Topical Bible: Listening

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Topical Encyclopedia

Listening, in the biblical context, is a multifaceted concept that encompasses not only the physical act of hearing but also the spiritual discipline of attentiveness to God's voice and the wisdom of others. It is a vital component of faith and obedience, as it often precedes understanding and action.

Biblical Foundation

The Bible frequently emphasizes the importance of listening, both to God and to others. In the Shema, a central declaration of the Jewish faith found in Deuteronomy 6:4, the call to "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One" underscores the necessity of listening as a foundational act of faith. This command to hear is not merely about auditory reception but involves a deep, attentive engagement with God's revelation.

Listening to God

Listening to God is a recurring theme throughout Scripture. In the Old Testament, the prophets often called the people to listen to God's word. Isaiah 55:3 invites, "Incline your ear and come to Me; listen, so that your soul may live" . This invitation highlights the life-giving nature of listening to God.

In the New Testament, Jesus frequently exhorts His followers to listen. In the Parable of the Sower, He says, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear" (Mark 4:9). This call to listen is a call to discernment and understanding, urging believers to be receptive to the truths of the Kingdom of God.

Listening to Others

The Bible also teaches the importance of listening to others as a form of love and wisdom. Proverbs 18:13 warns, "He who answers a matter before he hears it—this is folly and disgrace to him" . This proverb underscores the value of listening before speaking, promoting humility and understanding in relationships.

James 1:19 further instructs believers, "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger" . This directive encourages a posture of patience and attentiveness, fostering peace and harmony within the community of faith.

Spiritual Discipline

Listening is not only a practical skill but also a spiritual discipline. It requires intentionality and a willingness to be still before God. Psalm 46:10 exhorts, "Be still, and know that I am God" , suggesting that listening involves quieting one's heart to perceive God's presence and guidance.

The practice of listening prayer, where believers seek to hear God's voice through Scripture and the Holy Spirit, is a vital aspect of spiritual growth. It involves a posture of openness and surrender, allowing God to speak into one's life.

Challenges to Listening

In a world filled with noise and distractions, listening can be challenging. The Bible acknowledges the human tendency to be "dull of hearing" (Hebrews 5:11) and warns against hardening one's heart (Hebrews 3:15). These passages remind believers of the need for vigilance in maintaining a receptive heart.

Conclusion

Listening, as presented in the Bible, is an essential practice for believers, encompassing both the attentive hearing of God's word and the respectful consideration of others. It is a discipline that fosters spiritual growth, wisdom, and community harmony.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

(p. pr. & vb. n.) of Listen.

Greek

201. akroaterion -- place of audience, or listening
... place of audience, or listening. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration:
akroaterion Phonetic Spelling: (ak-ro-at-ay'-ree-on) Short Definition: auditorium ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/201.htm - 6k

5255. hupekoos -- giving ear, obedient
... giving ear, obedient. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: hupekoos Phonetic
Spelling: (hoop-ay'-ko-os) Short Definition: listening to, obedient Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5255.htm - 6k

1874. epakroaomai -- to listen attentively
... Word Origin from epi and the same as akroaterion Definition to listen
attentively NASB Word Usage listening (1). listen intently to. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1874.htm - 6k

191. akouo -- to hear, listen
... 2), grant (1), hear (115), heard (216), hearers (1), hearing (24), hears (21), heed
(2), listen (24), listened (1), listeners (1), listening (14), listens (5 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/191.htm - 11k

5219. hupakouo -- to listen, attend to
... 5219 ("to hearken, obey") suggests listening, ie fully compliant (responsive).
[5219 () is an "intensification" of the simple verb "to listen" (191 , "hear").]. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5219.htm - 8k

917. bareos -- heavily
... Cognate: 917 -- properly, heavily; (figuratively) , and disinterested listening,
ie done in a sluggish (unperceptive) fashion. See 922 (). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/917.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

8085. shama -- to hear
... 2), hear (270), hear* (1), heard (363), heard for certain (1), hearing (5), hears
(33), heed (5), heeded (2), indeed obey (1), keep on listening (1), listen ...
/hebrew/8085.htm - 7k

