כּוּשַׁן רִשְׁעָתַיִם
𐤊𐤅𐤔𐤍 𐤓𐤔𐤏𐤕𐤉𐤌
Kushan Risheatayim
H3573 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A proper name referring to a king, specifically 'Cushan of double wickedness.' The term is a compound of a personal or regional name (Kushan) and a descriptive phrase (Rish'atayim) meaning 'double wickedness' or 'twice-wicked.' In its biblical context, 'Cushan Rish'atayim' denotes a Mesopotamian (Aramean) king opposed by the Israelites during the period of the Judges. The phrase can imply exceptional or extreme wickedness, possibly with an intended rhetorical or polemical emphasis in the narrative.
Semantic Range
proper name of a king, epithet indicating exceptional wickedness, polemical designation for a foreign ruler, literary or rhetorical device highlighting moral corruption
Root / Etymology
A compound of כּוּשָׁן (Kushan, likely a personal or regional designation, possibly related to Cush) and רִשְׁעָתַיִם (rish'atayim, 'wickednesses,' dual form of רִשְׁעָה, 'wickedness'). The root of רִשְׁעָה is ר-ש-ע ('to be wicked, to act wickedly'). The root and significance of כּוּשָׁן is less certain; it is most plausibly related to Cush or may be a theophoric or geographical name.
Historical & Contextual Notes
כּוּשַׁן רִשְׁעָתַיִם appears only in Judges 3:8,10, where the ruler is described as king of Aram-Naharaim (Upper Mesopotamia) conquered by the judge Othniel. The compound form is likely polemical, with 'double wickedness' intensifying the negative characterization of the foreign oppressor. There is little historical corroboration for this name outside the biblical text, and its literary construction suggests a satirical or symbolic function. Some traditions have transliterated the name as 'Chushan-rishathaim,' and in later English translations or religious discussions, figures with this title have sometimes been mis-identified as 'kings of Cush' (Africa), which is unlikely in this context. The use of the dual ending in רִשְׁעָתַיִם is rare and emphasizes magnitude or completeness of wickedness. This usage is distinctive for the period of the Judges and reflects the biblical author's perspective on foreign oppression rather than precise historical data.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
apparently from כּוּשָׁן and the dual of רִשְׁעָה; Cushan of double wickedness; Cushan-Rishathajim, a Mesopotamian king; Chushan-rishathayim.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
רשע (r-š-ʿ) — to be wicked, to act wickedly, wickedness
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1306 | בִּרְשַׁע | In-Wickedness |
| H4849 | מִרְשַׁעַת | the wicked woman |
| H7561 | רָשַׁע | I will act wickedly |
| H7562 | רֶשַׁע | from unjustness |
| H7563 | רָשָׁע | the guilty man |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3573-01 |
כּוּשַׁ֣ן | kushan | HNp |
Cushan | Kushan of double-wickedness | 4 |
H3573-02 |
רִשְׁעָתַ֔יִם | risheatayim | HNp |
Rishathaim | Double-Wickedness | 4 |
Occurrences in Scripture
8 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3573-01 |
Judges 3:8 | כּוּשַׁ֣ן | kushan | HNp |
Cushan | Kushan of double-wickedness |
H3573-02 |
Judges 3:8 | רִשְׁעָתַ֔יִם | risheatayim | HNp |
Rishathaim | Double-Wickedness |
H3573-01 |
Judges 3:8 | כּוּשַׁ֥ן | kushan-2 | HNp |
Cushan | Kushan of double-wickedness |
H3573-02 |
Judges 3:8 | רִשְׁעָתַ֖יִם | risheatayim-2 | HNp |
Rishathaim | Double-Wickedness |
H3573-01 |
Judges 3:10 | כּוּשַׁ֥ן | kushan | HNp |
Cushan | Kushan of double-wickedness |
H3573-02 |
Judges 3:10 | רִשְׁעָתַ֖יִם | risheatayim | HNp |
Rishathaim | Double-Wickedness |
H3573-01 |
Judges 3:10 | כּוּשַׁ֥ן | kushan-2 | HNp |
Cushan | Kushan of double-wickedness |
H3573-02 |
Judges 3:10 | רִשְׁעָתָֽיִם | risheatayim-2 | HNp |
Rishathaim | Double-Wickedness |