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.
Page 5 of 5 — showing verses 801–972 of 972 distinct verses where H8085 appears in the Qal stem, across 38 books. Filtered view — show all forms. 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.
Jeremiah 144 verses
- Jeremiah 26:10 וַֽ/יִּשְׁמְע֣וּ conj + Qal wimpf 3mp When the princes of Judah heard these things, they came up from the king's house to the house of Yahweh; and they sat in the entry of the new gate of Yahweh's [house].
- Jeremiah 26:11 שְׁמַעְתֶּ֖ם Qal pf 2mp Then spoke the priests and the prophets to the princes and to all the people, saying, This man is worthy of death; for he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your ears.
- Jeremiah 26:12 שְׁמַעְתֶּֽם Qal pf 2mp Then spoke Jeremiah to all the princes and to all the people, saying, Yahweh sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that you have heard.
- Jeremiah 26:13 וְ/שִׁמְע֕וּ conj + Qal impv 2mp Now therefore amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of Yahweh your God; and Yahweh will repent him of the evil that he has pronounced against you.
- Jeremiah 26:21 וַ/יִּשְׁמַ֣ע וַ/יִּשְׁמַ֤ע conj + Qal wimpf 3ms conj + Qal wimpf 3ms and when Jehoiakim the king, with all his mighty-men, and all the princes, heard his words, the king sought to put him to death; but when Uriah heard it, he was afraid, and fled, and went into Egypt:
- Jeremiah 27:9 תִּשְׁמְע֨וּ Qal juss 2mp But as for you, don't you listen to your prophets, nor to your diviners, nor to your dreams, nor to your soothsayers, nor to your sorcerers, who speak to you, saying, You shall not serve the king of Babylon:
- Jeremiah 27:14 תִּשְׁמְע֞וּ Qal juss 2mp Don't listen to the words of the prophets who speak to you, saying, You shall not serve the king of Babylon; for they prophesy a lie to you.
- Jeremiah 27:16 תִּשְׁמְע֞וּ Qal juss 2mp Also I spoke to the priests and to all this people, saying, Thus says Yahweh: Don't listen to the words of your prophets who prophesy to you, saying, Behold, the vessels of Yahweh's house shall now shortly be brought again from Babylon; for they prophesy a lie to you.
- Jeremiah 27:17 תִּשְׁמְע֣וּ Qal juss 2mp Don't listen to them; serve the king of Babylon, and live: why should this city become a desolation?
- Jeremiah 28:7 שְׁמַֽע Qal impv 2ms Nevertheless hear you now this word that I speak in your ears, and in the ears of all the people:
- Jeremiah 28:15 שְׁמַֽע Qal impv 2ms Then said the prophet Jeremiah to Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah: Yahweh has not sent you; but you make this people to trust in a lie.
- Jeremiah 29:8 תִּשְׁמְעוּ֙ Qal juss 2mp For thus says Yahweh of hosts, the God of Israel: Don't let your prophets who are in the midst of you, and your diviners, deceive you; neither listen you to your dreams which you cause to be dreamed.
- Jeremiah 29:12 וְ/שָׁמַעְתִּ֖י conj + Qal wpf 1cs You shall call on me, and you shall go and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
- Jeremiah 29:19 שָׁמְע֥וּ שְׁמַעְתֶּ֖ם Qal pf 3cp Qal pf 2mp because they have not listened to my words, says Yahweh, with which I sent to them my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them; but you would not hear, says Yahweh.
- Jeremiah 29:20 שִׁמְע֣וּ Qal impv 2mp Hear you therefore the word of Yahweh, all you of the captivity, whom I have sent away from Jerusalem to Babylon.
- Jeremiah 30:5 שָׁמָ֑עְנוּ Qal pf 1cp For thus says Yahweh: We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace.
- Jeremiah 31:10 שִׁמְע֤וּ Qal impv 2mp Hear the word of Yahweh, you nations, and declare it in the isles afar off; and say, He who scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as shepherd does his flock.
- Jeremiah 31:18 שָׁמ֣וֹעַ שָׁמַ֗עְתִּי Qal inf.abs Qal pf 1cs I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself [thus], You have chastised me, and I was chastised, as a calf unaccustomed [to the yoke]: turn you me, and I shall be turned; for you are Yahweh my God.
- Jeremiah 32:23 שָׁמְע֤וּ Qal pf 3cp and they came in, and possessed it, but they didn't obey your voice, neither walked in your law; they have done nothing of all that you commanded them to do: therefore you have caused all this evil to come on them.
- Jeremiah 32:33 שֹׁמְעִ֖ים Qal ptcp.act mp They have turned to me the back, and not the face: and though I taught them, rising up early and teaching them, yet they have not listened to receive instruction.
