סוֹדִי

𐤎𐤅𐤃𐤉

Sodi

H5476 noun

SILEX Entry

Root סוד to confide, hold council, be in close association

Definition

Sodi (proper name): The name of an Israelite man, used as a patronymic. Derived from the noun 'sod' meaning 'council, secret, intimate confiding,' this theophoric or meaningful name likely denotes 'my confidant' or 'my council.' As a personal name, it carries connotations of intimacy, counsel, or confidential relationship, but in biblical usage is attested specifically as the name of a single individual, the father of Gaddi, one of the tribal spies from the tribe of Manasseh.

Semantic Range

proper name—'Sodi'; implied meaning based on root: my confidant, my council, one in whom secret counsel is placed

Root / Etymology

From the root סוד (s-w-d), meaning 'to confide, hold counsel, be in close association.' סוֹדִי (Sodi) is formed with a first person singular pronominal ending (-î), indicating 'my council' or 'my confidant.' The formation suggests either a literal possessive ('my confident/counsellor') or a theophoric or honorific name reflecting valued relationship or character trait. Related to the common noun סוֹד (sod), 'council, secret, close company.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

סוֹדִי (Sodi) appears only once in the Hebrew Bible (Num 13:11) as the father of Gaddi, one of the twelve scouts sent by Moses to explore the land of Canaan, representing the tribe of Manasseh. The usage is strictly as a personal name, not as a common noun or title. The root סוד conveys notions of intimate conversation, sharing in council, or confidential assembly, implying that the personal name draws on attributes of confidentiality or implicit trust, traits valued in Israelite naming practice. English translations typically leave the personal name untranslated, transliterating as 'Sodi;' it is not rendered 'confidant' or 'counsel' in narrative. There is no substantive evidence for the use of 'Sodi' as a common noun in ancient Hebrew. The semantic base contrasts with related terms of assembly (such as עֵדָה 'congregation'), in emphasizing intimacy and confidentiality rather than general gathering. There is no evidence of the term transitioning in meaning in later biblical periods; its use is limited to the genealogical context of the pre-monarchic era.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from סוֹד; a confidant; Sodi, an Israelite; Sodi.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

סוד (s-w-d) — confiding, counsel, intimate association, secret counsel

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1152 בְּסוֹדְיָה In the counsel of Yah

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5476-01 סוֹדִֽי sodi HNp Sodi My confidant 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5476-01 Numbers 13:10 סוֹדִֽי sodi HNp Sodi My confidant