Original Word: חַשְּׁוּב
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Chashshuwb
Pronunciation: khash-SHOOB
Phonetic Spelling: (khash-shoob')
KJV: Hashub, Hasshub
NASB: Hasshub
Word Origin: [from H2803 (חָשַׁב - considered)]

1. intelligent
2. Chashshub, the name of two or three Israelites

Hashub, Hasshub

From chashab; intelligent; Chashshub, the name of two or three Israelites -- Hashub, Hasshub.

see HEBREW chashab

Word Origin
from chashab
Definition
the name of several Isr.
NASB Translation
Hasshub (5).

חַשּׁוּב proper name, masculine (considerate) —

1 a Levite chief 1 Chronicles 9:14; Nehemiah 11:15, ᵐ5 Ασουβ.

2 builders at the wall:

a. Nehemiah 3:11; Nehemiah 10:24, ᵐ5 Ασουβ, Ασουθ.

b. Nehemiah 3:23, ᵐ5 Ασουβ.

Identity within Scripture

Hasshub appears five times in the Old Testament narrative. The name is borne by at least two men who served in strategic capacities during the post-exilic restoration and, by extension, by the generations linked to them. Together their brief mentions paint a picture of covenant faithfulness expressed through lineage, labor, and renewed commitment to God’s law.

Occurrences and Roles

1 Chronicles 9:14; Nehemiah 11:15 – A Levite of the Merarite branch. He is the father of Shemaiah and stands within a carefully preserved genealogy that stretches back to Azrikam and Hashabiah. His record, repeated after the exile, underlines the continuity of Levitical service from the first temple era into the second.

Nehemiah 3:11 – “Malchijah son of Harim and Hasshub son of Pahath-Moab repaired another section, along with the Tower of the Ovens”. Here a second Hasshub, descended from the family of Pahath-Moab, joins the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s wall.

Nehemiah 3:23 – “Beyond them, Benjamin and Hasshub made repairs opposite their house”. Whether the same man as in verse 11 or another relative, the verse shows private citizens repairing the section nearest their homes, demonstrating personal responsibility for the security of the city.

Nehemiah 10:23 – As one of the sealed signatories to the renewed covenant, Hasshub publicly binds himself to obey the Law of Moses alongside priests, Levites, leaders, and common people.

Historical Setting

All appearances occur in the post-exilic period (late sixth to mid-fifth century BC). Judah has returned from Babylon, the temple is rebuilt, and Nehemiah rallies the people to fortify Jerusalem’s walls against persistent opposition. Genealogical registers (1 Chronicles 9; Nehemiah 11) ensured that legitimate priests and Levites served at the altar, while the wall-building chapters (Nehemiah 3) depict the community working “with all their heart” (Nehemiah 4:6). The formal covenant renewal of Nehemiah 10 marks the spiritual climax of the restoration.

Levitical Significance

The Merarite Hasshub anchors the priestly genealogy in both Chronicles and Nehemiah, showing that God’s provision for temple ministry survived exile. His inclusion affirms that Levites, though scattered, were still “chosen by lot” (1 Chronicles 24) and recognizable by name. The chronicler’s repetition of the same lineage after the exile provides reassurance that worship is again conducted by those whom the Law appointed.

Contributions to the Wall

The Pahath-Moab Hasshub (Nehemiah 3:11) labors on a section adjoining the Tower of the Ovens, an important defensive feature protecting the western side of Jerusalem. A second reference (Nehemiah 3:23) highlights a Hasshub who repairs opposite his own house, illustrating how the work assignment encouraged ownership and diligence. Such details validate Nehemiah’s strategy of engaging families and guilds, and they underscore how laypeople, not only leaders, took part in physical restoration.

Covenant Renewal

By sealing the covenant (Nehemiah 10:23) Hasshub aligns himself with commitments to Sabbath observance, debt forgiveness, temple support, and separation from pagan practices. His signature is part of a collective recommitment that foreshadows later assemblies in which God’s people would “stand and confess their sins” (Nehemiah 9:2). The listing of names personalizes national repentance and highlights individual accountability within communal life.

Spiritual Implications

1. Continuity of Worship – Genealogies anchored in Hasshub validate that the same Levitical lines entrusted with tabernacle duties in the wilderness now serve in the rebuilt temple, illustrating God’s preservation of worship structures despite judgment and exile.
2. Lay Partnership – The builders named Hasshub model how ordinary believers contribute tangibly to the advancement of God’s kingdom. Their tasks, though seemingly mundane, are recorded in Scripture, affirming that faithful service in any sphere matters to the Lord.
3. Public Accountability – Hasshub’s covenant signature exemplifies willing submission to God’s Word, reminding the church that obedience requires explicit, communal commitment.

Foreshadowing and Fulfillment

The restored Levites foreshadow the greater High Priest, Jesus Christ, who ensures perpetual access to God (Hebrews 7:24-25). Likewise, the rebuilt walls prefigure the secure city of Revelation 21, where redeemed people dwell in everlasting safety. The covenant renewal anticipates the new covenant, written on hearts rather than stone tablets (Jeremiah 31:33).

Lessons for Today

• God notices and records every act of service, however brief the biblical mention.
• Preserving doctrinal lineage—sound teaching rooted in Scripture—is as vital now as maintaining Levitical genealogy was then.
• Community restoration thrives when families and individuals take responsibility for the “section” nearest them—local congregations, neighborhoods, and personal households.
• Formal vows and church covenants remain a legitimate, biblical means of expressing shared obedience to God’s Word.

Hasshub, though a minor name, thus stands as a witness to the enduring reliability of God’s promises, the value of faithful labor, and the necessity of covenant fidelity among God’s people.

וְחַשּׁ֖וּב וחשוב חַשּֽׁוּב׃ חַשּׁ֛וּב חשוב חשוב׃ chashShuv ḥaš·šūḇ ḥaššūḇ vechashShuv wə·ḥaš·šūḇ wəḥaššūḇInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts