מוּשׁ (mush)
mush
to remove
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 17 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb mush means to move away or take something out of place. In the Old Testament it appears seventeen times, with a notable concentration in the prophetic books of Isaiah, Micah, and Zechariah. The word covers both physical movement and the removal of abstract things like guilt or obstacles.
Its usage often distinguishes between active removal and passive displacement. While the Qal stem describes the act of departing or being removed—frequently applied to inanimate objects—the Hiphil form emphasizes the agent who causes that removal. This grammatical flexibility allows the text to describe both people leaving a place and God taking away sin.
Translators typically render mush as "remove," "depart," or "take away" depending on the context. In Isaiah, for example, the word helps convey the idea of clearing away burdens or moving barriers out of the way. The term carries a sense of finality, marking a clear shift from one state to another without lingering ambiguity.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word mush describes the act of moving away or taking something out of place. It appears frequently in the prophetic books, often describing how God removes obstacles, guilt, or burdens from His people. This verb carries a sense of finality, marking a clear shift from one state to another without lingering ambiguity.
In your daily walk, this concept offers comfort when life feels stuck. Whether you are facing personal struggles or systemic injustices, Scripture assures us that God can and does remove what hinders your peace. Isaiah 54:10 reminds us that even if mountains depart, His loving kindness will not leave us, providing a stable foundation for faith.
When you feel weighed down by past mistakes or current anxieties, remember that removal is an act of divine grace. God does not merely ignore our burdens; He actively takes them away. This promise invites you to rest in the certainty that He is working to clear the path before you, allowing your spirit to breathe and your heart to find rest in His presence.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 17 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- they will depart2×
- it will depart2×
- it will be removed2×
- you will remove1×
- you depart1×
- they will be removed1×
- they departed1×
- it will cease1×
- it departs1×
- it departed1×
- he removes [it]1×
- he departed1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יָמִ֖ישׁ2×
- תָּמוּשׁ֙1×
- תָמֻ֤שׁ1×
- תָמִ֨ישׁוּ1×
- תָמ֥וּשׁ1×
- מָ֖שׁוּ1×
- יָמֻ֜שׁוּ1×
- יָמִ֣ישׁ1×
- יָמִ֞ישׁ1×
- יָמִ֑ישׁ1×
- יָמ֡וּשׁוּ1×
- יָמ֡וּשׁ1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 54:10
For the mountains may depart, and the hills be removed, but my loving kindness will not depart from you, and my covenant of peace will not be removed,” says Yahweh who has mercy on you.
This verse contrasts the temporary nature of physical mountains with the permanent departure of God's covenantal love, emphasizing His faithful presence.
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Zechariah 3:9
For, behold, the stone that I have set before Joshua: on one stone are seven eyes; behold, I will engrave its inscription,’ says Yahweh of Armies, ‘and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.
Here the verb describes God’s decisive action to remove iniquity from the land in a single day, highlighting the completeness of forgiveness.
-
Exodus 13:22
the pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night, didn’t depart from before the people.
The pillar of cloud and fire did not depart from the people, illustrating God's constant guidance and protection during their journey.
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Proverbs 17:13
Whoever rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
This warning states that evil will not depart from the house of one who rewards evil for good, showing the inevitable consequences of moral inversion.
-
Jeremiah 31:36
“If these ordinances depart from before me,” says Yahweh, “then the offspring of Israel also will cease from being a nation before me forever.”
God uses the certainty of cosmic ordinances departing to guarantee that Israel will never cease to be a nation before Him.