- Jeremiah 33:9 יִשְׁמְע֜וּ Qal impf 3mp [This city] shall be to me for a name of joy, for a praise and for a glory, before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do to them, and shall fear and tremble for all the good and for all the peace that I procure to it.
- Jeremiah 34:4 שְׁמַ֣ע Qal impv 2ms Yet hear the word of Yahweh, O Zedekiah king of Judah: thus says Yahweh concerning you, You shall not die by the sword;
- Jeremiah 34:10 וַ/יִּשְׁמְעוּ֩ וַֽ/יִּשְׁמְע֖וּ conj + Qal wimpf 3mp conj + Qal wimpf 3mp All the princes and all the people obeyed, who had entered into the covenant, that everyone should let his man-servant, and everyone his maid-servant, go free, that none should make bondservants of them any more; they obeyed, and let them go:
- Jeremiah 34:14 שָׁמְע֤וּ Qal pf 3cp At the end of seven years you shall let go every man his brother who is a Hebrew, who has been sold to you, and has served you six years, you shall let him go free from you: but your fathers didn't listen to me, neither inclined their ear.
- Jeremiah 34:17 שְׁמַעְתֶּ֣ם Qal pf 2mp Therefore thus says Yahweh: you have not listened to me, to proclaim liberty, every man to his brother, and every man to his neighbor: behold, I proclaim to you a liberty, says Yahweh, to the sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine; and I will make you to be tossed back and forth among all the kingdoms of the earth.
- Jeremiah 35:8 וַ/נִּשְׁמַ֗ע conj + Qal wimpf 1cp We have obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, in all that he charged us, to drink no wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons, or our daughters;
- Jeremiah 35:10 וַ/נִּשְׁמַ֣ע conj + Qal wimpf 1cp but we have lived in tents, and have obeyed, and done according to all that Jonadab our father commanded us.
- Jeremiah 35:13 לִ/שְׁמֹ֥עַ prep + Qal inf.cs Thus says Yahweh of Hosts, the God of Israel: Go, and tell the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will you not receive instruction to listen to my words? says Yahweh.
- Jeremiah 35:14 שָֽׁמְע֔וּ שְׁמַעְתֶּ֖ם Qal pf 3cp Qal pf 2mp The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, that he commanded his sons, not to drink wine, are performed; and to this day they drink none, for they obey their father's commandment: but I have spoken to you, rising up early and speaking; and you have not listened to me.
- Jeremiah 35:15 שְׁמַעְתֶּ֖ם Qal pf 2mp I have sent also to you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Return you now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and don't go after other gods to serve them, and you shall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers: but you have not inclined your ear, nor listened to me.
- Jeremiah 35:16 שָׁמְע֖וּ Qal pf 3cp Because the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have performed the commandment of their father which he commanded them, but this people has not listened to me;
- Jeremiah 35:17 שָׁמֵ֔עוּ Qal pf 3cp therefore thus says Yahweh, the God of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will bring on Judah and on all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the evil that I have pronounced against them; because I have spoken to them, but they have not heard; and I have called to them, but they have not answered.
- Jeremiah 35:18 שְׁמַעְתֶּ֔ם Qal pf 2mp Jeremiah said to the house of the Rechabites, Thus says Yahweh of Hosts, the God of Israel: Because you have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father, and kept all his precepts, and done according to all that he commanded you;
- Jeremiah 36:3 יִשְׁמְעוּ֙ Qal impf 3mp It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the evil which I purpose to do to them; that they may return every man from his evil way; that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin.
- Jeremiah 36:11 וַ֠/יִּשְׁמַ֗ע conj + Qal wimpf 3ms When Micaiah the son of Gemariah, the son of Shaphan, had heard out of the book all the words of Yahweh,
- Jeremiah 36:13 שָׁמֵ֑עַ Qal pf 3ms Then Micaiah declared to them all the words that he had heard, when Baruch read the book in the ears of the people.
- Jeremiah 36:16 כְּ/שָׁמְעָ/ם֙ prep + Qal inf.cs + sfx pers 3mp Now it happened, when they had heard all the words, they turned in fear one toward another, and said to Baruch, We will surely tell the king of all these words.
- Jeremiah 36:24 הַ/שֹּׁ֣מְעִ֔ים ptcl def.art + Qal ptcp.act mp They were not afraid, nor tore their garments, neither the king, nor any of his servants who heard all these words.
- Jeremiah 36:25 שָׁמַ֖ע Qal pf 3ms Moreover Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah had made intercession to the king that he would not burn the scroll; but he would not hear them.
- Jeremiah 36:31 שָׁמֵֽעוּ Qal pf 3cp I will punish him and his seed and his servants for their iniquity; and I will bring on them, and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and on the men of Judah, all the evil that I have pronounced against them, but they didn't listen.
