שָׁמַע
to hear
also: listen to, obey fuller range ↓
H8085
Strong's Hebrew
shâmaʻ
Transliteration
/shaw-mah'/
Pronunciation
Usage in the Hebrew Bible
1,165
appearances
Full lexicon entry — Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)
From Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)
BDB Definition
to hear, listen to, obey (verb)
- (Qal)
- to hear (perceive by ear)
- to hear of or concerning
- to hear (have power to hear)
- to hear with attention or interest, listen to
- to understand (language)
- to hear (of judicial cases)
- to listen, give heed
- to consent, agree
- to grant request
- to listen to, yield to
- to obey, be obedient
- (Niphal)
- to be heard (of voice or sound)
- to be heard of
- to be regarded, be obeyed
- (Piel) to cause to hear, call to hear, summon
- (Hiphil)
- to cause to hear, tell, proclaim, utter a sound
- to sound aloud (musical term)
- to make proclamation, summon
- to cause to be heard
- sound (noun masculine)
Where this word appears
See every Qal verb in the Hebrew Bible →
Grammar key — what these labels mean
Part of speech
- Verb
- An action or state-of-being word.
Stem
- Qal
- The basic, simple active stem — the plain form of the verb (“he wrote”). Here: ‘subj. pers. hum.’
- Niphal
- Usually the simple passive or reflexive of the Qal (“he was written”). Here: ‘be heard’
- Hiphil
- The causative active stem (“he caused / brought about”). Here: ‘of man’
- Piel
- An intensive or resultative active stem.
Form
- Imperative
- A direct command (“write!”).
- Sequential Imperfect
- An imperfect with prefixed waw — the standard past-narrative form (waw-consecutive imperfect).
- Infinitive Construct
- A bound verbal noun, frequently with prepositions (“to write / in writing”).
- Perfect
- A completed action or state — Hebrew marks aspect (completeness) more than strict tense (“he wrote”).
- Imperfect
- An incomplete, ongoing, or future action (“he will / would write”).
- Participle Active
- A verbal adjective expressing ongoing or characteristic action (“writing / one who writes”).
- Sequential Perfect
- A perfect with prefixed waw continuing a preceding imperfect or command (waw-consecutive perfect).
- Infinitive Absolute
- An unbound verbal noun, often intensifying or standing in for a finite verb.
- Jussive
- A third- or second-person volitional form expressing wish or command (“let him write”).
- Cohortative
- A first-person volitional form expressing wish or resolve (“let me / let us write”).
- Participle Passive
- A verbal adjective expressing action received (“written”).
State
- Absolute
- The independent form of a noun, not bound to a following word.
- Construct
- A noun bound to a following noun in a possessive / “of” relationship (the construct chain).
Person
- 2nd Person
- The one addressed (“you”).
- 3rd Person
- The one spoken about (“he / she / it / they”).
- 1st Person
- The speaker (“I / we”).
Gender
- Masculine
- Grammatically masculine.
- Common
- Either gender — not distinguished for this form.
- Feminine
- Grammatically feminine.
Number
- Plural
- More than one (in Hebrew, generally three or more).
- Singular
- One.
Grammatical forms 83 distinct
- Verb, Qal, Infinitive Construct 128 times (11%)
- Verb, Qal, Imperative, 2nd Person, Masculine, Plural 107 times (9%)
- Verb, Qal, Sequential Imperfect, 3rd Person, Masculine, Singular 88 times (8%)
- Verb, Qal, Imperative, 2nd Person, Masculine, Singular 85 times (7%)
- Verb, Qal, Perfect, 3rd Person, Common, Plural 66 times (6%)
- Verb, Qal, Perfect, 3rd Person, Masculine, Singular 65 times (6%)
- Verb, Qal, Perfect, 1st Person, Common, Singular 51 times (4%)
- Verb, Qal, Imperfect, 2nd Person, Masculine, Singular 41 times (4%)
+75 more forms (534 occurrences)
Parsed forms decoded from the imported morphology (morphhb / Westminster Leningrad Codex — WLC text public domain, morphhb tagging CC BY 4.0), counted across 1,165 parsed occurrences — not distinct verses.
Page 4 of 6 — showing verses 601–800 of 1,072 distinct verses where H8085 appears, across 39 books. Click any verse to open its interlinear word-by-word view. Verse text shown in the World English Bible for context — . Each verse’s Hebrew form is shown with its reference; the English is not keyword-highlighted, since the data carries no word-level English alignment. Use “Compare translations” on any verse to read it across multiple English versions. This concordance covers the Hebrew Bible; Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) occurrences are not indexed here.
Psalms 78 verses
- Psalms 30:10 שְׁמַע Qal impv 2ms Hear, Yahweh, and have mercy on me. Yahweh, be my helper."
- Psalms 31:13 שָׁמַ֨עְתִּי Qal pf 1cs For I have heard the slander of many, terror on every side, While they conspire together against me, They plot to take away my life.
- Psalms 31:22 שָׁ֭מַעְתָּ Qal pf 2ms As for me, I said in my haste, "I am cut off from before your eyes." Nevertheless you heard the voice of my petitions when I cried to you.
- Psalms 34:2 יִשְׁמְע֖וּ Qal impf 3mp My soul shall boast in Yahweh. The humble shall hear of it, and be glad.
- Psalms 34:6 שָׁמֵ֑עַ Qal pf 3ms This poor man cried, and Yahweh heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles.
- Psalms 34:11 שִׁמְעוּ Qal impv 2mp Come, you children, listen to me. I will teach you the fear of Yahweh.
- Psalms 34:17 שָׁמֵ֑עַ Qal pf 3ms The righteous cry, and Yahweh hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles.
- Psalms 38:13 אֶשְׁמָ֑ע Qal impf 1cs But I, as a deaf man, don't hear. I am as a mute man who doesn't open his mouth.
- Psalms 38:14 שֹׁמֵ֑עַ Qal ptcp.act ms Yes, I am as a man who doesn't hear, In whose mouth are no reproofs.
- Psalms 39:12 שִֽׁמְעָ֥/ה Qal impv 2ms + sfx h "Hear my prayer, Yahweh, and give ear to my cry. Don't be silent at my tears. For I am a stranger with you, A foreigner, as all my fathers were.
- Psalms 40:1 וַ/יִּשְׁמַ֥ע conj + Qal wimpf 3ms I waited patiently for Yahweh. He turned to me, and heard my cry.
- Psalms 44:1 שָׁמַ֗עְנוּ Qal pf 1cp We have heard with our ears, God; Our fathers have told us, What work you did in their days, In the days of old.
- Psalms 45:10 שִׁמְעִי Qal impv 2fs Listen, daughter, consider, and turn your ear. Forget your own people, and also your father's house.
- Psalms 48:8 שָׁמַ֨עְנוּ Qal pf 1cp As we have heard, so we have seen, In the city of Yahweh of Hosts, in the city of our God. God will establish it forever. Selah.
- Psalms 49:1 שִׁמְעוּ Qal impv 2mp Hear this, all you peoples. Listen, all you inhabitants of the world,
- Psalms 50:7 שִׁמְעָ֤/ה Qal impv 2ms + sfx h "Hear, my people, and I will speak; Israel, and I will testify against you. I am God, your God.
- Psalms 51:8 תַּ֭שְׁמִיעֵ/נִי Hiphil impf 2ms + sfx pers 1cs Let me hear joy and gladness, That the bones which you have broken may rejoice.
- Psalms 54:2 שְׁמַ֣ע Qal impv 2ms Hear my prayer, God. Listen to the words of my mouth.
- Psalms 55:17 וַ/יִּשְׁמַ֥ע conj + Qal wimpf 3ms Evening, morning, and at noon, I will cry out in distress. He will hear my voice.
- Psalms 55:19 יִשְׁמַ֤ע Qal impf 3ms God, who is enthroned forever, Will hear, and answer them. Selah. They never change, Who don't fear God.
- Psalms 58:5 יִ֭שְׁמַע Qal impf 3ms Which doesn't listen to the voice of charmers, No matter how skillful the charmer may be.
- Psalms 59:7 שֹׁמֵֽעַ Qal ptcp.act ms Behold, they spew with their mouth. Swords are in their lips, "For," they say, "who hears us?"
- Psalms 61:1 שִׁמְעָ֣/ה Qal impv 2ms + sfx h Hear my cry, God. Listen to my prayer.
- Psalms 61:5 שָׁמַ֣עְתָּ Qal pf 2ms For you, God, have heard my vows. You have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.
- Psalms 62:11 שָׁמָ֑עְתִּי Qal pf 1cs God has spoken once, Twice I have heard this, That power belongs to God.
- Psalms 64:1 שְׁמַע Qal impv 2ms Hear my voice, God, in my complaint. Preserve my life from fear of the enemy.
- Psalms 65:2 שֹׁמֵ֥עַ Qal ptcp.act ms cs You who hear prayer, To you all men will come.
- Psalms 66:8 וְ֝/הַשְׁמִ֗יעוּ conj + Hiphil impv 2mp Praise our God, you peoples! Make the sound of his praise heard,
- Psalms 66:16 שִׁמְע֣וּ Qal impv 2mp Come, and hear, all you who fear God. I will declare what he has done for my soul.
- Psalms 66:18 יִשְׁמַ֣ע Qal impf 3ms If I cherished sin in my heart, The Lord wouldn't have listened.
- Psalms 66:19 שָׁמַ֣ע Qal pf 3ms But most assuredly, God has listened. He has heard the voice of my prayer.
- Psalms 69:33 שֹׁמֵ֣עַ Qal ptcp.act ms For Yahweh hears the needy, And doesn't despise his captive people.
- Psalms 76:8 הִשְׁמַ֣עְתָּ Hiphil pf 2ms You pronounced judgment from heaven. The earth feared, and was silent,
- Psalms 78:3 שָׁ֭מַעְנוּ Qal pf 1cp Which we have heard and known, And our fathers have told us.
