Many are familiar with the Hebrew word shalom or “peace.” The common western definition of peace is — the absence of conflict or war — but in Hebrew it means so much more. It comes from a Hebrew root-word that means “wholeness.” And what is wholeness? He is the author of the best-selling book ISRAEL RISING. Most Christians would be aware that the Hebrew word Shalom means peace. You shall say to them: The LORD bless you, and keep you; The LORD make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace.’” Numbers 6:23-26. The sukkah is also portrayed in the liturgy as a symbol of peace, known in Hebrew as the sukkat shalom. 9. What is shalom? We got you! “Shalom” is taken from the root word shalam, which means, “to be safe in mind, body, or estate.”. However, this exhortation to pray is not so Israel can live without conflict. Psalm 122:6-7 should serve as a prayer for Israel’s spiritual revival. It is still, to be sure, depicted as a blessing, a manifestation of divine grace, but in a great many sayings it appears in a normative context: The pursuit of peace is the obligation of the individual and the goal of various social regulations and structures. Phonetic Spelling: (shaw-lome') Definition: completeness, soundness, welfare, … Keep in mind that many names may have different meanings in other countries and languages, so be careful that the name that you choose doesn’t mean something bad or unpleasant. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” Matthew 5:9. Copyright © 2002-2020 My Jewish Learning. Pray for the fullness and completeness of Jerusalem. Although it can describe the absence of war, a majority of biblical references refer to an inner completeness and tranquility. “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you. SHALOM IS A HEBREW WORD THAT MEANS PEACE. But in a deeper way, shalom is a beautiful word with powerful, complex, and ancient meanings, and it can be heard throughout the land of Israel. Along with truth and justice, peace is among the most hallowed Jewish values. Many are familiar with the Hebrew word shalom or “peace.”. Peace! According to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, shalom means “completeness, soundness, welfare, peace.” Shalom is the name of the Holy One, the name of Israel, and the name of the Messiah (Derekh Erez Zuta, Perek ha‑Shalom), yet the name of God may be blotted out in water for the sake of peace (Leviticus Rabah 9:9). Doug Hershey shares from a perspective of historian and storyteller. Its significance is thus not limited to the political domain — to the absence of war and enmity — or to the social — to the absence of quarrel and strife. Other sayings in the same vein are numerous. cit.). Gen 26:29. In all of these instances, even where peace is given priority and tips the balance, it is viewed as an individual, partial value that must compete with other values. My Jewish Learning is a not-for-profit and relies on your help. In the Hebraic way of thinking, wholeness is the joining together of opposites. It simply means “peace”. 6:24 (KJV uses the name Jehovah shalom). Contrary to popular opinion the Hebrew word shalom does not mean “peace,” at least not in the English sense of the word. ; Deuteronomy Rabah 5:12; and see Job 25:2). In order to understand Jesus’ words, we must reflect on the many facets of the crucial Hebrew term shalom, which lies behind the English word “peace.”. Original Word: שָׁלוֹם. Peace! In several scriptural passages the word peace refers to a value, and is used in the sense of equity, or loyalty (cf. Nevertheless, alongside this sort of expression the Sages discuss the question of the relationship between peace and other competing values, of situations in which different norms might conflict with one another. This form of Hebrew had letters that formed pictures to illustrate the meaning of the letter. The common western definition of peace is — the absence of conflict or war — but in Hebrew it means so much more. which occurs 236 times in 208 verses in the Hebrew concordance of the KJV Page 1 / 5 (Gen 15:15–1Sa 30:21) View results using the NASB Hebrew concordance. In a simple way, shalom means ‘peace.' An indepth look at the meaning and etymology of the awesome name YHWH-shalom. BUY THE BOOK: https://rockislandbooks.com/the-living-word-in-3d-volume-one/ - Use the code YT25 to get 25% off your purchase! Gen 15:15 - And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; H7965 thou shalt be buried in a good old age. “Peace” is an accurate translation of the term, but shalom implies more than lack of conflict. It ranges over several spheres and can refer in different contexts to bounteous physical conditions, to a moral value, and, ultimately, to a cosmic principle and divine attribute. Of course, there is only one wayto find TRUE shalom - and that is in the Word of YHWH. Jesus said these peacemakers will be called sons of God. שלום JEHOVAH SHALOM – THE LORD GIVES PEACE The word Shalom is comprised of the Hebrew Letter's Shin, Lamed, Vav, and