7181. qashab -- to incline (ears), attend
... attention (1), give attention (3), give heed (9), give...heed (1), given heed (2),
heed (2), incline (1), listen (10), listened (2), listening (1), listens (1 ...
/hebrew/7181.htm - 6k

238. azan -- to give ear, listen
... verb from the same as ozen Definition to give ear, listen NASB Word Usage give ear
(24), give heed (2), hear (3), listen (8), listened (1), listening (1), pays ...
/hebrew/238.htm - 6k

Library

May the Fifth Healthy Listening
... MAY The Fifth HEALTHY LISTENING. ... We may listen to the word for mere entertainment.
Or we may attach a virtue to the mere act of listening to the word. ...
/.../my daily meditation for the circling year/may the fifth healthy listening.htm

Calm on the Listening Ear of Night
... II. THE CHRISTIAN YEAR Christmas 84. Calm on the listening ear of night. CM ... John
Bacchus Dykes, 1866. Edmund H. Sears, 1834. Calm on the listening ear of night. ...
/.../christmas 84 calm on the.htm

I am Listening.
... 237 I am Listening. 8s & 7s. The Call Answered. Do you hear the Savior calling,
By the wooings of his voice? Do you hear the accents falling? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/lorenz/the otterbein hymnal/237 i am listening 8s.htm

Reason for Listening to Peter's Arguments.
... Homily XV. Chapter II."Reason for Listening to Peter's Arguments. Our
father said: "But it is not the case, my very dear friend ...
/.../unknown/the clementine homilies/chapter ii reason for listening to.htm

The Rewards of Listening to the Advice of the Wise
... THE SAYINGS OF THE WISE THE REWARDS OF LISTENING TO THE ADVICE OF THE WISE.
My son, if you heed my words, And store my commands in ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/the rewards of listening to.htm

"Indeed, Postumianus," Replied I, "While I was Listening ...
... Dialogues of Sulpitius Severus. Chapter XXIV. "Indeed, Postumianus," replied
I, "while I was listening attentively? "Indeed, Postumianus ...
/.../chapter xxiv indeed postumianus replied.htm

To These Sayings Postumianus Replies: "While Listening to You...
... Dialogues of Sulpitius Severus. Chapter VII. To these sayings Postumianus replies:
"While listening to you? To these sayings Postumianus ...
/.../life and writings of sulpitius severus /chapter vii to these sayings.htm

The Crucifixion.
... From the tumult could be heard the words: "On, on with him!" Mary started and
they all stood listening while the noise came nearer and nearer. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/stead/king of the jews/chapter ix the crucifixion.htm

The Holy Spirit Sending Men Forth to Definite Lines of Work.
... Have you been listening for a call? God usually speaks in a still small
voice and it is only the listening ear that can catch it. ...
/.../torrey/the person and work of the holy spirit/chapter xviii the holy spirit.htm

A Chime of Gospel Bells.
... Man lost spiritual life and communion with his Maker by listening to the
voice of the tempter, instead of the voice of God. We get ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/sovereign grace/chapter viii a chime of.htm

Thesaurus

Listening (47 Occurrences)
...Listening (47 Occurrences). Matthew 21:45 After listening to His parables the High
Priests and the Pharisees perceived that He was speaking about them; (WEY). ...
/l/listening.htm - 19k

Pleasure (331 Occurrences)
... he protected him. After listening to him he was in great perplexity, and
yet he found a pleasure in listening. (WEY). Mark 12:37 ...
/p/pleasure.htm - 40k

Upright (392 Occurrences)
... he protected him. After listening to him he was in great perplexity, and
yet he found a pleasure in listening. (WEY BBE). Luke 1:6 ...
/u/upright.htm - 36k

Listen (441 Occurrences)
... protected him. After listening to him he was in great perplexity, and yet he
found a pleasure in listening. (Root in WEY NAS NIV). Mark ...
/l/listen.htm - 34k

