English · KJV
H8088

שֵׁמַע

shêmaʻ /shay'-mah/ Ask about this word
Rootfrom שָׁמַע
Meaningsomething heard, i.e. a sound, rumor, announcement; abstractly, audience
KJV usagebruit, fame, hear(-ing), loud, report, speech, tidings.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of shêmaʻ — 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 שֵׁמַע (shêmaʻ), represented by H8088, is derived from the root verb shâmaʻ H8085, meaning "to hear." It describes something heard, such as a report, fame, tidings, or a literal sound. It appears 18 times across 17 unique verses, signifying its role in communicating information and reputation.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical narratives, H8088 is used in several distinct ways. It often refers to widespread reputation or fame, as in the case of the queen of Sheba, who "heard of the fame of Solomon" 1 Kings 10:1. It also functions as a report or tidings that conveys news, which can cause significant reactions. The nations were prophesied to hear the report of Israel and "tremble, and be in anguish" Deuteronomy 2:25. In a legal context, a "false report" is explicitly forbidden Exodus 23:1. The term can also denote a direct divine message, like God's "speech" that inspired fear in the prophet Habakkuk 3:2, or a physical sound, such as the loud cymbals used for praise Psalms 150:5.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the meaning and impact of H8088:

  • H8085 shâmaʻ (to hear): As the root of H8088, this verb describes the action of receiving a report or sound. It is used when people "heard the tidings" Genesis 29:13 or when the queen of Sheba "heard of the fame" of Solomon 1 Kings 10:1.
  • H8034 shêm (name, renown, report): This word is closely linked to the concept of fame. Solomon's fame H8088 was directly tied to "the name H8034 of the LORD" 1 Kings 10:1, showing that a great name generates a significant report.
  • H5046 nâgad (to declare, report, shew forth): This verb describes the act of spreading the information that becomes a shêmaʻ. In the future, those who had not heard God's fame H8088 will "declare" H5046 His glory among the nations Isaiah 66:19.
  • H2342 chûwl (to be sorely pained, tremble): This word often describes the reaction to a powerful report. Upon hearing the report of thee, nations "shall tremble, and be in anguish" H2342 Deuteronomy 2:25. Similarly, people are "sorely pained" H2342 at a troubling report Isaiah 23:5.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H8088 lies in its connection to testimony and divine reputation.

  • The Power of Divine Report: A shêmaʻ concerning God or His works is never neutral. It is a powerful force that causes fear in prophets Habakkuk 3:2, feebleness in kings Jeremiah 50:43, and anguish in entire nations Deuteronomy 2:25. The report of God's actions serves as a testimony to His sovereignty.
  • Integrity of Testimony: The prohibition against raising a "false report" H8088 underscores the moral and spiritual importance of truth. Testimony, whether about God or man, is held to a divine standard Exodus 23:1.
  • From Report to Revelation: The word can signify a preliminary stage of faith that leads to a deeper, personal encounter. Job's journey culminates in this realization: "I have heard of thee by the hearing H8088 of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee" Job 42:5, contrasting secondhand knowledge with direct revelation.

Summary

In summary, H8088 is far more than a simple word for sound or rumor. It represents the powerful and consequential nature of what is heard, whether it is the fame of a king, the tidings of an army, the sound of worship, or the very speech of God. A shêmaʻ acts as a catalyst, shaping reputations and provoking responses of fear, anguish, or praise. Ultimately, it illustrates the biblical principle that a report carries the weight to influence nations and move individuals from indirect knowledge to a direct encounter with the divine.

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 and a verb across 19 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.

  • שֵׁמַע
  • שֵׁמַע
  • שְׁמַעְתִּי

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 H8034 שֵׁם a primitive word (perhaps rather from through the idea of definite and conspicuous position; compare שָׁמַיִם); an appel H5046 נָגַד a primitive root; properly, to front, i.e. stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to manifest; figurat H2342 חוּל or חִיל; a primitive root; properly, to twist or whirl (in a circular or spiral manner), i.e. (specifically) to dance, t

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 17 verses across 13 of the 39 books. 4 books tie for most frequent (2 verses each); never once in the other 26.

1
Genesis
1
Exodus
1
Numbers
1
Deuteronomy
1
1 Kings
1
2 Chronicles
2
Job
2
Psalms
2
Isaiah
2
Jeremiah
1
Hosea
1
Nahum
1
Habakkuk

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.