Song of Solomon 1:9

לְסֻסָתִי֙ בְּרִכְבֵ֣י פַרְעֹ֔ה דִּמִּיתִ֖יךְ רַעְיָתִֽי
I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh's chariots.
Select a Hebrew word above to see its details.

לְ סֻסָתִ י֙
לְ
Prefix — preposition to, for
סֻסָתִ
Root word horses
י֙
Suffix — pronoun my / me
Dictionary form: סוּסָה · soo-SAW

Noun — Common, feminine singular, construct state "___ of …" — bound to the next word

In the KJV here: to a company of horses
to a company of horses ×1
More options
mare — Singular female horse; likely referent in Song 1:9.
horse — Generic; use when gender is not in focus.
steed — Slightly elevated register; suits poetic contexts.
filly — Young female horse; emphasizes youth and beauty.

BDB5536 H5484

BDB5535 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB5537

[סוּסָה] noun feminine mare; — with suffix סֻסָתִי Song 1:9. — compare also חֲצַר סוּסָה.

horses
sûsâ
a mare
  • mare

בְּ רִכְבֵ֣י
בְּ
Prefix — preposition in, at, by, with
רִכְבֵ֣י
Root word chariots, chariot, millstone, wagons
Dictionary form: רֶכֶב · reh-KEB

Noun — Common, masculine plural, construct state plural — usually add "-s"; "___ of …" — bound to the next word

In the KJV here: chariots
chariots ×21 and chariots ×9 the chariot ×9 the chariots ×8 of the chariots ×7 his chariots ×5 of his chariots ×4 a chariot ×3
More options
chariot — Core meaning; prefer for singular military/royal vehicle.
war chariot — Clarifies military context when ambiguity exists.
chariotry — Collective noun; ideal for referring to an army's chariot force.
cavalry unit — Loose functional equivalent; use only in dynamic translations.
millstone — Rare secondary sense; upper or lower grinding stone.
wagon — For non-military transport contexts; broader wheeled vehicle.

BDB7919 H7393

BDB7918 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB7920

רֶ֫כֶב noun masculine2Kgs 13:7 [even Nah 2:5, where read מַרְאֵיהֶם (for הֶן-) We Now AlbrZAW xvi (1896), 90] chariotry, chariot, mill-stone; apparently also riders (compare LagBN 151); — absolute ׳ר Gen 50:9 +, רָ֑כֶב 2Sam 8:4 +; construct דֶכֶב Exod 14:9 +; suffix דִכְבִּי Judg 4:7 +, רִכְבּוֺ 2Kgs 5:9 +, דִכְבָּהּ Nah 2:14 plural construct רִכְבֵי Song 1:9 — Hos 10:13 see below; —

