Introduction:
The term "Shema" holds significant importance in the Judeo-Christian tradition, primarily within the context of the Hebrew Bible. It is both a central declaration of faith in Judaism and a notable biblical figure. The word "Shema" itself means "hear" or "listen" in Hebrew, and it is most famously associated with a passage in Deuteronomy that underscores the monotheistic essence of the faith.

Shema as a Declaration:
The Shema is a foundational prayer in Judaism, derived from Deuteronomy 6:4-9, and is recited daily by devout Jews. It begins with the words, "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One" (Deuteronomy 6:4). This declaration affirms the belief in one God and calls for love and devotion to Him with all one's heart, soul, and strength. The Shema is not only a statement of faith but also a call to obedience, as it instructs the faithful to keep God's commandments and to teach them diligently to their children.

Biblical Context:
The Shema is part of a larger section known as the Shema Yisrael, which includes Deuteronomy 6:4-9, 11:13-21, and Numbers 15:37-41. These passages emphasize the importance of loving God, obeying His commandments, and remembering His covenant. The Shema serves as a reminder of God's unique relationship with Israel and His sovereignty over all creation.

Shema as a Biblical Figure:
In addition to its role as a declaration, "Shema" is also the name of several individuals in the Bible:

1. Shema, the Reubenite: In 1 Chronicles 5:8, Shema is mentioned as a descendant of Joel, a leader among the Reubenites. This Shema is noted for his lineage and tribal affiliation, which highlights the genealogical records important to the chronicler's historical narrative.

2. Shema, the Benjamite: Another Shema is found in 1 Chronicles 8:13, where he is listed among the descendants of Benjamin. This Shema is noted for his role in the defense of the city of Aijalon against the Philistines, showcasing the valor and military involvement of the Benjamites.

3. Shema, the Levite: In Nehemiah 8:4, a Levite named Shema is mentioned as one of those who stood beside Ezra the scribe as he read the Law to the people. This Shema's presence underscores the importance of the Levites in religious instruction and the public reading of Scripture.

Theological Significance:
The Shema, as a declaration, is central to the understanding of God's nature and His expectations for His people. It encapsulates the essence of monotheism and the call to love and serve God wholeheartedly. The repetition of the Shema in Jewish daily prayers and its influence on Christian theology highlight its enduring significance.

Conclusion:
The Shema, both as a declaration and as a name, holds a multifaceted role in the biblical narrative. It serves as a profound statement of faith and a reminder of the covenantal relationship between God and His people. The individuals named Shema in the Bible further illustrate the diverse roles and contributions of various tribes and families within Israel's history.Shema

hearing; obeying

Shema

1. A Reubenite, ancestor of Bela. (1 Chronicles 5:8) (B.C. before 1090.)
2. Son of Elpaal. (1 Chronicles 8:13) Probably the same as Shimhi. (B.C. after 1450.)
3. One of those who stood at Ezra's right hand when he read the law to the people. (Nehemiah 8:4) (B.C. 458.)
4. (Joshua 15:26) [SHEBA]

Rumour.

(1.) A Reubenite (1 Chronicles 5:8).

(2.) A Benjamite (1 Chronicles 8:13).

(3.) One who stood by Ezra when he read the law (Nehemiah 8:4).

(4.) A town in the south of Judah (Joshua 15:26); the same as Sheba (ver. 5).

SHEMA (1)

she'-ma (shema`; Samaa): A city of Judah in the Negeb (Joshua 15:26). If, as some think, identical with SHEBA (which see) of Joshua 19:2, then the latter must have been inserted here from Joshua 15:26. It is noticeable that the root letters (sh-m-`) were those from which Simeon is derived. Shema is probably identical with Jeshua (Nehemiah 11:26). The place was clearly far South, and it may be Kh. Sa`wah, a ruin upon a prominent hilltop between Kh. `Attir and Khirbet el-Milch. There is a wall around the ruins, of large blocks of conglomerate flint (PEF, III, 409, Sh XXV).

