Who was Soco in the Bible?

Soco was a descendant of Judah, listed as a son of Heber in the tribe's genealogy. He is mentioned only in the genealogical records, with no narrative events about his life (1 Chronicles 4:18).

Why is Soco mentioned in the Bible?

Soco's inclusion shows the meticulous preservation of Judah's family line, which was crucial for establishing tribal heritage and the lineage leading to King David and, ultimately, Jesus Christ. His mention underscores the importance of every individual in God's covenantal plan.

What does the name Soco mean?

The name Soco (or Shoco) likely means 'thorn' or 'branch' in Hebrew. While the Bible doesn't explain the meaning, names in genealogies often carried symbolic significance related to character or destiny.

Soco

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleSon

Soco was a son of Heber, from the tribe of Judah, mentioned in the genealogy of Judah.

Soco

Biography

Soco was a descendant of Judah through the line of Heber, recorded in the Judahite genealogy of 1 Chronicles 4:18. He appears as a son of Heber alongside Jekuthiel, with their father identified as having been fathered by Ezrah. The genealogical notice situates Soco within the tribe of Judah's complex internal lineage structure, which Chronicles records with particular attention to demonstrate the vitality and continuity of Israel's most prominent tribe. The name Soco is also borne by two towns in Judah's territory, one in the Shephelah (the famous site of David and Goliath's confrontation, 1 Samuel 17:1) and one in the highlands, possibly named after or in connection with this ancestral figure.

Significance

Soco's mention in 1 Chronicles 4 participates in the broader genealogical project of demonstrating Judah's enduring significance as the tribe through which God's covenant purposes would advance. Chronicles, written to restore a post-exilic community's sense of identity and continuity, carefully documents Judah's family lines to affirm that the people of the promise remained intact despite exile and dispossession. The possible eponymous connection between Soco the man and Soco the town suggests that individual names embedded in genealogies carry deep ties to land, place, and community memory. His inclusion, however brief, affirms that the covenant community's identity was sustained by the faithful presence of ordinary families across generations.

Authority Records

Wikidata

Verse Appearances (1)

1Chr

1Chr 4:18

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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