1.109 collective chariotry, chariots [sometimes of specific no. 2Kgs 13:7; 2Sam 8:4; Exod 14:7 etc.; often + פָּרָשִׁים, (ים) סוּס], especially war-chariots : in Egypt Exod 14:7 (J), Josh 24:6 (E) +; early Canaan Josh 11:4; Judg 4:7; Judg 4:13; Judg 5:28 (not singular; || מַרְכְּבוֺתָיו) +, called כַּרְוֶל ׳ר (i.e. iron-bound, or studded, compare GFMJudg 1:2 19 and references), Josh 17:16; Josh 17:18; Judg 1:19; Judg 4:3; Judg 4:13 ; Philistine, according to 1Sam 13:5; 2Sam 1:6 Aram 2Sam 8:4; 2Sam 10:18 +; Judah and Israel (from David's time, compare 2Sam 8:4) 1Kgs 9:19; 1Kgs 9:22; 1Kgs 10:26 +, read also בְּרִכְבְּךָ Hos 10:13 (for בְּדַרְכְּךָ) ᵐ5B We Now GASm; Assyria 2Kgs 19:23 = Isa 37:24; Nah 2:4; Nah 2:5; Nah 2:14 (to be burnt; made mainly of wood); Babylon Jer 47:3 (on title vJer 47:1, see Gf Gie), Jer 50:37; Jer 51:21; Ezek 23:24 +, etc.; for dignity and display 1Kgs 1:5; 2Kgs 5:9; Jer 17:25; Jer 22:4; Isa 66:20, compare Gen 50:9 (J), (compare also 1Kgs 9:19; 1Kgs 9:22; 1Kgs 10:26, etc.); figurative of Elijah, יִשְׂרָאֵל וּפָרָשׁיו ׳ר 2Kgs 2:12, of elisha 2Kgs 13:14 רֶכֶב אֵשׁ 2Kgs 2:11 chariotry of fire (at Elijah's translation); אֵל ׳ר Ps 68:18 chariots of El, i.e. his heavenly host, compare vision 2Kgs 6:17, and also 2Kgs 7:6 ׳ר meton, for chariot-horses 2Sam 8:4 = 1Chr 18:4.
2. of single chariot 1Kgs 22:35; 1Kgs 22:38; 2Kgs 9:21 (twice in verse); 2Kgs 9:24; 2Kgs 10:16; 2Chr 35:24, probably also Exod 14:6 plural רִכְבֵי פַרְעֹה Song 1:9.
3. upper millstone (as riding on the lower) Deut 24:6; Judg 9:53; 2Sam 11:21.
4. apparently = riders (collective), troop (of riders): שְׁנֵי רֶכֶב סוּסִים 2Kgs 7:14
**read perhaps רֹכְבֵי, compare ᵐ5 and 2Kgs 9:16 Bur.; two riders of horses, horsemen (ro two chariots drawn by horses ?); in following text dubious: גָּמֶל ׳חֲמוֺר ר ׳צֶמֶד פָרָשִׁים ר ׳ד Isa 21:7 riders, namely a pair of horsemen, ass-riders, camel-rides; compare אִישׁ צֶמֶד פָּרָשִׁים ׳ר vIsa 21:9 i.e. men riding, a pair of horsemen; אָדָם פָּרָשִׁים ׳בְּד Isa 22:6 with riders (consisting of) men, horsemen, but use of אָדָם very improbable; attractive is with chariotry of (drawn by) steeds (׳א as gloss) Du CheHpt Di-Kit but ׳פ hardly steeds here (compare ׳פ horsemen, vIsa 22:7); read perhaps simply ׳וּפ ׳בְּר.

chariots, chariot, millstone, wagons
rekeb
a vehicle; by implication, a team; by extension, cavalry; by analogy a rider, i.e., the upper millstone
  • a team, chariot, chariotry, mill-stone, riders
    • chariotry, chariots
      • "chariot (single)"upper millstone (as riding on lower millstone)"riders, troop (of riders), horsemen, pair of horsemen, men riding, ass-riders, camel-riders

פַרְעֹ֔ה
פַרְעֹ֔ה
Root word a name — transliterate it ("In pharaohs")
Dictionary form: פַּרְעֹה · pahr-OH

Noun — Proper Name

In the KJV here: in pharaohs
pharaoh ×110 of pharaoh ×40 pharaohs ×28 and pharaoh ×14 unto pharaoh ×8 for pharaoh ×6 upon pharaoh ×6 and pharaohs ×5
More options
Pharaoh — Standard modern spelling; use as the default rendering.
the king of Egypt — Clarifies role when 'Pharaoh' may confuse readers.
Pharaoh's — Possessive form for contexts showing ownership or relationship.
the Egyptian ruler — Descriptive alternative for non-specialist audiences.