Perplexity (8 Occurrences)
... and he protected him. After listening to him he was in great perplexity,
and yet he found a pleasure in listening. (WEY). Luke 9:7 ...
/p/perplexity.htm - 9k

Protected (11 Occurrences)
... he protected him. After listening to him he was in great perplexity, and
yet he found a pleasure in listening. (WEY NIV). 1 Peter ...
/p/protected.htm - 9k

Awe (32 Occurrences)
... and he protected him. After listening to him he was in great perplexity,
and yet he found a pleasure in listening. (WEY). Mark 9:6 ...
/a/awe.htm - 17k

Stood (491 Occurrences)
... and he protected him. After listening to him he was in great perplexity,
and yet he found a pleasure in listening. (WEY). Mark 9:27 ...
/s/stood.htm - 36k

God's (602 Occurrences)
... Luke 5:1 On one occasion the crowd was pressing on Him and listening to God's
Message, while He was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. (WEY). ...
/g/god's.htm - 33k

Yet (1244 Occurrences)
... protected him. After listening to him he was in great perplexity, and yet
he found a pleasure in listening. (WEY RSV NIV). Mark 6 ...
/y/yet.htm - 35k

Resources

What does it mean that we should be quick to listen and slow to speak (James 1:19)? | GotQuestions.org

What is Lectio Divina? | GotQuestions.org

What is quietism? | GotQuestions.org

Listening: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Listening (47 Occurrences)

Matthew 21:45
After listening to His parables the High Priests and the Pharisees perceived that He was speaking about them;
(WEY)

Mark 6:20
for Herod stood in awe of John, knowing him to be an upright and holy man, and he protected him. After listening to him he was in great perplexity, and yet he found a pleasure in listening.
(WEY NAS)

Mark 11:14
Jesus told it, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again!" and his disciples heard it.
(See NAS)

Mark 12:37
"David himself calls Him 'Lord:' how then can He be his son?" And the mass of people found pleasure in listening to Jesus.
(WEY NAS)

Luke 2:46
It happened after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them, and asking them questions.
(WEB WEY NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 4:28
Then all in the synagogue, while listening to these words, were filled with fury.
(WEY)

Luke 5:1
On one occasion the crowd was pressing on Him and listening to God's Message, while He was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret.
(WEY NAS NIV)

Luke 6:27
"But to you who are listening to me I say, Love your enemies; seek the welfare of those who hate you;
(WEY)

Luke 10:39
And she had a sister called Mary, who also, having sat down at the feet of Jesus was listening to his word.
(DBY NAS NIV)

Luke 14:15
After listening to this teaching, one of His fellow guests said to Him, "Blessed is he who shall feast in God's Kingdom."
(WEY)

Luke 16:14
The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they scoffed at him.
(See NAS)

Luke 19:11
As they were listening to His words, He went on to teach them by a parable, because He was near to Jerusalem and they supposed that the Kingdom of God was going to appear immediately.
(WEY DBY NAS NIV)

Luke 19:48
and they could not find what they might do; for the people all hung upon him, listening.
(ASV)

Luke 20:45
And, as all the people were listening, he said to his disciples,
(DBY NAS NIV)

John 7:40
After listening to these discourses, some of the crowd began to say, "This is beyond doubt the Prophet."
(WEY)

John 14:24
He who has no love for me does not obey my teaching; and yet the teaching to which you are listening is not mine, but is the teaching of the Father who sent me.
(WEY)

Acts 2:42
and they were constant in listening to the teaching of the Apostles and in their attendance at the Communion, that is, the Breaking of the Bread, and at prayer.
(WEY)

Acts 4:19
But Peter and John replied, "Judge whether it is right in God's sight to listen to you instead of listening to God.
(WEY)

Acts 8:6
Crowds of people, with one accord, gave attention to what they heard from him, listening, and witnessing the signs which he did.
(WEY)

Acts 10:44
While Peter was speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all who were listening to the Message.
(WEY NAS)

Acts 14:9
He was listening to Paul speaking, who, fastening eyes on him, and seeing that he had faith to be made whole,
(WEB NAS)

