare
Prep | N-fs | Suff — Preposition · noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHR/Ncfsc/Sp1bs
רֶ֫כֶב (rekeb) refers to a chariot or vehicle, and can also denote a team of horses, cavalry, or riders. It is associated with the upper millstone, implying a connection to movement or transport. The term encompasses various meanings, including chariotry, individual chariots, and groups of horsemen.
רֶ֫כֶב 120 n.m. chariotry, chariot, mill-stone; appar. also riders
base
H7393 רֶ֫כֶב chariotry, chariot, mill-stone; appar. also riders
7393 rekeb reh'-keb
from 7392; a vehicle; by implication, a team; by extension,
cavalry; by analogy a rider, i.e. the upper
millstone:--chariot, (upper) millstone, multitude (from the
margin), wagon.
see HEBREW for 07392
רֶ֫כֶב (re.khev) — chariot.
: chariot
1) a team, chariot, chariotry, mill-stone, riders
1a) chariotry, chariots
1b) chariot (single)
1c) upper millstone (as riding on lower millstone)
1d) riders, troop (of riders), horsemen, pair of horsemen, men riding, ass-riders, camel-riders
Also means: re.khev (רֶ֫כֶב ": millstone" H7393H)
רֶ֫כֶב (re.khev) — chariot: millstone.
: millstone
1) a team, chariot, chariotry, mill-stone, riders
1a) chariotry, chariots
1b) chariot (single)
1c) upper millstone (as riding on lower millstone)
1d) riders, troop (of riders), horsemen, pair of horsemen, men riding, ass-riders, camel-riders
Prep | N-mp — Preposition · noun common masculine plural constructHR/Ncmpc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
The Hebrew word פַּרְעֹה (*par'oh*) means 'Pharaoh,' which is a title for Egyptian kings. It is derived from Egyptian and is commonly associated with various rulers mentioned throughout the Old Testament, including those during the time of the Patriarchs and the Divided Monarchy. The term translates to 'great house,' reflecting its significance in ancient Egypt.
פַּרְעֹה 275 n.m. Pharaoh, title of Egyptian kings
base
H6547 פַּרְעֹה Pharaoh, title of Egyptian kings
6547 Par`oh par-o'
of Egyptian derivation; Paroh, a general title of Egyptian
kings:--Pharaoh.
פַּרְעֹה (par.oh) — Pharaoh.
A man of the Egyptians living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.12.15
§ Pharaoh = "great house"
the common title of the king of Egypt
פַּרְעֹה (par.oh) — Pharaoh.
A man of the Egyptians living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.37.36
Also named: Pharaō (Φαραώ "Pharaoh" G5328)
§ Pharaoh = "great house"
the common title of the king of Egypt
פַּרְעֹה (par.oh) — Pharaoh.
A man of the Egyptians living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Exo.1.11
Also named: Pharaō (Φαραώ "Pharaoh" G5328H)
§ Pharaoh = "great house"
the common title of the king of Egypt
פַּרְעֹה (par.oh) — Pharaoh.
A man of the Egyptians living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Exo.3.10
Also named: Pharaō (Φαραώ "Pharaoh" G5328I)
§ Pharaoh = "great house"
N-proper — NounHNtmsa
fa'-ro, fa'-ra-o (par`oh; Pharao); Egyptian per aa, "great house"):em; the King James Version Pharacim): One of the families of temple-servants who returned with Zerubbabel (1 Esdras 5:31; not found in Ezra or Nehemiah).
1. The Use of Name in Egypt:
Many and strange differences of opinion have been expressed concerning the use of this name in Egypt and elsewhere, because of its importance in critical discussions (see below). Encyclopaedia Biblica says "a name given to all Egyptian kings in the Bible"; it also claims that the name could not have been received by the Hebrews before 1000 BC. HDB (III, 819) says that a letter was addressed to Amenhotep as "Pharaoh, lord of," etc. According to Winckler's theory of a North Arabian Musri, it was the Hebrews alone in ancient times who adopted the term Pharaoh from the Egyptians, the name not being found even in the Tell el-Amarna Letters or…
Pharaoh
The official title borne by the Egyptian kings down to the time when that country was conquered by the Greeks. (See EGYPT.) The name is a compound, as some think, of the words Ra, the “sun” or “sun-god,” and the article phe, “the,” prefixed; hence phera, “the sun,” or “the sun-god.” But others, perhaps more correctly, think the name derived from Perao, “the great house” = his majesty = in Turkish, “the Sublime Porte.”
