בּוֹשׁ (bush)
bush
be ashamed
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 96 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb bush describes a profound sense of shame or disappointment, rooted in the physical reaction of paling with fear or embarrassment. It goes beyond simple guilt to capture the feeling of being confounded when expectations fail. This word appears frequently in the Psalms and Jeremiah, often expressing the distress of those who trust in God but face sudden reversal or public humiliation.
A unique nuance of bush is its connection to delay. In Judges 5:28, the mother of Sisera waits for his return, and the text notes she was ashamed because he delayed. Here, the shame arises from the frustration of unmet hope. The sources also note that enemies are often described as being put to shame when their plans collapse, highlighting a contrast between human pride and divine justice.
Translators render bush in various ways depending on context, including "ashamed," "confounded," or even "delayed." In Ezra 8:22, the leader admits he was ashamed to ask the king for protection, showing how the word conveys a deep sense of unworthiness or vulnerability. The term consistently points to a loss of face or confidence, whether through personal failure or external calamity.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word bush captures a deep sense of shame or disappointment that arises when expectations fail. It describes the physical reaction of paling with fear or embarrassment, often linked to delay or unmet hope. In Genesis 2:25, Adam and Eve were naked and not ashamed, showing how innocence preserves dignity before God. Conversely, Ezra admits he was ashamed to ask for protection because their past words implied God would protect them anyway (Ezra 8:22). This word reminds us that shame often stems from a loss of confidence or face, whether through personal failure or external calamity.
For your faith life, bush offers comfort in times of vulnerability. When you feel exposed or disappointed, remember that God sees your honesty. The Psalms frequently ask God not to let the psalmist be shamed, trusting that He is their refuge (Psalms 25:2). This word invites you to bring your raw feelings to God without pretense. It shows that even when plans collapse or enemies triumph temporarily, God’s justice will ultimately prevail, turning shame into honor for those who trust in Him.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 96 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- they will be ashamed16×
- you will be ashamed5×
- they are ashamed5×
- it will be ashamed5×
- may they be ashamed4×
- it will be put to shame4×
- let them be ashamed3×
- and/ they will be ashamed3×
- and/ they may be ashamed3×
- I will be ashamed3×
- you put to shame/ me2×
- was ashamed2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יֵבֹ֣שׁוּ4×
- הֹבִ֥ישׁ4×
- יֵבֹ֥שׁוּ3×
- יֵבֹ֑שׁוּ3×
- הֹבִ֣ישׁוּ3×
- בֹּ֥שׁוּ3×
- אֵבֽוֹשׁ\׃3×
- מֵבִֽישׁ\׃2×
- מֵבִ֥ישׁ2×
- יֵבֹֽשׁוּ\׃2×
- יֵבֹ֔שׁוּ2×
- יֵ֭בֹשׁוּ2×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 2:25
The man and his wife were both naked, and they were not ashamed.
This verse establishes the baseline of innocence, showing that shame is not part of God's original design for human relationship.
-
Ezra 8:22
For I was ashamed to ask of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy on the way, because we had spoken to the king, saying, “The hand of our God is on all those who seek him, for good; but his power and his wrath is against all those who forsake him.”
Ezra uses this word to express his vulnerability in admitting he relied on God rather than asking for military protection, highlighting trust over self-reliance.
-
Psalms 25:2
My God, I have trusted in you. Don’t let me be shamed. Don’t let my enemies triumph over me.
The psalmist directly petitions God to prevent shame, linking the avoidance of disgrace to his trust in the Lord's deliverance.
-
Judges 5:28
“Through the window she looked out, and cried: Sisera’s mother looked through the lattice. ‘Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why do the wheels of his chariots wait?’
This occurrence uniquely connects shame with the frustration of waiting, as Sisera’s mother feels humiliated by his delayed return.