Original Word: חוּשָׁה
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Chuwshah
Pronunciation: KHOOSH-ah
Phonetic Spelling: (khoo-shaw')
KJV: Hushah
NASB: Hushah
Word Origin: [from H2363 (חוּשׁ - To hasten)]

1. haste
2. Chushah, an Israelite

Hushah

From chuwsh; haste; Chushah, an Israelite -- Hushah.

see HEBREW chuwsh

Word Origin
from chush
Definition
perhaps a place in Judah
NASB Translation
Hushah (1).

חוּשָׁה proper name, masculine a 'son' of חוּר = place in Judah 1 Chronicles 4:4.

Biblical Setting and Genealogical Context

Hushah appears a single time in Scripture, embedded within the Judahite genealogy of 1 Chronicles 4:4: “Penuel was the father of Gedor, and Ezer was the father of Hushah. These were the descendants of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrathah and father of Bethlehem”. The Chronicler is tracing the line of Judah from the patriarch down through Hur, Ephrathah, and ultimately to Bethlehem, the town later celebrated as the birthplace of David and, in the fullness of time, of Jesus Christ (Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:1). By recording Hushah in this lineage, Scripture testifies to the thorough preservation of Judah’s family history and highlights the covenantal faithfulness of God working through every generation, however obscure.

Geographical Considerations

The verse treats Hushah as a settlement rather than an individual. Its exact location is lost to history; no definitive archaeological identification exists. The context, however, situates it among settlements south of Jerusalem that were associated with Bethlehem, Gedor, and the low-hill country (Shephelah) of Judah. Even without precise coordinates, Hushah contributes to the way the Chronicler clusters Judean villages, mapping a living landscape for post-exilic readers returning to their ancestral land (Ezra 2:1; Nehemiah 11:3).

Relation to the Messianic Line

Although Hushah is not itself part of the Davidic pedigree, its placement alongside Bethlehem within Hur’s household reinforces the messianic anticipation woven into Judah’s territory. By documenting smaller Judean towns, the Chronicler underscores the authenticity of the Davidic heritage: if the minor locales can be verified, the central claims about Bethlehem and David are all the more trustworthy (Luke 2:4). Thus Hushah, while obscure, indirectly serves the New Testament proclamation that Jesus is the promised Son of David (Romans 1:3).

Theological Reflections

1. Divine Record-Keeping: Even a village mentioned only once is preserved in the inspired text, illustrating that God “counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name” (Psalm 147:4).
2. Covenant Continuity: The Chronicler wrote for a community that had returned from exile. By listing places like Hushah, he reminded them that their present restoration rested on an unbroken covenant line.
3. Kingdom Geography: The narrative of redemption is tethered to real soil. Hushah’s obscurity does not diminish its role in God’s purposes, encouraging believers today that no service rendered to the Lord is forgotten (Hebrews 6:10).

Practical Ministry Insights

• Genealogies can appear tedious, yet they model meticulous discipleship records. Congregations are encouraged to know their own accounts and honor past faithfulness.
• Rural or small-town ministries mirror Hushah’s legacy: God’s redemptive work does not depend on prominence. Leaders serving in hidden places labor in fellowship with the same God who preserved Hushah’s name.
• Bible study that integrates geography can enrich preaching and teaching, showing that salvation history unfolded in real neighborhoods among ordinary people.

See Also

Bethlehem; Hur; Judah, Tribe of; Genealogies in Scripture

חוּשָׁ֑ה חושה chuShah ḥū·šāh ḥūšāhInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts