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שֵׁמַע

𐤔𐤌𐤏

shêmaʻ

H8088 noun

SILEX Entry

Root שׁמע to hear, listen, obey

Definition

An utterance or information that is heard; specifically, a report, message, announcement, or news. The term can refer to something heard in the sense of a report, proclamation, or rumor, whether oral or written, and may encompass the act of receiving information by hearing. In abstract usage, it can denote attention given to what is heard (audience). The semantic range includes any content communicated audibly, whether as news, fame, reputation, or public proclamation.

Semantic Range

report, message, news, proclamation, announcement, rumor, fame, reputation, audience, content heard, speech, tidings

Root / Etymology

From the root שׁמע (sh-m-ʻ), meaning 'to hear, listen, obey.' The noun שֵׁמַע is a derivative form indicating that which is heard—i.e., a report, announcement, or proclamation. The shift from the verb 'to hear' to the noun meaning 'news, report' is a typical nominalization in Hebrew.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, שֵׁמַע generally refers to the content of communication that is received by hearing—often a formal proclamation, message, or report, whether of human or divine origin. The range of usage can include both reliable news and unsubstantiated rumor, depending on context. The word is not the standard term for 'voice' (קוֹל, qôl), nor for 'word/speech' (דָּבָר, davar), but focuses on the communicative aspect of 'that which has been heard.' In post-monarchic and post-exilic contexts, the drift toward the notion of 'fame' or 'renown' is sometimes evident, particularly where individuals’ reputations are at stake. English translations vary; words such as 'report,' 'news,' 'rumor,' 'announcement,' and occasionally 'fame' or 'reputation' are used, but not all capture the nuance that the Hebrew conveys about the process of communication and reception by hearing. The famous phrase 'Shema Yisrael' ('Hear, O Israel') uses the imperative form of the verb and is distinct from this nominal usage.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from שָׁמַע; something heard, i.e. a sound, rumor, announcement; abstractly, audience; bruit, fame, hear(-ing), loud, report, speech, tidings.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שׁמע (sh-m-ʿ) — hear, listen, obey

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

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H8088-04 שֵׁ֣מַע shema HNcmsc a report Hear! 5
H8088-06 שִׁמְעֲ/ךָ֖ shimeakha HNcmsc/Sp2ms the report about you your report 4
H8088-07 שִׁמְעָ֔/ם shimeam HNcmsc/Sp3mp report of them their report 2
H8088-01 כְּ/שֵׁ֥מַע keshema HR/Ncmsc at the report as report of 2
H8088-02 לְ/שֵׁ֣מַֽע leshema HR/Ncmsc by the hearing for a report of 2
H8088-03 שָׁ֑מַע shama HNcmsa of sound he heard 1
H8088-08 שִׁמְעִ/י֙ shimei HNcmsc/Sp1cs my fame Yahweh-has-heard 1
H8088-05 שִׁמְעָֽ/הּ shimeah HNcmsc/Sp3fs its report Hearer 1

Occurrences in Scripture

18 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H8088-04 Genesis 29:13 שֵׁ֣מַע shema HNcmsc the news/report Hear!
H8088-04 Exodus 23:1 שֵׁ֣מַע shema HNcmsc a report Hear!
H8088-06 Numbers 14:15 שִׁמְעֲ/ךָ֖ shimeakha HNcmsc/Sp2ms your-report your report
H8088-06 Deuteronomy 2:25 שִׁמְעֲ/ךָ֔ shimeakha HNcmsc/Sp2ms the report of you your report
H8088-04 1 Kings 10:1 שֵׁ֥מַע shema HNcmsc the-report Hear!
H8088-04 Isaiah 23:5 שֵׁ֖מַע shema HNcmsa the report [reaches] Hear!
H8088-01 Isaiah 23:5 כְּ/שֵׁ֥מַע keshema HR/Ncmsc at the report as report of
H8088-08 Isaiah 66:19 שִׁמְעִ/י֙ shimei HNcmsc/Sp1cs my fame Yahweh-has-heard
H8088-07 Jeremiah 37:5 שִׁמְעָ֔/ם shimeam HNcmsc/Sp3mp the report of them their report
H8088-07 Jeremiah 50:43 שִׁמְעָ֖/ם shimeam HNcmsc/Sp3mp report of them their report
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