Genesis 21:12:13Gen.21.12.W13TAB
שְׁמַ֣ע
shema
“listen”
- Transliteration
- she-MA
- Extended
- sheh-MAH
- IPA
- /ʃə.ˈmaʕ/
Meaning by language
- English
- listen
Hebrew · tap a syllable to hear it
Alphabet Analysis
| Shin | shin with right dot; sin with left dot | |
| Sheva | vocal sheva — a short 'e' (ə), begins a syllable | |
| Mem | m as in mother | |
| Patach | short 'ah' as in father | |
| Ayin | deep guttural stop, voiced pharyngeal |
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Now you try — trace the word:
The word
Word in context
- word
she-MA
- phraseyour reading level
she-MA be-ko-LAH
- clause
va-yo-MER e-lo-HIM el-av-ra-HAM al-ye-RA be-ei-NE-kha al-ha-NA-ar ve-al-a-ma-TE-kha KOL a-SHER to-MAR e-LE-kha sa-RA she-MA be-ko-LAH
- sentence
va-yo-MER e-lo-HIM el-av-ra-HAM al-ye-RA be-ei-NE-kha al-ha-NA-ar ve-al-a-ma-TE-kha KOL a-SHER to-MAR e-LE-kha sa-RA she-MA be-ko-LAH KI ve-yits-KHAK yik-ka-RE le-KHA ZA-ra
Exegesis
The imperative shema bekolaha {שְׁמַע בְּקֹלָהּ | šəmaʿ bəqōlāh} demands obedience.
Root and etymology
Rootshin–mem–ayin
“to hear”
In context — Genesis 21:12
And God said to Abraham, “Do not let it be displeasing in your eyes concerning the boy or your slave woman. In all that Sarah says to you, listen to her voice, for in Isaac your offspring shall be called.”
About this coordinate
Genesis 21:12:13 is a BCV:P reference — Book · Chapter · Verse · Word Position. It addresses word 13 of Genesis 21:12, so the Hebrew word שְׁמַ֣ע (shema) can be cited, linked and studied at exactly this position rather than somewhere in the verse. In the Biblical Knowledge Coordinate System the same position is written Gen.21.12.W13, which extends further down to each syllable (Gen.21.12.W13.S1) and character.