- Jeremiah 37:2 שָׁמַ֛ע Qal pf 3ms But neither he, nor his servants, nor the people of the land, did listen to the words of Yahweh, which he spoke by the prophet Jeremiah.
- Jeremiah 37:5 וַ/יִּשְׁמְע֨וּ conj + Qal wimpf 3mp Pharaoh's army was come forth out of Egypt; and when the Chaldeans who were besieging Jerusalem heard news of them, they broke up from Jerusalem.
- Jeremiah 37:14 שָׁמַ֖ע Qal pf 3ms Then said Jeremiah, It is false; I am not falling away to the Chaldeans. But he didn't listen to him; so Irijah laid hold on Jeremiah, and brought him to the princes.
- Jeremiah 37:20 שְֽׁמַֽע Qal impv 2ms Now please hear, my lord the king: please let my supplication be presented before you, that you not cause me to return to the house of Jonathan the scribe, lest I die there.
- Jeremiah 38:1 וַ/יִּשְׁמַ֞ע conj + Qal wimpf 3ms Shephatiah the son of Mattan, and Gedaliah the son of Pashhur, and Jucal the son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur the son of Malchijah, heard the words that Jeremiah spoke to all the people, saying,
- Jeremiah 38:7 וַ/יִּשְׁמַ֡ע conj + Qal wimpf 3ms Now when Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, a eunuch, who was in the king's house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon (the king then sitting in the gate of Benjamin),
- Jeremiah 38:15 תִשְׁמַ֖ע Qal impf 2ms Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, If I declare it to you, will you not surely put me to death? and if I give you counsel, you will not listen to me.
- Jeremiah 38:20 שְֽׁמַֽע Qal impv 2ms But Jeremiah said, They shall not deliver you. Obey, I beg you, the voice of Yahweh, in that which I speak to you: so it shall be well with you, and your soul shall live.
- Jeremiah 38:25 יִשְׁמְע֣וּ Qal impf 3mp But if the princes hear that I have talked with you, and they come to you, and tell you, Declare to us now what you have said to the king; don't hide it from us, and we will not put you to death; also what the king said to you:
- Jeremiah 40:3 שְׁמַעְתֶּ֣ם Qal pf 2mp and Yahweh has brought it, and done according as he spoke: because you have sinned against Yahweh, and have not obeyed his voice, therefore this thing is come on you.
- Jeremiah 40:7 וַ/יִּשְׁמְעוּ֩ conj + Qal wimpf 3mp Now when all the captains of the forces who were in the fields, even they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam governor in the land, and had committed to him men, and women, and children, and of the poorest of the land, of those who were not carried away captive to Babylon;
- Jeremiah 40:11 שָֽׁמְע֔וּ Qal pf 3cp Likewise when all the Jews who were in Moab, and among the children of Ammon, and in Edom, and who were in all the countries, heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant of Judah, and that he had set over them Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan;
- Jeremiah 41:11 וַ/יִּשְׁמַע֙ conj + Qal wimpf 3ms But when Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces who were with him, heard of all the evil that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had done,
- Jeremiah 42:4 שָׁמַ֔עְתִּי Qal pf 1cs Then Jeremiah the prophet said to them, I have heard you; behold, I will pray to Yahweh your God according to your words; and it shall happen that whatever thing Yahweh shall answer you, I will declare it to you; I will keep nothing back from you.
- Jeremiah 42:6 נִשְׁמָ֑ע נִשְׁמַ֔ע Qal impf 1cp Qal impf 1cp Whether it be good, or whether it be evil, we will obey the voice of Yahweh our God, to whom we send you; that it may be well with us, when we obey the voice of Yahweh our God.
- Jeremiah 42:13 שְׁמֹ֔עַ Qal inf.cs But if you say, We will not dwell in this land; so that you don't obey the voice of Yahweh your God,
- Jeremiah 42:14 נִשְׁמָ֑ע Qal impf 1cp saying, No; but we will go into the land of Egypt, where we shall see no war, nor hear the sound of the trumpet, nor have hunger of bread; and there will we dwell:
- Jeremiah 42:15 שִׁמְע֥וּ Qal impv 2mp now therefore hear you the word of Yahweh, O remnant of Judah: Thus says Yahweh of Hosts, the God of Israel, If you indeed set your faces to enter into Egypt, and go to sojourn there;
- Jeremiah 42:21 שְׁמַעְתֶּ֗ם Qal pf 2mp and I have this day declared it to you; but you have not obeyed the voice of Yahweh your God in anything for which he has sent me to you.
- Jeremiah 43:4 שָׁמַע֩ Qal pf 3ms So Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, and all the people, didn't obey the voice of Yahweh, to dwell in the land of Judah.