- Psalms 78:21 שָׁמַ֥ע Qal pf 3ms Therefore Yahweh heard, and was angry. A fire was kindled against Jacob, Anger also went up against Israel,
- Psalms 78:59 שָׁמַ֣ע Qal pf 3ms When God heard this, he was angry, And greatly abhorred Israel;
- Psalms 81:5 אֶשְׁמָֽע Qal impf 1cs He appointed it in Joseph for a testimony, When he went out over the land of Egypt, I heard a language that I didn't know.
- Psalms 81:8 שְׁמַ֣ע תִּֽשְׁמַֽע Qal impv 2ms Qal impf 2ms "Hear, my people, and I will testify to you, Israel, if you would listen to me!
- Psalms 81:11 שָׁמַ֣ע Qal pf 3ms But my people didn't listen to my voice. Israel desired none of me.
- Psalms 81:13 שֹׁמֵ֣עַֽ Qal ptcp.act ms Oh that my people would listen to me, That Israel would walk in my ways!
- Psalms 84:8 שִׁמְעָ֣/ה Qal impv 2ms + sfx h Yahweh, God of hosts, hear my prayer. Listen, God of Jacob. Selah.
- Psalms 85:8 אֶשְׁמְעָ֗ה Qal coh 1cs I will hear what God, Yahweh, will speak, For he will speak peace to his people, his saints; But let them not turn again to folly.
- Psalms 92:11 תִּשְׁמַ֥עְנָה Qal impf 3fp My eye has also seen my enemies. My ears have heard of the wicked enemies who rise up against me.
- Psalms 94:9 יִשְׁמָ֑ע Qal impf 3ms He who implanted the ear, won't he hear? He who formed the eye, won't he see?
- Psalms 95:7 תִשְׁמָֽעוּ Qal impf 2mp For he is our God. We are the people of his pasture, And the sheep in his care. Today, oh that you would hear his voice!
- Psalms 97:8 שָׁמְעָ֬ה Qal pf 3fs Zion heard and was glad. The daughters of Judah rejoiced, Because of your judgments, Yahweh.
- Psalms 102:1 שִׁמְעָ֣/ה Qal impv 2ms + sfx h Hear my prayer, Yahweh! Let my cry come to you.
- Psalms 102:20 לִ֭/שְׁמֹעַ prep + Qal inf.cs To hear the groans of the prisoner; To free those who are condemned to death;
- Psalms 103:20 לִ֝/שְׁמֹ֗עַ prep + Qal inf.cs Praise Yahweh, you angels of his, Who are mighty in strength, who fulfill his word, Obeying the voice of his word.
- Psalms 106:2 יַ֝שְׁמִ֗יעַ Hiphil impf 3ms Who can utter the mighty acts of Yahweh, Or fully declare all his praise?
- Psalms 106:25 שָׁ֝מְע֗וּ Qal pf 3cp But murmured in their tents, And didn't listen to Yahweh's voice.
- Psalms 106:44 בְּ֝/שָׁמְע֗/וֹ prep + Qal inf.cs + sfx pers 3ms Nevertheless he regarded their distress, When he heard their cry.
- Psalms 115:6 יִשְׁמָ֑עוּ Qal impf 3mp They have ears, but they don't hear; They have noses, but they don't smell;
- Psalms 116:1 יִשְׁמַ֥ע Qal impf 3ms I love Yahweh, because he listens to my voice, And my cries for mercy.
- Psalms 119:149 שִׁמְעָ֣/ה Qal impv 2ms + sfx h Hear my voice according to your loving kindness. Revive me, Yahweh, according to your ordinances.
- Psalms 130:2 שִׁמְעָ֪/ה Qal impv 2ms + sfx h Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my petitions.
- Psalms 132:6 שְׁמַֽעֲנ֥וּ/הָ Qal pf 1cp + sfx pers 3fs Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah. We found it in the field of Jaar:
- Psalms 138:4 שָׁ֝מְע֗וּ Qal pf 3cp All the kings of the earth will give you thanks, Yahweh, For they have heard the words of your mouth.
- Psalms 141:6 וְ/שָׁמְע֥וּ conj + Qal wpf 3cp Their judges are thrown down by the sides of the rock. They will hear my words, for they are well spoken.
- Psalms 143:1 שְׁמַ֬ע Qal impv 2ms Hear my prayer, Yahweh. Listen to my petitions. In your faithfulness and righteousness, relieve me.
- Psalms 143:8 הַשְׁמִ֘יעֵ֤/נִי Hiphil impv 2ms + sfx pers 1cs Cause me to hear your loving kindness in the morning, For I trust in you. Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to you.
- Psalms 145:19 יִ֝שְׁמַ֗ע Qal impf 3ms He will fulfill the desire of those who fear him. He also will hear their cry, and will save them.
Proverbs 30 verses
- Proverbs 1:5 יִשְׁמַ֣ע Qal impf 3ms That the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; That the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel:
- Proverbs 1:8 שְׁמַ֣ע Qal impv 2ms My son, listen to your father's instruction, And don't forsake your mother's teaching:
- Proverbs 1:33 וְ/שֹׁמֵ֣עַֽ conj + Qal ptcp.act ms But whoever listens to me will dwell securely, And will be at ease, without fear of harm."
- Proverbs 4:1 שִׁמְע֣וּ Qal impv 2mp Listen, sons, to a father's instruction. Pay attention and know understanding;
- Proverbs 4:10 שְׁמַ֣ע Qal impv 2ms Listen, my son, and receive my sayings. The years of your life will be many.
- Proverbs 5:7 שִׁמְעוּ Qal impv 2mp Now therefore, my sons, listen to me. Don't depart from the words of my mouth.
- Proverbs 5:13 שָׁ֭מַעְתִּי Qal pf 1cs Neither have I obeyed the voice of my teachers, Nor turned my ear to those who instructed me!
- Proverbs 7:24 שִׁמְעוּ Qal impv 2mp Now therefore, sons, listen to me. Pay attention to the words of my mouth.
- Proverbs 8:6 שִׁ֭מְעוּ Qal impv 2mp Hear, for I will speak excellent things. The opening of my lips is for right things.
- Proverbs 8:32 שִׁמְעוּ Qal impv 2mp "Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, For blessed are those who keep my ways.
- Proverbs 8:33 שִׁמְע֖וּ Qal impv 2mp Hear instruction, and be wise. Don't refuse it.
- Proverbs 8:34 שֹׁמֵ֪עַֽ֫ Qal ptcp.act ms Blessed is the man who hears me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at my door posts.
- Proverbs 12:15 וְ/שֹׁמֵ֖עַ conj + Qal ptcp.act ms The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But he who is wise listens to counsel.
- Proverbs 13:1 שָׁמַ֥ע Qal pf 3ms A wise son listens to his father's instruction, But a scoffer doesn't listen to rebuke.
- Proverbs 13:8 שָׁמַ֥ע Qal pf 3ms The ransom of a man's life is his riches, But the poor hear no threats.
- Proverbs 15:29 יִשְׁמָֽע Qal impf 3ms Yahweh is far from the wicked, But he hears the prayer of the righteous.
- Proverbs 15:31 שֹׁ֭מַעַת Qal ptcp.act fs cs The ear that listens to reproof lives, And will be at home among the wise.
- Proverbs 15:32 וְ/שׁוֹמֵ֥עַ conj + Qal ptcp.act ms He who refuses correction despises his own soul, But he who listens to reproof gets understanding.
- Proverbs 18:13 יִשְׁמָ֑ע Qal impf 3ms He who gives answer before he hears, That is folly and shame to him.
- Proverbs 19:20 שְׁמַ֣ע Qal impv 2ms Listen to counsel and receive instruction, That you may be wise in your latter end.
- Proverbs 19:27 לִ/שְׁמֹ֣עַ prep + Qal inf.cs If you stop listening to instruction, my son, You will stray from the words of knowledge.
- Proverbs 20:12 שֹׁ֭מַעַת Qal ptcp.act fs The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Yahweh has made even both of them.
- Proverbs 21:28 שׁ֝וֹמֵ֗עַ Qal ptcp.act ms A false witness will perish, And a man who listens speaks to eternity.
- Proverbs 22:17 וּ֭/שְׁמַע conj + Qal impv 2ms Turn your ear, and listen to the words of the wise. Apply your heart to my teaching.
- Proverbs 23:19 שְׁמַע Qal impv 2ms Listen, my son, and be wise, And keep your heart on the right path!
- Proverbs 23:22 שְׁמַ֣ע Qal impv 2ms Listen to your father who gave you life, And don't despise your mother when she is old.
- Proverbs 25:10 שֹׁמֵ֑עַ Qal ptcp.act ms Lest one who hears it put you to shame, And your bad reputation never depart.
- Proverbs 25:12 שֹׁמָֽעַת Qal ptcp.act fs As an ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, So is a wise reprover to an obedient ear.
- Proverbs 28:9 מִ/שְּׁמֹ֣עַ prep + Qal inf.cs He who turns away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination.
- Proverbs 29:24 יִ֝שְׁמַ֗ע Qal impf 3ms Whoever is an accomplice of a thief is an enemy of his own soul. He takes an oath, but dares not testify.
Ecclesiastes 7 verses
- Ecclesiastes 1:8 מִ/שְּׁמֹֽעַ prep + Qal inf.cs All things are full of weariness beyond uttering. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
- Ecclesiastes 5:1 לִ/שְׁמֹ֔עַ prep + Qal inf.cs Guard your steps when you go to God's house; for to draw near to listen is better than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they don't know that they do evil.
