Lexical Summary bushah: Shame, disgrace Original Word: בּוּשָׁה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance shame Feminine participle passive of buwsh; shame -- shame. see HEBREW buwsh NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originpass. part. of bosh Definition shame NASB Translation shame (4). Brown-Driver-Briggs בּוּשָׁה noun feminine shame Psalm 89:46; Micah 7:10; Obadiah 10; Ezekiel 7:18. Topical Lexicon Definition and Scope בּוּשָׁה denotes the felt, public experience of disgrace that arises when life or conduct falls short of covenantal expectations. Unlike the inward pang of guilt, בּוּשָׁה highlights outward exposure, social dishonor, and the sense of being “covered” with humiliation, whether for personal sin, national calamity, or the downfall of an enemy. Canonical Occurrences • Psalm 89:45 – applied to the Davidic king whose curtailed reign signifies divine displeasure: “You have cut short the days of his youth; You have covered him with shame. Selah.” The Covering Motif Each verse couples בּוּשָׁה with imagery of clothing or concealment (“covered,” “sackcloth”). Shame clothes where honor should stand, signaling a complete reversal of social standing (compare Genesis 3:7, 21 for the first need of covering). The motif anticipates the Gospel promise of being clothed instead with righteousness (Isaiah 61:10). Covenant and Kingship (Psalm 89:45) Psalm 89 laments the apparent failure of the Davidic covenant. בּוּשָׁה here is not an accident of politics but a theological crisis: the king, emblem of God’s promises, is disgraced. The psalmist presses the Lord for restoration, reinforcing that shame is ultimately removed only at God’s initiative—a foreshadowing of the Messianic fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Prophetic Judgment (Ezekiel 7:18; Obadiah 1:10; Micah 7:10) In each prophetic text, בּוּשָׁה functions as covenantal sanction: Thus בּוּשָׁה underscores the moral cause–effect built into history: injustice inevitably yields humiliation. Eschatological Reversal By portraying shame as both penalty and precursor to restoration, Scripture sets the stage for eschatological hope. Micah 7:10 anticipates the day when the tables turn. Isaiah develops the same trajectory (“Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion,” Isaiah 61:7), linking shame-removal to messianic jubilee. Ministry Implications 1. Diagnosis of Sin: בּוּשָׁה exposes broken relationships—human and divine—and calls for repentance rather than mere image management. Connections to the New Testament Greek αἰσχύνη mirrors בּוּשָׁה, appearing in Romans 1:26; Philippians 3:19; Hebrews 12:2. The cross, despised by the world, becomes the decisive point where shame is borne and nullified. Consequently, “Whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame” (Romans 10:11, quoting Isaiah 28:16). Suggested Study and Teaching Outline 1. Read the four Old Testament occurrences aloud, noting context. Key Takeaway בּוּשָׁה is both warning and promise: God allows disgrace to uncover sin, yet He also pledges to clothe His people with everlasting honor. Forms and Transliterations בּוּשָׁ֔ה בּוּשָׁ֣ה בוּשָׁ֑ה בוּשָׁ֔ה בושה bū·šāh ḇū·šāh būšāh ḇūšāh buShah vuShahLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Psalm 89:45 HEB: הֶֽעֱטִ֨יתָ עָלָ֖יו בּוּשָׁ֣ה סֶֽלָה׃ NAS: You have covered him with shame. Selah. KJV: thou hast covered him with shame. Selah. INT: have covered with shame Selah Ezekiel 7:18 Obadiah 1:10 Micah 7:10 4 Occurrences |
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