English · KJV
H8052

שְׁמוּעָה

shᵉmûwʻâh /sehm-oo-aw'/ Ask about this word
Rootfeminine passive participle of שָׁמֵם
Meaningsomething heard, i.e. an announcement
KJV usagebruit, doctrine, fame, mentioned, news, report, rumor, tidings.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of shᵉmûwʻâh — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word shᵉmûwʻâh, represented by H8052, refers to something heard, such as an announcement, report, or tidings. It appears 27 times across 24 unique verses in the Bible. Its core meaning encompasses any form of communicated information, from a rumor or piece of news to divinely inspired doctrine or fame.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical narratives, H8052 is used to describe information that carries significant weight and elicits a strong response. It can be "good news" which is compared to cold water for a thirsty soul Proverbs 25:25, or "evil tidings" that cause fear and faintheartedness (Psalms 112:7, Jeremiah 49:23). A "rumour" from the LORD can be a tool to alter the plans of a king 2 Kings 19:7. The word is also used for a prophetic "report" that demands belief, as in the question, "Who hath believed our report?" Isaiah 53:1. The arrival of "tidings" can cause a profound physical and emotional reaction, making every heart melt and every spirit faint Ezekiel 21:7.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words clarify the concept of receiving and responding to a report:

  • H8085 shâmaʻ (to hear intelligently): As the root concept of H8052, this verb signifies the act of hearing. A report is only impactful if it is heard, as when Eli hears the "no good report" about his sons 1 Samuel 2:24.
  • H539 ʼâman (to trust or believe): This word describes the critical response of faith. The report about the LORD's power requires belief Isaiah 53:1, and the Queen of Sheba did not believe the words about Solomon's wisdom until she came and saw for herself, exceeding the fame she had heard 1 Kings 10:7.
  • H3372 yârêʼ (to fear): This highlights the emotional response to a threatening rumour. The people are warned not to fear the rumour that will be heard in the land Jeremiah 51:46, while the righteous are promised they will not be afraid of evil tidings Psalms 112:7.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H8052 is demonstrated by its impact on both human and divine affairs.

  • The Power of a Divine Message: A rumour or report originating from God is not idle talk; it is an active force. God sends a rumour to make a king return to his own land to face judgment Isaiah 37:7. Tidings of God's coming judgment are so certain that they cause every heart to melt and all hands to become feeble Ezekiel 21:7.
  • The Nature of Good and Evil News: The word distinguishes between reports that bring life and those that bring distress. A good report can rejoice the heart and make the bones fat Proverbs 15:30, while evil tidings bring sorrow and faintheartedness Jeremiah 49:23.
  • Revelation and Doctrine: Beyond simple news, H8052 can signify divine teaching. Isaiah asks who can be made to understand "doctrine" Isaiah 28:9, and later presents a "report" concerning the revealed arm of the LORD that requires faith to be accepted Isaiah 53:1.

Summary

In summary, H8052 is a dynamic term for any communicated message. It is more than just news; it is a word that carries consequences, capable of inspiring joy or terror, hope or despair. From a rumor that redirects armies to a prophetic report that defines salvation, shᵉmûwʻâh illustrates that what is heard has the power to shape destinies, test faith, and reveal the very intentions of God.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 27 occurrences, inflected in 3 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • שְׁמוּעָה
  • שְׁמֻעָתֵ
  • שְׁמֻעוֹת

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H8085 שָׁמַע a primitive root; to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc H539 אָמַן a primitive root; (Isaiah 30:21; interchangeable with אָמַן, to go to the right hand); properly, to build up or support; H3372 יָרֵא a primitive root; to fear; morally, to revere; caus. to frighten; affright, be (make) afraid, dread(-ful), (put in) fear

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 24 verses across 12 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Isaiah and Jeremiah (4 verses each); never once in the other 27.

2
1 Samuel
2
2 Samuel
2
1 Kings
1
2 Kings
1
2 Chronicles
1
Psalms
2
Proverbs
4
Isaiah
4
Jeremiah
3
Ezekiel
1
Daniel
1
Obadiah

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.