כְּ/שָׁמְעָ֣/ם
𐤊/𐤔𐤌𐤏/𐤌
shâmaʻ
when they heard
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.
Nehemiah 13:3 · Word #2
Lexicon H8085
| Lemma | שָׁמַע |
| Lemma (Paleo) | 𐤔𐤌𐤏 |
| Transliteration | shâmaʻ |
| Strong's | H8085 |
| 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. |
Morphology HR/Vqc/Sp3mp
All morphology codes
| Part of Speech | V — Verb — An action or state |
| Binyan | q — Qal — Simple active |
| Conjugation | c — Infinitive Construct — The verbal noun ("to ...") |
Common Translation
| Phrase | when they heard |
SIBI-P1 Translation H8085-29
as their hearing
| Morphological Notes | Qal infinitive construct of שׁמע with prefixed כְּ ("as") and 3mp pronominal suffix: "their hearing." |
| Rendering Rationale | The Qal infinitive construct denotes the verbal noun "hearing," and the 3rd person masculine plural suffix specifies "their." The prefixed כְּ is rendered "as," preserving the prepositional force without adding contextual interpretation. |
View full lexicon entry for H8085 →
SILEX v2
SIBI-P2 (Context-Aware)
when they heard
| Same as P1 | No — adjusted for context |
| Rationale | P1 'as their hearing' is a literal translation that does not reflect the temporal and collective sense in context. 'When they heard' matches the narrative flow and plural subject. |