σορός (soros)
soros
bier
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun soros refers to a bier or an open coffin used for carrying the dead to burial. It appears only once in the New Testament, in Luke 7:12, where Jesus encounters a funeral procession in the town of Nain. The text describes a young man being carried out on this device, having just died and leaving his mother a widow.
Lexical sources trace the word’s origin to ancient Greek usage for cinerary urns or receptacles holding bones, which evolved to mean the funeral couch itself in later periods. This singular occurrence highlights the physical reality of death that Jesus confronted. The image is not abstract but concrete: a body placed on a stretcher-like structure, ready for interment, emphasizing the finality that Christ’s intervention sought to reverse.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word soros describes the heavy wooden stretcher used to carry a deceased person to their final resting place. In Luke 7:12, this simple object marks the boundary between life and death for a young man who has just died, leaving his mother without support. The scene is stark and real, showing the heavy burden of grief that families must bear when they lose a loved one.
Jesus does not ignore this reality. He approaches the procession and touches the soros itself. This act shows that God enters into our deepest pain and physical loss. He does not offer empty words to dismiss the sorrow, but instead meets the family in their moment of absolute helplessness. His touch brings life back where there was only stillness.
When you face seasons of loss or deep sadness, remember that Jesus is close to the broken places in your life. He sees the weight you carry and offers hope that goes beyond what we can see. You do not have to face these dark moments alone, for He is present with comfort and healing power.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- bier;1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- σοροῦ·1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 7:14
He came near and touched the coffin, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I tell you, arise!”
This verse captures the moment Jesus touches the bier, stopping the funeral procession to demonstrate His authority over death itself.