שָׁמַע

𐤔𐤌𐤏

shâmaʻ

H8085 verb

SILEX Entry

Root שׁמע to hear, to listen, to pay attention

Definition

To perceive sound or speech with the ear; by extension, to listen, pay attention, or heed, often with the implication of responding appropriately. In many contexts, carries the sense of attentive or obedient listening, sometimes extending to 'obey,' especially in covenantal or legal passages. Also used causatively ('to make hear,' 'cause to be announced'), with a secondary sense of proclaiming, reporting, or making known information to others. The verb can also connote understanding, discerning, or acknowledging a message or instruction.

Semantic Range

to hear (with the ear), to listen, to heed, to pay attention, to obey, to understand, to perceive, to accept or regard, to cause to be heard (proclaim), to report, to announce, to make a sound

Root / Etymology

Root שׁמע (shin-mem-ayin), meaning 'to hear.' The root fundamentally relates to the function of hearing and attentive recognition, with semantic development reflecting the link between hearing and responding (e.g., hearing and obeying, hearing and understanding, hearing and announcing). The Qal stem typically denotes simple hearing/audition; the Hiphil is causative, 'to cause to hear' or 'to proclaim.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

שָׁמַע is a highly significant verb throughout the Hebrew Bible, used both for physical hearing and for metaphorical or intellectual processes involving attention, evaluation, and response. In covenantal contexts, such as the Shemaʻ (Deut 6:4), the verb expressly combines hearing and obedient response—indicating not merely auditory perception but appropriate action. Its use in legal and prophetic texts often implies adherence to instructions or divine commands. Over time, particularly in later biblical and post-biblical Hebrew, the meaning of 'obey' grows more pronounced, yet biblical usage retains a balance between listening, understanding, and acting. שָׁמַע is broader than simple 'obey' and must be distinguished from verbs like עשה (to do) or ידע (to know), though overlap can occur. English translations that render שָׁמַע as simply 'hear' or 'obey' may thus miss contextual nuances—especially where understanding and response are linked.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.); [idiom] attentively, call (gather) together, [idiom] carefully, [idiom] certainly, consent, consider, be content, declare, [idiom] diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make to) hear(-ken, tell), [idiom] indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be) obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish, regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, [idiom] surely, tell, understand, whosoever (heareth), witness.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שׁמע (sh-m-ʿ) — to hear, to listen, to heed

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1953 הוֹשָׁמָע Yahweh-has-heard
H3460 יִשְׁמַעְיָה Yahweh hears
H4926 מִשְׁמָע to report-of
H4928 מִשְׁמַעַת their obedience
H8037 שַׁמָּא he heard

Word Forms

156 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H8085-71 שִׁמְעוּ shimeu HVqv2mp Hear Hear! 91
H8085-110 וַ/יִּשְׁמַ֣ע vayishema HC/Vqw3ms and heard and he heard 88
H8085-54 שָֽׁמְע֔וּ shameu HVqp3cp they listened they heard 66
H8085-46 שָׁמַ֥ע shama HVqp3ms heard he heard 60
H8085-56 שְׁמַ֣ע shema HVqv2ms Hear Listen! 56
H8085-50 שָׁמַ֖עְתִּי shamaeti HVqp1cs I have heard I heard 48
H8085-39 לִ/שְׁמֹ֣עַֽ lishemoa HR/Vqc to hear to hear 46
H8085-85 תִּשְׁמַ֥ע tishema HVqi2ms hear you will hear 42
H8085-111 וַֽ/יִּשְׁמְע֞וּ vayishemeu HC/Vqw3mp and they heard and they heard 34
H8085-152 יִשְׁמַ֥ע yishema HVqi3ms he hears he will hear 32

Occurrences in Scripture

1165 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H8085-111 Genesis 3:8 וַֽ/יִּשְׁמְע֞וּ vayishemeu HC/Vqw3mp and they heard and they heard
H8085-50 Genesis 3:10 שָׁמַ֖עְתִּי shamaeti HVqp1cs I heard I heard
H8085-49 Genesis 3:17 שָׁמַעְתָּ֮ shamaeta HVqp2ms you have listened you heard
H8085-58 Genesis 4:23 שְׁמַ֣עַן shemaan HVqv2fp hear Listen!
H8085-155 Genesis 11:7 יִשְׁמְע֔וּ yishemeu HVqi3mp they will understand they will hear
H8085-110 Genesis 14:14 וַ/יִּשְׁמַ֣ע vayishema HC/Vqw3ms heard and he heard
H8085-110 Genesis 16:2 וַ/יִּשְׁמַ֥ע vayishema HC/Vqw3ms and listened and he heard
H8085-46 Genesis 16:11 שָׁמַ֥ע shama HVqp3ms has heard he heard
H8085-65 Genesis 17:20 שְׁמַעְתִּי/ךָ֒ shemaetikha HVqp1cs/Sp2ms I have heard you I have heard you
H8085-74 Genesis 18:10 שֹׁמַ֛עַת shomaat HVqrfsa was listening hearing one (feminine)