Shema meaning

Meaning

Sound; Report, Rumor, Hearing, Fame

Etymology

From the noun שמע (shema'), sound, from the verb שמע (shama'), to hear.

Related names

• Via שמע (shama'): Elishama, Ishmael, Ishmaiah, Mishma, Samuel, Shama, Shammua, Shemaah, Shemaiah, Shimea, Shimeath, Shimeathites, Shimei, Simeon, Simon

There are four men and one city named Shema in the Bible (although this name is spelled the same as Shama). The city named Shema was located in the territory of the tribe of Judah, near the southern border with Edom (Joshua 15:26).

The men named Shema are:

• A son of Hebron, who was a descendant of Caleb of Judah (1 Chronicles 2:43).
• The grandfather of Bela of Reuben who lived in Aroer prior to the formation of the Israelite kingdom (1 Chronicles 5:8).
• One of the sons of Elpaal, who was a son of Shaharaim of Benjamin and his wife Hushim whom he later divorced. This Shema shared leadership over their family with his brother Beriah. Their family lived in Aijalon and successfully battled the people of Gath (1 Chronicles 8:13). In 1 Chronicles 8:21 this man is called Shimei.
• One of the men who stood by Ezra the Reformer as he publicly read from the Book of the Law (Nehemiah 8:4).

The name Shema is identical to the noun שמע (shema'), meaning sound (as used only in Psalm 150:5). It comes from the verb שמע (shama'), meaning to hear:

For a meaning of the name Shema, NOBSE Study Bible Name List reads Report, Rumor. Jones' Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names has Hearing, Fame. BDB Theological Dictionary does not offer an interpretation of our name but does confirm that it is identical to the noun שמע (shema'), meaning Sound.