Original Word: שֵׁמַע
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: shema`
Pronunciation: shay-mah'
Phonetic Spelling: (shay'-mah)
KJV: bruit, fame, hear(-ing), loud, report, speech, tidings
NASB: report, fame, about, hearing, news, proclamation
Word Origin: [from H8085 (שָׁמַע - heard)]

1. something heard, i.e. a sound, rumor, announcement
2. abstractly, audience

bruit, fame, hearing, loud, report, speech, tidings

From shama'; something heard, i.e. A sound, rumor, announcement; abstractly, audience -- bruit, fame, hear(-ing), loud, report, speech, tidings.

see HEBREW shama'

Word Origin
from shama
Definition
a hearing, report
NASB Translation
about (1), fame (4), hear* (1), hearing (1), news (1), proclamation (1), report (8).

I. [שֶׁ֫מַע noun [masculine] sound; — הַלְלוּהוּ בְּצִלְצְלֵי שָׁ֑מַע Psalm 150:5 ("" תְּרוּעָה).

שֵׁ֫מַע noun [masculine] hearing, report (on from compare Lag^{BN 143}); — ׳שׁ absolute Isaiah 23:5; construct Isaiah 23:5 +; suffix שִׁמְעִי Isaiah 66:19 etc.; — report, usually with Genitive object: accusative with שְׁמַע Genesis 29:13 (J) the tidings about Jacob, Isaiah 23:5 #NAME? Numbers 14:15 (JE), Deuteronomy 2:25; 1 Kings 10:1= 2Chronicles 9:1; Nahum 3:19; Habakkuk 3:2; Jeremiah 37:5; Jeremiah 50:43; Isaiah 66:9; with ל Genitive Isaiah 23:5; לַעֲדָתָם Hosea 7:12 usually according to the report (heard by) their congregation (!), but inexplicable and probably corrupt, We Now; Marti (compare Oettli) עַלרָֿעָתָם (כְּשֵׁמַע as gloss) according to their wickedness; שָׁוְא ׳נָשָׂא שׁ Exodus 23:1 (E) take up (utter) a false report; אֹוָן ׳לְשׁ Psalm 18:45 i.e. as soon as heard of, = mere report Job 42:5 (opposed to personal knowledge), compare שִׁמְעָהּ Job 28:22.

Scope of Meaning

שֵׁמַע (śémaʿ) embraces the ideas of a report, news, fame, reputation, or the very act of hearing. Whether the context is personal (Genesis 29:13), judicial (Exodus 23:1), international (Deuteronomy 2:25), or doxological (Psalm 150:5), the term gathers around one reality: what is heard shapes belief, emotion, and action.

Key Theological Themes

1. Veracity versus falsehood

Exodus 23:1 situates שֵׁמַע in Israel’s judicial ethic: “You shall not spread a false report.” The safeguard of truth in speech is foundational to covenant community life.

2. The reputation of the LORD among the nations

Numbers 14:15–16 and Deuteronomy 2:25 tie Israel’s destiny to what surrounding nations will “hear” of God’s acts. Divine glory is advanced or maligned through the nations’ שֵׁמַע.

3. The magnetism of godly wisdom

The Queen of Sheba “heard the report of Solomon’s fame” (1 Kings 10:1; 2 Chronicles 9:1) and traveled far to test it. Right hearing kindles a quest for wisdom and worship.

4. Personal encounter with God

Job moves from secondhand information to first-hand experience: “My ears had heard of You, but now my eyes have seen You” (Job 42:5). Shifts from report to revelation mark deepening faith.

5. Prophetic warning and judgment

Isaiah 23:5; Jeremiah 37:5; Jeremiah 50:43; Nahum 3:19 show how news of military movements or collapse spreads dread or celebration. Shêmaʿ amplifies prophetic credibility.

6. Awe-inspiring worship

Psalm 150:5 celebrates “resounding cymbals.” The audible intensity underscores that praise itself becomes a report declaring God’s greatness.

Representative Occurrences

• Genesis 29:13 – Laban, upon “hearing the news” of Jacob, runs to greet him, illustrating family ties mediated through report.
• Deuteronomy 2:25 – “They will hear the report of you and tremble,” evidencing prevenient fear that prepares victory.
• Isaiah 66:19 – Missionary vision: those “who have not heard My fame” will receive the proclamation.
• Habakkuk 3:2 – “LORD, I have heard Your report; I stand in awe of Your deeds.” Prior reports fuel present intercession.

Relationship to Divine Revelation

Shêmaʿ illuminates how God sovereignly employs proclamation. Salvation history moves by hearing: nations hear of plagues, sea crossings, and resurrections; individuals hear rebuke, promise, and gospel. Romans 10:17, while Greek, echoes the principle: “faith comes from hearing.” The Old Testament groundwork of שֵׁמַע anticipates the New Testament kerygma.

Implications for Worship

The climactic psalm of the Psalter invites instruments whose sound is itself a report (Psalm 150:5). Corporate praise becomes audible testimony, evangelizing worshipers and onlookers alike.

Applications in Ministry

• Guard speech: like Exodus 23:1, Christian testimony must resist embellishment and slander.
• Promote God’s fame: recount His works so that contemporary “nations” may hear and fear.
• Validate truth claims: invite seekers, as Solomon did, to test the report of the gospel.
• Cultivate experiential faith: move congregations from hearing about God to encountering Him.
• Utilize audible witness: music, testimony, and preaching generate fresh שֵׁמַע that reverberates beyond church walls.

In every age, שֵׁמַע reminds the people of God that what is heard about Him shapes destinies.

כְּשֵׁ֖מַע כְּשֵׁ֥מַע כשמע לְשֵׁ֣מַֽע לשמע שְׁמַעְתִּ֑יךָ שִׁמְעֲךָ֔ שִׁמְעֲךָ֖ שִׁמְעֲךָ֗ שִׁמְעֲךָ֮ שִׁמְעִי֙ שִׁמְעָ֔ם שִׁמְעָ֖ם שִׁמְעָֽהּ׃ שֵׁ֖מַע שֵׁ֣מַע שֵׁ֣מַע ׀ שֵׁ֥מַע שָׁ֑מַע שמע שמעה׃ שמעי שמעך שמעם שמעתיך kə·šê·ma‘ kəšêma‘ keShema lə·šê·ma‘ ləšêma‘ leShema šā·ma‘ šāma‘ šê·ma‘ šə·ma‘·tî·ḵā šêma‘ šəma‘tîḵā Shama Shema shemaTicha shimaCha shimAh shimAm shimI šim‘āh šim‘ăḵā šim‘ām šim‘î šim·‘ă·ḵā šim·‘āh šim·‘ām šim·‘îInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts