or (feminine) כּוּתָה; of foreign origin; Cuth or Cuthah, a province of Assyria; Cuth.
Transliteration:Kûwth
Pronunciation:kooth
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term `{{H3575}}` (Kûwth), also appearing as the feminine כּוּתָה (Kûwthah), designates a specific geographical location. Its base definition identifies it as "Cuth or Cuthah, a province of Assyria." The note regarding its "foreign origin" indicates that this is a transliteration of a non-Hebrew place name, likely from Akkadian or Aramaic, referring to a region within the vast Neo-Assyrian Empire. Semantically, `{{H3575}}` functions as a proper noun, directly referencing a historical administrative division from which people were deported as part of Assyrian imperial policy. It carries no inherent theological or moral meaning beyond its geographical identification; its significance is derived entirely from its historical context within the biblical narrative.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The primary biblical occurrences of `{{H3575}}` are found in the book of 2 Kings, specifically in the context of the Assyrian conquest and resettlement of Samaria, the capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel.
* [[2 Kings 17:24]] states: "And the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof." This verse explicitly names Cuthah as one of the regions from which the Assyrian king deported populations to resettle the depopulated territories of Israel. This was a standard Assyrian tactic to prevent rebellion by breaking up national identities and mixing populations.
* [[2 Kings 17:30]] further elaborates on the religious practices of these transplanted peoples: "And the men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, and the men of Cuth made Nergal, and the men of Hamath made Ashima," Here, "the men of Cuth" refers directly to the people who originated from Cuthah, highlighting their specific idolatrous deity, Nergal. This demonstrates that these foreign settlers brought their native religious traditions and gods with them, introducing polytheism and syncretism into the land that was once exclusively dedicated to Yahweh. The presence of these foreign peoples and their gods contributed directly to the formation of the mixed population and religion that would later characterize the Samaritans.
### Related Words & Concepts
The study of `{{H3575}}` is intrinsically linked to several broader biblical and historical concepts:
* **Geographical and Ethnic Diversity:** `{{H3575}}` is part of a list of foreign places and peoples (`{{H894}}` Babylon, `{{H5755}}` Ava, `{{H2574}}` Hamath, `{{H5616}}` Sepharvaim) involved in the Assyrian deportations. This highlights the multi-ethnic composition of the new inhabitants of Samaria.
* **Assyrian Imperial Policy:** The mention of Cuthah underscores the Assyrian practice of population transfer as a means of control and assimilation, a key historical backdrop for understanding the post-exilic period in Israel.
* **Idolatry and Syncretism:** The specific mention of "Nergal" in [[2 Kings 17:30]] directly links `{{H3575}}` to the introduction of foreign deities and the resulting religious syncretism that developed in Samaria. This stands in stark contrast to the singular worship of Yahweh commanded by the Mosaic Law.
* **Samaritans:** The people from Cuthah, along with other foreign groups, formed the core of the population that would eventually be known as the Samaritans, whose distinct religious and ethnic identity became a point of contention with the returning Jewish exiles from Judah (e.g., `{{H5557}}` Samaria, `{{H8111}}` Shomron).
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H3575}}` lies not in the place itself, but in its role within the unfolding narrative of divine judgment and the consequences of Israel's apostasy.
* **Divine Judgment and Consequence:** The deportation of the Northern Kingdom and the subsequent resettlement by peoples from Cuthah and other regions serve as a stark illustration of God's judgment upon Israel for their persistent idolatry and disobedience to the covenant ([[2 Kings 17:7-18]]). The land, once given to Israel by divine promise, was now occupied by foreign peoples worshipping foreign gods, a direct consequence of Israel's spiritual unfaithfulness.
* **God's Sovereignty Over Nations:** The Assyrian Empire, though a pagan power, was an instrument in God's hand to execute His disciplinary purposes. The movement of peoples from Cuthah to Samaria, orchestrated by the Assyrian king, ultimately served God's sovereign plan to bring about the consequences of His covenant with Israel.
* **The Purity of Worship:** The introduction of deities like Nergal from Cuthah into the land of Israel highlights the profound spiritual danger of syncretism. It underscores the biblical emphasis on exclusive worship of Yahweh and the severe consequences of mixing true worship with pagan practices. This historical event set the stage for later theological and ethnic conflicts between Jews and Samaritans, rooted in differing understandings of pure worship and lineage.
### Summary
`{{H3575}}` (Kûwth or Cuthah) is a geographical proper noun denoting a province within the Assyrian Empire. Its primary biblical significance stems from its role in [[2 Kings 17]], where it identifies one of the regions from which populations were deported by the Assyrian king to resettle the conquered Northern Kingdom of Israel. The people from Cuthah brought their own deity, Nergal, contributing to the religious syncretism that characterized the new inhabitants of Samaria. Theologically, `{{H3575}}` serves as a historical marker illustrating God's judgment upon Israel for their idolatry, His sovereign use of foreign nations to fulfill His purposes, and the critical importance of pure, exclusive worship of Yahweh, distinct from the pagan practices introduced by peoples like those from Cuthah.
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