- Jeremiah 43:7 שָׁמְע֖וּ Qal pf 3cp and they came into the land of Egypt; for they didn't obey the voice of Yahweh: and they came to Tahpanhes.
- Jeremiah 44:5 שָֽׁמְעוּ֙ Qal pf 3cp But they didn't listen, nor inclined their ear to turn from their wickedness, to burn no incense to other gods.
- Jeremiah 44:16 שֹׁמְעִ֖ים Qal ptcp.act mp As for the word that you have spoken to us in the name of Yahweh, we will not listen to you.
- Jeremiah 44:23 שְׁמַעְתֶּם֙ Qal pf 2mp Because you have burned incense, and because you have sinned against Yahweh, and have not obeyed the voice of Yahweh, nor walked in his law, nor in his statutes, nor in his testimonies; therefore this evil is happened to you, as it is this day.
- Jeremiah 44:24 שִׁמְעוּ֙ Qal impv 2mp Moreover Jeremiah said to all the people, and to all the women, Hear the word of Yahweh, all Judah who are in the land of Egypt:
- Jeremiah 44:26 שִׁמְע֣וּ Qal impv 2mp Therefore hear the word of Yahweh, all Judah who dwell in the land of Egypt: Behold, I have sworn by my great name, says Yahweh, that my name shall no more be named in the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, As the Lord Yahweh lives.
- Jeremiah 46:12 שָׁמְע֤וּ Qal pf 3cp The nations have heard of your shame, and the earth is full of your cry; for the mighty man has stumbled against the mighty, they are fallen both of them together.
- Jeremiah 48:5 שָׁמֵֽעוּ Qal pf 3cp For by the ascent of Luhith with continual weeping shall they go up; for at the descent of Horonaim they have heard the distress of the cry of destruction.
- Jeremiah 48:29 שָׁמַ֥עְנוּ Qal pf 1cp We have heard of the pride of Moab, [that] he is very proud; his loftiness, and his pride, and his arrogance, and the haughtiness of his heart.
- Jeremiah 49:14 שָׁמַ֨עְתִּי֙ Qal pf 1cs I have heard news from Yahweh, and an ambassador is sent among the nations, [saying], Gather yourselves together, and come against her, and rise up to the battle.
- Jeremiah 49:20 שִׁמְע֣וּ Qal impv 2mp Therefore hear the counsel of Yahweh, that he has taken against Edom; and his purposes, that he has purposed against the inhabitants of Teman: Surely they shall drag them away, [even] the little ones of the flock; surely he shall make their habitation desolate over them.
- Jeremiah 49:23 שָׁמְע֖וּ Qal pf 3cp Of Damascus. Hamath is confounded, and Arpad; for they have heard evil news, they are melted away: there is sorrow on the sea; it can't be quiet.
- Jeremiah 50:43 שָׁמַ֧ע Qal pf 3ms The king of Babylon has heard the news of them, and his hands wax feeble: anguish has taken hold of him, [and] pangs as of a woman in travail.
- Jeremiah 50:45 שִׁמְע֣וּ Qal impv 2mp Therefore hear the counsel of Yahweh, that he has taken against Babylon; and his purposes, that he has purposed against the land of the Chaldeans: Surely they shall drag them away, [even] the little ones of the flock; surely he shall make their habitation desolate over them.
- Jeremiah 51:51 שָׁמַ֣עְנוּ Qal pf 1cp We are confounded, because we have heard reproach; confusion has covered our faces: for strangers are come into the sanctuaries of Yahweh's house.
Lamentations 4 verses
- Lamentations 1:18 שִׁמְעוּ Qal impv 2mp Yahweh is righteous; for I have rebelled against his commandment: Please hear all you peoples, and see my sorrow: My virgins and my young men are gone into captivity.
- Lamentations 1:21 שָׁמְע֞וּ שָׁמְע֤וּ Qal pf 3cp Qal pf 3cp They have heard that I sigh; there is none to comfort me; All my enemies have heard of my trouble; they are glad that you have done it: You will bring the day that you have proclaimed, and they shall be like me.
- Lamentations 3:56 שָׁמָ֑עְתָּ Qal pf 2ms You heard my voice; don't hide your ear at my breathing, at my cry.
- Lamentations 3:61 שָׁמַ֤עְתָּ Qal pf 2ms You have heard their reproach, Yahweh, and all their devices against me,
Ezekiel 41 verses
- Ezekiel 1:24 וָ/אֶשְׁמַ֣ע conj + Qal wimpf 1cs When they went, I heard the noise of their wings like the noise of great waters, like the voice of the Almighty, a noise of tumult like the noise of a host: when they stood, they let down their wings.
