Description
Kushaiah (aka Kishi) is a figure in the Old Testament. 1 Chronicles 6:44 states Kishi is a Merarite, and the father of the ancestor of Ethan the minstrel.
Background
The name Kushaiah occurs only once in the Bible. He is the father of Ethan, whom the Levites selected from among the descendants of Merari to join a chorus of loud music makers that would liven up king David’s bringing to Jerusalem of the Ark of the Covenant (1 Chronicles 15:17).[1]
This Kushaiah is likely the same as the Kishi mentioned in 1 Chronicles 6:44, who also descended from Merari and who also had a son named Ethan. The name Kishi is the truncated form of Kushaiah.[1:1]
Note that the name is actually spelled Kushaiahu, with a final waw. Many names that end with יה also exist with the ending יהו, and traditionally translators have chosen to transliterate all these names with no u-sound at the end of it. Even though of the name Kushaiah(u) only the longer version remains, its transliteration follows the preferred shorter form.[1:2]
Name
Meaning
- hardness
- his gravity
- his offense
- Bow of Jehovah [2]
- Snare Of Yah[1:3]
- Snare Of The Lord[1:4]
- Bow Of Yahweh[1:5]
Etymology
From the verb קוש (qosh), to lay bait or a snare, and יהו (yahu), the shortened name of the Lord.[1:6]