חוּשַׁי (chu.shay)
chu.shay
Hushai
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 13 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
חושׁי (chûshay), meaning "hasting," appears thirteen times in the Hebrew Bible, primarily within the narratives of 2 Samuel and 1 Kings. The name identifies two distinct figures from the era of the United Monarchy: an archite who served as a loyal friend to King David, and a later official named Baana, whose father shares this name.
The most prominent bearer of this name is Hushai the Archite, whose story unfolds during Absalom’s rebellion. When David fled Jerusalem, Hushai remained behind not out of cowardice but to act as a counter-spy within Absalom’s court (2 Samuel 15:32). His actions were characterized by swift intervention and strategic timing, fitting his name’s sense of urgency. He successfully disrupted the counsel of Ahithophel, buying crucial time for David to regroup.
The second individual is Baana, an officer under Solomon who managed royal provisions (1 Kings 4:17). While less narratively central than David’s friend, he demonstrates how names reflecting personal traits or divine attributes were passed down through generations. The repetition of the name in these historical records highlights its resonance among Israel’s administrative and military leadership during this pivotal period.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Hushai means 'hasting' or 'one who hurries,' yet his story in 2 Samuel reveals a different kind of speed: the careful, strategic timing required to protect God’s anointed. When David fled Jerusalem, Hushai did not flee with him into safety. Instead, he stayed behind in the heart of the rebellion, acting as a loyal friend and a counter-spy within Absalom’s court. His presence was not about physical haste but about spiritual vigilance.
His courage reminds us that faithfulness often looks like staying put when everything around us is falling apart. By disrupting the wise counsel of Ahithophel, Hushai bought David the time he needed to regroup and escape. This shows that God can use ordinary moments of loyalty to shape the course of history.
Even in our own lives, there are seasons where we feel called to stand firm rather than run. Like Hushai, we may not always see the immediate outcome, but our steadfast love and quiet obedience become part of God’s larger plan for deliverance and restoration.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 13 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Hushai12×
- and/ Hushai1×
- <to>/ Hushai1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- חוּשַׁי֮2×
- חוּשַׁ֣י2×
- חוּשַׁ֗י2×
- לְ/חוּשַׁ֣י1×
- חוּשָׁ֔י1×
- חוּשַׁי֙1×
- חוּשַׁ֧י1×
- חוּשַׁ֛י1×
- חוּשַׁ֖י1×
- חוּשַׁ֔י1×
- וְ/חוּשַׁ֥י1×
Key Verses
-
II Samuel 15:32
When David had come to the top, where God was worshiped, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his tunic torn and earth on his head.
This verse establishes Hushai's courageous decision to remain in Jerusalem, showing his loyalty was active rather than passive.
-
II Samuel 17:14
Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel.” For Yahweh had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that Yahweh might bring evil on Absalom.
Here the narrative explicitly links Hushai’s counsel to God’s sovereign purpose to defeat Ahithophel’s plan and bring judgment on Absalom.
-
II Samuel 17:5
Then Absalom said, “Now call Hushai the Archite also, and let’s hear likewise what he says.”
Absalom’s request to hear Hushai shows how effectively he had infiltrated the king’s inner circle, gaining a seat at the table of power.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the name Hushai mean?
Why is Hushai important in the story of David?
Is there another person named Hushai in the Bible?
Every Occurrence (13 verses across 3 books)
II Samuel 11 verses
When David had come to the top, where God was worshiped, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his tunic…
II Samuel 15:37So Hushai, David’s friend, came into the city; and Absalom came into Jerusalem.
II Samuel 16:16When Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, had come to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, “Long live the king! Long live…
II Samuel 16:17Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your kindness to your friend? Why didn’t you go with your friend?”
II Samuel 16:18Hushai said to Absalom, “No; but whomever Yahweh and this people and all the men of Israel have chosen, I will be his,…
II Samuel 17:5Then Absalom said, “Now call Hushai the Archite also, and let’s hear likewise what he says.”
II Samuel 17:6When Hushai had come to Absalom, Absalom spoke to him, saying, “Ahithophel has spoken like this. Shall we do what he…
II Samuel 17:7Hushai said to Absalom, “The counsel that Ahithophel has given this time is not good.”
II Samuel 17:8Hushai said moreover, “You know your father and his men, that they are mighty men, and they are fierce in their minds,…
II Samuel 17:14Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel.”…
II Samuel 17:15Then Hushai said to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, “Ahithophel counseled Absalom and the elders of Israel that way;…