בּוּשׁ (H954) — Hebrew Lexicon

בּוּשׁ

𐤁𐤅𐤔

bûwsh

H954 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To feel or experience shame, to be confounded, embarrassed, or disappointed; often conveying the emotion of public disgrace or inward humiliation. Can also mean to be put to shame by an event or as the result of a failed expectation or hope.

Semantic Range

to be (or become) ashamed, to be disappointed (especially due to failed hope), to be confounded or embarrassed, to be put to shame (by public or divine judgment), to be delayed (especially when expectation is unmet), to bring shame upon, to act in a way that leads to disgrace

Root / Etymology

Root: בושׁ (b-w-sh). The core root meaning is 'to feel shame, to be disconcerted or confounded'. The root provides the sense of a changing emotional or social state from confidence or hope to humiliation, confusion, or disappointment. The precise origin of the root is uncertain, though it is widely attested in Semitic languages.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, בּוּשׁ is most commonly used to describe the emotional and social consequences of failure, broken trust, or dishonor, whether before other people or before a deity. It does not merely refer to a subjective emotion but includes the idea of objective social disgrace or public embarrassment. It is frequently paired antithetically with words meaning 'to trust' (e.g., קוה qāwâ, 'to hope for'), highlighting the dynamic between hope/expectation and disappointment. In some poetic passages and laments, the root also appears with verbs of rejoicing to mark the reversals of fortune. The sense of 'delay' comes from the experience of anticipating help or deliverance that does not materialize, thus resulting in shame or disappointment. By the post-exilic period, the concept of shame encompassed broader social and theological meanings, including the idea of being put to shame by divine judgment. In later translation traditions, בּוּשׁ is at times rendered simply as 'to be ashamed,' but this can obscure the nuance of public disgrace or the sense of hope disappointed. Other Hebrew words, like חָפֵר (ḥāphēr), also express related ideas of shame but are often used for personal embarrassment rather than the communal or hope-failure aspects most characteristic of בושׁ.

Translation Consistency

primary "be ashamed" 6 occurrences

The primary, most natural meaning of בּוּשׁ is to experience shame, humiliation, or to be put to shame. English expresses this stative sense naturally with the copula + adjective ("be ashamed"), which also covers phrases like "be put to shame" and passive senses. This rendering fits the typical usage across contexts (public disgrace, inward humiliation, disappointment from failed hope) while keeping a single consistent base for all forms.

Alternatives (44 occurrences):

"ashamed" (36x) "put to shame" (2x) "felt shame" (2x) "delayed" (1x) "long delayed" (1x) "become ashamed" (1x) "became ashamed" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; properly, to pale, i.e. by implication to be ashamed; also (by implication) to be disappointed or delayed; (be, make, bring to, cause, put to, with, a-) shamed(-d), be (put to) confounded(-fusion), become dry, delay, be long.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

