Definition and Usage:
In the Bible, the term "hear" is often used to denote the act of listening or giving attention to spoken words, commands, or teachings. It is a critical concept in both the Old and New Testaments, emphasizing the importance of obedience, understanding, and faith. The Hebrew word "שָׁמַע" (shama) and the Greek word "ἀκούω" (akouo) are commonly translated as "hear" in the Scriptures.

Old Testament Context:
Hearing is frequently associated with obedience in the Old Testament. In Deuteronomy 6:4, known as the Shema, the Israelites are commanded, "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One." This call to hear is not merely about auditory perception but involves a response of faith and obedience to God's commandments. The prophets often called the people to hear the word of the Lord, as in Isaiah 1:10, "Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom; listen to the instruction of our God, you people of Gomorrah!"

New Testament Context:
In the New Testament, hearing is closely linked to faith. Romans 10:17 states, "Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." Jesus frequently used the phrase, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear" (e.g., Matthew 11:15), indicating that true hearing involves spiritual discernment and receptivity to the message of the Kingdom of God. The parable of the sower in Matthew 13 illustrates different responses to hearing the word, highlighting the importance of a receptive heart.

Spiritual Significance:
Hearing in the biblical sense goes beyond physical listening; it involves an active engagement with God's word and a readiness to act upon it. James 1:22 admonishes believers, "Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." This underscores the idea that genuine hearing results in transformation and obedience.

Divine Hearing:
The Bible also speaks of God as one who hears. Psalm 34:17 assures, "The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears; He delivers them from all their troubles." God's hearing is portrayed as attentive and compassionate, responding to the prayers and cries of His people.

Practical Application:
Believers are encouraged to cultivate a heart that is attentive to God's voice, as seen in Proverbs 8:34, "Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my doorway." This involves regular engagement with Scripture, prayer, and a willingness to be guided by the Holy Spirit.

Conclusion:
The biblical concept of hearing is integral to the life of faith, encompassing both the reception of God's word and the obedient response to it. It is a call to attentiveness, discernment, and action, reflecting a heart aligned with God's will.1. (v. t.) To perceive by the ear; to apprehend or take cognizance of by the ear; as, to hear sounds; to hear a voice; to hear one call.

2. (v. t.) To give audience or attention to; to listen to; to heed; to accept the doctrines or advice of; to obey; to examine; to try in a judicial court; as, to hear a recitation; to hear a class; the case will be heard to-morrow.

3. (v. t.) To attend, or be present at, as hearer or worshiper; as, to hear a concert; to hear Mass.

4. (v. t.) To give attention to as a teacher or judge.

5. (v. t.) To accede to the demand or wishes of; to listen to and answer favorably; to favor.

6. (v. i.) To have the sense or faculty of perceiving sound.

7. (v. i.) To use the power of perceiving sound; to perceive or apprehend by the ear; to attend; to listen.

8. (v. i.) To be informed by oral communication; to be told; to receive information by report or by letter.

191. akouo -- to hear, listen
... to hear, listen. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: akouo Phonetic Spelling:
(ak-oo'-o) Short Definition: I hear, listen Definition: I hear, listen ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/191.htm - 11k

3878. parakouo -- to overhear, to hear amiss, to take no heed
... to overhear, to hear amiss, to take no heed. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration:
parakouo Phonetic Spelling: (par-ak-oo'-o) Short Definition: I refuse to hear ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3878.htm - 7k

4257. proakouo -- to hear beforehand
... to hear beforehand. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: proakouo Phonetic Spelling:
(pro-ak-oo'-o) Short Definition: I hear beforehand Definition: I hear ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4257.htm - 6k

1522. eisakouo -- to listen, to obey
... to listen, to obey. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: eisakouo Phonetic Spelling:
(ice-ak-oo'-o) Short Definition: I hear, listen to Definition: I hear ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1522.htm - 7k

1873. epakouo -- to listen to, to hearken to
... listen to, to hearken to. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: epakouo Phonetic
Spelling: (ep-ak-oo'-o) Short Definition: I listen to, hear favorably Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1873.htm - 7k

1251. diakouo -- to give a hearing to
... to give a hearing to. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: diakouo Phonetic Spelling:
(dee-ak-oo'-om-ahee) Short Definition: I hear throughout, of a judicial ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1251.htm - 6k