- Ezekiel 1:28 וָ/אֶשְׁמַ֖ע conj + Qal wimpf 1cs As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of Yahweh. When I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of one that spoke.
- Ezekiel 2:2 וָ/אֶשְׁמַ֕ע conj + Qal wimpf 1cs The Spirit entered into me when he spoke to me, and set me on my feet; and I heard him who spoke to me.
- Ezekiel 2:5 יִשְׁמְע֣וּ Qal impf 3mp They, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house), yet shall know that there has been a prophet among them.
- Ezekiel 2:7 יִשְׁמְע֖וּ Qal impf 3mp You shall speak my words to them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear; for they are most rebellious.
- Ezekiel 2:8 שְׁמַע֙ Qal impv 2ms But you, son of man, hear what I tell you; don't be you rebellious like that rebellious house: open your mouth, and eat that which I give you.
- Ezekiel 3:6 תִשְׁמַ֖ע יִשְׁמְע֥וּ Qal impf 2ms Qal impf 3mp not to many peoples of a strange speech and of a hard language, whose words you can not understand. Surely, if I sent you to them, they would listen to you.
- Ezekiel 3:7 לִ/שְׁמֹ֣עַ לִ/שְׁמֹ֣עַ prep + Qal inf.cs prep + Qal inf.cs But the house of Israel will not listen to you; for they will not listen to me: for all the house of Israel are of hard forehead and of a stiff heart.
- Ezekiel 3:10 שְׁמָֽע Qal impv 2ms Moreover he said to me, Son of man, all my words that I shall speak to you receive in your heart, and hear with your ears.
- Ezekiel 3:11 יִשְׁמְע֖וּ Qal impf 3mp Go, get you to them of the captivity, to the children of your people, and speak to them, and tell them, Thus says the Lord Yahweh; whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear.
- Ezekiel 3:12 וָ/אֶשְׁמַ֣ע conj + Qal wimpf 1cs Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me the voice of a great rushing, [saying], Blessed be the glory of Yahweh from his place.
- Ezekiel 3:17 וְ/שָׁמַעְתָּ֤ conj + Qal wpf 2ms Son of man, I have made you a watchman to the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.
- Ezekiel 3:27 הַ/שֹּׁמֵ֤עַ יִשְׁמָע֙ ptcl def.art + Qal ptcp.act ms Qal impf 3ms But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you shall tell them, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: He who hears, let him hear; and he who forbears, let him forbear: for they are a rebellious house.
- Ezekiel 6:3 שִׁמְע֖וּ Qal impv 2mp and say, You mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord Yahweh: Thus says the Lord Yahweh to the mountains and to the hills, to the watercourses and to the valleys: Behold, I, even I, will bring a sword on you, and I will destroy your high places.
- Ezekiel 8:18 אֶשְׁמַ֖ע Qal impf 1cs Therefore will I also deal in wrath; my eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity; and though they cry in my ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them.
- Ezekiel 12:2 לִ/שְׁמֹ֨עַ֙ שָׁמֵ֔עוּ prep + Qal inf.cs Qal pf 3cp Son of man, you dwell in the midst of the rebellious house, who have eyes to see, and don't see, who have ears to hear, and don't hear; for they are a rebellious house.
- Ezekiel 13:2 שִׁמְע֖וּ Qal impv 2mp Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who prophesy, and say you to those who prophesy out of their own heart, Hear you the word of Yahweh:
- Ezekiel 13:19 שֹׁמְעֵ֥י Qal ptcp.act mp cs You have profaned me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to kill the souls who should not die, and to save the souls alive who should not live, by your lying to my people who listen to lies.
- Ezekiel 16:35 שִׁמְעִ֖י Qal impv 2fs Therefore, prostitute, hear the word of Yahweh:
- Ezekiel 18:25 שִׁמְעוּ Qal impv 2mp Yet you say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, house of Israel: Is my way not equal? Aren't your ways unequal?
- Ezekiel 19:4 וַ/יִּשְׁמְע֥וּ conj + Qal wimpf 3mp The nations also heard of him; he was taken in their pit; and they brought him with hooks to the land of Egypt.
- Ezekiel 20:8 לִּ/שְׁמֹ֣עַ prep + Qal inf.cs But they rebelled against me, and would not listen to me; they did not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them, to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.
- Ezekiel 20:39 שֹׁמְעִ֣ים Qal ptcp.act mp As for you, house of Israel, thus says the Lord Yahweh: Go you, serve everyone his idols, and hereafter also, if you will not listen to me; but my holy name shall you no more profane with your gifts, and with your idols.
