Lexical Summary Qushayahu: Cushiah, Cushite of Yahweh Original Word: קוּשָׁיָהוּ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Kushaiah From the passive participle of qowsh and Yahh; entrapped of Jah; Kushajah, an Israelite -- Kushaiah. see HEBREW qowsh see HEBREW Yahh NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom qush and Yah Definition a Levite NASB Translation Kushaiah (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs קוּשָׁיָ֫הוּ proper name, masculine (form dubious; KitHpt {abbrev}קִישׁ., compare Isaiah 6:29 and ᵐ5; PeiZAW xvii (1897), 348 finds here a god †ûs, but very precarious); — Levite, 1 Chronicles 15:17, (υιὃς) Κ(ε)ισαίου, = קִישִׁי 1 Chronicles 6:29, Κεισαι[ν], ᵐ5L Κουσει. קַח, קָח, קַחַת etc., see לקח Topical Lexicon Name and Identity Kushaiah (Strong’s H6984) is mentioned once in the Masoretic Text, at 1 Chronicles 15:17, as the father of the Levitical musician Ethan. His name appears only in this fuller form; a shortened form, “Kishi,” occurs in the parallel genealogy (1 Chronicles 6:44). Both refer to the same individual, a Merarite Levite. Biblical Setting Kushaiah enters the canonical narrative during the preparations of King David to relocate the Ark of the Covenant from the house of Obed-edom to Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 15). David commissions the Levites to oversee the transport and appoints a choir and orchestra to accompany the Ark. It is in this context that Ethan, “son of Kushaiah,” is named among the principal musicians: “So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel; from his relatives, Asaph son of Berechiah; and from their relatives, the Merarites, Ethan son of Kushaiah.” (1 Chronicles 15:17) Genealogical Connections and Variants 1 Chronicles 6:44 (parallel Chapter 6 in many English versions) traces Ethan’s ancestry through Merari, Levi’s youngest son. The text there lists “Ethan son of Kishi son of Abdi son of Malluch,” indicating that “Kishaiah/Kushaiah” and “Kishi” are alternate spellings of the same name. This dual attestation underscores the Chronicler’s care to confirm lineage while allowing for phonetic variations that developed during Israel’s history. Role in Davidic Worship Reforms Although Kushaiah himself is not recorded as serving in the musicians’ guild, his importance lies in the legacy transmitted through his son. Ethan, together with Heman and Asaph, formed the foundational triad of Levitical cantors who supervised corporate praise before the Ark (1 Chronicles 15:19; 16:4-6). By identifying Ethan as “son of Kushaiah,” Scripture anchors David’s worship reforms in a specific Merarite family line, fulfilling the Mosaic mandate that sons of Levi minister “before the LORD” (Numbers 8:14-19). Contribution to the Theology of Worship Kushaiah’s quiet appearance reinforces several theological themes: Lessons and Applications 1. Hidden faithfulness matters. Kushaiah is never spotlighted for personal achievements, yet his role as father and spiritual mentor shapes national worship. Kushaiah therefore stands as a quiet but crucial thread in the tapestry of biblical worship—a reminder that the faithfulness of unnamed saints undergirds the more visible ministries that call the whole people of God to praise. Forms and Transliterations קֽוּשָׁיָֽהוּ׃ קושיהו׃ KushaYahu qū·šā·yā·hū qūšāyāhūLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Chronicles 15:17 HEB: אֵיתָ֖ן בֶּן־ קֽוּשָׁיָֽהוּ׃ NAS: Ethan the son of Kushaiah, KJV: Ethan the son of Kushaiah; INT: Ethan the son of Kushaiah 1 Occurrence |
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