סֹפֶרֶת
Sophereth, a temple servant
Definition
Sophereth is the name of a family group listed among the 'temple servants' (Nethinim) who returned from the Babylonian exile. The name itself is a feminine active participle meaning 'scribe' or 'female scribe,' suggesting the family may have had a historical or hereditary role in record-keeping or administrative duties. In the biblical record, this group is mentioned only in the post-exilic census lists of Ezra 2:55 and Nehemiah 7:57, where they are counted among those who reinhabited Judah.
Biblical Usage
This proper noun is used exclusively in two parallel post-exilic lists that document the families returning from Babylon. It appears in Ezra 2:55 and Nehemiah 7:57, always in the context of enumerating the 'Nethinim' (temple servants) and the 'children of Solomon's servants.' There is no narrative usage; its function is purely genealogical and administrative within these historical records.
Etymology
The name סֹפֶרֶת (Çôphereth) is the feminine active participle of the root verb סָפַר (sāpar, H5608), which means 'to count, recount, or tell.' This root is also the source for the common masculine noun for 'scribe' (סֹפֵר, sōp̄ēr). Thus, the name literally means 'female scribe' or 'she who counts/writes,' indicating a possible occupational origin for this family line.
Semantic Range
While the name itself is not theologically loaded, its inclusion highlights the meticulous detail and faithfulness of God in preserving and restoring His covenant community. The listing of even seemingly minor family groups like Sophereth among the returning exiles underscores the theme of God's faithfulness to His promises and the importance of every individual and family in the reconstitution of worship and community in Jerusalem (Jeremiah 29:10-14).
As a family name derived from an occupation ('scribe'), it reflects the social structure of ancient Israel, where trades or roles could become hereditary identifiers. Being classified among the 'Nethinim' (temple servants) placed this family in a specific, dedicated class responsible for the maintenance and support of temple worship, a role that likely dated back to the time of David and Solomon.
סֹפֵר (sōp̄ēr, H5608) — The standard masculine noun for 'scribe,' a more common term for the official role.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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