Bible Dictionaries
Shema
Holman Bible Dictionary
(sshee' mah) Transliteration of Hebrew imperative meaning, “Hear,” (Deuteronomy 6:4 ) and applied to Deuteronomy 6:4-9 , as the basic statement of the Jewish law. The Shema became for the people of God a confession of faith by which they acknowledged the one true God and His commandments for them. Later worship practice combined Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Deuteronomy 11:13-21; Numbers 15:37-41 into the larger Shema as the summary of Jewish confession. When Jesus was asked about the “greatest commandment,” He answered by quoting the Shema ( Mark 12:29 ).
Copyright Statement
These dictionary topics are from the Holman Bible Dictionary, published by Broadman & Holman, 1991. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Broadman & Holman.
Bibliography Information
Butler, Trent C. Editor. Entry for 'Shema'. Holman Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/hbd/s/shema.html. 1991.