Lexical Summary soi: you, to you, for you Original Word: σοι Strong's Exhaustive Concordance youDative case of su; to thee -- thee, thine own, thou, thy. see GREEK su NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origindat. of su, q.v. Topical Lexicon Personal Address and Relational Intimacy σοι is the common Koine form used when a speaker singles out one hearer and places the focus of action, attention, or affection upon that person. Whether it is an angel announcing the Incarnation to Mary (Luke 1:31), Jesus addressing an individual in need (Luke 7:50), or Paul writing pastoral counsel (Philemon 21), the word invariably signals a direct, unshared relationship. By employing the singular dative, Scripture stresses the personal nature of God’s dealings: His promises, warnings, comforts, and commands come “to you” in a way no crowd can dilute. Covenantal Dialogue Between God and Humanity From the Septuagint onward, σοι marks the dialogue of covenant. In Exodus 20:2 (“I am the LORD your God”), the singular pronoun highlights that the covenant‐keeping God confronts each heart individually. The New Testament continues this pattern. Jesus says, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God” (Luke 8:10). Even when addressing apostles who would form the foundation of the Church, He still speaks in the singular, underscoring personal responsibility and privilege within the broader covenant community. Christ’s Messianic Self-Disclosure Jesus often uses σοι in moments of self-revelation: These statements connect His messianic authority with an immediate pledge of presence. The singular pronoun reminds every disciple that the Lord’s reign is not abstract but mediated directly to each believer. Faith, Forgiveness, and Assurance σοι frequently accompanies verbs of pardon and salvation. “Your sins are forgiven you” (Luke 7:48). “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43). The singular pronoun seals the definitive, unrepeatable nature of saving grace. Forgiveness in Christ is not a vague ecclesial declaration; it is personally applied. Expressions of Worship and Devotion When believers speak back to God, σοι places the adoration squarely at His feet: “To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul” (Psalm 25:1 LXX). The New Testament maintains the same pattern of doxology: “Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever” (Matthew 6:13). In corporate worship, each heart still says “to You,” preventing liturgy from becoming impersonal. Contrasts Between Singular and Plural Address Koine Greek distinguishes between σοι (to one) and ὑμῖν (to many). Luke 22:31–32 records both: “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you like wheat. But I have prayed for you [σου, dative σοι implied] that your faith may not fail.” Jesus intercedes for the whole group yet singles out Peter for a particular safeguarding grace. The contrast teaches that corporate temptation requires individual intercession and restoration. Pastoral and Discipleship Implications For ministry, σοι guards against reducing people to statistics. The Good Shepherd “calls his own sheep by name” (John 10:3). In preaching and counseling, Scripture’s pattern authorizes direct address: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am chief” (1 Timothy 1:15). Evangelism that employs the personal “you” echoes the biblical model and offers the hearer a covenantal summons. Liturgical and Prayer Applications Historic liturgies retain σοι-language in Greek originals (“εὐχαριστοῦμέν σοι, Κύριε”). Translators rightly preserve the singular in English where Scripture does so. Prayers of confession (“Against You, You only, have I sinned,” Psalm 51:4) and thanksgiving (“I give thanks to You, O Lord,” Psalm 86:12) flow from the same grammatical choice, inviting believers to respond personally, not by proxy. Missional Reach and Universal Invitation Although σοι is singular, its widespread New Testament usage demonstrates that the gospel invitation is universal in scope because it is individual in application. Romans 10:9, literally, “If you confess with your mouth… you will be saved,” is simultaneously for every hearer and for each one. The Spirit presses the claims of Christ upon every conscience with the same personal urgency embedded in σοι. Summary σοι may be a modest pronoun, yet it embodies the heartbeat of biblical revelation: the living God engages each person directly, addresses each conscience personally, and bestows grace individually while building a redeemed community. In proclamation, worship, and discipleship, the Church follows Scripture’s own grammar when it turns to every soul and says, “This promise is for you.” Forms and Transliterations σοι soiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance σκώληξ — 3 Occ.σμαραγδίνῳ — 1 Occ. σμάραγδος — 1 Occ. σμύρναν — 1 Occ. σμύρνης — 1 Occ. Σμύρναν — 1 Occ. Σμύρνῃ — 1 Occ. ἐσμυρνισμένον — 1 Occ. Σόδομα — 3 Occ. Σοδόμων — 4 Occ. Σολομὼν — 4 Occ. Σολομῶνα — 1 Occ. Σολομῶνος — 5 Occ. Σολομῶντος — 2 Occ. σοροῦ — 1 Occ. σὰ — 4 Occ. σῇ — 4 Occ. σὴν — 1 Occ. σῆς — 3 Occ. σῷ — 5 Occ. |
    |