The Meaning of the Hebrew Word Shema

The Shema Prayer: Significance and Text

  • The Shema is a central prayer that has been recited by Jewish people every morning and evening for thousands of years as a primary expression of devotion to God.

  • The prayer is named after its first word, which in Hebrew is pronounced Shema, meaning "hear" or "listen."

  • The foundational text of the prayer is as follows: "Hear, O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is one. And as for you, you shall love the Lord your God with all of your heart, with all of your soul, and with all of your strength."

  • The Shema serves as a definitive statement of faith and a commitment to the singular nature of God.

Linguistic Nuances of the Hebrew Word Shema

  • The word Shema is exceptionally common throughout the Hebrew Bible, representing the universal human activity of hearing.

  • At its most basic level, it is connected to the physical function of the ear.

    • Proverbs Chapter 2020 illustrates this: "ears that Shema and eyes that see, the Lord has made them both."

  • Beyond the physical entry of sound waves into the ear, Shema carries the meaning of paying attention or focusing on something specific.

    • A notable example is found in the story of Leah, the wife of Jacob. Feeling unloved by her husband, she gave birth to a son and named him Simon (Hebrew: Shimon).

    • Leah explained the name by stating, "the Lord has Shama'ad that I am unloved," indicating that the Lord had both heard her situation and paid close attention to it.

Divine "Shema" as a Call to Action

  • In the biblical tradition, asking God to "Shema" is more than a request for Him to perceive sound; it is a request for Him to act or intervene.

  • This multi-layered meaning is prevalent in the Book of Psalms, where many cries for help begin with a call for God to listen.

    • Psalm 2727 verse 77 records: "Shema my voice when I call, o Lord. Be merciful. Answer me."

    • In this context, "listening" is inseparable from being merciful and providing an answer.

The Relationship Between Listening and Obedience

  • The concept of Shema is equally significant when God addresses humanity, particularly regarding the covenant.

  • At Mount Sinai, God told the Israelites: "If you shema me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all the nations you will be my treasured possession."

    • In the original Hebrew text of Exodus, the word Shema is repeated twice for emphasis—"if you shema shema"—which translates to "listen closely."

  • From a divine perspective, listening to God is essentially the same as keeping His covenant.

  • A unique feature of ancient Hebrew is that it contains no separate word for "obey" (meaning to carry out the wishes of an authority figure).

  • To express the idea of hearing and subsequently doing what is asked, the single word Shema is used.

  • In the Hebrew worldview, listening and doing are viewed as two sides of the same coin.

Prophetic Context and the Definition of True Listening

  • Later in Israel's history, when the people failed to uphold their covenant promises, Hebrew prophets used the paradox of the word Shema to describe their rebellion.

  • Prophets would state that the people "have ears but they're not listening."

  • While the Israelites had the physical capacity to hear, they were not truly "listening" because they were not acting differently; true listening requires a change in behavior.

  • Ultimately, biblical listening is defined as giving respect to the one speaking and following their instructions.

  • Genuine Shema is not a passive activity but one that requires deliberate effort and concrete action.