Original Word: חוּשׁ
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: chuwsh
Pronunciation: khoosh
Phonetic Spelling: (koosh)
KJV: (make) haste(-n), ready
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to hurry
2. (figuratively) to be eager with excitement or enjoyment

make hasten, ready

A primitive root; to hurry; figuratively, to be eager with excitement or enjoyment -- (make) haste(-n), ready.

I. חוּשׁ verb haste, make haste (Assyrian —âšu, Dl^{Pr 180}, Ethiopic ; on this verb V. Nö^{ZMG 1883, 538}) —

Qal Perfect3masculine singular חָשׁ Deuteronomy 32:35 (or Participle, but see Di), 1 singular חַשְׁתִּי Psalm 119:60; Imperfect3feminine singular וַתַּ֫חַשׁ (sic!) Job 31:5 Ges^{§ 72} R. 9; Imperative חוּ֫שָׁה 1 Samuel 20:38 6t. Psalms, + Psalm 71:12 Qr (Kt חישׁה); Infinitive suffix חוּשִׁי Job 20:2; Participle active חָשׁ Habakkuk 1:8 + Isaiah 8:1,3in proper name; passive חֻשִׁיּם Numbers 32:17; but see below: — make haste Deuteronomy 32:35 ("" קרוב), Psalm 119:60; in prophetic proper name מַהֵר שָׁלָל חָשׁ בַּז֑ Isaiah 8:1,3; of eagle (in simile of Chald. army) נשׁר חשׁ לאכול Habakkuk 1:8; Job 31:5 subject רנל, followed by עלמֿרמה; חוּ֫שִׁי בּי Job 20:2 my haste in me, i.e. my inward excitement — especially Imperative 1 Samuel 20:38 ("" מהרה), and in Psalms: followed by לְעַזְרָתִי 1 Samuel 22:20; 1Sam 38:23; 1Sam 40:14; 1Sam 70:2; 1Sam 71:12 (Qr); followed by לִי 1Sam 70:6; 1Sam 141:1; passive participle נֵחָלֵץ חֻשִׁים Numbers 32:17, but probably for חֲמֻשִׁים (Kn Di compare Exodus 13:18 etc.); Ba^{NB 180 retains} חוּשִׁים and regards it as active (intransitive) = hastening.

Hiph`il Perfect הֵחִישׁוּ Judges 20:27; Imperfect יָחִישׁ Isaiah 28:16; יָחִ֫ישָׁה coh. Isaiah 5:19 (Ges^{§ 48}. 3); אָחִ֫ישָׁה coh. Psalm 55:9; suffix אֲחִישֶׁנָּה Isaiah 60:22; —

1 shew haste, act quickly Judges 20:37; hasten, come quickly Isaiah 5:19 (subject מַעֲשֵׂהוּ, "" יְמַהֵר; others: let him hasten on his work), יָחִישׁ Isaiah 28:16 hasten away (flee), or hasten about distractedly (si vera lectio; Che Guthe read ימישׁ yield, give way).

2 transitive with suffix Isaiah 60:22 I will hasten it; with accusative Psalm 55:9 I would hasten (= secure quickly) my escape.

II. [חוּשׁ] verb feel, enjoy (with the senses) (Now compares Arabic feel, perceive by senses; Late Hebrew חוּשׁ feel pain; Aramaic , חוּשׁ, feel pain; Ethiopic : perception) — only

Qal Imperfect3masculine singular מִּי יאֹכַל וּמִי יָחוּשׁ Ecclesiastes 2:25 who can eat and who can feel (i.e. enjoy pleasure)?

Overview of Usage

חוש is employed throughout Scripture to depict rapid movement, urgent resolve, or the swift approach of events. The context determines whether the haste is commendable (as in zeal to obey) or cautionary (as in rash presumption). The verb therefore becomes a literary vehicle for portraying contrasts between human urgency and the Lord’s perfect timing.

Haste in Military Context

• Numbers 32:17 records the tribes of Reuben and Gad volunteering to “hurry in battle formation” ahead of Israel—an eagerness that underscores corporate responsibility.
• Judges 20:37 describes Israel’s ambush on Gibeah: “The men in ambush rushed suddenly against Gibeah.” Swift execution of a just verdict is legitimized by divine sanction.
• 1 Samuel 20:38 shows Jonathan urging the lad, “Hurry, make haste, do not delay!” The military setting heightens the tension of David’s covert departure, illustrating how urgency can protect covenantal relationships.
• Habakkuk 1:8 enlarges the idea by comparing Babylon’s cavalry to predators whose velocity is terrifying. The prophet portrays unstoppable judgment moving at devastating speed.

