Table of Contents
The Shema Israel
The Shema Israel is the central declaration of faith in Judaism. It takes its name from its opening word (שְׁמַע, Shema, "Hear" or "Listen") and consists of three passages from the Torah that are traditionally recited every morning and every evening.
| Section | Biblical Reference | Main Theme |
|---|---|---|
| First Passage | Deuteronomy 6:4–9 | Love for GOD and His Oneness |
| Second Passage | Deuteronomy 11:13–21 | Faithfulness to the Covenant and its Blessings |
| Third Passage | Numbers 15:37–41 | Remembering GOD's Commandments through the Tzitzit |
Introduction
The Shema Israel is one of the most important and solemn prayers in Judaism. Its name comes from the opening word of the Hebrew text, שְׁמַע (Shema), which means "Hear" or "Listen", while also conveying the deeper sense of understanding, embracing, and putting into practice.
The opening words of the Shema proclaim the Oneness of GOD and constitute one of the foundational declarations of biblical faith: "Hear, O Israel: YHWH is our GOD, YHWH is One." This is not merely a theological affirmation, but a call addressed to the entire people to acknowledge GOD, love Him, and direct every aspect of their lives according to His commandments.
In Jewish tradition, the Shema is recited daily, both in the morning and in the evening. Its words accompany the believer through the principal moments of the day, reminding them that faith must not remain confined to prayer alone, but should be passed on to one's children, treasured in the heart, and lived out at home, at work, and throughout life's journey.
The Shema is composed of three passages from the Torah: Deuteronomy 6:4–9, Deuteronomy 11:13–21, and Numbers 15:37–41. Together, these passages connect the Oneness of GOD with love, obedience, remembrance, and the responsibility of passing His Word from one generation to the next.
Jesus also directly quotes the Shema when He is asked about the greatest commandment. According to the Gospel of Mark, He begins His answer with the words: "Hear, O Israel: the Lord our GOD, the Lord is One.", immediately linking the Oneness of GOD with the commandment to love GOD with all one's heart, soul, mind, and strength.
In this study, we will first present the complete text of the Shema, followed by an interlinear translation that allows readers to examine the meaning of each Hebrew word, appreciate its linguistic nuances, and gain a deeper understanding of the enduring spiritual message it conveys.
Study Overview
The Shema Israel is the central declaration of faith in Judaism. It takes its name from its opening word (שְׁמַע, Shema, "Hear") and consists of three passages from the Torah that are traditionally recited during the morning and evening prayers.
| Section | Biblical Reference | Main Theme |
|---|---|---|
| First Passage | Deuteronomy 6:4–9 | The Oneness of GOD and love for Him |
| Second Passage | Deuteronomy 11:13–21 | Faithfulness to the Covenant, obedience, and blessings |
| Third Passage | Numbers 15:37–41 | Remembering GOD's commandments through the tzitzit |
Full Text of the Shema
Below is the complete text of the Shema Israel, composed of the three passages from the Torah traditionally recited during the Jewish morning and evening prayers. The text is presented first in Hebrew, then in transliteration, and finally in English translation.
Interlinear Translation of the Shema
The following interlinear translation presents the Hebrew text of the Shema Israel word by word. For each term, the transliteration, its literal meaning in English, and the corresponding Italian translation are provided.
Since Biblical Hebrew can incorporate conjunctions, prepositions, articles, and possessive pronouns within a single word, some English expressions may require several words to convey the meaning of one Hebrew term.
CONTINUE WITH:
The Shema in Jewish Tradition
The Shema in the New Testament
Parallels with the Qur’an
ASH Commentary
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