שְׁמַע (she.ma)
she.ma
Shema
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The proper noun Shema identifies a specific town located in the southern region of Judah, near the border with Edom. It appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, within the tribal allotment descriptions of Joshua 15:26. The name itself derives from the root meaning "to hear" or "sound," linking this geographical marker to the auditory concepts common in Semitic naming traditions.
While the verb shama is widely known for its theological weight regarding obedience, this particular entry serves a purely topographical function. It marks a boundary point in the detailed census of tribal lands, reminding readers that the Promised Land was divided into concrete, named communities rather than abstract territory.
Translators typically leave the name as Shema or Semah to preserve its identity as a place. Its singular occurrence highlights the meticulous nature of the land distribution records, ensuring that every settlement, no matter how small or remote, was officially recognized in the tribal inheritance.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Shema appears in the detailed list of towns assigned to Judah in Joshua 15:26. This single mention places it near the border with Edom, marking a specific point in the land distribution. It reminds us that God’s promises were not abstract ideas but involved real places and real people.
While the name shares a root with the common word for hearing or obeying, here it functions simply as a geographical marker. This highlights the care taken in recording the inheritance of Israel. Every town, no matter how small, was counted and named.
This detail shows that God knows the specifics of our lives. Just as every place was recorded, every part of your journey is known to Him. You are not forgotten in the grand narrative of Scripture.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ Shema1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וּ/שְׁמַ֖ע1×
Key Verses
-
Joshua 15:26
Amam, Shema, Moladah,
This verse lists Shema among other towns, showing it was a recognized settlement in Judah's southern territory.