Topical Bible: Hearkening

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Definition and Meaning:
Hearkening, in biblical terms, refers to the act of listening attentively and obediently to God's voice, commandments, and teachings. It involves not only hearing but also responding with action and faithfulness. The concept of hearkening is deeply rooted in the relationship between God and His people, emphasizing the importance of obedience and the willingness to follow divine guidance.

Biblical Context:
Hearkening is a recurring theme throughout the Bible, highlighting the importance of listening to God and His prophets. It is often associated with blessings for obedience and consequences for disobedience. The Hebrew word often translated as "hearken" is "shama," which means to hear intelligently, often with the implication of attention and obedience.

Old Testament References:
In the Old Testament, hearkening is frequently mentioned in the context of the covenant relationship between God and Israel. For instance, in Deuteronomy 28:1 , it is written, "If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth." This passage underscores the blessings that come from hearkening to God's commands.

The prophets also called the people to hearken to God's word. In Jeremiah 7:23 , God says, "But this is what I commanded them: Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you will be My people. Walk in all the ways I command you, that it may go well with you." Here, hearkening is linked to the well-being and identity of God's people.

New Testament References:
In the New Testament, the concept of hearkening is embodied in the teachings of Jesus Christ. In Matthew 7:24 , Jesus says, "Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock." This illustrates the importance of not only hearing but also acting upon Jesus' teachings.

The apostle James also emphasizes the necessity of hearkening in James 1:22 : "Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." This reinforces the idea that true hearkening involves both listening and doing.

Theological Significance:
Hearkening is integral to the life of faith, as it reflects a heart that is open and responsive to God's will. It is an expression of trust and submission to God's authority. The act of hearkening is not merely passive listening but an active engagement with God's word, leading to transformation and spiritual growth.

Practical Application:
For believers, hearkening involves regular engagement with Scripture, prayer, and a willingness to be led by the Holy Spirit. It requires a posture of humility and readiness to align one's life with God's purposes. In a world filled with distractions, hearkening calls for intentional focus on God's voice above all others.

Conclusion:
Hearkening is a vital aspect of the Christian faith, calling believers to listen, obey, and live out the teachings of God. It is a dynamic process that involves both hearing and doing, leading to a deeper relationship with God and a life that reflects His glory.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

(p. pr. & vb. n.) of Hearken.

Greek

5218. hupakoe -- obedience
... obedience. From hupakouo; attentive hearkening, ie (by implication) compliance or
submission -- obedience, (make) obedient, obey(-ing). see GREEK hupakouo. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5218.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew

7183. qashshab -- attentive
... attentive Or qashshub {kash-shoob'}; from qashab; hearkening -- attent(-ive). see
HEBREW qashab. 7182, 7183. qashshab. 7183a . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/7183.htm - 5k

7182. qesheb -- attentiveness
... diligently, hearing, much heed, that regarded. From qashab; a hearkening -- X
diligently, hearing, much heed, that regarded. see HEBREW qashab. 7181, 7182. ...
/hebrew/7182.htm - 6k

Library

And the Trespass which came by the Tree was Undone by the Tree of ...
... And the trespass which came by the tree was undone by the tree of obedience, [144]
when, hearkening unto God, the Son of man was nailed to the tree; thereby ...
/.../the demonstration of the apostolic preaching/chapter 34 and the trespass.htm

The Divine Word
... Hearkening, which means obedience, corresponds to the hearing of the ears; consequently
both the hearing and the ears are correspondences, and the action of ...
/.../swedenborg/spiritual life and the word of god/part fourththe divine word.htm

On Assembling in the Church.
... punishment, and has gone into an house of demons, or into a synagogue of the murderers
of Christ, or the congregation of the wicked?"not hearkening unto him ...
/.../various/constitutions of the holy apostles/sec vii on assembling in the.htm

Acts and Martyrdom of the Holy Apostle Andrew.
... teaching men to offend God, so that, by being offended, He turns away and will not
hearken; that therefore, by His turning away and not hearkening, they may be ...
/.../acts and martyrdom of the holy apostle andrew/acts and martyrdom of the.htm

