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סוֹד

𐤎𐤅𐤃

çôwd

H5475 noun

SILEX Entry

Root יסד to establish, to found, to set up

Definition

A confidential discussion or council, often implying close, trusted deliberation or exchange of secrets; also, the knowledge or information shared confidentially within such a group. The term can denote both the gathering or circle of those privileged with the information as well as the counsel or deliberation itself, extending to intimacy or close association with the purpose of confidences.

Semantic Range

confidential council, circle of intimates, secret assemblage, private deliberation, intimacy, privileged knowledge, secret counsel, secret (as information or plan)

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root יסד (y-s-d), meaning 'to establish' or 'to found.' In this form, סוֹד conveys the sense of a group or counsel that is 'established' or held together for a particular, confidential purpose. Though the etymological connection is commonly accepted, some scholars debate whether the sense of confidentiality and intimacy is intrinsic to this root or developed secondarily.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, סוֹד most frequently designates a circle of trusted advisors, counselors, or companions, especially in contexts emphasizing confidentiality, shared secrets, or privileged information (e.g., Psalm 25:14, 'The secret [סוֹד] of YHWH is for those who fear him'). The term is also used for both divine and human councils (e.g., Jeremiah 23:18 and Job 29:4), and may refer to the council of heavenly beings or 'divine assembly.' In wisdom literature, סוֹד is linked to access to hidden or esoteric knowledge, sometimes reserved for the righteous (Psalm 111:1; Proverbs 3:32). English translations like 'secret,' 'counsel,' or 'assembly' vary, but often fail to capture the word's nuance of intimate or privileged discourse. Unlike עֵדָה ('assembly') or קָהָל ('congregation'), סוֹד always has the sense of privacy, selectness, and confidentiality. The meaning is consistent throughout pre-exilic, exilic, and post-exilic texts, though its application to divine or quasi-divine assemblies becomes more pronounced in some later literature.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from יָסַד; a session, i.e. company of persons (in close deliberation); by implication, intimacy, consultation, a secret; assembly, consel, inward, secret (counsel).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

יסד (y-s-d) — to establish, to found, to set up

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3245 יָסַד in their being established
H3246 יְסֻד foundation of
H3247 יְסוֹד the foundation
H3248 יְסוּדָה his foundation
H4143 מוּסָד founded base

Word Forms

9 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5475-06 ס֥וֹד sod HNcmsc counsel confidential council of 7
H5475-01 בְּ/ס֣וֹד besod HR/Ncmsc in-the-council in established confidential council 5
H5475-09 בְ/סוֹד vesod HR/Ncmsc and secret confidential council of 2
H5475-08 סוֹד֔/וֹ sodo HNcmsc/Sp3ms his secret his confidential council 2
H5475-03 בְּ/סוֹדִ֑/י besodi HR/Ncmsc/Sp1cs in-my-council in my confidential council 1
H5475-05 מִ/סּ֣וֹד misod HR/Ncmsc from the secret counsel established confidential council of 1
H5475-04 הַ/בְ/ס֣וֹד havesod HTi/R/Ncmsc in the council in the established confidential council of 1
H5475-07 סוֹדִ֑/י sodi HNcmsc/Sp1cs my council my confidential council 1
H5475-02 בְּ/סֹדָ/ם֙ besodam HR/Ncmsc/Sp3mp into their council in their confidential council 1

Occurrences in Scripture

21 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5475-02 Genesis 49:6 בְּ/סֹדָ/ם֙ besodam HR/Ncmsc/Sp3mp into their council in their confidential council
H5475-06 Jeremiah 6:11 ס֥וֹד sod HNcmsc assembly confidential council of
H5475-09 Jeremiah 15:17 בְ/סוֹד vesod HR/Ncmsc in the assembly/council confidential council of
H5475-01 Jeremiah 23:18 בְּ/ס֣וֹד besod HR/Ncmsc in the council in established confidential council
H5475-03 Jeremiah 23:22 בְּ/סוֹדִ֑/י besodi HR/Ncmsc/Sp1cs in-my-council in my confidential council
H5475-01 Ezekiel 13:9 בְּ/ס֧וֹד besod HR/Ncmsc in-the-council in established confidential council
H5475-08 Amos 3:7 סוֹד֔/וֹ sodo HNcmsc/Sp3ms his secret his confidential council
H5475-06 Psalms 25:14 ס֣וֹד sod HNcmsc secret confidential council of
H5475-06 Psalms 55:15 ס֑וֹד sod HNcmsa counsel confidential council of
H5475-05 Psalms 64:3 מִ/סּ֣וֹד misod HR/Ncmsc from the secret counsel established confidential council of
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