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 ).