אִֽם־יִשְׁמְע֗וּ וְֽיַ֫עֲבֹ֥דוּ יְכַלּ֣וּ יְמֵיהֶ֣ם בַּטּ֑וֹב וּ֝שְׁנֵיהֶ֗ם בַּנְּעִימִֽים׃
אױב זײ הערן, און דינען, ענדיקן זײ זײערע טעג אין גוטס, און זײערע יאָרן אין נַחַת.
Guide for the Perplexed
Equally frequent are the instances of this verb being used in the sense of “to obey”: “And they hearkened (shama‘) not unto Moses” (Exod. 6:9). “If they obey (yishme‘ü) and serve him (Job 36:11); “Shall we then hearken (nishma‘) unto you” (Neh. 13:27); “Whosoever will not hearken (yishma‘) unto thy words” (Josh. 1:18).