בושׁ (bûwsh) — to feel shame, to be confounded, to be disappointed

Root בושׁ to feel shame, to be confounded, to be disappointed

Word Forms

36 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`H954-35`	יֵבֹ֔שׁוּ	yevoshu	`HVqi3mp`	be ashamed	they will be ashamed	they will be ashamed	32
`H954-09`	בּ֧וֹשׁוּ	boshu	`HVqv2mp`	they were ashamed	they felt shame	they were ashamed	7
`H954-01`	בֹּ֖שׁ	bosh	`HVqc`	he was ashamed	to feel shame	to be ashamed	6
`H954-10`	אֵבֽוֹשׁ	evosh	`HVqi1cs`	be ashamed	I will be ashamed	I will be ashamed	5
`H954-11`	אֵבֹ֣שָׁה	evoshah	`HVqh1cs`	I be ashamed	let me be ashamed	let me be ashamed	5
`H954-16`	מֵבִֽישׁ	mevish	`HVhrmsa`	shameful	one who puts to shame	one who causes to be ashamed	5
`H954-30`	וְ/יֵבֹ֖שׁוּ	veyevoshu	`HC/Vqi3mp`	and-they-will-be-ashamed	and they will be ashamed	and they will be ashamed	5
`H954-21`	תֵב֔וֹשִׁי	tevoshi	`HVqi2fs`	you will be ashamed	you will become ashamed	you (feminine) will be ashamed	4
`H954-02`	בּ֣וֹשָׁה	boshah	`HVqp3fs`	is ashamed	she felt shame	it was ashamed	3
`H954-15`	הֹבִ֖ישׁוּ	hovishu	`HVhp3cp`	they are ashamed	they put to shame	they are ashamed	3
`H954-22`	תֵבֹ֥שׁוּ	tevoshu	`HVqi2mp`	will be ashamed	you will feel shame	you (pl.) will be ashamed	3
`H954-25`	וּ/בֹ֛שׁוּ	uvoshu	`HC/Vqq3cp`	and they shall be ashamed	and they became ashamed	and they will be ashamed	3
`H954-03`	בֹּ֤שְׁנֽוּ	boshenu	`HVqp1cp`	we are ashamed	we have felt shame	we have felt shame	2
`H954-06`	בֹּ֣שְׁתִּי	bosheti	`HVqp1cs`	I-am-ashamed	I felt shame	I felt shame	2
`H954-07`	בּ֨וֹשִׁי֙	boshi	`HVqv2fs`	be ashamed	Be ashamed	Be ashamed	2
`H954-14`	הֹבִ֔ישׁ	hovish	`HVhp3ms`	will be ashamed	he put to shame	he put to shame	2
`H954-19`	תְּבִישֵֽׁ/נִי	tevisheni	`HVhj2ms/Sp1cs`	put me to shame	may you cause me shame	may you cause me to be ashamed	2
`H954-27`	וָ/בֹ֑שׁוּ	vavoshu	`HC/Vqq3cp`	and ashamed	and they were ashamed	and they were ashamed	2
`H954-28`	וַ/יֵּבֹ֑שׁוּ	vayevoshu	`HC/Vqw3mp`	and-were-ashamed	and they felt shame	and they were ashamed	2
`H954-29`	וְ/יֵב֥וֹשׁ	veyevosh	`HC/Vqi3ms`	and will be ashamed	and he will feel shame	and he will be ashamed	2
`H954-33`	בֽוֹשׁוּ	voshu	`HVqp3cp`	they are ashamed	they felt shame	they were ashamed	2
`H954-04`	בֹּשֵׁ֤שׁ	boshesh	`HVop3ms`	is delayed	he has long delayed	he has long delayed	1
`H954-05`	בֹּ֖שְׁתְּ	boshete	`HVqp2fs`	you were put to shame	you felt shame	you were put to shame	1
`H954-08`	בּוֹשִׁ֔ים	boshim	`HVqrmpa`	they are ashamed	ashamed ones	they are ashamed	1
`H954-12`	הֱבִישֽׁוֹתָ	hevishota	`HVhp2ms`	you have put to shame	you put to shame	you have put to shame	1
`H954-13`	הֱ֝בִשֹׁ֗תָה	hevishotah	`HVhp2ms`	You-have-put-to-shame	you have put to shame	you have put to shame	1
`H954-17`	מְבִישָֽׁה	mevishah	`HVhrfsa`	shaming	she who causes shame	she who causes shame	1
`H954-18`	תָבִ֑ישׁוּ	tavishu	`HVhi2mp`	you shame	you will put to shame	you will put to shame	1
`H954-20`	תֵּב֑וֹשׁ	tevosh	`HVqi3fs`	shall be put to shame	she will be ashamed	it will be ashamed	1
`H954-23`	וּ/בֹ֥שׁ	uvosh	`HC/Vqq3ms`	and will be ashamed	and he became ashamed	and was ashamed	1
`H954-24`	וּ/בוֹשָׁ֖ה	uvoshah	`HC/Vqq3fs`	and will be ashamed	and she became ashamed	and will be ashamed	1
`H954-26`	וָ/בֹ֔שְׁתְּ	vavoshete	`HC/Vqq2fs`	and be ashamed	and you felt shame	and you felt shame	1
`H954-31`	בֹשֵׁ֥שׁ	voshesh	`HVop3ms`	delayed	he delayed	he delayed	1
`H954-32`	בֹ֗שְׁתִּי	vosheti	`HVqp1cs`	I was ashamed	I felt shame	I was ashamed	1
`H954-34`	יֵבוֹשׁ֙	yevosh	`HVqi3ms`	will-be-ashamed	he will be ashamed	will be ashamed	1
`H954-36`	יִתְבֹּשָֽׁשׁוּ	yiteboshashu	`HVri3mp`	were ashamed	they will shame themselves	were ashamed	1