1874. epakroaomai -- to listen attentively
... attentively. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: epakroaomai Phonetic Spelling:
(ep-ak-ro-ah'-om-ahee) Short Definition: I listen to, hear Definition: I ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1874.htm - 6k

5219. hupakouo -- to listen, attend to
... answer. Cognate: 5219 (from 5259 , "under" and 191 , "hear") -- properly,
to what is heard (literally, "under hearing"). See 5218 (). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5219.htm - 8k

5218. hupakoe -- obedience
... 5218 (from191 , "to hear" and 5259 , "beneath") -- ie -- literally, " to what
is " (, 695), ie obedience as the response to someone speaking. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5218.htm - 7k

946. bdelugma -- a detestable thing
... 948 , derived from , "to reek with stench") -- properly, what emits a foul odor
and hence is (); (figuratively) as a (like when people refuse to hear and obey ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/946.htm - 7k

8085. shama -- to hear
... 8084, 8085. shama. 8086 . to hear. Transliteration: shama Phonetic Spelling:
(shaw-mah') Short Definition: heard. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/8085.htm - 7k

8086. shema -- to hear
... shema. 8087 . to hear. Transliteration: shema Phonetic Spelling: (shem-ah') Short
Definition: heard. ... hear, obey. (Aramaic) corresponding to shama' -- hear, obey ...
/hebrew/8086.htm - 6k

2045. hashmauth -- a causing to hear
... 2044, 2045. hashmauth. 2046 . a causing to hear. Transliteration: hashmauth
Phonetic Spelling: (hashmaw-ooth') Short Definition: information. ... to cause to hear ...
/hebrew/2045.htm - 6k

8088. shema -- a hearing, report
... Word Origin from shama Definition a hearing, report NASB Word Usage about (1), fame
(4), hear* (1), hearing (1), news (1), proclamation (1), report (8). ...
/hebrew/8088.htm - 6k

238. azan -- to give ear, listen
... Word Origin a denominative verb from the same as ozen Definition to give ear, listen
NASB Word Usage give ear (24), give heed (2), hear (3), listen (8 ...
/hebrew/238.htm - 6k

241. ozen -- an ear
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition an ear NASB Word Usage attentive (1),
closely (1), ear (60), ears (58), hear* (2), hearing (39), inform* (1), known ...
/hebrew/241.htm - 6k

3458. Yishmael -- "God hears," the name of several Israelites
... Ishmael. From shama' and 'el; God will hear; Jishmael, the name of Abraham's oldest
son, and of five Israelites -- Ishmael. see HEBREW shama'. see HEBREW 'el. ...
/hebrew/3458.htm - 6k

3460. Yishmayah -- "Yah hears," two Israelites
... Ishmaiah. Or Yishmacyahuw {yish-mah-yaw'-hoo}; from shama' and Yahh; Jah will hear;
Jishmajah, the name of two Israelites -- Ishmaiah. see HEBREW shama'. ...
/hebrew/3460.htm - 6k

6030. anah -- to answer, respond
... shout, testify, announce -- give account, afflict (by mistake for anah), (cause
to, give) answer, bring low (by mistake for anah), cry, hear, Leannoth, lift up ...
/hebrew/6030.htm - 6k

4926. mishma -- something heard
... Word Origin from shama Definition something heard NASB Word Usage what...hear (1).
hearing. From shama'; a report -- hearing. see HEBREW shama'. 4925, 4926. ...
/hebrew/4926.htm - 6k

Directions How to Hear Sermons
... Directions How to Hear Sermons. Luke 8:18 " "Take heed, therefore, how
ye hear." The occasion of our Lord's giving this caution ...
/.../selected sermons of george whitefield/directions how to hear sermons.htm

For as to that which we Hear Said by You...
... Book VII. 23 For as to that which we hear said by you? For as to that
which we hear said by you, that some of the gods are good ...
/.../arnobius/the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/23 for as to that.htm

'This is My Beloved Son: Hear Him'
... 'THIS IS MY BELOVED SON: HEAR HIM'. 'And there ... heaven. Hear Him when He
tells us of God's tenderness and patience and love. Hear ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/this is my beloved son .htm