BDB6802 H6547

BDB6801 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB6803

פַּרְעה275 noun masculine Pharaoh, Φαραω, title of Egyptain kings (Egyptian pr-±o, great house, of royal court, and (in new kingdom) of king GriffithHastings DB MeyGeschichte. Alt. i. 59 SteindBAS. i. 343; in Assyrian pir°u according to most, compare COTGlossary Steindl.c., but see WklMVAG. 1898. 3f.); — ׳פ Gen 12:15 (3 t. in verse); Gen 12:17 + 212 t. Hexateuch 19 t. Kings, Isa 19:11 (twice in verse) + 3 t., Jer 25:19 + 10 t., Ezek 17:17 + 12 t., Neh 9:10; 1Chr 4:18; 2Chr 8:11; Ps 135:9; Ps 136:15; Song 1:9 + מֶלֶךְ מִצְרַיִם (not early) Jer 25:19; Jer 46:17; Deut 7:8; Deut 11:3; Ezek 29:2; Ezek 29:3; Ezek 30:21; Ezek 30:22; Ezek 31:2; 1Kgs 3:1; 1Kgs 9:16; 1Kgs 11:18; 2Kgs 17:7; 2Kgs 18:21 = Isa 36:6; Gen 41:46 (E), Exod 6:11; Exod 6:13; Exod 6:27; Exod 6:29; Exod 14:8 (all P); with proper name חָפְרַע ׳פ Jer 44:30, נְכֹה ׳פ Jer 46:2; 2Kgs 23:29; 2Kgs 23:33; 2Kgs 23:34; 2Kgs 23:35.

pharaoh, pharaohs
parʿō
great house
Paroh, a general title of Egyptian kings
  • the common title of the king of Egypt

דִּמִּיתִ֖י ךְ
דִּמִּיתִ֖י
Root word like, liken, thought, likened, meaneth, …
ךְ
Suffix — pronoun your / you (one woman)
Dictionary form: דָּמָה · daw-MAW

Verb — Piel, Perfect (Qatal), first person singular intensive — "he really / thoroughly did" completed action — try "he ___ed" or "he has ___ed" the built-in subject is "I"

In the KJV here: i have compared
is like ×3 and be thou like ×2 then will ye liken ×2 and thought ×1 and used similitudes ×1 and we should have been like ×1 art thou like ×1 art thou thus like ×1
More options
resemble — Best for comparisons; broad and natural in modern prose.
compare — Use when the act of drawing a likeness is foregrounded.
liken — Modernized KJV form; still idiomatic in religious contexts.
imagine — Fits contexts of mental conception or devising a plan.
devise — Prefer when scheming or planning is the sense.
think — Informal; suits internal reasoning or supposition contexts.

BDB1961 H1819

BDB1960 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB1962

I. דָּמָה verb be like, resemble (Late Hebrew id., Aramaic דְּמֵי, דְּמָא, ; compare דמין, price, Nabataean דמי id. (Nö in EutNab. Inscr. p. 35); also , and likeness (whence Arabic image, effigy, as loan-word Frä272) compare דְּמוּת) —

