הַשְׁמָעוּת
𐤄𐤔𐤌𐤏𐤅𐤕
hashmâʻûwth
H2045 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Announcement; proclamation; the act or content of making something known publicly, particularly an official report or proclamation. The term emphasizes the communication of information or news to an audience.
Semantic Range
announcement, official report; public proclamation; act of causing something to be heard or known
Root / Etymology
From the Hebrew root שׁמע (sh-m-ʿ), meaning 'to hear, listen, pay attention,' with the causative intensive (hiphil) denominative pattern apparent in its formation. The word derives from the verb, connoting the act or effect of 'causing to be heard,' thus signifying a formal or deliberate making known of information.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term הַשְׁמָעוּת is rare in the Hebrew Bible. It typically refers to the content of what is announced or the act of proclaiming news, rather than simply the process of hearing. The root שׁמע generally pertains to hearing, listening, or obeying; the noun form in this case highlights the causative dimension—information delivered so that it may be heard by others. In terms of periodization, the word is best attested in later biblical and post-biblical Hebrew, and it appears in contexts where formal announcements—such as royal proclamations or official messages—are made. It is distinguished from more generic terms for message (e.g., דָּבָר, 'word,' 'matter') in that it foregrounds the act of public communication. In English translations, 'announcement' or 'proclamation' are fitting, but may miss the nuance of making news 'audible' or 'known.' Its appearance is notably distinct from the simple act of hearing, instead focusing on information conveyed to an audience. In post-biblical Hebrew, the term comes to mean 'meaning' or 'significance,' but this sense is not attested in the biblical context.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from שָׁמַע; announcement; to cause to hear.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שמע (sh-m-ʿ) — to hear, listen, pay attention
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3457 | יִשְׁמָא | He-will-hear |
| H3459 | יִשְׁמָעֵאלִי | the Yishmaʿelite |
| H3460 | יִשְׁמַעְיָה | and Yah-hears |
| H4927 | מִשְׁמָע | Mishma |
| H7889 | שִׁימוֹן | Shimon |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2045-01 |
לְ/הַשְׁמָע֖וּת | lehashemaut | HR/Ncfsc |
to cause to hear | for proclamation of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2045-01 |
Ezekiel 24:26 | לְ/הַשְׁמָע֖וּת | lehashemaut | HR/Ncfsc |
to cause to hear | for proclamation of |