סוֹא
𐤎𐤅𐤀
So
H5471 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
So, the name of an Egyptian monarch referenced in the Hebrew Bible; functions specifically as a proper name identifying an Egyptian ruler at the time of the Israelite monarch Hoshea. Does not function as a common noun or take on other meanings in biblical Hebrew. The referent is historically situated as a foreign (Egyptian) king. The word is not used for general concepts of kingship or Egyptianness.
Semantic Range
proper name for an Egyptian king (So); does not carry other lexical meanings
Root / Etymology
Foreign derivation—etymology uncertain. The name appears in the biblical text as an Egyptian personal name, but its precise Egyptian form and meaning remain unclear. No clear root in Semitic or Egyptian has been identified with certainty.
Historical & Contextual Notes
So (סוֹא) appears in the Hebrew Bible only in 2 Kings 17:4, where it designates an Egyptian king contemporary with Hoshea of Israel (late 8th century BCE). The actual historical identity of 'So' is debated: some scholars suggest a connection with Egyptian ruler Osorkon IV (of the 22nd Dynasty) or Shebitku of the 25th Dynasty, though no direct correlation with an Egyptian royal name 'So' is found in extant inscriptions. Most English translations render the name simply as 'So' without interpretation. There is no theological or symbolic usage; the term is a specific personal name and not applied generically. Later English translations or traditions sometimes read or gloss 'So' as 'king of Egypt,' but in context it is used strictly as a proper name.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of foreign derivation; So, an Egyptian king; So.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
סוא (s-w-ʾ) — proper name, Egyptian royal name
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5471-01 |
ס֣וֹא | so | HNp |
So | So | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5471-01 |
2 Kings 17:4 | ס֣וֹא | so | HNp |
So | So |