Qal Perfect 3 masculine singular ׳ד Ezek 31:8; Ps 144:4 3 feminine singular דָּֽמְתָה Song 7:8 2 masculine singular דָּמִיתָ Ezek 31:2; Ezek 31:18 1 singular דָּמִיתִי Ps 102:7 3 plural דָּמוּ Ezek 31:8 1 plural דָּמִינוּ Isa 1:9 Imperfect 3 masculine singular יִדְמֶה Ps 89:7 1 plural וְנִדְמֶה consecutive Isa 46:5 Imperative masculine singular דְּמֵה Song 2:17; Song 8:14 Participle דּוֺמֶה Song 2:9 — be like, resemble, of external appearance, followed by לְ, Song 7:8; Song 2:9; Song 2:17; Song 8:14 followed by אֶלֿ Ezek 31:8 (twice in verse); Ezek 31:18 (all of tree, figurative of Pharaoh); of condition or quality followed by לְ Isa 1:9; Ps 102:7; Ps 144:4 so מִי ֗֗֗ יִדְמֶה ליהוה Ps 89:7 also absolute Isa 46:5 followed by אֶל Ezek 31:2. Pi`el Perfect דִּמָּה 2Sam 21:5, דִּמִּיתָ Ps 50:21 דִּמִּיתִי Num 33:56; Isa 14:24 suffix דִּמִּיתִיךָ Song 1:9, דִּמּוּ 2Sam 21:5 Imperfect יְדַמֶּה Isa 10:7 2 feminine singular תְּדַמִּי Esth 4:13 (jussive); אֲדַמֶּה Lam 2:13; Hos 12:11 2 masculine plural תְּדַמְּיוּן Isa 40:18 suffix תְּדַמְּיוּנִי Isa 40:25; Isa 46:5 — liken, compare; imagine, think, devise; —
1. liken, i.e. consider to be like, compare, causative of Qal followed by לְ of external appearance Song 1:9 of quality or condition Isa 46:5 (object ׳י) Lam 2:13 followed by אֶל of external appearance Isa 40:18; Isa 40:25 (both object God in reference to idols); absolute use comparisons or similitudes (parables, symbols, etc.) Hos 12:11 (subject ׳י).
2. imagine, form an idea, devise 2Sam 21:5 (on context compare Dr); think, intend, followed by Infinitive Num 33:56 (J or H) Judg 20:5; Esth 4:13 absolute Isa 10:7 compare Isa 14:24 think that, followed by object clause (Imperfect without conjunction) Ps 50:21 think of, followed by accusative Ps 48:10. Hithpa`el make oneself or become like; Imperfect אֶדַּמֶּה לְעֶלְיוֺן Isa 14:14 I will make myself like the Most High (on form compare Ges«GKC:54»§ 54. 2).

BDB9453 H1819 H1821

BDB9452 | BIBLICAL ARAMAIC | BDB9454

[דְּמָה] verb be like (Biblical Hebrew I. דָּמָה); —

Pe`al Participle active דָּמֵה Dan 3:25 (ל person); feminine דָּֽמְיָה Dan 7:5 (לְדֹב).

like, liken, thought, likened, meaneth, …
dāmâ
to compare; by implication, to resemble, liken, consider
  • to be like, resemble
    • (Qal) to be like, resemble
      • "(Piel)
      • to liken, compare
        • "to imagine, think
      (Hithpael) to make oneself like"(Niphal)

רַעְיָתִֽ י
רַעְיָתִֽ
Root word love, fellows
י
Suffix — pronoun my / me
Dictionary form: רַעְיָה · ra-YAW

Noun — Common, feminine singular, construct state "___ of …" — bound to the next word

In the KJV here: thee o my love
my love ×6 and my fellows ×1 is my love ×1 o my love ×1 thee o my love ×1
More options
beloved — Warm, timeless term for an intimate female partner.
darling — Affectionate and tender; suits lyrical or poetic contexts.
sweetheart — Casual and warm; good for accessible modern translations.
companion — Captures the 'fellows' sense; use when closeness is platonic.
love — Direct and modern; works as a term of address.
dearest — Intimate and slightly formal; fits elevated poetic register.

BDB8005 H7474

BDB8004 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB8006

[רַעְיָה] noun feminine companion; — of beloved bride, suffix רַעְיָתִי Song 1:9; Song 1:15; Song 2:2; Song 2:10; Song 2:13; Song 4:1; Song 4:7; Song 5:2; Song 6:4 so of attendant maidens Judg 11:37 Kt, but see foregoing.

love, fellows
raʿyâ
a female associate
  • attendant maidens, companion

The cantillation accents are the Masoretes' punctuation: each group below ends at a pausing accent. Translate a group as one unit.
לְסֻסָתִי֙ Pashta — a lesser break בְּרִכְבֵ֣י פַרְעֹ֔ה Zaqef Qatan — a strong break דִּמִּיתִ֖יךְ Tipeha — a lesser break רַעְיָתִֽי Silluq — end of the verse

לְסֻסָתִי בְּרִכְבֵי פַרְעֹה דִּמִּיתִיךְ רַעְיָתִֽי׃
9
I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh's chariots.
Cross References

Song of Solomon 2:10

עָנָה דוֹדִי וְאָמַר לִי קוּמִי לָךְ רַעְיָתִי יָפָתִי וּלְכִי-לָֽךְ׃
10
My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.