The Apocalypse of the Holy Mother of God Concerning the ...
... And how are ye found there? and there was no voice or hearkening. And the angels
guarding them said: Why do ye not speak to the highly favoured one? ...
/.../unknown/the apocalypse of the virgin/the apocalypse of the holy.htm

Thoughts Upon Our Call and Election.
... But they not hearkening to the first Invitation, he sends to them again, v.4. Yet
they still made light of it, having it seems, as we most have, other business ...
/.../beveridge/private thoughts upon a christian life/thoughts upon our call and.htm

Messiah Worshipped by Angels
... Him. The holy angels that excel in strength (Psalm 103:20) , always do
His commandments, hearkening to the voice of His word. We ...
/.../newton/messiah vol 2/sermon xxviii messiah worshipped by.htm

Backsliding.
... And that is the condition of backsliders. They have got away from the good old
book. Adam and Eve fell by not hearkening to the word of God. ...
/.../moody/the way to god and how to find it/chapter ix backsliding.htm

Twenty-Second Lesson. My Words in You. '
... His hearkening will depend on ours; the entrance His words find with me,
will be the measure of the power of my words with Him. ...
/.../murray/with christ in the school of prayer/twenty-second lesson my words in.htm

Agency of Evil Spirits
... In the presence chamber of the King of kings they wait""angels, that excel in strength,"
"ministers of His, that do His pleasure," "hearkening unto the voice ...
/.../white/the great controversy/chapter 31 agency of evil.htm

Thesaurus

Apostatizing (2 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 21:18 When a man hath a son apostatizing and rebellious -- he is not
hearkening to the voice of his father, and to the voice of his mother, and ...
/a/apostatizing.htm - 7k

Hearkening (27 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Hearken. Multi-Version
Concordance Hearkening (27 Occurrences). Acts 15:12 And all ...
/h/hearkening.htm - 14k

Excel (12 Occurrences)
... (KJV WBS). Psalms 103:20 Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength,
that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. (KJV WBS). ...
/e/excel.htm - 10k

Exterminate (8 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 17:12 And the man that doeth presumptuously, in not hearkening unto
the priest that standeth to minister there before Jehovah thy God, or unto the ...
/e/exterminate.htm - 9k

Door-posts (11 Occurrences)
... (See JPS). Proverbs 8:34 O the happiness of the man hearkening to me, To watch at
my doors day by day, To watch at the door-posts of my entrance. (YLT). ...
/d/door-posts.htm - 10k

Provision (50 Occurrences)
... Genesis 27:5 And Rebekah is hearkening while Isaac is speaking unto Esau his son;
and Esau goeth to the field to hunt provision -- to bring in; (YLT). ...
/p/provision.htm - 23k

Brightness (36 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 50:10 Who 'is' among you, fearing Jehovah, Hearkening to the voice of His
servant, That hath walked in dark places, And there is no brightness for him? ...
/b/brightness.htm - 18k

Confidently (32 Occurrences)
... covered. (YLT). Proverbs 1:33 And whoso is hearkening to me dwelleth confidently,
And 'is' quiet from fear of evil!' (YLT). Proverbs ...
/c/confidently.htm - 15k

Cleaving (10 Occurrences)
... (YLT). Deuteronomy 30:20 in loving Jehovah thy God, in hearkening to his voice,
and in cleaving to him for this is thy life and the length of thy days that thou ...
/c/cleaving.htm - 9k

Chastise (21 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 21:18 When a man hath a son apostatizing and rebellious -- he is not
hearkening to the voice of his father, and to the voice of his mother, and ...
/c/chastise.htm - 12k

Resources

Hearkening: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Hearkening (27 Occurrences)

Acts 15:12
And all the multitude did keep silence, and were hearkening to Barnabas and Paul, declaring as many signs and wonders as God did among the nations through them;
(YLT)

Hebrews 4:6
Seeing therefore it remains that some enter into it, and those who first received the glad tidings did not enter in on account of not hearkening to the word,
(DBY)

Hebrews 4:11
Let us therefore use diligence to enter into that rest, that no one may fall after the same example of not hearkening to the word.
(DBY)

Genesis 18:11
And Sarah is hearkening at the opening of the tent, which is behind him;
(YLT)

