Original Word: מוּשִׁר
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Muwshiy
Pronunciation: MOO-shee
Phonetic Spelling: (moo-shee')
KJV: Mushi
NASB: Mushi
Word Origin: [from H4184 (מוּשׁ - feel)]

1. sensitive
2. Mushi, a Levite

Mushi

Or Mushshiy {mush-shee'}; from muwsh; sensitive; Mushi, a Levite -- Mushi.

see HEBREW muwsh

Word Origin
from mush
Definition
"sensitive," a Levite
NASB Translation
Mushi (8).

I. מוּשִׁי, מֻשִׁי proper name, masculine a Levite, son of Merari, מוּשִׁי Exodus 6:19; Numbers 3:20; 1 Chronicles 6:32; 1 Chronicles 23:21,23; 1 Chronicles 24:26,30; מֻשִׁי 1 Chronicles 6:4; ᵐ5 Ομονς(ε)ι, rarely Μονς(ε)ι, Μοονσι

Biblical Setting and Occurrences

Eight times the name Mushi appears, always in genealogical or organizational passages: Exodus 6:19; Numbers 3:20; 1 Chronicles 6:19; 1 Chronicles 6:47; 1 Chronicles 23:21; 1 Chronicles 23:23; 1 Chronicles 24:26; 1 Chronicles 24:30. In every instance Mushi is paired with his brother Mahli as the two sons of Merari, the youngest son of Levi.

Family Line within Levi

Levi’s line branches into Gershon, Kohath, and Merari (Genesis 46:11; Exodus 6:16). From Merari come Mahli and Mushi. This places Mushi three generations after Levi and two before Moses, making him a foundational patriarch for one of the four main Levitical houses (Gershonites, Kohathites, Mahli-ites, and Mushi-ites).

Tribal Duties in the Wilderness

While the name Mushi does not reappear in the census lists of Numbers 4, the “Merarite” duties assigned there apply equally to his clan as to Mahli’s. Numbers 4:31–32 charges Merari’s descendants with the heaviest pieces of the Tabernacle—frames, crossbars, posts, bases, and related equipment—tasks that required strength, coordination, and dependability. Thus the Mushites shared responsibility for preserving the structural integrity of Israel’s mobile sanctuary.

Genealogical Continuity in the Chronicler’s Records

The Chronicler traces the clan’s line through the eras of the judges, monarchy, exile, and return. 1 Chronicles 23:21–23 lists three sons of Mushi—Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth—illustrating that the clan not only survived but multiplied:

“The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth—three in all.” (1 Chronicles 23:23)

These names surface again in 1 Chronicles 24 when David divides the Levites into twenty-four courses for Temple duty. By then, Mushites constitute at least two of the rotating divisions (1 Chronicles 24:26, 30), showing both growth and stability over roughly five centuries.

Role in Davidic Worship Structure

David’s reforms place Mushite households in regular service cycles, an indication that genealogical legitimacy was indispensable for Temple ministry (cf. 1 Chronicles 24:3). Because the Temple superseded the Tabernacle, the heavy transport duties of the wilderness era gave way to stationary tasks—gatekeeping, maintenance, and music—all grounded in the same lineage. The Chronicler repeatedly affirms that these assignments are “according to their offices in their service” (1 Chronicles 24:19), stressing orderly worship rooted in God-ordained family lines.

Theological Significance

1. Covenant Faithfulness: Every mention of Mushi underscores God’s preservation of the Levitical covenant (Numbers 18:21–24). Generations later, the Mushites still stand ready for service, attesting to divine faithfulness and human responsibility.
2. Order in Worship: The careful cataloging of Mushite families illustrates that worship is not haphazard but structured, reflecting God’s character of order (1 Corinthians 14:40).
3. Inclusion Through Lineage: Though Mushi himself leaves no recorded exploits, his descendants hold indispensable roles. Scripture thus dignifies seemingly obscure believers whose faithfulness lies in steady, enduring service.

Ministry Reflections for Today

• Unseen Faithfulness: Like the Mushites who carried boards or guarded gates, many ministries succeed through believers known only to God.
• Generational Stewardship: The Mushite record challenges families and churches to nurture successive generations for lifelong service.
• Ordered Service: The consistent pattern of assigned duties invites congregations to plan worship and ministry thoughtfully, prioritizing both giftedness and accountability.

Key Passages for Study and Teaching

Exodus 6:19; Numbers 3:20; Numbers 4:29–33 (contextual); 1 Chronicles 23:21–23; 1 Chronicles 24:26–30.

וּמֻשִׁ֑י וּמוּשִׁ֑י וּמוּשִׁ֔י ומושי ומשי מוּשִׁ֔י מוּשִׁ֗י מושי mū·šî muShi mūšî ū·mu·šî ū·mū·šî umuShi ūmušî ūmūšîInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts