7029. Qishi

Lexical Summary

Qishi: Kishite

Original Word: קִישִׁי
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Qiyshiy
Pronunciation: kee-shee'
Phonetic Spelling: (kee-shee')
KJV: Kishi
NASB: Kishi
Word Origin: [from H6983 (קוֹשׁ - ensnare)]

1. bowed
2. Kishi, an Israelite

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Kishi

From qowsh; bowed; Kishi, an Israelite -- Kishi.

see HEBREW qowsh

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
probably from qush
Definition
a Levite, the same as NH6984
NASB Translation
Kishi (1).

Topical Lexicon

Biblical Occurrence

Kishi appears once in the Old Testament, in the Levitical genealogy of 1 Chronicles 6:44: “On the left were their brothers, Ethan son of Kishi, son of Abdi, son of Malluch”. His single mention secures him a place among the ancestral lines that shaped Israel’s worship life.

Genealogical Context

Kishi belongs to the clan of Merari, the youngest son of Levi (Genesis 46:11; 1 Chronicles 6:1). The chronicler traces the lineage Malluch → Abdi → Kishi → Ethan, situating Kishi midway in a four-generation sequence. Ethan, Kishi’s son, served as a temple musician in the days of King David (1 Chronicles 15:17, 19), and his service is the primary reason Kishi is preserved in Scripture: the chronicler honors the faithfulness of fathers who produced servants fit for the house of the LORD.

Levitical Heritage and Ministry

The Merarites were entrusted with the tabernacle’s structural components—frames, bars, pillars and bases (Numbers 3:36–37). Although Kishi’s personal acts are unrecorded, his placement in this branch implies that he participated in transporting and maintaining the LORD’s dwelling before a permanent sanctuary existed. His descendant Ethan later transitioned from logistical work to musical leadership, illustrating the adaptable callings of Levitical families as Israel’s worship evolved from tent to temple.

Significance in Israel’s Worship History

1. Continuity of Covenant Service: Kishi embodies the faithful “link in the chain” principle. The chronicler underscores that effective ministry in one generation is rooted in covenant loyalty of prior generations.
2. Diversity within Unity: By noting both “on the right” and “on the left” groups in 1 Chronicles 6, the text balances the prominence of Kohathite musicians such as Heman with Merarites like Ethan. Kishi’s presence enriches this symmetry and shows that every Levitical house contributed to the harmonious praise of God.
3. Preparation for Temple Worship: The genealogies were compiled after the exile to legitimize priestly and Levitical duties (Ezra 2:40–42). Kishi’s name, therefore, validated Ethan’s Merarite credentials for post-exilic worship renewal, anchoring Israel’s future praise in verified ancestry.

Spiritual Reflections and Lessons

• Hidden Faithfulness: Kishi’s obscurity reminds believers that the Lord records even quiet acts of obedience (Hebrews 6:10).
• Generational Impact: Fathers who cultivate faith can raise children equipped for greater public service, as seen in the progression from Kishi to Ethan.
• Ordered Worship: The precise cataloging of Levitical lines models the church’s call to “everything be done decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40).

Summary

Kishi, though mentioned only once, represents the countless faithful servants whose names form the scaffolding of biblical history. By preserving his identity, Scripture affirms that steady, often unseen devotion fuels the public worship that glorifies God from generation to generation.

Forms and Transliterations

קִישִׁ֔י קישי kiShi qî·šî qîšî

Englishman's Concordance

1 Chronicles 6:44
HEB: אֵיתָן֙ בֶּן־ קִישִׁ֔י בֶּן־ עַבְדִּ֖י
NAS: the son of Kishi, the son
KJV: the son of Kishi, the son
INT: Ethan the son of Kishi the son of Abdi

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 7029
1 Occurrence

qî·šî — 1 Occ.