E. W. G. Masterman

SHEMA (2)

(shema`):

(1) A Reubenite (1 Chronicles 5:8, Codex Vaticanus and Codex Alexandrinus Sama, Lucian, Semeei).

See SHIMEI.

(2) One of the heads of "fathers' houses" in Aijalon, who put to flight the inhabitants of Gath (1 Chronicles 8:13, Codex Vaticanus and Codex Alexandrinus Sama, Lucian, Samoa); in 1 Chronicles 8:21 he is called "Shimei." The statement is very obscure and the whole incident is probably due to some marginal note.

(3) One of those who stood at Ezra's right during the reading of the Law (Nehemiah 8:4, Samaias). He is called "Sammus" in 1 Esdras 9:43.

Horace J. Wolf

8090. Shema -- a city in S. Judah
... 8089, 8090. Shema. 8091 . a city in S. Judah. Transliteration: Shema
Phonetic Spelling: (shem-aw') Short Definition: Shema. Word ...
/hebrew/8090.htm - 6k

8087. Shema' -- a sound
... 8086, 8087. Shema'. 8087a . a sound. Transliteration: Shema' Phonetic
Spelling: (sheh'-mah) Short Definition: Shema. Shema For the ...
/hebrew/8087.htm - 5k

8087b. Shema -- four Israelites
... 8087a, 8087b. Shema. 8088 . four Israelites. Transliteration: Shema Short
Definition: Shema. ... NASB Word Usage Shema (5). 8087a, 8087b. Shema. 8088 . ...
/hebrew/8087b.htm - 5k

8087a. shema -- a sound
... 8087, 8087a. shema. 8087b . a sound. Transliteration: shema Short Definition:
loud. ... 8087, 8087a. shema. 8087b . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/8087a.htm - 5k

8088. shema -- a hearing, report
... 8087b, 8088. shema. 8089 . a hearing, report. Transliteration: shema Phonetic
Spelling: (shay'-mah) Short Definition: report. ... 8087b, 8088. shema. 8089 ...
/hebrew/8088.htm - 6k

8086. shema -- to hear
... 8085, 8086. shema. 8087 . to hear. Transliteration: shema Phonetic Spelling:
(shem-ah') Short Definition: heard. ... 8085, 8086. shema. 8087 . Strong's Numbers
/hebrew/8086.htm - 6k

8100. Shimath -- an Ammonite woman
... Shimath. Feminine of shema'; annunciation; Shimath, an Ammonitess -- Shimath. see
HEBREW shema'. 8099, 8100. Shimath. 8101 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/8100.htm - 6k

8093. Shimah -- a brother of David
... Shimeah. Feminine of shema'; annunciation; Shimah, an Israelite -- Shimeah. see
HEBREW shema'. 8092, 8093. Shimah. 8094 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/8093.htm - 6k

8096. Shimi -- the name of a number of Isr.
... Shimeah, Shimei, Shimhi, Shimi. From shema'; famous; Shimi, the name of twenty
Israelites -- Shimeah (from the margin), Shimei, Shimhi, Shimi. see HEBREW shema' ...
/hebrew/8096.htm - 6k

The Worship of the Synagogue
... Public worship [61] commenced on ordinary occasions with the so-called "Shema,"
which was preceded in the morning and evening by two "benedictions," and ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 17 the worship of.htm

Appendix 2 Extracts from the Babylon Talmud
... Appendix 2 Extracts from the Babylon Talmud. Massecheth Berachoth, or Tractate on
Benedictions [76] Mishnah"From what time is the "Shema" said in the evening? ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/appendix 2 extracts from the.htm

The Synagogue.
... The opening prayer was called the Shema or Keriath Shema, and consisted of two
introductory benedictions, the reading of the Ten Commandments (afterward ...
/.../schaff/history of the christian church volume i/section 51 the synagogue.htm

Appendices
... Neter-ka-Ra. Men-ka-Ra. Nefer-ka-Ra III. Nefer-ka-Ra IV. Nebi. Dad-ka-Ea Shema.
Nefer-ka-Ra V. Khondu. Mer-en-Hor. Snefer-ka I. Ka-n-Ra. Nefer-ka-Ra VI. Terel. ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/appendices.htm