- Ezekiel 20:47 שְׁמַ֖ע Qal impv 2ms and tell the forest of the South, Hear the word of Yahweh: Thus says the Lord Yahweh, Behold, I will kindle a fire in you, and it shall devour every green tree in you, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burnt thereby.
- Ezekiel 25:3 שִׁמְע֖וּ Qal impv 2mp and tell the children of Ammon, Hear the word of the Lord Yahweh: Thus says the Lord Yahweh, Because you said, Aha, against my sanctuary, when it was profaned; and against the land of Israel, when it was made desolate; and against the house of Judah, when they went into captivity:
- Ezekiel 33:4 וְ/שָׁמַ֨ע הַ/שֹּׁמֵ֜עַ conj + Qal wpf 3ms ptcl def.art + Qal ptcp.act ms then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet, and doesn't take warning, if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be on his own head.
- Ezekiel 33:5 שָׁמַע֙ Qal pf 3ms He heard the sound of the trumpet, and didn't take warning; his blood shall be on him; whereas if he had taken warning, he would have delivered his soul.
- Ezekiel 33:7 וְ/שָׁמַעְתָּ֤ conj + Qal wpf 2ms So you, son of man, I have set you a watchman to the house of Israel; therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.
- Ezekiel 33:30 וְ/שִׁמְע֔וּ conj + Qal impv 2mp As for you, son of man, the children of your people talk of you by the walls and in the doors of the houses, and speak one to another, everyone to his brother, saying, Please come and hear what is the word that comes forth from Yahweh.
- Ezekiel 33:31 וְ/שָֽׁמְעוּ֙ conj + Qal wpf 3cp They come to you as the people comes, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear your words, but don't do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goes after their gain.
- Ezekiel 33:32 וְ/שָֽׁמְעוּ֙ conj + Qal wpf 3cp Behold, you are to them as a very lovely song of one who has a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument; for they hear your words, but they don't do them.
- Ezekiel 34:7 שִׁמְע֖וּ Qal impv 2mp Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of Yahweh:
- Ezekiel 34:9 שִׁמְע֖וּ Qal impv 2mp therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of Yahweh:
- Ezekiel 35:12 שָׁמַ֣עְתִּי Qal pf 1cs You shall know that I, Yahweh, have heard all your insults which you have spoken against the mountains of Israel, saying, They are laid desolate, they are given us to devour.
- Ezekiel 35:13 שָׁמָֽעְתִּי Qal pf 1cs You have magnified yourselves against me with your mouth, and have multiplied your words against me: I have heard it.
- Ezekiel 36:1 שִׁמְע֖וּ Qal impv 2mp You, son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel, and say, You mountains of Israel, hear the word of Yahweh.
- Ezekiel 36:4 שִׁמְע֖וּ Qal impv 2mp therefore, you mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord Yahweh: Thus says the Lord Yahweh to the mountains and to the hills, to the watercourses and to the valleys, to the desolate wastes and to the cities that are forsaken, which are become a prey and derision to the residue of the nations that are round about;
- Ezekiel 37:4 שִׁמְע֖וּ Qal impv 2mp Again he said to me, Prophesy over these bones, and tell them, you dry bones, hear the word of Yahweh.
- Ezekiel 40:4 שְּׁמָ֜ע Qal impv 2ms The man said to me, Son of man, see with your eyes, and hear with your ears, and set your heart on all that I shall show you; for, to the intent that I may show them to you, are you brought here: declare all that you see to the house of Israel.
- Ezekiel 43:6 וָ/אֶשְׁמַ֛ע conj + Qal wimpf 1cs I heard one speaking to me out of the house; and a man stood by me.
- Ezekiel 44:5 שְּׁמָ֗ע Qal impv 2ms Yahweh said to me, Son of man, mark well, and see with your eyes, and hear with your ears all that I tell you concerning all the ordinances of the house of Yahweh, and all the laws of it; and mark well the entrance of the house, with every exit of the sanctuary.
Daniel 13 verses
- Daniel 1:14 וַ/יִּשְׁמַ֥ע conj + Qal wimpf 3ms So he listened to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.
- Daniel 8:13 וָ/אֶשְׁמְעָ֥/ה conj + Qal wimpf 1cs + sfx h Then I heard a holy one speaking; and another holy one said to that certain one who spoke, How long shall be the vision [concerning] the continual [burnt-offering], and the disobedience that makes desolate, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?
- Daniel 8:16 וָ/אֶשְׁמַ֥ע conj + Qal wimpf 1cs I heard a man's voice between [the banks of] the Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.
- Daniel 9:6 שָׁמַ֨עְנוּ֙ Qal pf 1cp neither have we listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.
- Daniel 9:10 שָׁמַ֔עְנוּ Qal pf 1cp neither have we obeyed the voice of Yahweh our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.
