sha.ma denotes receiving news, speech, or sound, giving heed to words, and in active forms making a sound audible.

The sampled verses most often use the term for receiving reports, spoken words, and audible sounds; it also marks giving heed to commands or appeals, calls for an audience’s attention, producing musical sound, and things becoming audible.

1. Receiving news, speech, or sound · dominant

   Qal forms describe people receiving reported events or audible information: in 1 Chronicles 10:11 the APB renders that the people of Jabesh-gilead “heard everything” done to Saul, and in 1 Kings 10:6 the queen refers to a report she had received in her land. The same use includes a sought audience for wisdom in 1 Kings 10:24 and the sound of marching that signals action in 1 Chronicles 14:15.

   1 Chronicles 10:111 Kings 10:61 Kings 10:241 Chronicles 14:151 Samuel 15:141 Kings 1:45
2. Giving heed to commands or counsel · common

   In clauses concerning instruction, Qal forms mark responding to what has been said rather than merely receiving a sound. In 1 Kings 11:38 the APB renders a condition of listening to all that is commanded and keeping statutes; in 1 Samuel 12:14 listening to the LORD’s voice stands alongside serving and not rebelling. The negative response in 1 Kings 12:15 is rendered, “The king did not listen to the people.”

   1 Kings 11:381 Samuel 12:141 Samuel 12:151 Kings 12:151 Kings 15:201 Kings 20:36
3. Calling listeners to attend · occasional

   Qal imperatives directly summon an audience before or during speech. In 1 Kings 22:19 the APB renders Micaiah’s imperative as “hear the word of the LORD,” while 1 Samuel 22:7 and 1 Chronicles 28:2 address groups with “Hear me” and “Listen to me.”

   1 Kings 22:191 Samuel 22:71 Chronicles 28:21 Samuel 15:11 Samuel 22:121 Kings 22:28
4. Making musical sound audible · occasional

   Hiphil forms occur with appointed singers and instruments. In 1 Chronicles 15:16 the APB renders the singers’ activity as making “joyful sound,” and 1 Chronicles 15:19 and 1 Chronicles 16:5 describe sounding cymbals.

   1 Chronicles 15:161 Chronicles 15:191 Chronicles 16:5
5. Becoming audible or publicly reported · rare

   Niphal forms present a voice, words, or tools as audible or not audible. In 1 Samuel 1:13 the APB renders that Hannah’s voice “was not heard”; in 1 Samuel 17:31 David’s words “were heard”; and 1 Kings 6:7 says tools “were not heard” during construction.

   1 Samuel 1:131 Samuel 17:311 Kings 6:7

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB commonly uses “heard,” “hear,” and “listen” in verses of receiving information or attending to speech; it uses “sound” for the musical Hiphil examples. These renderings describe the clauses rather than establishing a separate English equivalent in every occurrence.