שָׁמַע

hebrewOld TestamentVerb1,159 occurrences39 books1,072 verses

Definition

a primitive root; to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
Traditional renderings: × attentively, call (gather) together, × carefully, × certainly, consent, consider, be content, declare, × diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make to) hear(-ken, tell), × indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be) obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish, regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, × surely, tell, understand, whosoever (heareth), witness.

In the Greek Old Testament

How the ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament renders שָׁמַע:

ἀκούωakouō“to hear”76%
εἰσακούωeisakouō“to listen to”14%
ὑπακούωhupakouō“to obey”2%
ἐπακούωepakouō“to listen to”1%
ἀκοήakoē“hearing”1%

Usage patterns

LawHistoryPoetryProphetsGospelsEpistles

Old TestamentNew Testament

Occurrences

1,159 total

Psalm 106:44בְּ֝שָׁמְע֗וֹ · Nevertheless He heard
Nevertheless He heard their cry; He took note of their distress.
Psalm 115:6יִשְׁמָ֑עוּ · hear
…they have ears, but cannot hear; they have noses, but cannot smell;
Psalm 116:1יִשְׁמַ֥ע׀ · He has heard
I love the LORD, for He has heard my voice—my appeal for mercy.
Psalm 119:149שִׁמְעָ֣ה · Hear
Hear my voice, O LORD, according to Your loving devotion; give me life according to Your justice.
Psalm 130:2שִׁמְעָ֪ה · hear
O Lord, hear my voice; let Your ears be attentive to my plea for mercy.
Psalm 132:6שְׁמַֽעֲנ֥וּהָ · We heard [that the ark was]
We heard that the ark was in Ephrathah; we found it in the fields of Jaar.
Psalm 138:4שָׁ֝מְע֗וּ · they hear
All the kings of the earth will give You thanks, O LORD, when they hear the words of Your mouth.
Psalm 141:6וְשָׁמְע֥וּ · the people will listen
When their rulers are thrown down from the cliffs, the people will listen to my words, for they are pleasant.
Psalm 143:1שְׁמַ֬ע · hear
A Psalm of David. O LORD, hear my prayer. In Your faithfulness, give ear to my plea; in Your righteousness, answer me.
Psalm 143:8הַשְׁמִ֘יעֵ֤נִי · Let me hear
Let me hear Your loving devotion in the morning, for I have put my trust in You. Teach me the way I should walk, for to You I lift up my soul.
Psalm 145:19יִ֝שְׁמַ֗ע · He hears
He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cry and saves them.
Proverbs 1:5יִשְׁמַ֣ע · listen
…let the wise listen and gain instruction, and the discerning acquire wise counsel
Proverbs 1:8שְׁמַ֣ע · Listen
Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and do not forsake the teaching of your mother.
Proverbs 1:33וְשֹׁמֵ֣עַֽ · But whoever listens
But whoever listens to me will dwell in safety, secure from the fear of evil.”
Proverbs 4:1שִׁמְע֣וּ · Listen
Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.
Proverbs 4:10שְׁמַ֣ע · Listen
Listen, my son, and receive my words, and the years of your life will be many.
Proverbs 5:7שִׁמְעוּ־ · listen
So now, my sons, listen to me, and do not turn aside from the words of my mouth.
Proverbs 5:13שָׁ֭מַעְתִּי · listen
I did not listen to the voice of my teachers or incline my ear to my mentors.
Proverbs 7:24שִׁמְעוּ־ · listen
Now, my sons, listen to me, and attend to the words of my mouth.
Proverbs 8:6שִׁ֭מְעוּ · Listen
Listen, for I speak of noble things, and the opening of my lips will reveal right.
Proverbs 8:32שִׁמְעוּ־ · listen
Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.
Proverbs 8:33שִׁמְע֖וּ · Listen
Listen to instruction and be wise; do not ignore it.
Proverbs 8:34שֹׁמֵ֪עַֽ֫ · who listens
Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my doorway.
Proverbs 12:15וְשֹׁמֵ֖עַ · listens
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to counsel.
Proverbs 13:1שָׁמַ֥ע · listen
A wise son heeds his father’s discipline, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke.
Proverbs 13:8שָׁמַ֥ע · man hears
Riches may ransom a man’s life, but a poor man hears no threat.
Proverbs 15:29יִשְׁמָֽע׃ · but He hears
The LORD is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.
Proverbs 15:31שֹׁ֭מַעַת · He who listens to
He who listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise.
Proverbs 15:32וְשׁוֹמֵ֥עַ · but whoever heeds
He who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding.
Proverbs 18:13יִשְׁמָ֑ע · he hears [it]
He who answers a matter before he hears it—this is folly and disgrace to him.
Proverbs 19:20שְׁמַ֣ע · Listen
Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days.
Proverbs 19:27לִשְׁמֹ֣עַ · to hear
If you cease to hear instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge.
Proverbs 20:12שֹׁ֭מַעַת · that hear
Ears that hear and eyes that see—the LORD has made them both.
Proverbs 21:28שׁוֹמֵעַ · who listens [to truth]
A lying witness will perish, but the man who listens to truth will speak forever.
Proverbs 22:17וּ֭שְׁמַע · and hear
Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise—apply your mind to my knowledge—
Proverbs 23:19שְׁמַע־ · Listen
Listen, my son, and be wise, and guide your heart on the right course.
Proverbs 23:22שְׁמַ֣ע · Listen
Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.
Proverbs 25:10שֹׁמֵ֑עַ · he who hears you
…lest he who hears you bring shame upon you, and your infamy never go away.
Proverbs 25:12שֹׁמָֽעַת׃ · a listening
Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is a wise man’s rebuke to a listening ear.
Proverbs 28:9מִשְּׁמֹ֣עַ · from hearing
Whoever turns his ear away from hearing the law, even his prayer is detestable.
Proverbs 29:24יִ֝שְׁמַ֗ע · he receives
A partner to a thief hates his own soul; he receives the oath but does not testify.
Ecclesiastes 1:8מִשְּׁמֹֽעַ׃ · with hearing
All things are wearisome, more than one can describe; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear content with hearing.
Ecclesiastes 5:1לִשְׁמֹ֔עַ · to listen
Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.
Ecclesiastes 7:5לִשְׁמֹ֖עַ · to heed; שֹׁמֵ֖עַ · to listen
It is better to heed a wise man’s rebuke than to listen to the song of fools.
Ecclesiastes 7:21תִשְׁמַ֥ע · you may hear
Do not pay attention to every word that is spoken, or you may hear your servant cursing you.
Ecclesiastes 9:16נִשְׁמָעִֽים׃ · heeded
And I said, “Wisdom is better than strength, but the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heeded.”
Ecclesiastes 9:17נִשְׁמָעִ֑ים · are heeded
The calm words of the wise are heeded over the shouts of a ruler among fools.
Ecclesiastes 12:13נִשְׁמָ֑ע · has been heard
When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: Fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the whole duty of man.
Song of Solomon 2:12נִשְׁמַ֥ע · is heard
The flowers have appeared in the countryside; the season of singing has come, and the cooing of turtledoves is heard in our land.