בּוֹשׁ

From the study of Genesis 2:25

Range of meaning

To be put to shame, disgraced or humiliated. Also to be disappointed or let down, when a hope or trust fails (Ps 22:5; Jer 2:36; Job 6:20). In biblical usage it is mainly about public, social standing: being exposed, losing face, being shown up as failed or worthless before others. It is much less about an inner feeling of guilt. Its opposite is honour and vindication. The form used here, a reflexive or mutual stem, occurs only in this verse.

Against the English

'Were not ashamed' (KJV, BSB, WEB, ESV, NASB) is correct. 'Felt no shame' (NIV, NLT) moves the weight toward an inner emotion. YLT's 'are not ashamed of themselves' tries to bring out the reflexive form. None of them quite shows that this is the vocabulary of honour and disgrace: being exposed before someone else.

How it drifted

Modern English 'ashamed' often means private guilt or sexual embarrassment. Ancient Israel's bôš belongs to an honour-and-shame culture, where shame is mainly a loss of standing in the eyes of others.

Used elsewhere in the period

Common across the Psalms and Prophets ('let me not be put to shame', Ps 25:2, 20; 'they trusted and were not put to shame', Ps 22:5). In Hebrew Gen 2:25 and Gen 3:7 are linked by sound and idea rather than by repeating the verb. Later, Ezra 9:6 pairs bôš with blushing. The Septuagint has ouk ēschynonto, 'were not ashamed'. The Latin Vulgate has non erubescebant, 'did not blush'. BDB lists the hithpoel stem for Gen 2:25 only.

From the study of Isaiah 41:11

Range of meaning

To be put to shame, disgraced, disappointed; to have one's hope or confidence fail publicly. It leans toward the objective, visible state: being exposed, let down or defeated in front of others, more than the private emotion. Its opposite is being vindicated or 'not put to shame' because one's trust proved well-founded (Ps 22:5; Isa 49:23).

Against the English

'Ashamed' (KJV, BSB) can suggest an inner feeling of guilt or embarrassment. WEB's 'disappointed' and the ESV/NASB 'put to shame' better capture what happens: the enemies' confidence collapses in public.

How it drifted

Modern English 'ashamed' has moved inward toward psychology and conscience. The Hebrew word belonged to an honour-and-status world, where shame meant losing standing in the eyes of the community.

Used elsewhere in the period

It is frequent in the Psalms and the prophets in the language of trust and defeat: 'let them be put to shame and humiliated' (Ps 35:4; 40:14 [Eng 15]; 70:2 [Eng 3]). The Septuagint (the ancient Greek translation) here uses aischynthēsontai, 'they will be shamed'. Bechtel's study of shame in Israel (JSOT 1991) stresses its social, public character.

From the study of Isaiah 44:11

Range of meaning

To be put to shame, disgraced, humiliated. Also to be disappointed or let down, especially when something you trusted fails you. It is mainly a public, social state: you lose standing, and your confidence turns out to have been misplaced.

Against the English

BSB/ESV/NASB 'put to shame' keeps the public, outward sense. KJV/YLT 'ashamed' can sound like an inner feeling of guilt. WEB 'disappointed' (first occurrence) catches the 'let down by what you trusted' part well but loses the public humiliation.

How it drifted

Modern English 'ashamed' mostly describes a private emotion about one's own wrongdoing, shaped by psychological vocabulary. The Hebrew word is about outcome and honour: you are exposed as having trusted something worthless.

Used elsewhere in the period

Ps 22:5 ('in you they trusted and were not put to shame'); Isa 42:17 ('utterly put to shame, those who trust in carved idols'); Isa 44:9, the verse that introduces this passage ('that they may be put to shame'); Isa 45:16–17, where idol-makers 'go in confusion together' but Israel 'will not be put to shame'; Jer 2:26.