### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term שְׁמוּעָה (shᵉmûwʻâh, `{{H8052}}`) is a feminine passive participle derived from the verb שָׁמַע (shama', `{{H8085}}`), meaning "to hear," "to listen," or "to obey." Its fundamental meaning is "that which is heard" or "something heard." This core sense gives rise to a broad semantic range, encompassing various forms of communicated information or intelligence.
The nuances of שְׁמוּעָה include:
* **News or Report:** Information conveyed about events, circumstances, or actions (e.g., a battle report, tidings of a death). This is the most common usage.
* **Fame or Renown:** What is heard and circulated about a person's reputation, wisdom, or achievements.
* **Rumor or Bruit:** An unverified or widespread report, often with an uncertain or negative connotation.
* **Doctrine or Message:** A teaching or authoritative communication, particularly in a prophetic or theological context, referring to the content that is to be heard and believed.
The passive nature of the participle emphasizes the *content* that is received through hearing, rather than the act of hearing itself. It is the communicated item, the piece of intelligence.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term שְׁמוּעָה (shᵉmûwʻâh, `{{H8052}}`) appears approximately 27 times in the Old Testament, predominantly in historical books and prophetic literature. Its context consistently illuminates its specific meaning:
* **News of Calamity or Events:** Often, שְׁמוּעָה refers to reports of significant, often distressing, events. For instance, in [[1 Samuel 4:19]], it is "the report" of the Ark of God being captured and the death of Eli's sons that causes his daughter-in-law to go into labor. Similarly, [[2 Samuel 4:4]] speaks of "the news" of Saul and Jonathan's death. In prophetic judgments, [[Jeremiah 10:22]] depicts "a sound of a report" coming from the north, signifying an impending invasion. [[Nahum 3:19]] declares that "the report" of Nineveh's destruction will bring joy to those who hear it.
* **Fame or Reputation:** The most notable instance of this usage is in the account of the Queen of Sheba's visit to Solomon. She confirms that "the report" ([[1 Kings 10:6]], [[2 Chronicles 9:5]]) she heard in her own land about Solomon's wisdom and prosperity was true and indeed exceeded by his reality.
* **Rumor or Evil Tidings:** In [[Psalm 112:7]], the righteous man "will not fear evil tidings" (שְׁמוּעָה רָעָה), indicating a report or rumor that could cause distress or fear.
* **Prophetic Message or Doctrine:** This is a profoundly significant usage, particularly in Isaiah. In [[Isaiah 28:9]], the prophet asks, "Whom shall he teach knowledge? And whom shall he make to understand doctrine (שְׁמוּעָה)?" Here, it refers to the content of divine instruction. Most critically, [[Isaiah 53:1]] poses the poignant question: "Who has believed our report (שְׁמוּעָה)? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?" This "report" is the prophetic message concerning the Suffering Servant, a message of salvation that many would not believe. This verse is directly quoted in the New Testament in [[Romans 10:16]] by Paul, linking the prophetic message to the Gospel itself.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary linguistic connection for שְׁמוּעָה (shᵉmûwʻâh, `{{H8052}}`) is its root verb שָׁמַע (shama', `{{H8085}}`), "to hear," "to listen," "to obey." While שָׁמַע denotes the act of hearing, שְׁמוּעָה is the *object* of that hearing—the information received. This relationship highlights the biblical emphasis on both the transmission and reception of communication.
Other related concepts and words include:
* **דָּבָר (dabar, `{{H1697}}`):** "Word," "matter," "thing," "message." This is a broader term for communication, but can overlap with שְׁמוּעָה when referring to a specific message or report.
* **בְּשׂוֹרָה (besorah, `{{H1309}}`):** "Good news," "glad tidings." This term is a specific, positive type of שְׁמוּעָה.
* **נְאוּם (ne'um, `{{H5002}}`):** "Utterance," often divine. While not directly synonymous, it refers to spoken divine communication, the content of which could become a "report."
* **Revelation and Prophecy:** שְׁמוּעָה often serves as the vehicle for divine revelation or prophetic utterances, particularly when it refers to God's message or a prophetic word.
* **Truth and Falsehood:** The varying uses of שְׁמוּעָה (from reliable news to unsubstantiated rumor) underscore the biblical concern with discerning truth from deception in received information.
* **Obedience and Disbelief:** The reception of a שְׁמוּעָה, especially a divine one, often calls for a response of belief or obedience, and conversely, can be met with disbelief or rejection.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of שְׁמוּעָה (shᵉmûwʻâh, `{{H8052}}`) is profound, particularly in its capacity to convey divine truth and to elicit a response from humanity.
1. **Vehicle of Divine Revelation:** In its most weighty usage, שְׁמוּעָה is the very message of God, the content of His prophetic word. [[Isaiah 53:1]] is paramount here: "Who has believed our report?" This "report" is not mere human gossip but the profound, salvific message of the Suffering Servant's atoning work. It is the core of God's redemptive plan, revealed through His prophets.
2. **Call to Faith and Response:** The question in [[Isaiah 53:1]] highlights the critical importance of believing the divine "report." The failure to believe this message means a failure to apprehend God's saving power (the "arm of the LORD"). This underscores the biblical emphasis on faith as the proper response to God's self-revelation. The New Testament's citation in [[Romans 10:16]] further solidifies this, linking the "report" directly to the Gospel ([[Romans 10:17]]: "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ"). The "report" is the content of the preached word that brings salvation.
3. **God's Sovereignty in Communication:** Whether good news or bad, the "report" often serves to demonstrate God's sovereign control over events and His communication of His will to humanity. Even a "report" of impending judgment ([[Jeremiah 10:22]]) is a divine warning.
4. **Moral Implications of Hearing:** The varied uses of שְׁמוּעָה remind us that not all "reports" are true or beneficial. The righteous person is not afraid of "evil tidings" ([[Psalm 112:7]]), implying a discernment of what is heard and a reliance on God's truth over human rumor or fear-mongering.
### Summary
The Hebrew word שְׁמוּעָה (shᵉmûwʻâh, `{{H8052}}`) signifies "that which is heard" or "a report." Derived from the verb "to hear" (שָׁמַע, `{{H8085}}`), its semantic range extends from neutral news and fame to potentially negative rumors, and most significantly, to authoritative doctrine or a divine message. Contextual analysis reveals its use in conveying news of events (both calamitous and joyous), establishing reputation, and, critically, transmitting God's prophetic word. Theologically, שְׁמוּעָה is a vital term for understanding divine communication and human response. The "report" of God's saving work, particularly as seen in [[Isaiah 53:1]] and echoed in [[Romans 10:16]], represents the core of the Gospel message, calling humanity to faith and obedience to what has been heard. It underscores the profound responsibility inherent in both the giving and receiving of information, especially divine truth.
TRV