Why Should Christians Know What Shema Means?

Hearing God’s voice is the foundation of our Christian walk. In line with this, the Shema is an important prayer to examine and remember.

Listening to God is at the core of the Bible’s sacred and authoritative nature, a book inspired by the Holy Spirit. How can we follow Christ without the ability to hear and see him? This is the gift of faith and the Holy Spirit. Hearing God is the mark of being his people.

Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” (John 10:27)

Even in the Old Testament, they knew the importance of hearing directly from God. The famous Shema prayer is developed from those traditions.

What Language Does Shema Come From?

The Shema is the Jewish faith’s central declaration. The term “Shema” itself comes from Hebrew. In Hebrew, Shema (שְׁמַע) means “hear” or “listen.”

Observant Jews recite the shema daily and consider it one of Judaism’s most important prayers. It declares a monotheistic belief in one God and a proclamation of faith.

The Shema is traditionally recited in Hebrew, often chanted with melodies that vary based on Jewish traditions and communities. Since Hebrew is sacred in Judaism, the Shema is maintained in its original language to preserve its deep meaning and tradition.

While Hebrew is the primary language of the Shema, it has been translated into many languages for the benefit of Jewish communities worldwide. These translations help make the Shema accessible to individuals who may not be fluent in Hebrew but wish to participate in the recitation and meditate on its profound message.

The Shema's enduring significance highlights the deep cultural and religious ties between the Jewish people and the Hebrew language. It is a timeless declaration of faith, a cornerstone of Jewish identity and religious practice.

What People or Towns Are Called Shema in the Bible?

In the Bible, shema can refer to both a town and a people, depending on the context. Let’s explore how the Bible uses shema to describe people or towns.

One town named Shema is listed in Joshua 15:26 as located in ancient Israel’s southern region. It fits into the territory of the tribe of Judah, part of their inheritance when the Promised Land was apportioned among the 12 Israelite tribes. While this town doesn’t feature prominently in biblical narratives, it is an important geographical reference.

Another Shema is mentioned in Joshua 19:2, located in the territory of the tribe of Simeon. Simeon’s portion was within the boundaries of Judah, and this Shema is likely a reference to a town within that region. Like the previous Shema, it helps establish the distribution of land among the tribes of Israel.

In 1 Chronicles 2:31, Shema is mentioned as a personal name. Shema was a son of Shimon, a descendant of Judah. His lineage is part of the genealogical record, tracing the ancestry of various individuals within the tribe of Judah.

Shema is also used as a family or group of people. In 1 Chronicles 4:37, Shema is a person of the tribe of Reuben with a lineage of others. The Bible provides a brief genealogical account of various clans and families within different tribes, and Shema is mentioned as part of the lineage of Reuben.

The Bible has many names and places that help establish the narrative’s historical and cultural context. Names have meaning in the Scripture, and the narratives include these meanings and names to speak good and right ideas over the promised people of God. Shema is a popular name used in several instances for places and people, highlighting the importance of hearing and listening to God.

Does the Shema Prayer Come from the Bible?

The Shema prayer is rooted in the Bible, specifically in the Book of Deuteronomy. The central and most crucial passage of the Shema is found in Deuteronomy 6:4-9:

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”

Practicing Jews recite the Shema during the morning and evening prayers. They also record the Shema Prayer and place it in mezuzot (small containers affixed to the doorframes of Jewish homes) and on tefillin (worn on the arm and forehead during prayer). These customs fit the commandment to “tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.”

The Shema is a unifying declaration that reminds Jewish individuals of their faith and connects them to the broader Jewish community. It reinforces the importance of passing down the teachings of God to future generations, which is why it includes the instruction to “impress them on your children.”

In addition to the core Deuteronomy 6 passage, the Shema prayer includes two other essential passages from the Torah: Deuteronomy 11:13-21 and Numbers 15:37-41. These passages further emphasize the importance of love and devotion to God, observing God’s commandments, and wearing tzitzit (fringes) on the corners of one’s garments.

The Old Testament doesn’t give the prayer the name Shema, but it comes from the beginning of the passage for Israel to hear the following truths. However, it is important to note that hearing isn’t simply taking in information. Hearing God includes correct doctrine and theology, but it goes beyond instructing to making God’s truth part of our home life and passing it on to others.

Can Christians Use the Shema Prayer?

The Shema prayer is primarily associated with Jewish worship and is deeply rooted in Jewish tradition and theology. However, Christians, particularly those interested in our faith’s Jewish roots or appreciating the Old Testament’s spiritual richness, may find meaning in the Shema prayer. While the same religious obligations do not bind us, there are ways in which they can incorporate the Shema into their spiritual practice.

1. Educational and Inspirational Value. The Shema can be a valuable source of education and inspiration. It reminds us of the strong monotheistic foundation that Judaism and Christianity share. The teachings of the New Testament didn’t occur in a vacuum. The Old Testament is the context and foundation for the New Covenant, for Jesus and the apostles’ teaching. Understanding the Shema can provide insights into the Old Testament and the Jewish context of Jesus’s teachings.
2. Spiritual Reflection. The Shema’s emphasis on loving God with all one’s heart, soul, and strength encourages us to reflect on our relationship with God and our commitment to Him. When asked about the “greatest commandment,” Jesus quotes the Shema passage. We don’t know whether Jesus recited the Shema regularly. Still, his reciting the passage reminds us to prioritize our love and devotion to the one true God.
3. Teaching Tool. Christian educators and clergy can use the Shema as a teaching tool. It can be a powerful way to help congregants connect with their faith's ancient roots and understand God's unity. Teaching the Shema can also foster a connection and crossover with Jewish believers, a common place to begin the conversation on how believing in Christ isn’t against the Old Testament truths.
4. Incorporation into Worship. Some Christian congregations and individuals may incorporate the Shema into their worship services. We can recite the Shema as a statement of faith or include it in liturgical readings to emphasize the importance of loving and serving God in every area of our lives and passing on the Gospel reality to our children and others.
5. Biblical Meditation. We can use the Shema as a form of biblical meditation. The Christian discipline of meditation is to think deeply about a biblical passage or a characteristic of God (like his love or mercy), inviting God into their hearts and minds to reveal more about himself. We can meditate on the words of the Shema to deepen our relationship with God and seek a closer connection to Him.

It's important to approach the use of the Shema in a respectful and culturally sensitive manner, recognizing its deep significance to the Jewish faith. Christians should be mindful of the historical and religious context in which the Shema was developed and used.

While the Shema is significant in Judaism, it also reminds us of Judaism and Christianity’s monotheistic heritage. As part of the Old Testament, the Shema reflects the Christian foundations and can be appreciated for its historical, theological, and spiritual value. For followers of Christ today, it benefits us to see the connection of the prayer to the teachings of Jesus in the Gospel and our need to give our all to the one true God.

Peace.

Photo Credit: © Getty Images/MiniMoon Photo

Britt Mooney lives and tells great stories. As an author of fiction and non -iction, he is passionate about teaching ministries and nonprofits the power of storytelling to inspire and spread truth. Mooney has a podcast called Kingdom Over Coffee and is a published author of We Were Reborn for This: The Jesus Model for Living Heaven on Earth as well as Say Yes: How God-Sized Dreams Take Flight.

This article is part of our Christian Terms catalog, exploring words and phrases of Christian theology and history. Here are some of our most popular articles covering Christian terms to help your journey of knowledge and faith:

The Full Armor of God
The Meaning of "Selah"
What Is Grace? Bible Definition and Christian Quotes
What is Discernment? Bible Meaning and Importance
What Is Prophecy? Bible Meaning and Examples