שׂוֹרָה (s.vo.rah)
s.vo.rah
row
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun sōrā appears only once in the Old Testament, found in Isaiah 28:25. Its primary gloss is "row," but the precise semantic range remains uncertain among scholars. In this specific context, it likely refers to rows of planted seeds or furrows in a field.
The textual situation here is complex. Some sources suggest the word may be a dittography—an accidental repetition of letters from the following word—which complicates translation efforts. Consequently, interpreters often rely on the surrounding agricultural imagery to determine its meaning, viewing it as part of a description of careful farming practices rather than a standalone technical term.
Because of its rarity and textual ambiguity, sōrā does not carry a broad theological weight across Scripture. It serves as a minor detail in Isaiah’s metaphor about divine order in agriculture, reminding readers that even obscure words contribute to the broader picture of God’s care for creation.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word sōrā appears only once in the entire Old Testament, nestled within Isaiah’s description of farming. It refers to the careful rows where wheat, barley, and other seeds are placed. This single mention highlights a detail often overlooked: God cares about the order and precision involved in growing food.
For your faith, this reminds us that divine wisdom is present in the mundane details of life. Just as a farmer plants each seed with purpose, God’s care extends to the specific needs of your daily routine. You are not left to chaos; there is intentionality in how you are sustained and guided.
Even when Scripture uses rare or obscure terms, they point toward a Creator who values order and provision. This passage invites trust that the same God who organizes the fields also organizes your path, ensuring that every part of your life has its appointed place.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a row1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שׂוֹרָה֙1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 28:25
When he has leveled its surface, doesn’t he plant the dill, and scatter the cumin seed, and put in the wheat in rows, the barley in the appointed place, and the spelt in its place?
This verse uses sōrā to describe the specific placement of wheat in rows, illustrating the methodical nature of agricultural planning as a metaphor for divine order.