Reading the Law with Tears and Joy
... book of the law.4. And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had
made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/reading the law with tears.htm

The Upbringing of Jewish Children
... of Christ also, there were little parchment rolls specially for the use of children,
containing such portions of Scripture as the "Shema" [39] (Deuteronomy 6:4 ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 7 the upbringing of.htm

Further Incidents of the Journey to Jerusalem - the Mission and ...
... [3887] On the other hand, the Rabbis discussed the question, whether the reading
of the Shema and of the portion of the Psalms called the Hallel might be ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter v further incidents of.htm

Subjects of Study. Home Education in Israel; Female Education. ...
... for intercourse; and to tolerate at least the Greek translation of the Scriptures,
and the use of any language in the daily prayers of the Shema, of the ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 8 subjects of study.htm

Galilee
... He was being put to death by torture when the hour came that every pious Jew repeats
the Shema, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with ...
/.../lake/landmarks in the history of early christianity/i galilee.htm

The Synagogue at Nazareth - Synagogue-Worship and Arrangements.
... After this followed what may be designated as the Jewish Creed, called the
Shema, from the word shema,' or hear,' with which it begins. ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter x the synagogue at.htm

Shema (7 Occurrences)
...SHEMA (1). she'-ma (shema`; Samaa): A city of Judah in the Negeb (Joshua
15:26). ...Shema is probably identical with Jeshua (Nehemiah 11:26). ...
/s/shema.htm - 10k

Shema'ah (1 Occurrence)
Shema'ah. Shemaah, Shema'ah. Shemaiah . Multi-Version Concordance
Shema'ah (1 Occurrence). 1 Chronicles 12:3 The chief ...
/s/shema'ah.htm - 6k

Fame (38 Occurrences)
... fam (shem, shema`; akoe, pheme): "Fame" has the twofold meaning, (1) of report or
rumor, (2) of renown or reputation (in the Old Testament it is not always ...
/f/fame.htm - 21k

Name (10157 Occurrences)
... His sole Deity was such an important element in His name that Deuteronomy 6:4 was
termed the "Shema" (from shema`, "hear," the first word in 6:4), the first ...
/n/name.htm - 23k

Raham (1 Occurrence)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. RAHAM. ra'-ham (racham, "pity," "love"): Son of
Shema, and father of Jorkeam (1 Chronicles 2:44). Multi-Version Concordance ...
/r/raham.htm - 7k

Rekem (6 Occurrences)
... NIV). 1 Chronicles 2:43 The sons of Hebron: Korah, and Tappuah, and Rekem,
and Shema. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/r/rekem.htm - 11k

Beriah (10 Occurrences)
... (3.) A Benjamite who with his brother Shema founded Ajalon and expelled the Gittites
(1 Chronicles 8:13). Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. BERIAH; BERIITES. ...
/b/beriah.htm - 10k

Shemaah (1 Occurrence)
... she-ma'-a, shem'-aa (ha-shema`-ah; Codex Vaticanus Ama, Codex Alexandrinus Samaa,
Lucian, Asma): A Benjamite, who was the father, according to the Massoretic ...
/s/shemaah.htm - 7k

Shemaiah (40 Occurrences)
... she-ma'-ya, she-mi'-a (shema`yah (in 2 Chronicles 11:2; 2 Chronicles 17:8; 2 Chronicles
31:15; 2 Chronicles 35:9 Jeremiah 26:20; Jeremiah 29:24; Jeremiah 36:12 ...
/s/shemaiah.htm - 29k

Synagogue (52 Occurrences)
... 3) The Servant (or Servants) (4) Delegate of the Congregation (5) The Interpreter
(6) The Almoners 6. The Service (1) Recitation of the "Shema` " (2) Prayers (3 ...
/s/synagogue.htm - 50k

What is the Shema? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean that the LORD is one (Deuteronomy 6:4)? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean to love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength? | GotQuestions.org

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