Occurrences in Scripture

114 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`H954-36`	Genesis 2:25	יִתְבֹּשָֽׁשׁוּ	yiteboshashu	`HVri3mp`	were ashamed	they will shame themselves	were ashamed
`H954-31`	Exodus 32:1	בֹשֵׁ֥שׁ	voshesh	`HVop3ms`	delayed	he delayed	he delayed
`H954-01`	Judges 3:25	בּ֔וֹשׁ	bosh	`HVqc`	they were ashamed	to feel shame	they were ashamed
`H954-04`	Judges 5:28	בֹּשֵׁ֤שׁ	boshesh	`HVop3ms`	is delayed	he has long delayed	he has long delayed
`H954-01`	2 Kings 2:17	בֹּ֖שׁ	bosh	`HVqc`	he was ashamed	to feel shame	he was ashamed
`H954-01`	2 Kings 8:11	בֹּ֑שׁ	bosh	`HVqc`	he was ashamed	to feel shame	he was ashamed
`H954-28`	2 Kings 19:26	וַ/יֵּבֹ֑שׁוּ	vayevoshu	`HC/Vqw3mp`	and-were-ashamed	and they felt shame	and they were ashamed
`H954-35`	Isaiah 1:29	יֵבֹ֔שׁוּ	yevoshu	`HVqi3mp`	they-will-be-ashamed	they will be ashamed	they will be ashamed
`H954-25`	Isaiah 19:9	וּ/בֹ֛שׁוּ	uvoshu	`HC/Vqq3cp`	and they will be ashamed	and they became ashamed	and they will be ashamed
`H954-27`	Isaiah 20:5	וָ/בֹ֑שׁוּ	vavoshu	`HC/Vqq3cp`	and ashamed	and they were ashamed	and they were ashamed
`H954-07`	Isaiah 23:4	בּ֣וֹשִׁי	boshi	`HVqv2fs`	Be ashamed	Be ashamed	Be ashamed
`H954-24`	Isaiah 24:23	וּ/בוֹשָׁ֖ה	uvoshah	`HC/Vqq3fs`	and will be ashamed	and she became ashamed	and will be ashamed
`H954-30`	Isaiah 26:11	וְ/יֵבֹ֨שׁוּ֙	veyevoshu	`HC/Vqi3mp`	and-they-will-be-ashamed	and they will be ashamed	and they will be ashamed
`H954-34`	Isaiah 29:22	יֵבוֹשׁ֙	yevosh	`HVqi3ms`	will-be-ashamed	he will be ashamed	will be ashamed
`H954-14`	Isaiah 30:5	הֹבִ֔ישׁ	hovish	`HVhp3ms`	will be ashamed	he put to shame	he put to shame
`H954-27`	Isaiah 37:27	וָ/בֹ֑שׁוּ	vavoshu	`HC/Vqp3cp`	and-were-put-to-shame	and they were ashamed	and they were ashamed
`H954-35`	Isaiah 41:11	יֵבֹ֨שׁוּ֙	yevoshu	`HVqi3mp`	will be ashamed	they will be ashamed	they will be ashamed
`H954-35`	Isaiah 42:17	יֵבֹ֣שׁוּ	yevoshu	`HVqi3mp`	they-will-be-put-to-shame	they will be ashamed	they will be ashamed
`H954-35`	Isaiah 44:9	יֵבֹֽשׁוּ	yevoshu	`HVqi3mp`	they may be ashamed	they will be ashamed	they will be ashamed
`H954-35`	Isaiah 44:11	יֵבֹ֔שׁוּ	yevoshu	`HVqi3mp`	shall be ashamed	they will be ashamed	they will be ashamed
`H954-35`	Isaiah 44:11	יֵבֹ֥שׁוּ	yevoshu-2	`HVqi3mp`	they shall be ashamed	they will be ashamed	they will be ashamed
`H954-09`	Isaiah 45:16	בּ֥וֹשׁוּ	boshu	`HVqp3cp`	They shall be ashamed	they felt shame	they were ashamed
`H954-22`	Isaiah 45:17	תֵבֹ֥שׁוּ	tevoshu	`HVqi2mp`	you-will-be-ashamed	you will feel shame	you (pl.) will be ashamed
`H954-30`	Isaiah 45:24	וְ/יֵבֹ֔שׁוּ	veyevoshu	`HC/Vqi3mp`	and-they-will-be-ashamed	and they will be ashamed	and they will be ashamed
`H954-35`	Isaiah 49:23	יֵבֹ֖שׁוּ	yevoshu	`HVqi3mp`	they-will-be-ashamed	they will be ashamed	they will be ashamed