- Ecclesiastes 7:5 לִ/שְׁמֹ֖עַ שֹׁמֵ֖עַ prep + Qal inf.cs Qal ptcp.act ms It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
- Ecclesiastes 7:21 תִשְׁמַ֥ע Qal impf 2ms Also don't take heed to all words that are spoken, lest you hear your servant curse you;
- Ecclesiastes 9:16 נִשְׁמָעִֽים Niphal ptcp.pass mp Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength. Nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.
- Ecclesiastes 9:17 נִשְׁמָעִ֑ים Niphal ptcp.pass mp The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the cry of him who rules among fools.
- Ecclesiastes 12:13 נִשְׁמָ֑ע Niphal pf 3ms This is the end of the matter. All has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.
Song of Solomon 3 verses
- Song of Solomon 2:12 נִשְׁמַ֥ע Niphal pf 3ms The flowers appear on the earth; The time of the singing has come, And the voice of the turtle-dove is heard in our land.
- Song of Solomon 2:14 הַשְׁמִיעִ֖י/נִי Hiphil impv 2fs + sfx pers 1cs My dove in the clefts of the rock, In the hiding places of the mountainside, Let me see your face. Let me hear your voice; For your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.
- Song of Solomon 8:13 הַשְׁמִיעִֽי/נִי Hiphil impv 2fs + sfx pers 1cs You who dwell in the gardens, with friends in attendance, Let me hear your voice! Beloved
Isaiah 95 verses
- Isaiah 1:2 שִׁמְע֤וּ Qal impv 2mp Hear, heavens, And listen, earth; for Yahweh has spoken: I have nourished and brought up children, And they have rebelled against me.
- Isaiah 1:10 שִׁמְע֥וּ Qal impv 2mp Hear the word of Yahweh, you rulers of Sodom! Listen to the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah!
- Isaiah 1:15 שֹׁמֵ֑עַ Qal ptcp.act ms When you spread forth your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; Yes, when you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood.
- Isaiah 1:19 וּ/שְׁמַעְתֶּ֑ם conj + Qal wpf 2mp If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land;
- Isaiah 6:8 וָ/אֶשְׁמַ֞ע conj + Qal wimpf 1cs I heard the Lord's voice, saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Then I said, "Here I am. Send me!"
- Isaiah 6:9 שִׁמְע֤וּ שָׁמ֨וֹעַ֙ Qal impv 2mp Qal inf.abs He said, "Go, and tell this people, 'You hear indeed, But don't understand; And you see indeed, But don't perceive.'
- Isaiah 6:10 יִשְׁמָ֗ע Qal impf 3ms Make the heart of this people fat; Make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; Lest they see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And turn again, and be healed."
- Isaiah 7:13 שִׁמְעוּ Qal impv 2mp He said, "Listen now, house of David: Is it not enough for you to try the patience of men, that you will try the patience of my God also?
- Isaiah 15:4 נִשְׁמַ֣ע Niphal pf 3ms Heshbon cries out, and Elealeh; their voice is heard even to Jahaz: therefore the armed men of Moab cry aloud; his soul trembles within him.
- Isaiah 16:6 שָׁמַ֥עְנוּ Qal pf 1cp We have heard of the pride of Moab, [that] he is very proud; even of his arrogance, and his pride, and his wrath; his boastings are nothing.
- Isaiah 18:3 תִּשְׁמָֽעוּ Qal impf 2mp All you inhabitants of the world, and you dwellers on the earth, when an ensign is lifted up on the mountains, look; and when the trumpet is blown, listen.
- Isaiah 21:3 מִ/שְּׁמֹ֔עַ prep + Qal inf.cs Therefore are my loins filled with anguish; pangs have taken hold on me, as the pangs of a woman in travail: I am pained so that I can't hear; I am dismayed so that I can't see.
- Isaiah 21:10 שָׁמַ֗עְתִּי Qal pf 1cs You my threshing, and the grain of my floor! that which I have heard from Yahweh of hosts, the God of Israel, have I declared to you.
- Isaiah 24:16 שָׁמַ֨עְנוּ֙ Qal pf 1cp From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs: Glory to the righteous. But I said, I pine away, I pine away, woe is me! the treacherous have dealt treacherously; yes, the treacherous have dealt very treacherously.
- Isaiah 28:12 שְׁמֽוֹעַ Qal inf.cs to whom he said, This is the rest, give you rest to him who is weary; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
- Isaiah 28:14 שִׁמְע֥וּ Qal impv 2mp Why hear the word of Yahweh, you scoffers, that rule this people that is in Jerusalem:
- Isaiah 28:22 שָׁמַ֗עְתִּי Qal pf 1cs Now therefore don't you be scoffers, lest your bonds be made strong; for a decree of destruction have I heard from the Lord, Yahweh of Hosts, on the whole earth.
- Isaiah 28:23 וְ/שִׁמְע֖וּ וְ/שִׁמְע֖וּ conj + Qal impv 2mp conj + Qal impv 2mp Give you ear, and hear my voice; listen, and hear my speech.
- Isaiah 29:18 וְ/שָׁמְע֧וּ conj + Qal wpf 3cp In that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness.
- Isaiah 30:9 שְׁמ֖וֹעַ Qal inf.cs For it is a rebellious people, lying children, children who will not hear the law of Yahweh;
- Isaiah 30:19 כְּ/שָׁמְעָת֖/וֹ prep + Qal inf.cs + sfx pers 3ms For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem; you shall weep no more; he will surely be gracious to you at the voice of your cry; when he shall hear, he will answer you.
- Isaiah 30:21 תִּשְׁמַ֣עְנָה Qal impf 3fp and your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way, walk you in it; when you turn to the right hand, and when you turn to the left.
- Isaiah 30:30 וְ/הִשְׁמִ֨יעַ conj + Hiphil wpf 3ms Yahweh will cause his glorious voice to be heard, and will show the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of [his] anger, and the flame of a devouring fire, with a blast, and tempest, and hailstones.
- Isaiah 32:3 שֹׁמְעִ֖ים Qal ptcp.act mp The eyes of those who see shall not be dim, and the ears of those who hear shall listen.
- Isaiah 32:9 שְׁמַ֣עְנָה Qal impv 2fp Rise up, you women who are at ease, [and] hear my voice; you careless daughters, give ear to my speech.
- Isaiah 33:13 שִׁמְע֥וּ Qal impv 2mp Hear, you who are far off, what I have done; and, you who are near, acknowledge my might.
- Isaiah 33:15 מִ/שְּׁמֹ֣עַ prep + Qal inf.cs He who walks righteously, and speaks blamelessly; he who despises the gain of oppressions, who shakes his hands from taking a bribe, who stops his ears from hearing of blood, and shuts his eyes from looking on evil:
- Isaiah 33:19 מִ/שְּׁמ֔וֹעַ prep + Qal inf.cs You shall not see the fierce people, a people of a deep speech that you can not comprehend, of a strange language that you can not understand.
- Isaiah 34:1 לִ/שְׁמֹ֔עַ תִּשְׁמַ֤ע prep + Qal inf.cs Qal impf 3fs Come near, you nations, to hear; and listen, you peoples: let the earth hear, and the fullness of it; the world, and all things that come forth from it.
- Isaiah 36:11 שֹׁמְעִ֖ים Qal ptcp.act mp Then said Eliakim and Shebna and Joah to Rabshakeh, Please speak, to your servants in the Syrian language; for we understand it: and don't speak to us in the Jews' language, in the ears of the people who are on the wall.
- Isaiah 36:13 שִׁמְע֗וּ Qal impv 2mp Then Rabshakeh stood, and cried with a loud voice in the Jews' language, and said, Hear you the words of the great king, the king of Assyria.
- Isaiah 36:16 תִּשְׁמְע֖וּ Qal juss 2mp Don't listen to Hezekiah: for thus says the king of Assyria, Make your peace with me, and come out to me; and eat you everyone of his vine, and everyone of his fig tree, and drink you everyone the waters of his own cistern;
- Isaiah 37:1 כִּ/שְׁמֹ֨עַ֙ prep + Qal inf.cs It happened, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he tore his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of Yahweh.
- Isaiah 37:4 יִשְׁמַע֩ שָׁמַ֖ע Qal impf 3ms Qal pf 3ms It may be Yahweh your God will hear the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master has sent to defy the living God, and will rebuke the words which Yahweh your God has heard. Therefore lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left.
- Isaiah 37:6 שָׁמַ֔עְתָּ Qal pf 2ms Isaiah said to them, Thus shall you tell your master, Thus says Yahweh, Don't be afraid of the words that you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me.
- Isaiah 37:7 וְ/שָׁמַ֥ע conj + Qal wpf 3ms Behold, I will put a spirit in him, and he shall hear news, and shall return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.
- Isaiah 37:8 שָׁמַ֔ע Qal pf 3ms So Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah; for he had heard that he was departed from Lachish.
- Isaiah 37:9 וַ/יִּשְׁמַ֗ע וַ/יִּשְׁמַע֙ conj + Qal wimpf 3ms conj + Qal wimpf 3ms He heard say concerning Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, He is come out to fight against you. When he heard it, he sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying,
- Isaiah 37:11 שָׁמַ֗עְתָּ Qal pf 2ms Behold, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, by destroying them utterly: and shall you be delivered?
- Isaiah 37:17 וּֽ/שְׁמָ֔ע וּ/שְׁמַ֗ע conj + Qal impv 2ms conj + Qal impv 2ms Turn your ear, Yahweh, and hear; open your eyes, Yahweh, and behold; and hear all the words of Sennacherib, who has sent to defy the living God.
- Isaiah 37:26 שָׁמַ֤עְתָּ Qal pf 2ms Have you not heard how I have done it long ago, and formed it of ancient times? now have I brought it to pass, that it should be your to lay waste fortified cities into ruinous heaps.
