ESTUDIO DE LA PALABRA HEBREA
Shama — Meaning and Usage in the Bible
שָׁמַע means to hear with attention, often extending to understanding, heeding, or obeying what is heard.
Significado de la palabra
The basic sense of שָׁמַע is to hear or perceive sound. Its usage can go beyond physical hearing: it may include giving attention, understanding speech, heeding a request, or obeying a command.
The word can also describe hearing reports or messages about events, as when Abram heard that his brother had been taken captive (Genesis 14:14). Hearing is frequently presented as receiving and responding to what another person says.
In its broader usages, שָׁמַע can refer to being heard or regarded, and in causative forms, to telling, proclaiming, or causing a sound to be heard. The nominal form associated with this entry can mean sound.
Uso en las Escrituras
In Genesis 3, שָׁמַע appears in connection with hearing the voice of God and responding in fear and hiding (Genesis 3:8, 3:10). It can describe both receiving a sound and recognizing its significance.
The word also expresses attentive listening and understanding: Lamech calls on his wives to hear his voice and speech (Genesis 4:23), while the people in Genesis 11:7 are said not to understand one another's speech. God's instruction to listen to Sarah (Genesis 21:12) shows that hearing can carry the sense of heeding another person.
La palabra en detalle
- H8085 שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ) primarily means to hear or listen, but its sense may include attention, understanding, consent, heeding, or obedience. Related forms can mean to tell, proclaim, summon, make a sound, or describe a sound.
Versículos de ejemplo
- Genesis 3:10 Here שָׁמַע means hearing God's voice, followed by fear and an awareness of nakedness.
- Genesis 4:23 The word is used in an appeal for attentive hearing: hear my voice and hearken to my speech.
- Genesis 11:7 In this context, the related idea is understanding speech, which is prevented by the confounding of language.
- Genesis 21:12 Here listening to Sarah's voice is an instruction to heed her, showing שָׁמַע beyond mere auditory perception.
Preguntas frecuentes
What is the basic meaning of שָׁמַע?
Its basic meaning is to hear or listen, with possible implications of attention, understanding, heeding, or obedience.
Does שָׁמַע always mean only physical hearing?
No. It can describe hearing a report, understanding language, listening attentively, granting a request, or obeying what is heard.
How is שָׁמַע used in Genesis 3?
It describes hearing the voice of Jehovah God and the human response of fear and hiding, showing hearing as reception with significance.