`H954-10`	Isaiah 50:7	אֵבֽוֹשׁ	evosh	`HVqi1cs`	I-will-be-ashamed	I will be ashamed	I will be ashamed
`H954-21`	Isaiah 54:4	תֵב֔וֹשִׁי	tevoshi	`HVqi2fs`	you will be ashamed	you will become ashamed	you will become ashamed
`H954-22`	Isaiah 65:13	תֵּבֹֽשׁוּ	tevoshu	`HVqi2mp`	will be ashamed	you will feel shame	you (pl.) will be ashamed
`H954-35`	Isaiah 66:5	יֵבֹֽשׁוּ	yevoshu	`HVqi3mp`	will be ashamed	they will be ashamed	they will be ashamed
`H954-15`	Jeremiah 2:26	הֹבִ֖ישׁוּ	hovishu	`HVhp3cp`	they are ashamed	they put to shame	they are ashamed
`H954-21`	Jeremiah 2:36	תֵּב֔וֹשִׁי	tevoshi	`HVqi2fs`	you will be put to shame	you will become ashamed	you (feminine) will be ashamed
`H954-05`	Jeremiah 2:36	בֹּ֖שְׁתְּ	boshete	`HVqp2fs`	you were put to shame	you felt shame	you were put to shame
`H954-01`	Jeremiah 6:15	בּ֣וֹשׁ	bosh	`HVqa`	ashamed	to feel shame	to be ashamed
`H954-35`	Jeremiah 6:15	יֵב֗וֹשׁוּ	yevoshu	`HVqi3mp`	they were ashamed	they will be ashamed	they were ashamed
`H954-15`	Jeremiah 8:9	הֹבִ֣ישׁוּ	hovishu	`HVhp3cp`	they are ashamed	they put to shame	they are ashamed
`H954-01`	Jeremiah 8:12	בּ֣וֹשׁ	bosh	`HVqa`	they were not ashamed	to feel shame	to be ashamed
`H954-35`	Jeremiah 8:12	יֵבֹ֗שׁוּ	yevoshu	`HVqi3mp`	they were ashamed	they will be ashamed	they were ashamed
`H954-03`	Jeremiah 9:18	בֹּ֤שְׁנֽוּ	boshenu	`HVqp1cp`	we are ashamed	we have felt shame	we have felt shame
`H954-25`	Jeremiah 12:13	וּ/בֹ֨שׁוּ֙	uvoshu	`HC/Vqv2mp`	and they shall be ashamed	and they became ashamed	and they became ashamed
`H954-09`	Jeremiah 14:3	בֹּ֥שׁוּ	boshu	`HVqp3cp`	they were ashamed	they felt shame	they were ashamed
`H954-09`	Jeremiah 14:4	בֹּ֥שׁוּ	boshu	`HVqp3cp`	are ashamed	they felt shame	they are ashamed
`H954-02`	Jeremiah 15:9	בּ֣וֹשָׁה	boshah	`HVqp3fs`	she is ashamed	she felt shame	it was ashamed
`H954-35`	Jeremiah 17:13	יֵבֹ֑שׁוּ	yevoshu	`HVqi3mp`	shall be ashamed	they will be ashamed	they will be ashamed
`H954-35`	Jeremiah 17:18	יֵבֹ֤שׁוּ	yevoshu	`HVqj3mp`	Let them be ashamed	they will be ashamed	let them be ashamed
`H954-11`	Jeremiah 17:18	אֵבֹ֣שָׁה	evoshah	`HVqh1cs`	let me be ashamed	let me be ashamed	let me be ashamed
`H954-09`	Jeremiah 20:11	בֹּ֤שׁוּ	boshu	`HVqp3cp`	they are ashamed	they felt shame	they were ashamed
`H954-21`	Jeremiah 22:22	תֵּבֹ֨שִׁי֙	tevoshi	`HVqi2fs`	you will be ashamed	you will become ashamed	you (feminine) will be ashamed
`H954-06`	Jeremiah 31:19	בֹּ֚שְׁתִּי	bosheti	`HVqp1cs`	I was ashamed	I felt shame	I felt shame
`H954-23`	Jeremiah 48:13	וּ/בֹ֥שׁ	uvosh	`HC/Vqq3ms`	and will be ashamed	and he became ashamed	and was ashamed
`H954-09`	Jeremiah 48:13	בֹּ֨שׁוּ֙	boshu	`HVqp3cp`	they were ashamed	they felt shame	they were ashamed

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