- Isaiah 38:5 שָׁמַ֨עְתִּי֙ Qal pf 1cs Go, and tell Hezekiah, Thus says Yahweh, the God of David your father, I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears: behold, I will add to your days fifteen years.
- Isaiah 39:1 וַ/יִּשְׁמַ֕ע conj + Qal wimpf 3ms At that time Merodach Baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah; for he heard that he had been sick, and was recovered.
- Isaiah 39:5 שְׁמַ֖ע Qal impv 2ms Then said Isaiah to Hezekiah, Hear the word of Yahweh of Hosts:
- Isaiah 40:21 תִשְׁמָ֔עוּ Qal impf 2mp Have you not known? have yet not heard? has it not been told you from the beginning? have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?
- Isaiah 40:28 שָׁמַ֗עְתָּ Qal pf 2ms Have you not known? have you not heard? The everlasting God, Yahweh, the Creator of the ends of the earth, doesn't faint, neither is weary; there is no searching of his understanding.
- Isaiah 41:22 הַשְׁמִיעֻֽ/נוּ Hiphil impv 2mp + sfx pers 1cp Let them bring forth, and declare to us what shall happen: declare you the former things, what they are, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or show us things to come.
- Isaiah 41:26 מַשְׁמִ֔יעַ שֹׁמֵ֖עַ Hiphil ptcp.act ms Qal ptcp.act ms Who has declared it from the beginning, that we may know? and before, that we may say, [He is] right? yes, there is none who declares, yes, there is none who shows, yes, there is none who hears your words.
- Isaiah 42:2 יַשְׁמִ֥יעַ Hiphil impf 3ms He will not cry, nor lift up his voice, nor cause it to be heard in the street.
- Isaiah 42:9 אַשְׁמִ֥יע Hiphil impf 1cs Behold, the former things have happened, and new things do I declare. Before they spring forth I tell you of them.
- Isaiah 42:18 שְׁמָ֑עוּ Qal impv 2mp Hear, you deaf; and look, you blind, that you may see.
- Isaiah 42:20 יִשְׁמָֽע Qal impf 3ms You see many things, but don't observe. His ears are open, but he doesn't hear.
- Isaiah 42:23 וְ/יִשְׁמַ֖ע conj + Qal impf 3ms Who is there among you who will give ear to this? who will listen and hear for the time to come?
- Isaiah 42:24 שָׁמְע֖וּ Qal pf 3cp Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? Didn't Yahweh? he against whom we have sinned, and in whose ways they would not walk, neither were they obedient to his law.
- Isaiah 43:9 יַשְׁמִיעֻ֑/נוּ וְ/יִשְׁמְע֖וּ Hiphil impf 3mp + sfx pers 1cp conj + Qal impf 3mp Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the peoples be assembled: who among them can declare this, and show us former things? let them bring their witnesses, that they may be justified; or let them hear, and say, It is truth.
- Isaiah 43:12 וְ/הִשְׁמַ֔עְתִּי conj + Hiphil pf 1cs I have declared, and I have saved, and I have shown; and there was no strange [god] among you: therefore you are my witnesses, says Yahweh, and I am God.
- Isaiah 44:1 שְׁמַ֖ע Qal impv 2ms Yet now hear, Jacob my servant, and Israel, who I have chosen:
- Isaiah 44:8 הִשְׁמַעְתִּ֥י/ךָ Hiphil pf 1cs + sfx pers 2ms Don't fear, neither be afraid: haven't I declared to you of old, and shown it? You are my witnesses. Is there a God besides me? Indeed, there is not. I don't know any Rock.
- Isaiah 45:21 הִשְׁמִיעַ֩ Hiphil pf 3ms Declare you, and bring [it] forth; yes, let them take counsel together: who has shown this from ancient time? who has declared it of old? Haven't I, Yahweh? and there is no God else besides me, a just God and a Savior; there is no one besides me.
- Isaiah 46:3 שִׁמְע֤וּ Qal impv 2mp Listen to me, house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, that have been borne [by me] from their birth, that have been carried from the womb;
- Isaiah 46:12 שִׁמְע֥וּ Qal impv 2mp Listen to me, you stout-hearted, who are far from righteousness:
- Isaiah 47:8 שִׁמְעִי Qal impv 2fs Now therefore hear this, you who are given to pleasures, who sit securely, who say in your heart, I am, and there is none else besides me; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children:
- Isaiah 48:1 שִׁמְעוּ Qal impv 2mp Hear you this, house of Jacob, who are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah; who swear by the name of Yahweh, and make mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth, nor in righteousness
- Isaiah 48:3 וְ/אַשְׁמִיעֵ֑/ם conj + Hiphil impf 1cs + sfx pers 3mp I have declared the former things from of old; yes, they went forth out of my mouth, and I shown them: suddenly I did them, and they happened.
- Isaiah 48:5 הִשְׁמַעְתִּ֑י/ךָ Hiphil pf 1cs + sfx pers 2ms therefore I have declared it to you from of old; before it came to pass I shown it you; lest you should say, My idol has done them, and my engraved image, and my molten image, has commanded them.
- Isaiah 48:6 שָׁמַ֤עְתָּֽ הִשְׁמַעְתִּ֤י/ךָ Qal pf 2ms Hiphil pf 1cs + sfx pers 2ms You have heard it; see all this; and you, will you not declare it? I have shown you new things from this time, even hidden things, which you have not known.
- Isaiah 48:7 שְׁמַעְתָּ֑/ם Qal pf 2ms + sfx pers 3mp They are created now, and not from of old; and before this day you didn't hear them; lest you should say, Behold, I knew them.
- Isaiah 48:8 שָׁמַ֗עְתָּ Qal pf 2ms Yes, you didn't hear; yes, you didn't know; yes, from of old your ear was not opened: for I knew that you did deal very treacherously, and was called a transgressor from the womb.
- Isaiah 48:12 שְׁמַ֤ע Qal impv 2ms Listen to me, O Jacob, and Israel my called: I am he; I am the first, I also am the last.
- Isaiah 48:14 וּֽ/שֲׁמָ֔עוּ conj + Qal impv 2mp Assemble yourselves, all you, and hear; who among them has declared these things? He whom Yahweh loves shall perform his pleasure on Babylon, and his arm [shall be on] the Chaldeans.
- Isaiah 48:16 שִׁמְעוּ Qal impv 2mp Come you near to me, hear you this; from the beginning I have not spoken in secret; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord Yahweh has sent me, and his Spirit.
- Isaiah 48:20 הַשְׁמִ֨יעוּ֙ Hiphil impv 2mp Go you forth from Babylon, flee you from the Chaldeans; with a voice of singing declare you, tell this, utter it even to the end of the earth: say you, Yahweh has redeemed his servant Jacob.
- Isaiah 49:1 שִׁמְע֤וּ Qal impv 2mp Listen, isles, to me; and listen, you peoples, from far: Yahweh has called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother has he made mention of my name:
- Isaiah 50:4 לִ/שְׁמֹ֖עַ prep + Qal inf.cs The Lord Yahweh has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with words him who is weary: he wakens morning by morning, he wakens my ear to hear as those who are taught.
- Isaiah 50:10 שֹׁמֵ֖עַ Qal ptcp.act ms Who is among you who fears Yahweh, who obeys the voice of his servant? He who walks in darkness, and has no light, let him trust in the name of Yahweh, and rely on his God.
- Isaiah 51:1 שִׁמְע֥וּ Qal impv 2mp Listen to me, you who follow after righteousness, you who seek Yahweh: look to the rock whence you were hewn, and to the hold of the pit whence you were dug.
- Isaiah 51:7 שִׁמְע֤וּ Qal impv 2mp Listen to me, you who know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; don't you fear the reproach of men, neither be you dismayed at their insults.
- Isaiah 51:21 שִׁמְעִי Qal impv 2fs Therefore hear now this, you afflicted, and drunken, but now with wine:
- Isaiah 52:7 מַשְׁמִ֧יעַ מַשְׁמִ֣יעַ Hiphil ptcp.act ms Hiphil ptcp.act ms How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of good, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, Your God reigns!
- Isaiah 52:15 שָׁמְע֖וּ Qal pf 3cp so shall he sprinkle many nations; kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they understand.
- Isaiah 55:2 שִׁמְע֨וּ שָׁמ֤וֹעַ Qal impv 2mp Qal inf.abs Why do you spend money for that which is not bread? and your labor for that which doesn't satisfy? listen diligently to me, and eat you that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.
- Isaiah 55:3 שִׁמְע֖וּ Qal impv 2mp Turn your ear, and come to me; hear, and your soul shall live: and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.
- Isaiah 58:4 לְ/הַשְׁמִ֥יעַ prep + Hiphil inf.cs Behold, you fast for strife and contention, and to strike with the fist of wickedness: you don't fast this day so as to make your voice to be heard on high.
- Isaiah 59:1 מִ/שְּׁמֽוֹעַ prep + Qal inf.cs Behold, Yahweh's hand is not shortened, that it can't save; neither his ear heavy, that it can't hear:
- Isaiah 59:2 מִ/שְּׁמֽוֹעַ prep + Qal inf.cs but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.
- Isaiah 60:18 יִשָּׁמַ֨ע Niphal impf 3ms Violence shall no more be heard in your land, desolation nor destruction within your borders; but you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise.
- Isaiah 62:11 הִשְׁמִ֨יעַ֙ Hiphil pf 3ms Behold, Yahweh has proclaimed to the end of the earth, Say you to the daughter of Zion, Behold, your salvation comes; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.
- Isaiah 64:4 שָׁמְע֖וּ Qal pf 3cp For from of old men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither has the eye seen a God besides you, who works for him who waits for him.
- Isaiah 65:12 שְׁמַעְתֶּ֑ם Qal pf 2mp I will destine you to the sword, and you shall all bow down to the slaughter; because when I called, you did not answer; when I spoke, you did not hear; but you did that which was evil in my eyes, and chose that in which I didn't delight.
