The Hebrew in Song of Solomon 1:9 that is translated as “a mare among Pharaoh’s chariots” by many translations in English is translated in the English poetic translation of Marcia Falk as “a mare among stallions.”
Falk (2004, p. XXI) explains: “For example, in chapter 1, verse 9, of the Hebrew, a man compares his beloved to a mare in Pharaohs chariotry — an image that becomes especially puzzling when one discovers that in ancient Egypt only stallions, never mares, drew chariots. But the Egyptians’ enemies set mares loose during war to drive the pharaoh’s stallions wild, and this is the crux of the metaphor. Neither regality nor creaturely beauty is what defines the beloved here; rather she is a symbol of allure and temptation, as dangerous as ‘a mare among stallions’ — the phrase I arrived at for my translation. Seen this way, the image is striking, even daunting; the woman possesses a captivating power over her admirer. All the more moving, then, is his response to her, which is not to withdraw but to draw nearer. Although she is already lovely, with braided hair framing her cheekbones and a simple string of shells outlining the curve of her neck, he vows to lavish her with his own gifts — ornaments of gold and silver to gild the lily.”
The Hebrew, Latin, Ge’ez, and Greek that is translated into English as “chariot” is translated into Anuak as “canoe pulled by horse.” “Canoe” is the general term for “vehicle” (source: Loren Bliese). Similarly it is translated in Lokạạ as ukwaa wạ nyanyang ntuuli or “canoe that is driven by horses.” (Source: J.A. Naudé, C.L. Miller Naudé, J.O. Obono in Acta Theologica 43/2, 2023, p. 129ff. )
Other translations include:
Chichicapan Zapotec: “ox cart” (in Acts 8) (ox carts are common vehicles for travel) (source: Loren Bliese)
Chichimeca-Jonaz, it is translated as “little house with two feet pulled by two horses” (source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
HausaCommon Language Bible as keken-doki or “cart of donkey” (source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Song of Solomon 1:9:
Kupsabiny: “My beloved, you make me joyful like when the daughter of a horse makes joyful the sons of the horses that Pharaoh owns.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “My darling, you are as beautiful as the mare among the horses of Pharaoh’s chariot.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “O my beloved, you (sing.) (are) like a female horse that is-desired/is-liked by a male horse that is-pulling the chariot of the king of Egipto.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “You are beautiful, my darling, like the young female horse that pulls the chariot of the king of Egypt.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
The young man is still speaking to the young woman, but his tone has changed. He is no longer answering her question or teasing her, but praising her beauty. We have already observed that metaphors and similes are a prominent feature of Song of Songs. In this verse we have an example of that feature; the poet says I compare you …, using a verb that appears also as “like” or as “be like” in 2.9, 17; 7.8; and 8.14. The verb compare brings us to the young man’s description of his loved one; she is like a mare. This comparison obviously intends to flatter her.
In some languages this way of praising someone’s beauty (I compare you) may seem quite stiff and formal. Elsewhere in the poem we usually find more simple forms of similes and metaphors. We can express the young man’s thoughts as “Let me compare you to…” or “I can compare you to….” Or we can present the comparison as “To me you are like…” or “I think you are like….” We can even say “You are just like….”
My love is a form of address to the young woman, used when he speaks of her great beauty (1.15; 2.2, 10, 13; 4.1, 7; 5.2). The term does not appear outside Song of Songs. A modern English equivalent is “my darling.” In many cultures it is not customary for lovers to speak openly in endearing terms, so a culturally appropriate form may have to be used.
To a mare of Pharaoh’s chariots: to compare a young woman to a mare or horse is not unusual in the ancient Near Eastern context, though it may not be taken as a compliment elsewhere. The Hebrew noun form is unusual; we presume it is a genitive form, “a mare of…,” rather than “my mare” as in Jerusalem Bible, and certainly not the plural “company of horses” as in King James Version. The prepositional phrase that follows is “among the chariots of Pharaoh.” The term chariots includes both the chariots and the horses that pull them. The reason the young man likens her to an Egyptian mare is probably because Egypt was famous for its horses (see 1 Kgs 10.26-29). He obviously does not compare her to other aspects of the horse such as its speed; rather the young woman shares the beauty of one of the Egyptian royal horses. Furthermore the likeness has to do with some distinctive and elaborate decorations on the horses (see verse 10).
Pharaoh is the title of the Egyptian king, not his personal name. Translators can use the transliterated form as English does, or give a functional equivalent such as “the Egyptian ruler” or “king.”
Since in many cultures it may be surprising or even humorous to compare a woman to a horse, we may have to add a qualifier to emphasize what is being compared. We can look for an adjective that can describe the beauty of both a young woman and a horse: “beautiful,” “majestic,” “stunning.” Note further that it is not necessary to use the term for a female horse. The emphasis is not on the sex of the animal but on its beauty. We can say, for example, “you are like one of the beautiful horses belonging to the King of Egypt…” or “you are as majestic as one of the royal horses….” Contemporary English Version thinks the comparison is based on the graceful movement of the young woman: “You move as gracefully as the pony that leads the chariot of the king.” But considering the details given in the next verse, this is probably not a correct rendering.
Good News Translation gives as a translation here “You … excite men as a mare excites the stallions.” The Good News Translation translators have followed some commentators who believe the word mare in this context carries with it the idea of the attraction of a male horse to the female. However, the point of the comparison here is to comment on the young woman’s beauty, not on her sexuality.
Some suggested translations are:
• My love, you are like a royal Egyptian mare.
• My love, you are as beautiful as one of the royal horses of Egypt.
Again we should look for some poetic form when translating. With such a complex and perhaps unfamiliar comparison, this may not be easy. If necessary we can place a statement first, followed by the comparison:
• The horses who pull the chariots of the Pharaoh,
How beautiful they are!
So you too, my darling!
• Like the mares pulling the chariots of Egypt
How gorgeous you are, my love!
Quoted with permission from Ogden, Graham S. and Zogbo, Lynell. A Handbook on the Book of Song of Songs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1998. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
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