שמעיה

Shemaya is an ancient biblical Hebrew name composed of two linguistic elements: "shema" (hear) and "yah" (a shortened form of God's name). The literal meaning of the name is "God has heard" or "The Lord heard," expressing prayer, hope, and faith that the Almighty listens to the prayers of His people and answers them. The name carries a profound message of personal connection with the Creator, of spiritual dialogue, and of confidence that no prayer falls unheard. Several figures bearing this name appear in the Bible, the most prominent being Shemaya the Prophet who lived during the time of Rehoboam son of Solomon, king of Judah. After the division of the united kingdom, when Rehoboam intended to wage war against the northern kingdom led by Jeroboam, Shemaya the Prophet came to him with God's word and prevented the fraternal war. He declared: "Thus says the Lord: You shall not go up or fight against your brothers" (1 Kings 12:24). In doing so, Shemaya saved many lives and demonstrated great spiritual courage before the king. Beyond this, Shemaya recorded the chronicles of Rehoboam's reign and is considered one of the important prophets of that era. Another figure is Shemaya the Korahite, one of the Levites who participated in bringing the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem during King David's time. The Book of Nehemiah mentions Shemaya son of Shecaniah, a gatekeeper, and Ezra mentions several other men named Shemaya who were involved in the return to Zion and the building of the Second Temple. During the Talmudic period, the name Shemaya continued to be common and honored. Shemaya was one of the famous pairs of leaders (zugot), serving alongside Avtalion as president and head of the court of the Sanhedrin at the end of the Second Temple period. Shemaya and Avtalion were either righteous converts or descendants of converts, known for their wisdom, humility, and love of Torah. They were highly respected among the people, and even Hillel the Elder studied under them. The Mishnah records their important teachings, including: "Love work, hate positions of authority, and do not become familiar with the ruling power" (Avot 1:10). These words reflect their humble and practical approach to life and service of God. Shemaya and Avtalion emphasized the importance of honest labor, avoidance of seeking honor, and caution in relationships with governmental authorities. Their spiritual legacy greatly influenced subsequent generations of Jewish sages.

שְׁמַעְיָה

Shemaya | Shemaiah | Shmaya

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1 Kings 12:24 - Thus says the Lord: You shall not go up or fight against your brothers the people of Israel. Every man return to his home, for this thing is from me. So they listened to the word of the Lord and went home again, according to the word of the Lord.

In Kabbalah, the name Shemaya symbolizes the dimension of spiritual hearing and divine communication. It represents the power of prayer ascending upward and the response descending below, the continuous dialogue between man and his Creator. The name carries the energy of spiritual receptivity, of openness to hear God's voice and respond to it with obedience and faith.

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Shemaiah the Prophet (Rehoboam's era) | Shemaiah of the Zugot (Second Temple period) | Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky (American posek and dayan) | Shemaya Cohen (Israeli rabbi and educator)

שמעון | שמואל | עזריה | זכריה | נריה

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