the same as כּוּשִׁי; Cushi, the name of two Israelites; Cushi.
Transliteration:Kûwshîy
Pronunciation:koo-shee'
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew lemma כּוּשִׁי (Kûwshîy), designated as `{{H3570}}`, functions exclusively as a proper noun, a personal name. Its base definition explicitly identifies it as "Cushi, the name of two Israelites." While its form is identical to the gentilic adjective `{{H3569}}` (Kûwshîy), meaning "Cushite" or "Ethiopian" (derived from `{{H3568}}` Kûwsh, Cush/Ethiopia), `{{H3570}}` specifically denotes an individual's name rather than an ethnic or geographical origin in its biblical occurrences. The semantic range of `{{H3570}}` is therefore limited to this anthroponym, distinguishing it from the broader ethnic designation, even if the name itself may have originated from such an association.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
`{{H3570}}` appears in the Hebrew Bible in reference to two distinct Israelite individuals:
1. **Cushi, father of Shelemiah**: This individual is mentioned in [[Jeremiah 36:14]]. In this passage, King Jehoiakim sends Jehudi, the son of Nethaniah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Cushi, to retrieve the scroll containing Jeremiah's prophecy from Baruch. Cushi is thus part of the lineage of a court official during a pivotal moment of prophetic declaration and royal rejection. His role is indirect, serving primarily to establish the identity of Shelemiah. The context emphasizes the administrative and political milieu in which God's word was delivered and resisted.
2. **Cushi, father of Gedaliah**: This Cushi is identified in [[Zephaniah 1:1]] as the father of Gedaliah, who is the father of Amariah, who is the father of Hezekiah. This lineage introduces the prophet Zephaniah, tracing his ancestry back four generations. The inclusion of "Hezekiah" at the end of the lineage is particularly significant, as it strongly suggests a connection to King Hezekiah of Judah. This lengthy and distinguished genealogy serves to establish the prophet's credentials and authority, potentially linking him to a royal or at least prominent line within Judah.
In both instances, the individuals named Cushi are firmly situated within Israelite society and history, participating in the unfolding narrative of God's covenant people. Their names, while potentially evoking a foreign origin through the shared form with "Cushite," do not define their identity as non-Israelite in these contexts.
### Related Words & Concepts
The most significant related terms are `{{H3568}}` (Kûwsh), which refers to the land of Cush (often translated as Ethiopia), and `{{H3569}}` (Kûwshîy), the gentilic adjective meaning "Cushite" or "Ethiopian." The linguistic form of `{{H3570}}` is identical to `{{H3569}}`, leading to the natural assumption of a connection. However, the critical distinction for `{{H3570}}` lies in its specific application as a personal name for Israelites.
This phenomenon of Israelites bearing names with foreign or geographically distant connotations is not unique in the biblical record. It might reflect various socio-historical factors:
* **Cultural Contact:** Interaction with foreign peoples could lead to the adoption or adaptation of names.
* **Symbolic Meaning:** A name, even if derived from a foreign term, might have been chosen for a symbolic meaning no longer fully evident, or simply for its sound.
* **Unrelated Etymology:** It is also possible that the name "Cushi" in these Israelite contexts had an internal Hebrew etymology that is not preserved, or was simply a common name that coincidentally shared its form with the gentilic.
The key is to differentiate the proper noun `{{H3570}}` from the ethnic descriptor `{{H3569}}`. While a "Cushite" (e.g., the Cushite messenger in [[2 Samuel 18:21]]ff) is ethnically distinct, Cushi (`{{H3570}}`) is an Israelite bearing a particular name.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H3570}}` primarily resides in the roles of the individuals who bore this name within the divine narrative. Neither Cushi is presented as a figure of central theological teaching or a type for broader spiritual truths. Instead, their importance is contextual:
* **Participation in Divine Plan:** The Cushi in Jeremiah's account is part of the human chain involved in the transmission and reception (or rejection) of God's prophetic word. His son's involvement in the administrative apparatus highlights how God's purposes unfold through the actions of various individuals, even those whose names are merely mentioned in passing.
* **Establishing Prophetic Authority:** The Cushi in Zephaniah's lineage serves to ground the prophet in a credible, perhaps even royal, ancestry. This emphasis on lineage in prophetic books often underscores the divine appointment and authentic heritage of the messenger, ensuring that the audience recognizes the prophet's legitimacy and thus the authority of the message. This genealogical anchoring suggests divine providence in raising up His spokesmen from particular families.
The fact that Israelites bore a name sharing a form with "Cushite" might subtly illustrate the universality of God's redemptive plan, which, while focused on Israel, implicitly acknowledges a wider world and the potential for diverse individuals to be part of His chosen people. However, the primary theological weight remains on their function within the biblical narrative as part of God's covenant community.
### Summary
`{{H3570}}` (Kûwshîy) is a proper noun referring to "Cushi," the name of two distinct Israelites in the Old Testament. While sharing its form with the gentilic `{{H3569}}` meaning "Cushite," `{{H3570}}` specifically identifies individuals within the Israelite lineage and community. One Cushi is the grandfather of a court official in Jeremiah's time ([[Jeremiah 36:14]]), while the other is an ancestor of the prophet Zephaniah, possibly linking him to King Hezekiah ([[Zephaniah 1:1]]). The theological significance of `{{H3570}}` lies not in the etymology of the name itself, but in the roles these individuals play in establishing the context for prophetic activity and the administrative functions within God's people, affirming their place within the unfolding of divine history.
TRV