- Isaiah 65:19 יִשָּׁמַ֥ע Niphal impf 3ms I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people; and there shall be heard in her no more the voice of weeping and the voice of crying.
- Isaiah 65:24 אֶשְׁמָֽע Qal impf 1cs It shall happen that, before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
- Isaiah 66:4 שָׁמֵ֑עוּ Qal pf 3cp I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears on them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spoke, they did not hear: but they did that which was evil in my eyes, and chose that in which I didn't delight.
- Isaiah 66:5 שִׁמְעוּ֙ Qal impv 2mp Hear the word of Yahweh, you who tremble at his word: Your brothers who hate you, who cast you out for my name's sake, have said, Let Yahweh be glorified, that we may see your joy; but it is those who shall be disappointed.
- Isaiah 66:8 שָׁמַ֣ע Qal pf 3ms Who has heard such a thing? who has seen such things? Shall a land be born in one day? shall a nation be brought forth at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.
- Isaiah 66:19 שָׁמְע֤וּ Qal pf 3cp I will set a sign among them, and I will send such as escape of them to the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, who draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to the isles afar off, who have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the nations.
Jeremiah 168 verses
- Jeremiah 2:4 שִׁמְע֥וּ Qal impv 2mp Hear you the word of Yahweh, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel:
- Jeremiah 3:13 שְׁמַעְתֶּ֖ם Qal pf 2mp Only acknowledge your iniquity, that you have transgressed against Yahweh your God, and have scattered your ways to the strangers under every green tree, and you have not obeyed my voice, says Yahweh.
- Jeremiah 3:21 נִשְׁמָ֔ע Niphal pf 3ms A voice is heard on the bare heights, the weeping [and] the petitions of the children of Israel; because they have perverted their way, they have forgotten Yahweh their God.
About this entry
At a glance — auto-summarized from this page’s data, not written by a person. Every figure links to its source below. This summary describes the numbers; it doesn’t interpret them.
שמע (shâmaʻ) is a Hebrew word most often rendered “to hear.” Translators differ — “hear” in the King James Version, then “listen” (unfoldingWord Literal Text), as the renderings breakdown shows. It turns up in 1,072 verses across 39 books, one of the most common footprint. It first appears in Genesis 3:8. It also covers “listen to” and “obey”, alongside “to hear” — see its full sense range. The sections below give every sense, occurrence, and version rendering.
Gloss history
Strong's 1890 vs modern scholarship
Strong's · 1890
[idiom] attentively
Modern gloss
to hear
Strong's 1890 sometimes compressed multiple senses — or homonymous roots — under one number, and used 19th-century English phrasing that no longer carries the same connotation. The modern gloss reflects current BDB scholarship; open the Lexicon Entry tab for the full sense breakdown.
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About this word
Strong's H8085 catalogs a Hebrew word from the Hebrew Old Testament.
These counts are not copied from any lexicon or concordance. They are computed here, from the morphology-tagged Hebrew Old Testament. What Lemma adds →
- 1,072
- distinct verses
- The word appears in 1,072 distinct verses.
- 39 / 39
- OT books
- The word appears in 39 of 39 Old Testament books.
- #32
- by frequency
- Top 50 most frequent Hebrew words (rank 32 of 8,640 Hebrew words by occurrence).
View all 1,072 occurrences in the concordance →
Most concentrated in
- Jeremiah 168 verses 16%
- Isaiah 95 verses 9%
- Deuteronomy 82 verses 8%
By section of the Old Testament
By traditional corpus
Conventional, traditional groupings — biblical authorship is debated, so this is a traditional corpus grouping, not an authorship claim. Each share is this word’s portion of its verses in that division of the Hebrew canon. Each figure is a share of the word’s 1,072 distinct verses.
- Prophets (Nevi'im) 583 verses · 54%
- Writings (Ketuvim) 267 verses · 25%
- Torah (Pentateuch) 222 verses · 21%
How translations render this word
Counts come from each version’s own published word-to-Strong’s tagging or interlinear alignment — an approximate guide to how each version renders this word, not a word-level alignment the data otherwise carries. Because each total is that version’s own tagged count, the per-version totals vary from one another and need not match the appearance or distinct-verse counts above. These counts may also differ from a printed concordance because Lemma counts each distinctly tagged rendering and does not collapse phrase taggings into a single head-word total. This is a fixed set of word-tagged versions (KJV, ASV, BSB, ULT) and does not change with the reading translation you choose elsewhere. Each version’s license is shown beside its name below (and on Sources).
BDB lists this Strong’s number as 3 distinct words (homographs). Each count above pools all of them and is not split by sense — see the Senses section below. A low-frequency rendering may belong to a different one of those words, not the primary meaning.
- King James Version†: Hear 202×, Heard 142×, Hearken 58×
- American Standard Version†: Hear 173×, Heard 114×, Hearken 48×
- Berean Standard Bible†: Hear 169×, Listen 167×, Heard 114×
- unfoldingWord Literal Text†: Listen 189×, Hear 182×, Heard 163×
King James Version Public Domain
Renders H8085 across 1,160† tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus other, less common renderings. Plus 264 renderings that appear only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings. Not rendered by a distinct English word in 1 further occurrence.
American Standard Version Public Domain
Renders H8085 across 1,157† tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus other, less common renderings. Plus 300 renderings that appear only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings.
Berean Standard Bible Public Domain
Renders H8085 across 1,133† tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus other, less common renderings. Plus 202 renderings that appear only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings. Not rendered by a distinct English word in 26 further occurrences.
unfoldingWord Literal Text CC BY-SA 4.0
Renders H8085 across 1,441† tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus other, less common renderings. Plus 145 renderings that appear only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings.
41 senses and sub-senses in the full BDB
Hebrew verbs can shift meaning by stem (binyan): Qal is the basic action, Niphal is often passive or reflexive, Piel often intensifies or makes it factitive, and Hiphil is typically causative. The senses below are grouped under the stem BDB assigns to each.
What do BDB’s symbols mean?
BDB uses these scholarly abbreviations:
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 𝔊 | the Septuagint (the ancient Greek translation, LXX) |
| 𝔙 | the Vulgate (the Latin translation) |
| 𝔖 | the Syriac version (the Peshitta) |
| 𝔗 | the Targum (the Aramaic translation) |
| ψ | the Psalms |
| √ | root (the underlying root or stem) |
| ‖ | parallel passage (a synonymous or contrasted parallel) |
| † | the dagger: every passage where the word occurs is cited |
The 41 senses and sub-senses the full Brown-Driver-Briggs lexicon distinguishes for this word, in lexicon order (not ranked by frequency), with BDB’s own verbatim wording and sub-sense lettering. Shown in Hebrew script with BDB’s own scholarly abbreviations. The condensed entry is in the Lexicon Entry tab. See also the Forms in the corpus table below.
שמע I hear (NH id.
