Hearing Hear
Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words [1]
the usual word denoting "to hear," is used (a) intransitively, e.g., Matthew 11:15; Mark 4;23; (b) transitively when the object is expressed, sometimes in the accusative case, sometimes in the genitive. Thus in Acts 9:7 , "hearing the voice," the noun "voice" is in the partitive genitive case [i.e., hearing (something) of], whereas in Acts 22:9 , "they heard not the voice," the construction is with the accusative. This removes the idea of any contradiction. The former indicates a "hearing" of the sound, the latter indicates the meaning or message of the voice (this they did not hear). "The former denotes the sensational perception, the latter (the accusative case) the thing perceived" (Cremer). In John 5:25,28 , the genitive case is used, indicating a "sensational perception" that the Lord's voice is sounding; in John 3:8 , of "hearing" the wind, the accusative is used, stressing "the thing perceived."
John 9:31 1—John 5:14,15 John 1:40 John 8:26,40 Acts 10:22 2—Timothy 2:2Hearken.
"to listen to" (eis, to, and No. 1), has two meanings, (a) "to hear and obey," 1—Corinthians 14:21 , "they will not hear;" (b) "to hear so as to answer," of God's answer to prayer, Matthew 6:7; Luke 1:13; Acts 10:31; Hebrews 5:7 .
"to hear through, hear fully" (dia, "through," and No. 1), is used technically, of "hearing" judicially, in Acts 23:35 , of Felix in regard to the charges against Paul. In the Sept., Deuteronomy 1:16; Job 9:33 .
"to listen to, hear with favor, at or upon an occasion" (epi, "upon," and No. 1), is used in 2—Corinthians 6:2 (RV, "hearken").
"to listen attentively to" (epi, used intensively, and a verb akin to No. 1), is used in Acts 16:25 , "(the prisoners) were listening to (them)," RV, expressive of rapt attention.
signifies "to hear before" (pro), Colossians 1:5 , where Lightfoot suggests that the preposition contrasts what they heard before, the true Gospel, with the false gospel of their recent teachers.
primarily signifies "to overhear, hear amiss or imperfectly" (para, "beside, amiss," and No. 1); then (in the NT) "to hear without taking heed, to neglect to hear," Matthew 18:17 (twice); in Mark 5:36 the best mss. have this verb, which the RV renders "not heeding" (marg., "overhearing"); some mss. have No. 1, AV, "hearing." It seems obvious that the Lord paid no attention to those from the ruler's house and their message that his daughter was dead. Cp. the noun parakoe, "disobedience."
akin to A, No. 1, denotes (a) "the sense of hearing," 1—Corinthians 12:17; 2—Peter 2:8; a combination of verb and noun is used in phrases which have been termed Hebraic as they express somewhat literally an OT phraseology, e.g., "By hearing ye shall hear," Matthew 13:14; Acts 28:26 , RV, a mode of expression conveying emphasis; (b) "the organ of hearing," Mark 7:35 , "ears;" Luke 7:1 , RV, "ears," for AV, "audience;" Acts 17:20; 2—Timothy 4:3,4; Hebrews 5:11 , "dull of hearing," lit., "dull as to ears;" (c) "a thing heard, a message or teaching," John 12:38 , "report;" Romans 10:16; 1—Thessalonians 2:13 , "the word of the message," lit. "the word of hearing" (AV, "which ye heard"); Hebrews 4:2 , "the word of hearing," RV, for AV, "the word preached;" in a somewhat similar sense, "a rumor, report," Matthew 4:24; 14:1; Mark 1:28 , AV, "fame," RV, "report;" Matthew 24:6; Mark 13:7 , "rumors (of wars);" (d) "the receiving of a message," Romans 10:17 , something more than the mere sense of "hearing" [see (a)]; so with the phrase "the hearing of faith," Galatians 3:2,5 , which it seems better to understand so than under (c). See Ear , Fame , Preach , Report , Rumor.
Acts 25:21Decision. Matthew 13:15 Acts 28:27Dull. Acts 25:23Place.
Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology [2]
Most Old Testament words for hear( ing ) come from the root sm [שָׁמַע שֶׁמַע], "hear, " or zn [אָזַן], "(give) ear, " although qsb [קָשַׁב], "pay attention, " sometimes appears. The New Testament words are akouo [Ἀκούω Ἀκουστός], "hear, " along with its several compounds and cognates, and ous [Οὖς], "ear" with its diminutives otion [Ὠτίον Ὠτάριον] and otarion.
