שׂוֹכֹה, שֹׂכֹה (s.vo.khoh)
s.vo.khoh
Socoh
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 7 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
Socoh is a place name found in the Hebrew Bible, meaning "bushy" or "thicket." It refers to a town located in the lowlands of Judah, an area known for its fertile valleys and strategic military importance. The word appears seven times across Scripture, primarily in historical narratives that detail territorial boundaries and military campaigns.
Its most notable appearance is in 1 Samuel 17:1, where the Philistine army camps between Socoh and Azekah. This location sets the stage for the famous confrontation between David and Goliath, grounding the story in a specific, tangible geography rather than an abstract setting. The town’s position in the Shephelah made it a frequent flashpoint for conflict between Israel and its neighbors.
While Socoh itself is not a theological concept, its mention serves to anchor biblical history in real places. It reminds readers that the events of faith occurred in actual towns with names like "bushy," situated in landscapes that shaped the daily lives and struggles of the people described in the text.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Socoh appears in Scripture as a tangible location in the lowlands of Judah, anchoring biblical history in real geography. The name itself suggests a place of thickets or bushes, grounding the narrative in the physical landscape that shaped daily life and military strategy for ancient Israel.
Its most significant mention occurs in 1 Samuel 17:1, where the Philistine army encamps between Socoh and Azekah. This setting provides the backdrop for David’s confrontation with Goliath, reminding us that faith operates within actual historical contexts. The story is not abstract but rooted in a specific valley where ordinary people faced extraordinary challenges.
By locating these events in real towns like Socoh, Scripture invites readers to see God’s work in everyday places. It encourages trust that divine purposes unfold in concrete circumstances, offering hope that our own struggles are seen and held within a larger, faithful narrative.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 7 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Socoh7×
- and/ Socoh1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שֹׂכֹ֖ה2×
- שׂוֹכֹ֥ה1×
- שׂוֹכֹ֖ה1×
- שׂוֹכ֤וֹ1×
- שׂוֹכ֖וֹ1×
- שׂוֹכ֔וֹ1×
- וְ/שׂוֹכֹֽה\׃1×
Key Verses
-
I Samuel 17:1
Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle; and they were gathered together at Socoh, which belongs to Judah, and encamped between Socoh and Azekah in Ephesdammim.
This verse establishes Socoh as the strategic encampment point for the Philistines, directly setting the stage for the David and Goliath narrative.
-
Joshua 15:35
Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah,
Socoh is listed among the fortified cities of Judah’s lowlands, highlighting its role in the tribal territorial boundaries after the conquest.
-
II Chronicles 28:18
The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the lowland and of the South of Judah, and had taken Beth Shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, Soco with its villages, Timnah with its villages, and also Gimzo and its villages; and they lived there.
The Philistines capture Socoh and its villages during King Ahaz’s reign, illustrating the town’s recurring vulnerability in conflicts with neighboring powers.