Qal
- Pf. 3 ms. שׁ׳ Gn 24:52 +, שָׁמֵ֑עַ Je 36:13 + 3 times; 2 fs. שָׁמַעַתְּ 1 K 1:11 + 2 times; 3 pl. שָׁמֵ֑עוּ Ju 2:17 + 12 times; Impf. 3 ms. יִשְׁמַע Ex 6:30 +, 1 s. cohort. אֶשִׁמְעָה Nu 9:8, וָאֶשְׁמֳעָה (on—ֳ cf. Ges§ 10 h; Ol § 65 c. qu. reading) Dn 8:13; 2 mpl. תִּשְׁמְע֔וּן Dt 8:20 +, תִּשְׁמָע֔וּן Dt 1:17, etc.; Imv. ms. שְׁמַע Am 7:16 +, שִׁמְעָה Jb 32:10 + (especially ψψ), שְׁמָ֮עָה֮ Dn 9:19; fpl. שְׁמַ֫עְנָה Is 32:9; Je 9:19, שְׁמַ֫עַן Gn 4:23 (Ges§ 46 f), etc.; Inf. abs. שָׁמוֹעַ Is 6:9 +; cstr. שְׁמֹעַ 1 S 15:22 +; sf. שָׁמְעוֹ Dt 29:18 +, שָׁמְעָתוֹ Is 30:19 (Ges§ 45 d), etc.; Pt. שֹׁמֵעַ Gn 42:23 +; f. שֹׁמַ֫עַת Gn 18:10 +, etc.;— e.g. Genesis 24:52
- 1. subj. pers. hum. (vel rei personif.):
- a. hear (perceive by ear), acc. rei, especially קוֹל Gn 3:10 (J) + 46 times, דבר(ים) Am 8:11 + 50 times, etc.; acc. חָכְמָה i.e. wise sayings 1 K 5:14 + 4 times; any utterance or sound (c. 150 times) + (obj. om.) Dt 4:33 + 32 times + (cl. temp.) 1 S 14:27 + 6 times; c. ב 1 S 14:6, שׁ׳ בְּסוֹד י׳ Jb 15:8; 26:14; 37:2; c. obj. cl., כִּי Ex 4:31 + 52 times + Is 39:1b (read כִּי שׁ׳ 𝔊 𝔖 ‖ 2 K 20:12), אֶת־אֲשֶׁר Jos 2:10; 5:1 (both RD),—ֹֹמַה־ Ju 7:11 + 3 times; without connect. שׁ׳ אֹתָהּ עָשִׂיתִי †2 K 19:25 = Is 37:26; sq. orat. rect. †Is 40:28; Zc 8:23. e.g. Genesis 3:10
- b. acc. pers. + מְדַבֵּר hear one speaking Gn 27:6 (J), Je 26:7; Dn 8:13, so בֹּכֶה Nu 11:10 (J), נִבָּא Je 20:1, מְקַלְלֶ֑ךָ Ec 7:21; occas. pers. om., דֹּבְרִים Gn 37:17 (JE), אֶת־מִדַּבֵּר Ez 2:2; 43:6 (v. דבר Hithp.); acc. pers. only Dn 12:7. e.g. Genesis 27:6
- c. c. לֵאמֹר only, hear say = hear it said, 1 S 13:4; 2 S 19:3; Dt 13:13; Jos 22:11 (P), 1 K 16:16; + עַל pers. concerning Gn 41:15 (E), Is 37:9; אֶל pers. id. 2 K 19:9. e.g. 1 Samuel 13:4
- d. hear of, concerning: (1) acc. rei, אֵת (כָּל־)אֲשֶׁר Ex 18:1; 2 K 19:11 + 5 times, דבר(ים) 1 S 3:11 + 4 times, רָעָה Je 19:3 + 5 times, etc.; כַּאֲשֶׁר 1 S 23:11 ψ 48:9, כָּזֹאת Is 66:8 hear of anything like this, כָּאֵלֶּה Je 18:13; acc., etc., om. Ju 9:46 + 43 times; (2) less often acc. pers. Jb 42:5, אֶל pers. Ez 19:4, pers. om. Dt 9:2; c. ב pers. hear exultantly of their fate †ψ 92:12 (prob. imitated from ‖ הִבִּיט בְּ v a; v. especially ראה 8 a (6)). e.g. Exodus 18:1
- e. hear, abs., = have power to hear, 2 S 19:36 (c. בְּקוֹל), Is 21:3; 32:3; Pr 20:12; Zc 7:11; in sim. ψ 38:15; c. neg. of idols Dt 4:28 ψ 115:6; fig. (spiritual power) Je 5:21; Dt 29:3; Ez 12:2; Is 42:20.—Pr 21:28 is probably corrupt, v. Toy. e.g. 2 Samuel 19:36
- f. hear with attention, interest, listen to (sometimes ‖ הֶאֱזִין, הִקְשִׁיב), acc. דבר(ים) (54 times) Am 4:1 +, especially דבר(י) י׳ Nu 12:6 (JE) + 45 times; אִמְרָה Is 28:23, קוֹל v 23, זֹאת Mi 3:9, etc.; often abs. Ju 5:3 + 57 times, + (neg.) ψ 38:14 pay no attention; abs. לֵב שֹׁמֵעַ 1 K 3:9, אִישׁ שֹׁמֵעַ Pr 21:28. e.g. Amos 4:1
- g. understand (language), שָׂפָה Gn 11:7 (J), Is 33:19, לָשׁוֹן Dt 28:49, דְּבָרִים Ez 3:6, מַה־יְּדַבֵּר Je 5:15, no acc. Gn 42:23 (E), 2 K 18:26 = Is 36:11. e.g. Genesis 11:7
- h. specif. of hearing a (judicial) case, דָּבָר Dt 1:17, cf. v 17; acc. om. בֵּין pers. v 16, of י׳ Ju 11:10; c. מִשְׁפָּט 1 K 3:11; לִשׁ׳ הַטּוֹב וְהָרֵע 2 S 14:17, וְשֹׁמֵע אֵין לְךָ 15:3, cf. Jb 31:35. e.g. Deuteronomy 1:17
- i. c. acc. pers. in polite address, hear us (me)! Gn 23:6, 8, 11, 13, 15 (all P), 1 Ch 28:2; 2 Ch 13:4; 15:2; 20:20. e.g. Genesis 23:6
- j. listen, give heed (sometimes ‖ הִקְשִׁיב), abs., Gn 42:21 (E) + 18 times, + (usually ‖ הִטָּה אֹזֶן), Je 7:13 + 14 times Je, + (opp. חָדַל) Ez 2:5 + 3 times Ez; + שִׂים עַל־לֵב Mal 2:2; hear + do Dt 5:24; 2 K 18:12, etc.; = consent, agree, Gn 37:27 (J), grant request Ju 11:17; c. ל pers. (mostly late) Ju 19:25; 1 S 30:24; Jb 15:17 + 16 times, לי׳ Ho 9:17; Lv 26:14, 18, 21, 27; לְדִבְרֵי י׳ 1 S 15:1, לְעֵצָה Pr 12:15. k. c. אֶל pers. + listen to, yield to Gn 49:2; Ju 2:17 + 69 times (אֶל־י׳ 15 times, especially Je 7:26 + 10 times Je), עַל pers. 2 K 20:13; אֶל־דִּבְרֵי etc., Dt 18:19; Je 29:19 + 14 times, עַל־דִּבְרֵי etc., 2 K 22:13 + 3 times; very rarely acc. rei 1 S 24:10 (Gi v 9). l. שׁ׳ לְקוֹל = id., obey, Gn 3:17 (J) + 11 times + (לְקוֹל י׳) Ju 2:20; Ex 15:26 (JE). m. very often, שׁ׳ בְּקוֹל = obey 1 S 8:7 + 25 times, + שׁ׳ בְּקוֹל י׳ (י׳’s word, etc.) Dt 4:30; Je 3:13 + 65 times (Dt 18 times, Je 18 times). n. obey, c. acc. דבר(ים) Jos 1:18 + 2 times + (ד׳ י׳) Je 11:3 + 5 times Je, 1 K 12:24 = 2 Ch 11:4, etc.; acc. pers. Ex 6:12 (P), 2 Ch 28:11. o. abs. be obedient (especially to י׳) Is 1:19; Mi 5:14; Je 12:17 + 4 times Je + 7 times. e.g. Genesis 42:21
- 2. י׳ (God) subj.:
- a. acc. קוֹל, דברים, etc., Gn 21:17 (E), 2 K 19:4(×2), 16, usually with favour implied Nu 20:16; Dt 33:7 +, so especially acc. תְּפִלָּה, תְּחִנָּה, etc., 1 K 8:45 ψ 6:10 +. e.g. Genesis 21:17
- b. obj. cl. כִּי Gn 29:33 (J). e.g. Genesis 29:33
- c. no obj. (32 times) Is 59:2; Je 22:21, usually hear and forgive, help, etc., 1 K 8:30, 32; Is 30:19 +; hear and be angry ψ 78:59, cf. 55:20. e.g. Isaiah 59:2
- d. = be able to hear Is 59:1 ψ 94:9. e.g. Isaiah 59:1
- e. שׁ׳ בְּקוֹל = hear (and grant) Gn 30:6 (J) + 6 times. e.g. Genesis 30:6
- f. hear and answer, c. אֶל of cry, etc., Gn 21:17; 16:11 1 K 8:28 + 8 times; c. אֶל pers. Dt 3:26 + 12 times. e.g. Genesis 21:17
- g. c. לְ of utterance Je 18:19 ψ 61:6; ל pers. Jos 24:10 (E). e.g. Jeremiah 18:19
- h. hear, acc. pers. + מִתְנוֹדֵד Je 31:18; favourably, c. acc. pers. Mi 7:7 + 3 times, so, + ל concerning, Gn 17:20 (P); obj. om. 2 K 22:19 ψ 22:25 + 3 times + ψ 34:7, 18 (hear and deliver); c. cl. temp. Je 11:14. e.g. Jeremiah 31:18
Niphal
- Pf. 3 ms. נִשְׁמַע Gn 45:16 +, etc.; Impf. 3 ms. יִשָּׁמַע Ex 23:13 +, יִשָּׁמֵ֑עַ 1 S 1:13, etc.; Inf. cstr. הִשָּׁמַע Est 2:8; Pt. f. נִשְׁמַ֫עַת Je 51:46, etc.;— e.g. Genesis 45:16
- 1. be heard, of voice, sound, etc., 1 S 1:13; 1 K 6:7; Jb 26:14 (or 1 pl. Qal Impf.?); of a report, נִשׁ׳ … לֵאמֹר Gn 45:16 (E); subj. cl., כִּי, Ne 6:1 (ל pers.), cf. cl. וְהַיְהוּדִים חשְׁבִים Ne 6:6; v 7 be reported, (לַמֶּלֶךְ) כַּדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה; be heard, לִפְנֵי אֱלֹהֶיךָ Dn 10:12. e.g. 1 Samuel 1:13
- 2. be heard of, כָּמֹהוּ Dt 4:32. e.g. Deuteronomy 4:32
- 3. be regarded, obeyed, Ec 9:17; in 2 S 22:45 = ψ 18:45 it is be obedient (לִי), si vera l. (read perhaps Qal, cf. Now). e.g. Ecclesiastes 9:17
- 4. וַיִּשּׁ׳ בְּקוֹלָם 2 Ch 30:27 = (favourable) hearing was granted to their voice. e.g. 2 Chronicles 30:27
Piel
- Impf. 3 ms. וַיְשַׁמַּע 1 S 15:4 he caused the people (acc.) to hear (and respond, i.e. he assembled them), so 23:8 (v. Hiph. 1 d). e.g. 1 Samuel 15:4
Hiphil
- Pf. 3 ms. הִשְׁמִיעַ 1 K 15:22 +, etc.; Impf. 3 ms. sf. יַשְׁמִעֵנִי Dt 30:12, 13; 2 ms. juss. תַּשְׁמַע Ju 18:25, etc.; Imv. ms. sf. הַשְׁמִיעֵנִי ψ 143:8; fs. sf. הַשְׁמִיעִנִי Ct 2:14; 8:13, etc.; Inf. cstr. לַשְׁמִעַ ψ 26:7 (Ges§ 53q); Pt. מַשְׁמִיעַ Je 4:15 +, etc.;— e.g. 1 Kings 15:22
- 1. of man:
- a. cause to hear, acc. pers. + rei Dt 30:12, 13; Ct 2:14; 8:13 + 4 times; obj. rei om. (= make proclamation to) 1 K 15:22; obj. pers. om. Je 5:20 +; acc. שָׁלוֹם †Is 52:7; Na 2:1 i.e. proclaim peace; אָוֶן †Je 4:15 (מִן loc.); הַשׁ׳ קוֹל utter a sound Jos 6:10 (J; ‖ הֵרִיעַ), cf. Ju 18:25 (קוֹלְךָ, + עִמָּנוּ), Is 42:2; 58:4; הִשׁ׳ קוֹל תְּהִלָּתוֹ †ψ 66:8, בְּקוֹל תּוֹדָה †26:7. e.g. Deuteronomy 30:12
- b. abs. as musical term, sound aloud, בִּמְצִלְתַּיִם לְהַשְׁמִיעַ 1 Ch 15:19 (perhaps to mark the time, Gr ψ 67 De: cf. 16:5; also ψ 150:5 בְּצִלְצְלֵי שָׁ֑מַע), מַשְׁמִיעִים 15:16, 28; 16:42, לְהַשׁ׳ קוֹל אֶחָד 2 Ch 5:13 i.e. prob. in unison (PrinceEB iii. 3241), Ne 12:42. e.g. 1 Chronicles 15:19
- c. abs. make proclamation (often ‖ הִגִּיד), Am 3:9; 4:5; Is 41:26; Je 4:5 + 6 times Je. e.g. Amos 3:9
- d. הַשְׁמִיעוּ, acc. pers. + אֶל loc. = summon Je 50:29, עַל loc. 51:27 (cf. Pi.). e.g. Jeremiah 50:29
- 2. י׳ subj.:
- a. cause to hear, acc. pers. et rei Dt 4:10, 36 (מִן loc.), 2 K 7:6 + 4 times; acc. pers. om. Is 30:30 + 3 times; acc. rei om. 44:8; 48:5. e.g. Deuteronomy 4:10
- b. = tell, acc. pers. + כָּזֹאת Ju 13:23; acc. pers. only, Is 42:9; acc. rei only, 48:3; Ez 36:15 (אֵלַיִךְ). e.g. Judges 13:23
- c. abs., make proclamation Is 43:12; 62:11 (אֶל loc.). e.g. Isaiah 43:12
שמע II [m.] sound
שמע III m. usually Σαμα(α), Σεμαα (cf. Sab. n.pr. סמע Hal509)
- 1. in Judah 1 Ch 2:44, שָׁ֑מַע v 43. e.g. 1 Chronicles 2:44
- 2. in Reuben 5:8. e.g. 1 Chronicles 5:8
- 3. in Benj. 8:13 (= שִׁמְעִי v 21). e.g. 1 Chronicles 8:13
- 4. post-ex. Ne 8:4, Σαμαιας. e.g. Nehemiah 8:4
Senses from the full Brown-Driver-Briggs lexicon (Brown, Driver, Briggs; Oxford 1906 — public domain), digitized via Sefaria, supplemented by the OpenScriptures HebrewLexicon (CC BY 4.0). Full attribution on Sources.
