Bible Word Study
שֵׁמַע
shêmaʻ · something heard, i.e. a sound, rumor, announcement; abstractly, audience
שֵׁמַע
something heard, i.e. a sound, rumor, announcement; abstractly, audience
Definition
The Hebrew noun שֵׁמַע (shêmaʻ) fundamentally means 'that which is heard.' It encompasses a range of related senses: a physical sound or noise (Job 28:22), a report or rumor (Exodus 23:1), news or tidings (1 Kings 10:1), and the abstract concept of a hearing or audience (Genesis 29:13). In Deuteronomy 2:25, it refers to the 'fame' or report of Israel that will spread among the nations. Thus, the word bridges the concrete act of hearing with the resulting information or reputation that circulates.
Biblical Usage
שֵׁמַע is used 17 times across narrative, legal, and poetic books. It often appears in contexts of international reputation or the spread of news, such as the report of Solomon's wisdom reaching other rulers (1 Kings 10:1, 2 Chronicles 9:1). In legal texts, it warns against spreading a false 'report' (Exodus 23:1). In narrative, it describes the act of hearing news, as when Laban heard the 'tidings' of Jacob (Genesis 29:13). Its usage underscores the power of spoken information in ancient society.
Etymology
שֵׁמַע is a noun derived from the common Hebrew root ש־מ־ע (sh-m-ʻ), the verb שָׁמַע (H8085) meaning 'to hear, listen, obey.' This root is central to the biblical concept of hearing, which implies attention and response. The noun form captures the product or object of that hearing—what is perceived or circulated.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it forms the basis for the great commandment, the 'Shema' (Deuteronomy 6:4), which uses the verb form. The noun שֵׁמַע touches on themes of divine communication and human responsibility. God's acts create a 'report' or 'fame' among the nations (Deuteronomy 2:25), and believers are to be careful with the 'reports' they accept and spread (Exodus 23:1). Understanding it enriches reading by connecting the act of hearing God to the content and consequences of that message in the community. In an ancient oral culture, a שֵׁמַע was a primary vehicle for information. There were no mass media; reputation, news, and legal testimony spread by word of mouth. A 'report' carried significant weight and could shape perceptions and decisions, making the warning against false reports in Exodus 23:1 a crucial social and legal safeguard. This contrasts with today's era of instant, verifiable (and often overwhelming) digital information. קוֹל (qôl, H6963) — a voice or sound; more often the physical sound itself, whereas שֵׁמַע is the content heard. דָּבָר (dāḇār, H1697) — a word, matter, or thing; broader, not specifically tied to the act of hearing. שְׁמוּעָה (shᵊmûʿâ, H8052) — a report or news; a very close synonym, sometimes used interchangeably.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]