(1.) The Pharaoh who was on the throne when Abram went down into Egypt (Gen. 12:10-20) was probably one of the Hyksos, or “shepherd kings.” The Egyptians called the nomad tribes of Syria Shasu, “plunderers,” their king or chief Hyk, and hence the name of those invaders who conquered the native kings and established a strong government, with Zoan or Tanis as their capital. They were of…
the common title of the native kings of Egypt in the Bible, corresponding to P-ra or Ph-ra "the sun," of the hieroglyphics. Brugsch, Ebers and other modern Egyptologists define it to mean ’the great house," which would correspond to our "the Sublime Porte." As several kings are mentioned only by the title "Pharaoh" in the Bible, it is important to endeavor to discriminate them: The Pharaoh of Abraham . (Genesis 12:15) --At the time at which the patriarch went into Egypt, it is generally held that the country, or at least lower Egypt, was ruled by the Shepherd kings, of whom the first and moat powerful line was the fifteenth dynasty, the undoubted territories of which would be first entered by one coming from the east. The date at which Abraham visited Egypt was about B.C. 2081, which would accord with the time of Salatis the head of…
Is properly an Egyptian word adopted into the Hebrew, and signifies king; so that when we find this name it means everywhere the king. Thus, also, Pharaoh Hophra is simply king Hophra.
Of the kings of Egypt, there are not less than twelve or thirteen mentioned in Scripture, all of whom bore the general title of Pharaoh, except four. Along with this title, two of them have also other proper names, Necho and Hophra. The following is their order. Some of them have been identified, by the labors of Champollion and others, with kings whose proper names we know from other sources, while others still remain in obscurity. Indeed, so brief, obscure, and conflicting are the details of Egyptian history and ancient chronology, which no name before that of Shishak can be regarded as identified beyond dispute.
דָּמָה (damah) is a primitive root meaning to be like or resemble. It encompasses the ideas of comparing, imagining, and devising, with various forms indicating different nuances such as making oneself like or considering something to be similar. The entries consistently highlight its use in contexts of likeness and comparison.
דָּמָה vb. be like, resemble
Qal be like, resemble
Pi. liken, compare; imagine, think, devise
liken, i.e. consider to be like, compare
imagine, form an idea, devise
Hithp. make oneself or become like
base
H1819 דָּמָה be like, resemble .be like, resemble
. liken, compare; imagine, think, devise . liken, i.e. consider to be like, compare
. imagine, form an idea, devise
. make oneself or become like
1819 damah daw-maw'
a primitive root; to compare; by implication, to resemble,
liken, consider:--compare, devise, (be) like(-n), mean, think,
use similitudes.
דָּמָה (da.mah) — to resemble.
1) to be like, resemble
1a) (Qal) to be like, resemble
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to liken, compare
1b2) to imagine, think
1c) (Hithpael) to make oneself like
1d) (Niphal)
Aramaic equivalent: de.mah (דְּמָה "be like" H1821)
V-Piel-Perf-1cs | Suff — Verb piel perfect first person common singular · suffixHVpp1cs/Sp2fs
רַעְיָה (ra'yah) is a feminine noun derived from רָעָה (ra'ah). It encompasses meanings such as companion, fellow, and darling, often referring to a female associate or attendant maidens. The entries highlight its relational aspect, but there is no significant disagreement among the lexicons.
[רַעְיָה] n.f. companion
base
H7474 רַעְיָה
7474 ra`yah rah-yaw'
feminine of 7453; a female associate:--fellow, love.
see HEBREW for 07453
רַעְיָה (ra.yah) — darling.
attendant maidens, companion
N-fs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHNcfsc/Sp1bs