Word origin
I. vb. hear (NH id.; Ph. שמע Lzb378; Assyrian šemǔ; Arabic سَمِعَ; Sab. סמע, mostly in deriv., especially epith. div. סמע he who hears HomChr 124 FellZMG iiv (1900), 250, 252 DHMHofmus. No. 10, l. 1; Ethiopic ሰምዐ Aramaic שְׁמַע, ܫܡܰܥ, Old Aramaic שמע Lzb 378; cf. also משמעת MI 28 obedience);—
II. n.pr.m. usually Σαμα(α), Σεμαα (cf. Sab. n.pr. סמע Hal509);—
— Brown-Driver-Briggs (Oxford 1906, public domain), digitized via Sefaria, supplemented by the OpenScriptures HebrewLexicon (CC BY 4.0). See Sources.
Origin: a primitive root
Jastrow Dictionary
A second Hebrew/Aramaic lexicon for comparison, covering Aramaic and post-biblical (Talmudic, Targumic, Midrashic) usage that the biblical-Hebrew BDB does not. Matched by lemma rather than by Strong’s number, so a lemma may carry more than one Jastrow headword (shown separately below), and the entries cover usage well beyond the Bible.
שָׁמַע
- (b. h.) [to be still,] to hear, listen, obey; to understand. R. Hash. IV, 2 כל עיר … ושׁוֹמַעַת וכ׳ every township near Jerusalem from where you can see (the city) and hear (the Shofar) &c. Ib. 21ᵇ עד שיִשְׁמְעוּ … מקודש until they heard from the mouth of the court m’ḳuddash (v. קָרַשׁ). Snh. 90ᵃ שְׁמַע לו listen to him (obey the prophet’s command); אל תִּשְׁמַע לו listen not to him. Keth. 5ᵇ אם יִשְׁמַע וכ׳ if a man hears an improper word &c., v. שָׁפָה II. Ber. 13ᵃ the text (Deut. VI, 4) says ‘hear’ (or ‘understand’), בכל לשון שאתה שׁוֹמֵעַ recite the Sh’mʿa in whatever language you understand. R. Hash. III, 7 אם קול שופר ש׳ if he heard the sound of a Shofar; ואם קול הברה ש׳, v. הֲבָרָה. Y. Hor. I, 46ᵃ top נותנין לו שהות עד שׁיִשְׁמַע we allow him time enough that he may have heard (the decision of the other court), opp. to עד שישמע (not שישפע) (he is not guilty) until he has really heard it; a. v. fr. e.g. Deuteronomy 6:4
- 1. to cause to hear; to announce. Ber. l. c. הַשְׁמַע לאזניך וכ׳ let thy ears hear what thou utterest &c. Ib. לא ה׳ לאזנו if he read the Sh’inʿa inaudibly to himself. R. Hash. 28ᵇ עד שיתכוין שומע ומַשְׁמִיעַ until he that hears (the Shofar) and he that causes to hear (that blows) have the intention to perform a religious act. Shek. I, 1 מַשְׁמִיעִין על השקלים וכ׳ (Y. ed. מְשַׁמְּעִין, Pi.) public announcement is made concerning the contribution of the half-Shekels &c.; a. fr.
- 2. (sub. עצמו) to show one’s self obedient, be persuaded, surrender, v. Nif.
- 1. to announce, v. supra. Y. Shek. I, beg. 45ᶜ; Y. Meg. I, 71ᵃ.
- 2. to assemble for mourning services, invite. Snh. 47ᵃ הלינו לכבודו לשַׁמֵּעַ עליו וכ׳ if burial is postponed for the honor of the dead, to assemble the surrounding townships for his funeral, to bring on lamenting women &c.
- 1. to be heard; to be listened to, be obeyed. Ber. 6ᵃ אין תפלה … נִשְׁמַעַת וכ׳ man’s prayer is heard only in the house of prayer. Y. ib. V, end, 9ᵇ שׁנִשְׁמְעָה תפלתו that his prayer will be heard (his petition be granted). Erub. 18ᵇ כל בית שׁנִשְׁמָעִין וכ׳ a house in which the words of the Law are heard by night will never be destroyed. Yeb. 65ᵇ כשם … דבר הנִשְׁמָע וכ׳ as well as it is proper to say a thing that has been heard (to mention one’s authority), so it is proper not to say a thing that has not been heard (for which you cannot cite your authority); a. fr.
- 2. to show one’s self willing; to submit to authority; (of woman) to surrender. R. Hash. 25ᵇ אשרי הדור שהגדולים נִשְׁמָעִים וכ׳ blessed the generation in which the superiors (in wisdom) submit to the authority of their inferiors, and how much more when inferiors acknowledge the authority of their superiors!—Snh. 82ᵃ הִשָּׁמְעִי לי (ed. הַשְׁמִיעִי לי) surrender thyself to me; לא תִשָּׁמְעִי אלא וכ׳ surrender thyself only to a prominent man among them; Sifré Num. 131; ib. רצונך שׁאֶשָּׁמַע לך הנזר וכ׳ if thou desirest me to surrender myself to thee, renounce the law of Moses; Yalk. ib. 771. Y. Succ. V, 55ᵇ top נִשְׁמָעוֹת … לליגיונותי וכ׳ if you will surrender to my legions, I will not put you to death. Snh. 93ᵃ הַשְׁמִיעִי אל וכ׳ surrender thyself to Zedekiah; a. fr.
שְׁמַע I
- Targ. Gen. XXVII, 5. Targ. Ex. XVIII, 1. Targ. Job IV, 16; a. v. fr.—Part. pass. שְׁמִיעַ; f. שְׁמִיעָא. Targ. Ps. XXIX, 3, sq. Targ. II Chr. VII, 12; a. fr.—Y. Ter. X, 47ᵇ bot. אנא מה דשַׁמְעִית ואינון מה דשַׁמְעוּן I report what I have heard, and they, what they have heard. Sabb. 46ᵇ הא שַׁמְעִינָן ליה לר"ש וכ׳ have we not heard what R. S. says &c.? Y. Sot. VII, beg. 21ᵇ, v. אֲלִנִיסְטִי; a. v. fr.—שמיע ל־ he has heard, he knows of. Erub. 9ᵇ ור"י מי לא ש׳ ליה הא but has R. J. not heard that (does he not know that Boraitha of R. Ḥiya)? ש׳ ליה ולא סבר (v. Rabb. D. S. a. l.) he knows of it, but does not accept it. Ib. 10ᵃ, a. fr. לא ש׳ לי הא שמעתתא this tradition is not known to me. Pes. 34ᵃ מידי ש׳ לך בהא do you know anything about this (hălakhah)?; a. v. fr.—Esp. שמע מ־ to understand from, to infer, prove. Ab. Zar. 72ᵇ, a. fr. ש׳ מינה וכ׳ (abbrev. ש"מ) deduce from this that &c. Ib. שַׁמְעַת מינה וכ׳ wilt thou conclude from this that &c.? Ib., a. fr. אלא מהא ליכא למִשְׁמַע מינה but (the conclusion is,) you can derive nothing from this.—Ib., a. fr. תא שמע (abbrev. ת"ש; v. אֲתָא) come and learn, i.e. derive it from the following. Sabb. 13ᵇ ת"ש … ש"מ ואלו תנן ש"מ I will prove it (from this Tosefta): ‘you must not …, and those are some of the halakhoth &c.’, which proves that the right version is ‘and those’: it stands proved. Y. M. Kat. III, 83ᵃ top נִישְׁמְעִינָהּ מן הדא let us prove it from this; a. v. fr.
