Word Study for H5618 (סֹפֶרֶת)

Çôphereth /so-feh'-reth/ Ask about this word

Rootfeminine active participle of סָפַר

Meaninga scribe (properly, female); Sophereth, a temple servant

KJV usageSophereth.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of Çôphereth — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word Çôphereth, represented by H5618, identifies a temple servant and is used as a proper name. Derived from a word for scribe, it appears 2 times across 2 unique verses. Its usage is specific to genealogical records, identifying the head of a family line returning from exile.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H5618 appears exclusively within two nearly identical census lists. Both Ezra and Nehemiah record the "children of Sophereth" as a distinct family unit among "The children of Solomon's servants" (Ezra 2:55, Nehemiah 7:57). This context places Sophereth as an ancestral figure whose descendants were part of a group with historical ties to temple service.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words clarify the context of Sophereth:

H1121 bên: This word for son is used to establish lineage, as in "the children H1121 of Sophereth," framing the lists around family descent Ezra 2:55.
H8010 Shᵉlômôh: This is the name for Solomon, David's successor. The family of Sophereth is identified as belonging to the servants of Solomon, linking them to the era of the first temple Nehemiah 7:57.
H5650 ʻebed: Meaning a servant, this word defines the status of the larger group to which Sophereth's family belonged Ezra 2:55.
H5479 Çôwṭay: The name Sotai, another head of a family listed alongside Sophereth, further defining the community of Solomon's servants Nehemiah 7:57.
H6514 Pᵉrûwdâʼ: Meaning dispersion, this name for Peruda appears in the same list, highlighting another family line within the same group of temple servants Ezra 2:55.

Theological Significance

The significance of H5618 is primarily historical and communal.

Genealogical Identity: The name Sophereth is crucial for establishing the identity of a specific family line. The phrase "the children of Sophereth" emphasizes the importance of heritage in the restoration of the post-exilic community (Ezra 2:55, Nehemiah 7:57).
Association with Temple Service: By being listed among "Solomon's servants," the descendants of Sophereth are connected to the legacy of the temple. The term for servant H5650 can denote a position of honor and special relationship, as when the Lord calls Jacob "my servant" Isaiah 44:2.
Preservation of the Community: The meticulous recording of Sophereth's lineage in these lists underscores the effort to preserve the covenant community and its structure after the exile, ensuring continuity for future generations.

Summary

In summary, H5618 functions in scripture as a proper name marking a specific lineage. While its root suggests a role as a scribe, its biblical application is solely to identify the ancestor Sophereth. The name's appearance in the lists of Ezra and Nehemiah anchors this family's identity within the historical context of "Solomon's servants," highlighting the importance of heritage and continuity in the period of Israel's restoration.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 2 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

סֹּפֶרֶת
סוֹפֶרֶת

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 2 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Ezra and Nehemiah (1 verse each); never once in the other 37.

Ezra

Nehemiah

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.