Genesis 27:5
And Rebekah is hearkening while Isaac is speaking unto Esau his son; and Esau goeth to the field to hunt provision -- to bring in;
(YLT)

Deuteronomy 1:16
And I command your judges at that time, saying, Hearkening between your brethren -- then ye have judged righteousness between a man, and his brother, and his sojourner;
(YLT)

Deuteronomy 17:12
And the man that doeth presumptuously, in not hearkening unto the priest that standeth to minister there before Jehovah thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel.
(ASV JPS)

Deuteronomy 21:18
When a man hath a son apostatizing and rebellious -- he is not hearkening to the voice of his father, and to the voice of his mother, and they have chastised him, and he doth not hearken unto them --
(YLT)

Deuteronomy 21:20
and have said unto the elders of his city, Our son -- this one -- is apostatizing and rebellious; he is not hearkening to our voice -- a glutton and drunkard;
(YLT)

Deuteronomy 30:20
in loving Jehovah thy God, in hearkening to his voice, and in cleaving to him for this is thy life and the length of thy days that thou mayest dwell in the land which Jehovah swore unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.
(DBY)

Joshua 10:14
And there hath not been like that day before it or after it, for Jehovah's hearkening to the voice of a man; for Jehovah is fighting for Israel.
(YLT)

Judges 11:10
And the elders of Gilead say unto Jephthah, 'Jehovah is hearkening between us -- if according to thy word we do not so.'
(YLT)

1 Samuel 15:22
And Samuel said, Has Jehovah delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices, As in hearkening to the voice of Jehovah? Behold, obedience is better than sacrifice, Attention than the fat of rams.
(DBY JPS YLT)

2 Samuel 15:3
And Absalom saith unto him, 'See, thy matters 'are' good and straightforward -- and there is none hearkening to thee from the king.'
(YLT)

1 Kings 8:28
Yet have Thou respect unto the prayer of Thy servant, and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to hearken unto the cry and to the prayer which Thy servant prayeth before Thee this day;
(See RSV)

2 Chronicles 6:19
Yet have Thou respect unto the prayer of Thy servant, and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to hearken unto the cry and to the prayer which Thy servant prayeth before Thee;
(See RSV)

Job 34:34
Let men of heart say to me, And a wise man is hearkening to me.
(YLT)

Psalms 81:13
O that My people were hearkening to Me, Israel in My ways would walk.
(YLT)

Psalms 103:20
Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS RSV)

Proverbs 1:33
And whoso is hearkening to me dwelleth confidently, And 'is' quiet from fear of evil!'
(YLT)

Proverbs 8:34
O the happiness of the man hearkening to me, To watch at my doors day by day, To watch at the door-posts of my entrance.
(YLT)

Proverbs 12:15
The way of a fool 'is' right in his own eyes, And whoso is hearkening to counsel 'is' wise.
(YLT)

Isaiah 50:10
Who 'is' among you, fearing Jehovah, Hearkening to the voice of His servant, That hath walked in dark places, And there is no brightness for him? Let him trust in the name of Jehovah, And lean upon his God.
(YLT)

Jeremiah 32:33
And they turn unto Me the neck, and not the face, and teaching them, rising early and teaching, and they are not hearkening to accept instruction.
(YLT)

Jeremiah 44:16
The word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of Jehovah -- we are not hearkening unto thee;
(YLT)

Ezekiel 13:19
Yea, ye pierce Me concerning My people, For handfuls of barley, And for pieces of bread, to put to death Souls that should not die, And to keep alive souls that should not live, By your lying to My people -- hearkening to lies.
(YLT)

Ezekiel 20:39
And ye, O house of Israel, thus said the Lord Jehovah: Each his idols -- go -- serve ye, And, afterwards, if ye are not hearkening to me, And My holy name ye do not pollute any more by your gifts, and by your idols.
(YLT)

Subtopics

Hearkening

Related Terms

Vows (38 Occurrences)

Obligated (9 Occurrences)

Tingle (3 Occurrences)

Teachings (34 Occurrences)

Message (222 Occurrences)

Practice (71 Occurrences)

Built (299 Occurrences)

Doesn't (300 Occurrences)

Fell (331 Occurrences)