סוֹף (soph)
soph
end
A:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:N-M
Word Overview
The Aramaic noun soph denotes an end or conclusion. It appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, both within the book of Daniel where the text shifts into its Aramaic sections. In these contexts, the word marks a definitive limit or termination, serving as the linguistic counterpart to the more common Hebrew term for "end" found elsewhere in Scripture.
Its usage is concise and functional. For instance, in Daniel 12:13, it refers to the end of days when the reader will rest and receive their allotted inheritance. The word carries no inherent emotional weight; it simply identifies a boundary or a final point in a sequence. Translators typically render it as "end" or "conclusion," preserving its straightforward sense of something that has ceased or reached its limit.
As an Aramaism, soph highlights the bilingual nature of Daniel’s narrative. While Hebrew dominates most of the Old Testament, this brief vocabulary choice anchors specific prophecies in the imperial language of the time. This linguistic shift underscores the historical setting of the visions, reminding readers that these messages were intended for a diverse audience under foreign rule.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word סוֹף (soph) points to a definitive conclusion. It appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, both within the Aramaic sections of Daniel. Unlike other terms for 'end' that might carry emotional weight, this word simply marks a boundary or a final point in a sequence. It reminds us that history has limits and that God’s plans reach their intended destination.
In Daniel 7:28, the prophet notes, 'Here is the end of the matter.' This phrase signals that the vision is complete and its meaning is settled. For believers, this offers comfort. We do not need to worry about unfinished business or unclear outcomes in God’s sovereign plan. The story He is writing has a clear resolution.
When we face uncertainty, we can look to these verses. They assure us that judgment will be set and dominion will be taken away from those who oppose God. Our rest comes not from understanding every detail now, but from trusting the One who brings all things to their proper end.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- end/ the2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- סוֹפָֽ/א\׃1×
- סוֹפָ֣/א1×
Key Verses
-
Daniel 7:26
“‘But the judgment will be set, and they will take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it to the end.
This verse uses the word to describe the final destruction of the beast's power, showing that evil has a fixed limit set by God's judgment.
-
Daniel 7:28
“Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts troubled me greatly, and my face was changed in me; but I kept the matter in my heart.”
Here the phrase marks the conclusion of the vision itself, indicating that Daniel’s troubled thoughts can rest because the matter is settled.