Acts 15:12
All the multitude kept silence, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul reporting what signs and wonders God had done among the nations through them.
(See NAS)

Acts 16:14
A certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, one who worshiped God, heard us; whose heart the Lord opened to listen to the things which were spoken by Paul.
(See NAS NIV)

Acts 16:25
But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.
(WEB WEY ASV NAS RSV NIV)

Acts 17:21
Now all the Athenians and the strangers living there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell or to hear some new thing.
(See RSV)

Acts 19:28
After listening to this harangue, they became furiously angry and kept calling out, "Great is the Ephesian Diana!"
(WEY)

Acts 26:29
Paul said, "I pray to God, that whether with little or with much, not only you, but also all that hear me this day, might become such as I am, except for these bonds."
(See NIV)

Acts 27:11
But the centurion gave more heed to the master and to the owner of the ship than to those things which were spoken by Paul.
(See NIV)

Ephesians 1:13
And in Him you Gentiles also, after listening to the Message of the truth, the Good News of your salvation--having believed in Him--were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit;
(WEY NAS)

2 Timothy 4:4
and will turn away from listening to the truth and will turn aside to fables.
(WEY RSV)

Genesis 18:10
And he said, I will certainly return to thee at this time of the year, and behold, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah was listening at the tent-door, which was behind him.
(DBY NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 27:5
Rebekah heard when Isaac spoke to Esau his son. Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it.
(See NAS RSV NIV)

Deuteronomy 17:12
The man who does presumptuously, in not listening to the priest who stands to minister there before Yahweh your God, or to the judge, even that man shall die: and you shall put away the evil from Israel.
(WEB NAS)

1 Samuel 3:9
Yahweh came, and stood, and called as at other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" Then Samuel said, "Speak; for your servant hears."
(See NAS NIV)

1 Samuel 3:10
Yahweh came, and stood, and called as at other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" Then Samuel said, "Speak; for your servant hears."
(See NAS NIV)

2 Samuel 20:17
And he came near to her; and the woman said, Art thou Joab? And he said, I am he. And she said to him, Listen to the words of thy handmaid. And he said, I am listening.
(DBY NAS RSV NIV)

Job 9:16
If I had called, and he had answered me, yet I wouldn't believe that he listened to my voice.
(See NAS RSV)

Proverbs 18:13
To give an answer before hearing is a foolish thing and a cause of shame.
(See NIV)

Proverbs 19:27
If you stop listening to instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge.
(WEB NAS NIV)

Proverbs 25:12
Like a nose-ring of gold and an ornament of the best gold, is a wise man who says sharp words to an ear ready to give attention.
(See NAS RSV NIV)

Proverbs 28:9
As for the man whose ear is turned away from hearing the law, even his prayer is disgusting.
(See NAS)

Song of Songs 8:13
You who have your resting-place in the gardens, the friends give ear to your voice; make me give ear to it.
(See NAS RSV)

Isaiah 6:9
And he said, Go, and say to this people, You will go on hearing, but learning nothing; you will go on seeing, but without getting wiser.
(See NAS)

Jeremiah 16:12
and you have done evil more than your fathers; for, behold, you walk every one after the stubbornness of his evil heart, so that you don't listen to me:
(See NAS)

Jeremiah 18:10
if they do that which is evil in my sight, that they not obey my voice, then I will repent of the good, with which I said I would benefit them.
(See RSV)

Jeremiah 35:13
Thus says Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel: Go, and tell the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will you not receive instruction to listen to my words? says Yahweh.
(See NAS)

Zechariah 8:9
Thus says Yahweh of Armies: "Let your hands be strong, you who hear in these days these words from the mouth of the prophets who were in the day that the foundation of the house of Yahweh of Armies was laid, even the temple, that it might be built.
(See NAS)

Subtopics

Eavesdropping

Listening

Listening to Music

Listening to Secular Music

Related Terms

Pleasure (331 Occurrences)

Upright (392 Occurrences)

Listen (441 Occurrences)

Perplexity (8 Occurrences)

Protected (11 Occurrences)

Awe (32 Occurrences)