O God, in Mercy Hear,
... PENITENCE AND LOVE O God, in mercy hear,. tr., John Brownlie 6,6,8,6 D. I. O God,
in mercy hear,. I lift my cry to Thee,. And let Thy gracious help be sent. ...
/.../brownlie/hymns from the morningland/o god in mercy hear.htm

Ep. Lxxvii. I Hear that You are Indignant at the Outrages which ...
... Division III. Miscellaneous Letters. Ep. LXXVII. I hear that you are
indignant at the outrages which have been committed on us? ...
/.../cyril/select letters of saint gregory nazianzen/ep lxxvii i hear that.htm

Ears to Hear are a Willingness to Obey.
... A Treatise on the gift of perseverance, Chapter 37."Ears to Hear are a
Willingness to Obey. Although, therefore, we say that obedience ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 37 ears to hear are.htm

If You are Willing to Hear Our Conclusions, Then Learn that we are ...
... Book III. 19 If you are willing to hear our conclusions, then learn that
we are so far? If you are willing to hear our conclusions ...
/.../the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/19 if you are willing.htm

When, Therefore, You Hear it Said, "Sin Shall not Reign Over You.. ...
... Section 12. When, therefore, you hear it said, "Sin shall not reign over
you? 12. When, therefore, you hear it said, "Sin shall ...
/.../augustine/on continence/section 12 when therefore you.htm

PM Anonymous. O Father! Hear.
... SUPPLEMENT. 488. PM Anonymous. O Father! Hear. 1 Hear, Father, hear our
prayer! Thou who art pity where sorrow prevaileth, Thou ...
/.../various/book of hymns for public and private devotion/488 p m anonymous o.htm

O God, in Mercy Hear,
... FAITH AND PENITENCE XXV O God, in mercy hear,. 6,6,8,6. O God, in mercy hear,. I
lift my cry to Thee; And let Thy gracious help be sent,. In my perplexity; ...
/.../brownlie/hymns of the russian church/xxv o god in mercy.htm

Supplications (32 Occurrences)
... 2 Chronicles 6:21 Hearken therefore unto the supplications of thy servant, and of
thy people Israel, which they shall make toward this place: hear thou from ...
/s/supplications.htm - 16k

Soil (59 Occurrences)
... Mark 4:20 Those which were sown on the good ground are those who hear the word,
and accept it, and bear fruit, some thirty times, some sixty times, and some ...
/s/soil.htm - 23k

Plea (35 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 8:45 then hear in heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain
their cause. (See NIV). ... (See NIV). Job 13:6 Hear now my reasoning. ...
/p/plea.htm - 16k

Perceive (53 Occurrences)
... impressions from by means of the bodily organs; to take cognizance of the existence,
character, or identity of, by means of the senses; to see, hear, or feel ...
/p/perceive.htm - 22k

Audience (17 Occurrences)
... and American) "hearken"; Acts 15:12, the Revised Version (British and American)
"they hearkened") translated from the Greek akouo "to hear" or derivatives, and ...
/a/audience.htm - 13k

Assemblies (48 Occurrences)
... The seven lampstands are seven assemblies. (WEB DBY YLT). Revelation 2:7 He who
has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. ...
/a/assemblies.htm - 22k

Bury (78 Occurrences)
... Genesis 23:6 "Hear us, my lord. You are a prince of God among us. Bury your dead
in the best of our tombs. ... Genesis 23:11 "No, my lord, hear me. ...
/b/bury.htm - 32k

Converted (11 Occurrences)
... heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have
closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ...
/c/converted.htm - 10k

Sennach'erib (13 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 19:16 Incline Thine ear, O LORD, and hear; open Thine eyes, O LORD, and
see; and hear the words of Sennacherib, wherewith he hath sent him to taunt the ...
/s/sennach'erib.htm - 10k

Perceiving (25 Occurrences)
... Matthew 13:14 and fulfilled on them is the prophecy of Isaiah, that saith, With
hearing ye shall hear, and ye shall not understand, and seeing ye shall see ...
/p/perceiving.htm - 13k

How do I hear from God? | GotQuestions.org

What did Jesus mean when He said, “He who has ears to hear”? | GotQuestions.org

Does God hear my prayers? | GotQuestions.org

Hear: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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