חוּשִׁים

Chushim, the name of three Israelites

Definition

Chushim is a proper name given to three different individuals in the Old Testament, all of whom are Israelites. The first is a son of Dan, listed among the family of Jacob who went to Egypt (Genesis 46:23). The second is a descendant of Benjamin, mentioned as a son of Aher in 1 Chronicles 7:12. The third is also a Benjaminite, recorded as a son of Shaharaim in 1 Chronicles 8:8, 11. The name itself means 'hasters' or 'those who hurry,' derived from the Hebrew root for haste.

Biblical Usage

The name Chushim appears exclusively in genealogical lists within the Old Testament. It is found in the foundational genealogy of the sons of Jacob in Genesis 46:23, and later in the detailed tribal genealogies of 1 Chronicles, specifically in the lineages of Benjamin (1 Chronicles 7:12, 8:8, 8:11). Its usage is purely for identification within family records, with no narrative context provided for any of the individuals bearing the name.

Etymology

The name Chushim (חוּשִׁים) is the plural form of the root חוּשׁ (H2363), meaning 'to hurry' or 'to make haste.' It can appear in variant spellings such as חֻשִׁים or חֻשִׁם. As a proper name, it is essentially a descriptor meaning 'hasters' or 'the hurried ones,' likely denoting a characteristic of swiftness or eagerness.

Semantic Range

In ancient Israelite culture, names often carried descriptive meaning or expressed a hope or characteristic. Chushim, meaning 'hasters,' may have been given to commemorate an event at birth, reflect a perceived trait, or express a parental hope for the child's vigor. Its use in multiple lineages shows it was a recognized name, though its specific significance for each individual is lost to history.

There are no direct synonyms for this proper name. Related words based on its root include: חוּשׁ (chûsh, H2363) — the verbal root meaning 'to hurry, to make haste.'

Word Details

Scripture References