- Daniel 9:11 שְׁמ֣וֹעַ Qal inf.cs Yes, all Israel have transgressed your law, even turning aside, that they should not obey your voice: therefore has the curse been poured out on us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God; for we have sinned against him.
- Daniel 9:14 שָׁמַ֖עְנוּ Qal pf 1cp Therefore has Yahweh watched over the evil, and brought it on us; for Yahweh our God is righteous in all his works which he does, and we have not obeyed his voice.
- Daniel 9:17 שְׁמַ֣ע Qal impv 2ms Now therefore, our God, listen to the prayer of your servant, and to his petitions, and cause your face to shine on your sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake.
- Daniel 9:18 וּֽ/שֲׁמָע֒ conj + Qal impv 2ms My God, turn your ear, and hear; open your eyes, and see our desolations, and the city which is called by your name: for we do not present our petitions before you for our righteousness, but for your great mercies' sake.
- Daniel 9:19 שְׁמָ֨עָ/ה֙ Qal impv 2ms + sfx h Lord, hear; Lord, forgive; Lord, listen and do; don't defer, for your own sake, my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.
- Daniel 10:9 וָ/אֶשְׁמַ֖ע וּ/כְ/שָׁמְעִ/י֙ conj + Qal wimpf 1cs conj + prep + Qal inf.cs + sfx pers 1cs Yet heard I the voice of his words; and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I fallen into a deep sleep on my face, with my face toward the ground.
- Daniel 12:7 וָ/אֶשְׁמַ֞ע conj + Qal wimpf 1cs I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by him who lives forever that it shall be for a time, times, and a half; and when they have made an end of breaking in pieces the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.
- Daniel 12:8 שָׁמַ֖עְתִּי Qal pf 1cs I heard, but I didn't understand: then said I, my lord, what shall be the issue of these things?
Hosea 3 verses
- Hosea 4:1 שִׁמְע֥וּ Qal impv 2mp Hear the word of Yahweh, you children of Israel; For Yahweh has a charge against the inhabitants of the land: "Indeed there is no truth, Nor goodness, Nor knowledge of God in the land.
- Hosea 5:1 שִׁמְעוּ Qal impv 2mp "Listen to this, you priests! Listen, house of Israel, And give ear, house of the king! For the judgment is against you; For you have been a snare at Mizpah, And a net spread on Tabor.
- Hosea 9:17 שָׁמְע֖וּ Qal pf 3cp My God will cast them away, because they did not listen to him; And they will be wanderers among the nations.
Joel 1 verse
Amos 8 verses
- Amos 3:1 שִׁמְע֞וּ Qal impv 2mp Hear this word that Yahweh has spoken against you, children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up out of the land of Egypt, saying:
- Amos 3:13 שִׁמְע֥וּ Qal impv 2mp "Listen, and testify against the house of Jacob," says the Lord Yahweh, the God of hosts.
- Amos 4:1 שִׁמְע֞וּ Qal impv 2mp Listen to this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who tell their lords, "Bring, and let us drink."
- Amos 5:1 שִׁמְע֞וּ Qal impv 2mp Listen to this word which I take up for a lamentation over you, O house of Israel.
- Amos 5:23 אֶשְׁמָֽע Qal impf 1cs Take away from me the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps.
- Amos 7:16 שְׁמַ֣ע Qal impv 2ms Now therefore listen to the word of Yahweh: 'You say, Don't prophesy against Israel, and don't preach against the house of Isaac.'
- Amos 8:4 שִׁמְעוּ Qal impv 2mp Hear this, you who desire to swallow up the needy, And cause the poor of the land to fail,
- Amos 8:11 לִ/שְׁמֹ֔עַ prep + Qal inf.cs Behold, the days come," says the Lord Yahweh, "That I will send a famine in the land, Not a famine of bread, Nor a thirst for water, But of hearing the words of Yahweh.
Obadiah 1 verse
Jonah 1 verse
Micah 8 verses
- Micah 1:2 שִׁמְעוּ֙ Qal impv 2mp Hear, you peoples, all of you. Listen, O earth, and all that is therein: And let the Lord Yahweh be witness against you, The Lord from his holy temple.
- Micah 3:1 שִׁמְעוּ Qal impv 2mp I said, "Please listen, you heads of Jacob, And rulers of the house of Israel: Isn't it for you to know justice?
- Micah 3:9 שִׁמְעוּ Qal impv 2mp Please listen to this, you heads of the house of Jacob, And rulers of the house of Israel, Who abhor justice, And pervert all equity.
- Micah 5:15 שָׁמֵֽעוּ Qal pf 3cp I will execute vengeance in anger, And wrath on the nations that didn't listen."
