Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

SHEMA

(Heb. šĕmaʿ),

THE

The foundational statement of Jewish belief: “Hear, O Israel, Yahweh our God, Yahweh is one” (Deut. 6:4). The name derives from the first Hebrew word in the verse, the command to “hear.” The declaration that “Yahweh is one” rules out local manifestations of Yahweh, but also connotes Yahweh’s exclusiveness. Thus, although “alone” is an inaccurate translation of Heb. ʾeḥāḏ (“one”), the assertion of unity contains within it the idea of uniqueness. In Hebrew manuscripts, the last letters of the first and last words are written larger than the others to form the word ʿēḏ (“witness”), reflecting the verse’s testimony to the uncompromising monotheism of Judaism. It has been the final utterance of Jewish martyrs throughout history.

The prayer came to include Deut. 6:4-9; 11:13-21; Num. 15:37-41, and is recited in the morning and evening (cf. Deut. 6:7). The text of Deut. 6:4-9 is placed inside phylacteries, bound to the forehead and arm during prayer, and in a mezuzah attached to the entrance of houses (cf. vv. 8-9). Jesus identified Deut. 6:5 as the greatest commandment (Mark 12:29).

John L. McLaughlin

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

SHEMA

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)