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Discover the meanings of thousands of Biblical names in Abarim Publications' Biblical Name Vault: Hushim

Hushim meaning

חושים
חשים
חשם

Source: https://www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/Hushim.html

🔼The name Hushim: Summary

Meaning
Hasters, Easily Moved Ones
Etymology
From the verb חוש (hush), to hurry or hasten.

🔼The name Hushim in the Bible

The name Hushim is assigned to two men and one woman in the Bible:

  • The first male Hushim we read about is a son of Dan (Genesis 46:23, spelled חשים), who apparently is also called Shuham (Numbers 26:42).
  • The other male Hushim is mentioned as a son of Aher of Benjamin (1 Chronicles 7:12, spelled חשם).
  • The only female Hushim is one of three wives of Shaharaim; the other two being Baara and Hodesh. This Hushim's sons are called Abitub and Elpaal (1 Chronicles 8:8, spelled חושים, 8:11, spelled חשים).

🔼Etymology of the name Hushim

The name Hushim comes from the root group חוש (hush):

Excerpted from: Abarim Publications' Biblical Dictionary
חשש

The verb חשש (hashash) means to hurry, or rather to be light-footed and hence quickly moved. Noun חשש (hashash) describes chaff, which proverbially is so light that a breath of wind carries it off swiftly.

Likewise, verb חוש (hush) means to hurry or hasten. Adverb חיש (hish) means quickly.

This verb חוש (hush) may also be used to mean to be agitated, worried or enjoyed. Although some dictionaries demand that this concerns a second, identical verb, it probably isn't and simply describes the situation that arises when people are "inspired" by either joy or fear, break composure and ride their emotions like chaff does wind.

🔼Hushim meaning

The name Hushim is a plural form of a noun that has to do with hurrying, or being easily moved. That a name for a singular person would express a plurality is curious but not beyond understandable. The related name Thahash has probably to do with some water-dwelling creature, and perhaps the hushim were also some kind of creature or phenomenon that could be experienced as a single entity. Think of our words herd and swarm, or even the name Elohim, which also is a plural used singular.

For a meaning of the name Hushim, NOBSE Study Bible Name List reads Hasters. Jones' Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names — always a bit inclined to the dramatic — reads Those Who Hasten The Birth, i.e. children prematurely born.