Urgency in Prayer and Lament

David frequently turns the vocabulary of haste into a cry for immediate deliverance.
• Psalm 22:19: “But You, O LORD, be not far off; O my strength, come quickly to help me.”
• Psalm 55:8 pictures escape: “I would hurry to my shelter from the raging wind and tempest.”
• Psalm 70:1; 70:5; 71:12 combine the refrain, “Hasten, O God, to deliver me,” creating liturgical language for worshipers facing crisis.

These psalms show that petitioners are invited to plead for speedy intervention while still submitting to divine sovereignty.

Wisdom Literature: The Spiritual Peril of Rashness

• Job uses חוּשׁ negatively: “If I have walked with falsehood or my foot has hurried after deceit” (Job 31:5). Rash pursuit of sin is condemned.
• Ecclesiastes 2:25 links haste with pleasure seeking—an experiment Solomon finds ultimately empty.
• Psalm 119:60, however, redeems haste: “I hurried and did not delay to keep Your commandments.” Holy urgency is commended when directed toward obedience.

Prophetic Assurance of Divine Timing

• Isaiah 5:19 rebukes scoffers who say, “Let Him hurry, let Him hasten His work so we may see it.” Human demands for accelerated judgment reveal unbelief.
• Isaiah 28:16 counters impatience: “Whoever believes will not act hastily,” grounding steady faith in the stone laid in Zion.
• Isaiah 60:22 resolves the tension: “I, the LORD, will hasten it in its time.” God alone synchronizes speed with season.
• Deuteronomy 32:35 echoes the theme: calamity is “at hand” and will come swiftly upon the rebellious, affirming that delayed judgment is never derailed judgment.

Theological Themes

1. Divine Sovereignty and Human Urgency: Scripture allows earnest cries for quick help but never portrays the Almighty as subject to human clocks.
2. Haste as Moral Indicator: When aimed at obedience, haste is virtuous; when aimed at deceit or presumption, it is folly.
3. Eschatological Certainty: Prophecies that God will “hasten” His word encourage hope, assuring believers that promised redemption will arrive neither late nor early, but precisely.

Practical Ministry Applications

• Prayer: Believers may biblically petition for rapid aid, modeling the psalmists’ language in seasons of affliction.
• Discipleship: Urge congregants to “hurry” toward obedience (Psalm 119:60) while cautioning against impulsive decision-making that bypasses counsel (Isaiah 28:16).
• Preaching Judgment and Mercy: Stress that, although God may seem to delay, His recompense can break forth suddenly (Deuteronomy 32:35); therefore, today is the day of repentance.
• Mission: Use the military scenes to illustrate zealous readiness for spiritual battle (Numbers 32:17), reminding the church that swift action often accompanies faithful stewardship.

Summary

The twenty occurrences of חוּשׁ weave a tapestry in which speed can signify zeal, escape, judgment, or folly. The righteous hasten to obey and pray; the wicked hasten toward deceit and doom; and above all, the Lord hastens His purposes right on time.

אֲחִישֶֽׁנָּה׃ אָחִ֣ישָׁה אחישה אחישנה׃ הֵחִ֔ישׁוּ החישו וְחָ֖שׁ וַתַּ֖חַשׁ וחש ותחש ח֖וּשָׁה ח֣וּשִׁי ח֣וּשָׁה ח֥וּשָׁה חַ֭שְׁתִּי חָ֥שׁ חֻשִׁ֗ים חֽוּשָֽׁה׃ חֽוּשָׁ֫ה־ חֽוּשָׁה׃ חֽוּשָׁה׃ חושה חושה־ חושה׃ חושי חש חשים חשתי יָח֖וּשׁ יָחִ֛ישָׁה יָחִֽישׁ׃ יחוש יחיש׃ יחישה ’ā·ḥî·šāh ’ă·ḥî·šen·nāh ’āḥîšāh ’ăḥîšennāh aChishah achiShennah chash Chashti Chushah Chushi chuShim ḥāš ḥaš·tî ḥaštî hê·ḥî·šū heChishu hêḥîšū ḥū·šāh ḥū·šāh- ḥū·šî ḥu·šîm ḥūšāh ḥūšāh- ḥūšî ḥušîm vatTachash veChash wat·ta·ḥaš wattaḥaš wə·ḥāš wəḥāš yā·ḥî·šāh yā·ḥîš yā·ḥūš yaChish yaChishah yaChush yāḥîš yāḥîšāh yāḥūšInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts