What Does Ezra 2:55 Mean in the King James?

The children of Solomon’s servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Peruda,

Ezra 2:55 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

Sophereth, ⁨הַסֹּפֶרֶת⁩ (ha-soferet, “the scribe”), comes from ⁨ספר⁩ (s-p-r), the root of counting and recording, so the list makes being named part of belonging.

THE MEANING

Your belonging can run through people whose place is marked by service rather than rank; this line names Sotai, Sophereth, and Peruda together. The record keeps an uncelebrated line visible instead of letting it disappear.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

Only rulers and celebrated names are worthy of remembrance; this verse preserves a line identified by service.

THE ROOT

הַסֹּפֶרֶת

ha-soferet

GROWS FROM

ספר

Count or recount; tell and record.

Sophereth is associated with “the scribe,” from a root that can mean counting or recording. In a verse that counts named descendants, the name and the act of recording echo one another: this line is kept legible.

ALSO GROWS

sōfēr: Scribe; one who writes or records.

סֹפֵר

This possible sense of Sophereth links the family name to the work of preserving a record.

sēfer: Book or scroll; a written record.

סֵפֶר

The written record gives the named line a place in the community’s memory.

עַבְדֵי

avdei

GROWS FROM

עבד

Work or serve.

English “servants” can sound like a fixed rank, but ⁨עבד⁩ carries the action of working and serving. The line is identified through an inherited role of service, while the verse still gives its descendants their own names.

ALSO GROWS

avad: To work or serve.

עָבַד

The verb shows that the root describes an action, not only a status.

avodah: Work or service, including service in worship.

עֲבֹדָה

This noun keeps labor and sacred service within one word-family, though the verse does not specify a worship role.

THE PATTERN

A community’s memory makes the names and service of its contributors visible.

And Moses said unto the children of Israel, See, the LORD hath called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah;

Exodus 35:30 · KJVBezaleel is called by name as a contributor, showing that a person’s work can be held in the community’s memory.

For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

Hebrews 6:10 · KJVThe verse treats service as work that is remembered, even when it is not publicly prominent.

I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:

Romans 16:1 · KJVPhoebe is named alongside her service, making both her identity and contribution visible.

THE THREAD

And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.

Exodus 3:12 · KJV

Both verses use ⁨עבד⁩ (avad), the root of work and service: Ezra’s line is named through service, and Exodus places service after the people are brought out of Egypt. The shared root lets release open into service while the people’s identity carries forward.

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