סוֹטַי

Sotai, one of the Nethinim

Definition

Sotai is the name of an individual listed among the Nethinim, a class of temple servants, in the post-exilic community. The name appears in two parallel lists of those who returned from the Babylonian exile (Ezra 2:55 and Nehemiah 7:57). As a proper noun, it refers specifically to this person or his family line. The name's meaning, derived from its root, suggests 'roving' or 'wandering,' but the biblical text uses it solely as a personal identifier within a historical register.

Biblical Usage

This word is used exclusively as a proper name in two historical census passages. It appears in the identical lists recorded in Ezra 2:55 and Nehemiah 7:57, which catalog the families of the Nethinim who returned to Judah. There is no narrative usage; it functions purely as an entry in an administrative record, highlighting the restoration of the temple workforce.

Etymology

The name סוֹטַי (Çôwṭay) is derived from the Hebrew root שׂוּט (śûṭ, H7750), meaning 'to go about,' 'rove,' or 'wander.' It is a participial form, essentially meaning 'the wanderer' or 'the roving one.' This suggests it may have originally been a descriptive nickname or occupational term that became a personal name.

Semantic Range

Sotai's inclusion among the Nethinim (meaning 'given ones' or 'dedicated ones') places him within a specific social and religious class in ancient Israel. The Nethinim were temple assistants, often considered lower in status than the Levites, performing menial duties for the maintenance of worship (Ezra 8:20). His name's record signifies that even individuals in supportive roles were meticulously accounted for in God's plan to restore worship in Jerusalem, emphasizing the value of every contributor to the community's spiritual life.

Nethinim (Nethinim, H5411) — The class of temple servants to which Sotai belonged.

Word Details

Scripture References