### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **Kûwshîyth**, represented by `{{H3571}}`, is the feminine term for a **Cushite woman** or **Ethiopian**. It is a highly specific identifier, appearing only **2 times** across **1 unique verses** in the Bible.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The single context for `{{H3571}}` is a moment of significant conflict in the life of Moses. In [[Numbers 12:1]], his siblings Miriam and Aaron spoke against him. The reason for their opposition is explicitly stated as being "because of the **Ethiopian** woman whom he had married." The verse repeats this fact for emphasis, stating, "for he had married an **Ethiopian** woman." This word, therefore, serves to identify the person at the center of a major familial and leadership challenge.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words from the passage in [[Numbers 12:1]] illuminate the context of this term:
* `{{H4813}}` **Miryâm** (Miriam): She is named as one of the individuals who "spake against Moses." Her name is defined as "rebelliously," and in this context, she is challenging the authority of her brother [[Numbers 12:1]].
* `{{H175}}` **ʼAhărôwn** (Aaron): He is the other figure, alongside Miriam, who spoke against Moses. As the brother of Moses, his participation highlights the familial nature of the dispute [[Numbers 12:1]].
* `{{H1696}}` **dâbar** (to speak): This word describes the action taken by Miriam and Aaron against Moses. While it can mean simply to speak, it can also carry the sense of a destructive arrangement or pronouncement, fitting the confrontational nature of the event [[Numbers 12:1]].
* `{{H3947}}` **lâqach** (to take): This is the root word for "married" in the passage. It describes the action Moses took—to take a Cushite woman as his wife—that became the catalyst for the conflict [[Numbers 12:1]].
### Theological Significance
The narrative weight of `{{H3571}}` is tied entirely to its role in this specific incident.
* **Catalyst for Confrontation:** The term is used to precisely identify the woman whose marriage to Moses became the stated reason for a direct challenge to his leadership by his own family [[Numbers 12:1]].
* **Focus of Familial Dissent:** The word appears at the nexus of a family dispute, where Miriam `{{H4813}}` and Aaron `{{H175}}` use the identity of Moses' wife as the basis for speaking against him.
* **Object of a Repeated Phrase:** The scripture emphasizes the point by repeating the phrase "he had married an Ethiopian woman" `{{H3571}}`, cementing the idea that this specific union was the explicit cause of the controversy recorded in [[Numbers 12:1]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H3571}}` **Kûwshîyth** is a term used with great specificity in the Old Testament. While its definition is straightforward—a Cushite woman—its sole application in scripture places it at the heart of a pivotal story. It serves to identify the wife of Moses, whose identity becomes the focal point for a confrontation that tests the authority of one of Israel's most important leaders.
TRV