קוּשָׁיָהוּ
𐤒𐤅𐤔𐤉𐤄𐤅
Qushayahu
H6984 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A personal name meaning 'Yahweh has laid a snare', borne by an individual in the genealogical records of the Levites. The name likely expresses either an experience of hardship from which one seeks divine deliverance, or acknowledges Yahweh’s sovereignty in difficult circumstances. Used exclusively as a proper noun, it appears only in post-exilic genealogical lists.
Semantic Range
personal name, Yahweh has ensnared/laid a snare; used as a theophoric name in Levitical genealogy
Root / Etymology
Formed from the root קוש (to ensnare, lay a snare) and the theophoric element יהו (Yahu/Yahweh), creating a theophoric name. The construction follows common naming patterns in Biblical Hebrew, where the divine name is compounded with a verbal element describing an action or attribute.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The name קוּשָׁיָהוּ (Qushayahû or Kushaiah) appears only in post-exilic Levitical genealogies (notably 1 Chronicles 15:17). The root קוש is rare and not widely attested in the Hebrew Bible, but in form and semantic field is similar to roots indicating ensnaring or trapping. The use of personal names combining a theophoric element with a verb stem is frequent in biblical onomastics, often indicating divine agency in life events – either affliction, rescue, or other circumstances perceived as originating with the Israelite deity. The standard English renderings (Kushaiah, Kushaiahu) attempt to represent the Hebrew name phonetically but do not translate its meaning. There is no evidence the bearer of this name was known outside of Israelite Levitical circles; the name is of Levitical, genealogical significance and is not widespread in inscriptional or post-biblical Hebrew contexts. The later rendering as 'Jew' or 'Jewish' in some English traditions is anachronistic; the term refers specifically to a member of Levi (a Levite) in the context of the genealogies.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from the passive participle of קוֹשׁ and יָהּ; entrapped of Jah; Kushajah, an Israelite; Kushaiah.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
קוש (q-w-š) — to lay a snare, to ensnare, to trap
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H7027 | קִישׁ | to Qish |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6984-01 |
קֽוּשָׁיָֽהוּ | qushayahu | HNp |
Kushiah | Yahweh has snared | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6984-01 |
1 Chronicles 15:17 | קֽוּשָׁיָֽהוּ | qushayahu | HNp |
Kushiah | Yahweh has snared |