- Micah 6:1 שִׁמְעוּ וְ/תִשְׁמַ֥עְנָה Qal impv 2mp conj + Qal impf 3fp Listen now to what Yahweh says: "Arise, plead your case before the mountains, And let the hills hear what you have to say.
- Micah 6:2 שִׁמְע֤וּ Qal impv 2mp Hear, you mountains, Yahweh's controversy, And you enduring foundations of the earth; For Yahweh has a controversy with his people, And he will contend with Israel.
- Micah 6:9 שִׁמְע֥וּ Qal impv 2mp Yahweh's voice calls to the city, And wisdom sees your name: "Listen to the rod, And he who appointed it.
- Micah 7:7 יִשְׁמָעֵ֖/נִי Qal impf 3ms + sfx pers 1cs But as for me, I will look to Yahweh. I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me.
Nahum 1 verse
Habakkuk 3 verses
- Habakkuk 1:2 תִשְׁמָ֑ע Qal impf 2ms Yahweh, how long will I cry, and you will not hear? I cry out to you "Violence!" and will you not save?
- Habakkuk 3:2 שָׁמַ֣עְתִּי Qal pf 1cs Yahweh, I have heard of your fame. I stand in awe of your deeds, Yahweh. Renew your work in the midst of the years. In the midst of the years make it known. In wrath, you remember mercy.
- Habakkuk 3:16 שָׁמַ֣עְתִּי Qal pf 1cs I heard, and my body trembled. My lips quivered at the voice. Rottenness enters into my bones, and I tremble in my place, Because I must wait quietly for the day of trouble, For the coming up of the people who invade us.
Zephaniah 2 verses
- Zephaniah 2:8 שָׁמַ֨עְתִּי֙ Qal pf 1cs I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the insults of the children of Ammon, with which they have reproached my people, and magnified themselves against their border.
- Zephaniah 3:2 שָֽׁמְעָה֙ Qal pf 3fs She didn't obey the voice. She didn't receive correction. She didn't trust in Yahweh. She didn't draw near to her God.
Haggai 1 verse
Zechariah 8 verses
- Zechariah 1:4 שָׁמְע֛וּ Qal pf 3cp Don't you be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets proclaimed, saying: Thus says Yahweh of hosts, 'Return now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings;' but they did not hear, nor listen to me, says Yahweh.
- Zechariah 3:8 שְֽׁמַֽע Qal impv 2ms Hear now, Joshua the high priest, you and your fellows who sit before you; for they are men who are a sign: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant, the Branch.
- Zechariah 6:15 שָׁמ֣וֹעַ תִּשְׁמְע֔וּ/ן Qal inf.abs Qal impf 2mp + sfx n Those who are far off shall come and build in the temple of Yahweh; and you shall know that Yahweh of hosts has sent me to you. This will happen, if you will diligently obey the voice of Yahweh your God."'"
- Zechariah 7:11 מִ/שְּׁמֽוֹעַ prep + Qal inf.cs But they refused to listen, and turned their backs, and stopped their ears, that they might not hear.
- Zechariah 7:12 מִ֠/שְּׁמוֹעַ prep + Qal inf.cs Yes, they made their hearts as hard as flint, lest they might hear the law, and the words which Yahweh of Hosts had sent by his Spirit by the former prophets. Therefore great wrath came from Yahweh of Hosts.
- Zechariah 7:13 שָׁמֵ֑עוּ אֶשְׁמָ֔ע Qal pf 3cp Qal impf 1cs It has come to pass that, as he called, and they refused to listen, so they will call, and I will not listen," said Yahweh of Hosts;
- Zechariah 8:9 הַ/שֹּֽׁמְעִים֙ ptcl def.art + Qal ptcp.act mp Thus says Yahweh of Hosts: "Let your hands be strong, you who hear in these days these words from the mouth of the prophets who were in the day that the foundation of the house of Yahweh of Hosts was laid, even the temple, that it might be built.
- Zechariah 8:23 שָׁמַ֖עְנוּ Qal pf 1cp Thus says Yahweh of Hosts: "In those days, ten men will take hold, out of all the languages of the nations, they will take hold of the skirt of him who is a Jew, saying, 'We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.'"
Malachi 2 verses
- Malachi 2:2 תִשְׁמְע֡וּ Qal impf 2mp If you will not listen, and if you will not lay it to heart, to give glory to my name," says Yahweh of Hosts, "then will I send the curse on you, and I will curse your blessings. Indeed, I have cursed them already, because you do not lay it to heart.
- Malachi 3:16 וַ/יִּשְׁמָ֔ע conj + Qal wimpf 3ms Then those who feared Yahweh spoke one with another; and Yahweh listened, and heard, and a book of memory was written before him, for those who feared Yahweh, and who honored his name.
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.
