לוּשׁ
𐤋𐤅𐤔
Lush
H3889 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A proper place name found in the Hebrew Bible, referring to an ancient city in the northern hill country. Often identified with Laish in later tradition, though the biblical accounts treat these as two related, yet distinct, localities. Semantic range includes geographical designation for a Canaanite city later renamed Dan, or a separate city named Luz after a renaming event.
Semantic Range
place name (Luz), city in the northern hill country; Canaanite city later called Bethel after Israelite settlement; second city named Luz founded by a former inhabitant; possible but unlikely connection to almond tree (luz); not to be confused with Laish/Dan
Root / Etymology
From the root לוּשׁ (l-w-sh), meaning 'to knead.' However, the application of the root meaning to the place name is unclear and probably unrelated; the name is likely pre-Israelite and only superficially matches the Hebrew root. Some propose an etymology related to almond trees (cf. לוז, 'luz,' meaning 'almond tree'), but this connection is speculative.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the patriarchal narratives (Genesis 28:19; 35:6), Luz is the name of a Canaanite settlement later renamed Bethel by Jacob after his theophany. In the book of Judges (Judges 1:23–26), a different location named Luz is mentioned in connection with the descendants of a man who helped Israelite spies, suggesting two distinct places by this name. In later Israelite tradition, Luz is sometimes equated with Laish, later called Dan, but this is an interpretive development; in the biblical text, the two names generally refer to separate localities. Standard English translations render the place name as 'Luz,' sometimes footnoted as 'Laish,' but historical distinction is significant for ancient geography. The name does not designate ethnicity or any religious identity and serves purely as a toponym.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from לוּשׁ; kneading; Lush, a place in Palestine; Laish (from the margin). Compare לַיִשׁ.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
לוש (l-w-sh) — to knead, mix (especially dough)
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3889-01 |
לוש | lvsh | HNp |
of Laish | Luz | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3889-01 |
2 Samuel 3:15 | לוש | lvsh | HNp |
of Laish | Luz |