Scripture often refers to the physical ear ( Genesis 35:4; Exodus 29:20; Deuteronomy 15:17; Mark 7:33; Luke 22:50; 1 Corinthians 12:16 ) or the physical faculty of hearing ( Deuteronomy 31:11; 1 Samuel 15:14; Mark 7:35 ), but relies more heavily on the figurative meanings of the words. In Scripture God hears; he pays attention to his people. His people should, but do not always, listen to him. Hearing is the mode by which the Son of God and his followers receive God's word.
In the Old Testament God hears both his people's groaning in trouble ( Genesis 16:11; Exodus 2:24; 3:7; 6:5; Psalm 69:33; 102:20 ) and their grumbling against him ( Exodus 16:7-9; Numbers 14:27 ). Throughout Scripture God hears his people's prayers ( 1 Kings 8:31-53; Psalm 34:15 ,; quoted in 1 Peter 3:12; more than fifty times in the Psalms Isaiah 59:1; Matthew 6:7-8; Luke 1:13; 1 John 5:14 ). In contrast, idols have physical ears but cannot hear their worshipers ( Psalm 115:6; 135:17 ).
Since God hears his people, his people should also hear him. The prophets frequently call Israel to "hear the word of the Lord." Even pagans may hear about God's wonderful actions and be impressed ( Joshua 2:10-11; 2 Chronicles 9:1-8 ). Often in Deuteronomy, Moses calls on Israel to hear, especially in the Shema (literally the 6:4-5; cf. 4:1; 5:1; 9:1; 20:3; 27:9).
Although Job refers to his indirect and partial understanding of God's character as hearing of God by the hearing of the ear (42:5), more often hearing refers to a deeper understanding. God's people are to "hear" (take heed of) the Prophet like Moses who will appear ( Deuteronomy 18:15-20; cf. Acts 3:22 ). In the "third heaven" Paul hears "inexpressible things" ( 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 ), revealing matters that may not be passed on to others. The recovery of hearing by deaf people serves as a sign of the messianic kingdom ( Isaiah 29:18; 35:5-6; cf. Matthew 11:5; Mark 7:37 ). Hearing the voice of God's Son will cause the dead to rise ( John 5:25-29 ).
Some among God's people have "ears to hear" his voice, while others do not. God accuses his people when they refuse to use their ears and listen to him ( Isaiah 6:9-10 ,; quoted in Matthew 13:14-15; and parallels, also in Acts 28:26-27 ). Both before ( Matthew 11:15; 13:9,43; and parallels ) and after ( Revelation 2:7,11 , 17,29; 3:6,13 , 22 ) his resurrection, Jesus calls on those who have spiritual ears to use them.
The Old Testament image of an "inclined" ear suggests a person leaning over to listen closely. Those whose ears and hearts are inclined toward God ( Isaiah 55:3; cf. Proverbs 5:1 ) want God's ears to be inclined toward them ( Psalm 31:2; 71:2; Daniel 9:18 ).
Because of his unique identity, the Son of God hears the Father's word and passes it on ( John 3:32; 8:40; 15:15 ), and the Father in turn hears the Son's prayers ( John 11:41-42; Hebrews 5:7 ). Jesus' immediate followers testify to what they have seen and heard both during his ministry and after his resurrection ( Acts 4:20; 22:15; 1 John 1:3,5 ).
As hearing is the mode by which the Son receives the Father's word, and the Son's immediate followers receive it from him, so hearing is the means by which each believer receives the word. "Faith, " says Paul, "comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ" ( Romans 10:17; cf. Acts 4:4 ,; and often in Acts ). The Holy Spirit comes through the "hearing of faith" ( Galatians 3:2,5; cf. Acts 2:37-41 ). Those who become believers should go on to maturity, not being "dull in hearing" ( Hebrews 5:11 ) or remaining only hearers of the truth ( James 1:22-25; cf. Romans 2:13; Matthew 7:24-27; and parallel Matthew 13:19; and parallels ). Believers should especially avoid turning from hearing the truth, listening to false teachers who will scratch their "itching ears" (lit. "itching hearing" 2 Timothy 4:3-4 ).
In following Jesus, believers should "consider carefully how they listen" ( Luke 8:18 ), making sure the truth they already have will not be "taken away." In their interpersonal relations, they should be "quick to listen" ( James 1:19 ), always ready to hear what the other person has to say.
Carl B. Bridges, Jr.
See also Obedience
Bibliography . J. Horst, TDNT, 5:543-59; G. Kittel, TDNT, 1:216-25.
