שֶׁ֫מַע (she.ma)
she.ma
sound; report
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 15 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun shema refers to the physical phenomenon of sound or the resulting report that travels through the air. In the Hebrew Bible, it denotes an audible noise or a message conveyed by hearing, distinct from the internal act of listening. With only fifteen occurrences, this specific form appears primarily in poetic and prophetic texts such as Isaiah, Job, and Jeremiah.
Its usage often highlights the tangible nature of auditory experience. For instance, Psalm 150:5 employs it to describe the resonant sounds made by musical instruments, grounding worship in sensory reality. In prophetic contexts, it can signify a report or rumor that spreads among people, emphasizing how information travels as an external event rather than just an internal thought.
This word stands in contrast to shemoa (H8085), which focuses on the obedience or attention of the listener. While shemoa is about the heart’s response, shema is about the signal itself—the noise that exists independently of whether anyone chooses to heed it. It reminds readers that God often speaks through events and voices that are objectively present in the world.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
This word reminds us that God’s presence is not hidden or abstract; it is something we can actually hear and sense. When Scripture speaks of His fame or a report spreading, it points to real events that touch our daily lives. You do not need to search for a secret signal. The news of what God has done is often right in front of us, waiting to be noticed.
Consider how the queen of Sheba traveled far because she heard about Solomon’s wisdom. That report was not just a whisper; it was a tangible reality that changed her path. Similarly, when we hear of God’s faithfulness in history or in our own stories, those sounds invite us to respond. We are invited to pay attention to the voices and events around us.
It is comforting to know that God uses audible signs to connect with people. Whether it is a warning, a promise, or a song of praise, these reports ground our faith in reality. You can trust that what you hear from Him is true and purposeful. Let your heart be open to the sounds of His grace.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 15 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- report/ your3×
- [the] report of3×
- report/ their2×
- to/ [the] hearing of1×
- sound1×
- report/ my1×
- report/ its1×
- like/ [the] report of1×
- according to/ a report1×
- a report of1×
- a report1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שֵׁ֣מַע2×
- שָׁ֑מַע1×
- שֵׁ֥מַע1×
- שֵׁ֣מַע\׀1×
- שֵׁ֖מַע1×
- שִׁמְעָֽ/הּ\׃1×
- שִׁמְעָ֖/ם1×
- שִׁמְעָ֔/ם1×
- שִׁמְעִ/י֙1×
- שִׁמְעֲ/ךָ֮1×
- שִׁמְעֲ/ךָ֖1×
- שִׁמְעֲ/ךָ֔1×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 150:5
Praise him with loud cymbals! Praise him with resounding cymbals!
This verse uses the word to describe the loud, resonant sound of cymbals, grounding worship in physical reality rather than just internal thought.
-
Job 42:5
I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you.
Here the word highlights the shift from second-hand information ('heard by the hearing of the ear') to direct, personal experience of God.
-
Isaiah 23:5
When the report comes to Egypt, they will be in anguish at the report of Tyre.
The report of Tyre’s fall reaches Egypt as a tangible event that causes immediate anguish, showing how news travels and impacts nations.
-
Habakkuk 3:2
Yahweh, I have heard of your fame. I stand in awe of your deeds, Yahweh. Renew your work in the middle of the years. In the middle of the years make it known. In wrath, you remember mercy.
The prophet states he has 'heard of your fame,' acknowledging the established reputation of God’s mighty deeds before asking for their renewal.