Song of Solomon 2:13

הַתְּאֵנָה חָֽנְטָה פַגֶּיהָ וְהַגְּפָנִים׀ סְמָדַר נָתְנוּ רֵיחַ קוּמִי ‫(לכי)‬ לָךְ רַעְיָתִי יָפָתִי וּלְכִי-לָֽךְ׃
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

ὑμεῖς φίλοι μού ἐστε ἐὰν ποιῆτε ὅσα ἐγὼ ἐντέλλομαι ὑμῖν
14
Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

Song of Solomon 4:7

כֻּלָּךְ יָפָה רַעְיָתִי וּמוּם אֵין בָּֽךְ׃
7
Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.

Song of Solomon 1:15

הִנָּךְ יָפָה רַעְיָתִי הִנָּךְ יָפָה עֵינַיִךְ יוֹנִֽים׃
15
Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves' eyes.

Isaiah 31:1

הוֹי הַיֹּרְדִים מִצְרַיִם לְעֶזְרָה עַל-סוּסִים יִשָּׁעֵנוּ וַיִּבְטְחוּ עַל-רֶכֶב כִּי רָב וְעַל פָּֽרָשִׁים כִּֽי-עָצְמוּ מְאֹד וְלֹא שָׁעוּ עַל-קְדוֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאֶת-יְהוָה לֹא דָרָֽשׁוּ׃
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

כְּשֽׁוֹשַׁנָּה בֵּין הַחוֹחִים כֵּן רַעְיָתִי בֵּין הַבָּנֽוֹת׃
2
As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.

Song of Solomon 5:2

אֲנִי יְשֵׁנָה וְלִבִּי עֵר קוֹל׀ דּוֹדִי דוֹפֵק פִּתְחִי-לִי אֲחֹתִי רַעְיָתִי יוֹנָתִי תַמָּתִי שֶׁרֹּאשִׁי נִמְלָא-טָל קְוֻּצּוֹתַי רְסִיסֵי לָֽיְלָה׃
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

וַיֶּֽאֱסֹף שְׁלֹמֹה רֶכֶב וּפָֽרָשִׁים וַֽיְהִי-לוֹ אֶלֶף וְאַרְבַּע-מֵאוֹת רֶכֶב וּשְׁנֵים-עָשָׂר אֶלֶף פָּֽרָשִׁים וַיַּנִּיחֵם בְּעָרֵי הָרֶכֶב וְעִם-הַמֶּלֶךְ בִּירֽוּשָׁלִָֽם׃
14
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.

1 Kings 10:28

וּמוֹצָא הַסּוּסִים אֲשֶׁר לִשְׁלֹמֹה מִמִּצְרָיִם וּמִקְוֵה סֹֽחֲרֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ יִקְחוּ מִקְוֵה בִּמְחִֽיר׃
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

יָפָה אַתְּ רַעְיָתִי כְּתִרְצָה נָאוָה כִּירוּשָׁלִָם אֲיֻמָּה כַּנִּדְגָּלֽוֹת׃
4
Thou art beautiful, O my love, as Tirzah, comely as Jerusalem, terrible as an army with banners.

Song of Solomon 4:1

הִנָּךְ יָפָה רַעְיָתִי הִנָּךְ יָפָה עֵינַיִךְ יוֹנִים מִבַּעַד לְצַמָּתֵךְ שַׂעְרֵךְ כְּעֵדֶר הָֽעִזִּים שֶׁגָּלְשׁוּ מֵהַר גִּלְעָֽד׃
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.
Song of Solomon 1:8
Read Song of Solomon 1
Song of Solomon 1:10