- 1. to make music; to sing, v. Af.
- שַׁמְּעָא) to minister to, be an attendant of. Ber. 41ᵇ מאן … ונְשַׁמְּעִינָךְ would that we had iron feet, that we could always wait on thee! Meg. 28ᵇ ניחא לי דאֲשַׁמְּעֵיה למר (Ms. M. דאשתמש ליה למר, v. Rabb. D. S. a. l.) it gives me pleasure to be your servant; a. e.
- 1. to cause to hear, cause to be heard, announce, proclaim. Targ. Deut. IV, 36. Targ. Is. LII, 7. Targ. Ps. XXVI, 7; a. fr.—Esp. (interch. with Pa.) to make music, play; to be a musician. Targ. I Sam. XXIX, 5 (Ms. Pa.). Targ. I Chr. XV, 16. Ib. XVI, 42 מַשְׁמְעַיָּא ed. Lag. (ed. Rahmer משמעייאה, Var. מַשְׁמְעַיָּה; h. text מַשְׁמִיעִים) musicians. Targ. Ps. CL, 5 דמְשַׁמְּעִין לבדוחא Ms. (ed. Lag. דמשמעין בלחודיהון; ed. Wil. a. oth. דשמעין בלחודיהון, corr. acc.). Ib. דמַשְׁ׳ ביבבא (Ms. Pa.).
- 2. to give to understand; to teach, prove. Ber. 2ᵃ מילתא … קא מַשְׁמַע לן וכ׳ (the Tannai in using such an expression) wants to teach us something by the way: when do the priests eat &c.; והא קמשמע לן וכ׳ (abbrev. קמ"ל) and it is this he teaches us, that the sacrifice of atonement is not indispensable &c. Ib. 4ᵇ לאפוקי … קמ"ל דחובה in opposition to the opinion that the evening prayer is optional, he gives us to understand that it is obligatory. Sabb. 19ᵃ מהו דתימא … קמ"ל you may have thought (that the cases are different, because) this devolves upon him, and the other does not, therefore he teaches us (that they are the same). Ib. 108ᵃ מאי קמ"ל what does he teach us (is it not a matter of course)? Ber. 21ᵃ sq. דאי אַשְׁמְעִינָן וכ׳, v. צְרִיךְ; a. v. fr.—Part. pass. מַשְׁמֵע a) understood. Yeb. 102ᵇ מ׳ הכי ומ׳ הכי it may be understood thus (it may mean, ‘to take off’), and may be understood thus (it may mean, ‘to strengthen’); a. fr.—2) inferred, proved; evidence. Sabb. 84ᵇ מאי מ׳ how is this proved (from the verse quoted)? Erub. 65ᵃ מאי מ׳ וכ׳ what evidence is there &c.?, v. פּוּק. Ib. מַשְׁמְעֵי, v. infra; a. fr.—V. מַשְׁמָע.
- 1. to be heard, let one’s self be heard. Targ. Gen. XLV, 16. Targ. Job XXXVII, 4 Ms. (ed. ישמע). Targ. Ps. LXXVII, 19; a. fr.—Snh. 95ᵇ (prov.) אגב אורחך … א׳ on thy road let thy enemy hear from thee, i.e. take revenge when occasion offers. R. Hash. 27ᵃ תרתי … לא מִשְׁתַּמְּעֵי … משתמעי two different sounds produced simultaneously by the same person are not distinctly perceived, but if produced by two persons, they are. Erub. l. c. מכדי קראי מִשְׁתַּמְּעֵי בין למר וכ׳ Ms. M. (ed. משמעי, v. Rabb. D. S. a. l. note) since verses may be quoted in favor of the one as well as of the other, what is the practical difference between them?; a. fr.
- 2. to make one’s self subservient, obey; to surrender to the enemy, desert. Targ. II Kings XXV, 11 (h. text נפלו). Ib. VII, 4. Targ. Ps. XVIII, 45; II Sam. XXII, 45; a. fr. e.g. 2 Samuel 22:45
שְׁמַע II
- (v. Deut. VI, 4) Sh’mʿa, the confession of faith in the morning and evening prayers (recitation of Deut. VI, 4-9; XI, 13-21; Num. XVI, 37-41). Targ. Y. I Num. XXV, 6. Targ. II Esth. III, 8.—Ber. I, 1 מאימתי קורין את ש׳ וכ׳ from what time of the day may we read the Sh’mʿa of the evening prayer? Ib. II, 2 (13ᵃ) למה קדמה (פרשת) ש׳ וכ׳ why does the reading of the section of Sh’mʿa (Deut. VI, 4–9) precede that of v’hayah (ib. XI, 13-21) Ib. בין שניה לש׳ ובין ש׳ וכ׳ between the second benediction and Sh’mʿa (the first section), and between Sh’mʿa and v’hayah &c.; a. fr.—קריאת ש׳ (abbr. ק"ש), v. קְרִיאָה. Ib. 2ᵃ ק"ש דשכיבה the recitation of Sh’mʿa at bed-time. Num. R. s. 2020 עומדין … וחוטפין ק"ש וכ׳ they rise from their sleep like lions, and hasten to read the Sh’mʿa, and proclaim the kingship of the Lord &c. Ib. והוא … בק"ש משומרי וכ׳ and with the recital of the Sh’mʿa he is handed over from the guards of the day to those of the night. Ber. 4ᵇ אע"פ שקרא אדם ק"ש וכ׳ although one has read the Sh. in synagogue, it is proper to recite it again on going to bed. Ib. 5ᵃ אם … ואם לאו יקרא ק"ש if he conquers it (the evil thought), it is well, and if not, let him read the Sh.; a. v. fr. e.g. Deuteronomy 6:4
שֵׁמַע
- 1. report, fame. Deut. R. s. 1, end היו … שומעים שִׁמְעֲכֶם וכ׳ the nations heard of your fame and were afraid; a. e.
- 2. = מִשְׁמָע understanding, meaning. Sifré Num. 142 (ref. to Num. XXVIII, 3) כשִׁמְעוֹ וכ׳ (trad. pronunc. כִּשְׁמָעוֹ) according to its literal meaning, two each day. e.g. Numbers 28:3
שֵׁמַע ²
- , report, fame. Targ. Gen. XXIX, 13. Targ. Ps. XVIII, 45; II Sam. XXII, 45 ed. Lag. (oth. שְׁמוֹעַ, שְׁמוּעַ). Targ. Josh. VI, 27 שִׁמְעֵיה (some ed. שָׁמְ׳); a. e. e.g. 2 Samuel 22:45
A Dictionary of the Targumim, the Talmud Babli and Yerushalmi, and the Midrashic Literature (Marcus Jastrow; London, Luzac, 1903) — Public Domain. Digitized via Sefaria. Digitized via Sefaria. Full attribution on Sources.
Forms in the corpus
The 535 distinct written forms H8085 takes in the Hebrew Bible, most frequent first — each parse links to that stem’s occurrences in the concordance. Hebrew forms include their vowel points and cantillation, so a single lemma takes many written forms.
The 60 most common forms are shown; 475 rarer forms follow in the full concordance.
Same root — word family
Other BDB entries built from the same root as H8085, grouped by Strong’s listed origin. These share a root / origin per the lexicon — not necessarily a shared meaning. Each links to that word’s own entry.
Derived from this word
- השמעות hashmâʻûwth H2045 report
- משמע mishmâʻ H4926 rumor
- שמע shᵉmaʻ H8086 to hear
- שמע shêmaʻ H8088 hearing
- שמע shômaʻ H8089 report
Proper names from this root
People and places named from this root — a name, not an additional meaning of the word.
- אשתמע ʼEshtᵉmôaʻ H851 Eshtemoh
- ישמעאל Yishmâʻêʼl H3458 Ishmael
- ישמעיה Yishmaʻyâh H3460 Ishmaiah
- שמואל Shᵉmûwʼêl H8050 Samuel
- שמע Shâmâʻ H8091 Shama
- שמעון Shimʻôwn H8095 Simeon
- שמעיה Shᵉmaʻyâh H8098 Shemaiah
Compare all same-root words → Showing 4 of 13 — not the complete family. 7 of the same-root words are proper names (people or places). They share a root, not necessarily a meaning.
Septuagint verse parallels
This word appears in 990 verses that also exist in the Greek Old Testament (Septuagint), out of the 1,072 Hebrew verses it occurs in. You can read those verses in Greek by switching the Old Testament edition to the Septuagint.
Read these verses in the Septuagint
- Genesis 3:8
- Exodus 2:15
- Leviticus 5:1
- Numbers 7:89
- Deuteronomy 1:16
- Joshua 1:17
- Judges 2:2
- Ruth 1:6
- 1 Samuel 1:13
- 2 Samuel 3:28
- 1 Kings 1:11
- 2 Kings 3:21
This is a verse-level parallel only — the same verses exist in both the Hebrew and Greek Old Testaments. No word-level Hebrew↔Greek correspondence is claimed: the data carries no such alignment, so no Greek word is shown as this Hebrew word’s translation. Coverage is not total — the Septuagint omits the deuterocanon and renumbers the Psalms, so some Hebrew verses have no direct Greek parallel.