Mem In inquiring about the peace of one’s fellow, one inquires as to whether things fare well with him. That is where true biblical peace is found — within. Israel was to rarely experience times of outward peace, but even in the midst of battle, they were to have an inward rest brought on by the presence of the Lord, regardless of the outward circumstances — so it should be for us as well. Shalom embraces concepts of harmony, security, serenity, right relationships, wholeness, health, prosperity, and even success. Literally meaning "peace", shalom is used for both hello and goodbye. Change the course of 2020 for believers in Israel and help them rise up to be a light in a dark season. By sharing God’s uncontainable peace with others, we become just like Jesus. In contrast with this dichotomous approach, however, we also find another approach that attempts to harmonize the separate values and make them complement one another: “By three things the world is preserved, by justice, by truth, and by peace, and these three are one: if justice has been accomplished, so has truth, and so has peace” (JT Ta’anit 4:2). Tools. The Hebrew word for peace, shalom (שׁלום) is derived from a root denoting wholeness or completeness, and its frame of reference throughout Jewish literature is bound up with the notion of shelemut, perfection. In the Bible, the word shalom is most commonly used to refer to a state of affairs, one of well‑being, tranquility, prosperity, and security, circumstances unblemished by any sort of defect. Peace be upon Israel.” Psalm 128:5-6. In Israel today, when you greet someone or say goodbye, you say, Shalom. For instance, in the prayer Hashkeevaynu (“cause us to lie down”) the worshiper petitions God to “spread over us the shelter of Your peace.” I believe this is the case with all Semitic languages. But what is that very elusive quality we call peace? According to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, shalom … Shalom is defined as Completeness, Soundness, Wholeness, Welfare, Peace, Function, Fullness, Health, Safety, Security, Tranquility, to Restore, to Repay, to Reward, to Make Amends, to Make Restitution, to Make Good… The Ancient Hebrew Pictographs Shows us what Shalom שָׁלוֹם Does: Shen = Teeth, to Devour, Consume, Destroy… It signifies a state of prosperity, of blessed harmony, on several levels, physical and spiritual. Light the candles every night with our special guests. Part of Speech: Noun Masculine. In the biblical Hebrew understanding of shalom, there is a point at which you have so much shalom that it spills out from you, and is repaid or rendered to others. On another level, peace was contrasted with truth: It was said in the name of Rabbi Eleazar ben Simeon that “one may deviate from the truth for the sake of peace” (BT Yevamot 65b); in an even stronger formulation, it was said, “All falsehood is forbidden, but it is permissible to utter a falsehood for the purpose of making peace between a man and his fellow” (Derekh Erez Zuta, loc. The Hebrew words have so much more meaning and depth I just prefer to use them. Strong’s Concordance numbers: 3068, 7965. The series of regulations ordained by the Sages “in the interest of peace” (mi‑pene darkhei shalom) were also meant to affect relations both among the Jews themselves and between the Jews and the Gentiles. Shalom and peace. From this perspective, it almost sounds like we are praying for the return of Israel’s Messiah, the Prince of Peace, to establish His throne in Jerusalem. By Dr. Elias E. Hidalgo. Commonly translated as “peace” and used as both a greeting and farewell, shalom has rich meaning in Hebrew. The word shalom is commonly used in Hebrew today as a greeting in the same way we use the word hello. The shepherd used the staff to exercise authority over the sheep […] Nevertheless, the two realms are not always differentiated from one another, and at times they appear to be continuous; we read, for example: “He who establishes peace between man and his fellow, between husband and wife, between two cities, two nations, two families or two governments…no harm should come to him” (Mekhilta Bahodesh 12). Gen 15:15. Meaning of the Hebrew word “Shalom” Most know that the Hebrew word Shalom is understood around the world to mean “peace.” However, “peace” is only one small part of the meaning. s The ‘Shin’ represents two front teeth and can mean sharp, eat, consume, separate, or destroy. God was referring to an inner peace and completeness brought on by sharing in His countenance and His protection. Hebrew script Translation Pronunciation Language Explanation Shalom: שָׁלוֹם Hello, goodbye, peace Hebrew A Hebrew greeting, based on the root for "completeness". It is the essence of the prophetic tiding‑‑”The prophets have planted in the mouth of all people naught so much as peace” (Bamidbar Rabah Naso 11:7)‑‑and of redemption, “God announceth to Jerusalem that they [Israel] will be redeemed only through peace” (Deuteronomy Rabah 5:15). Shalom comes from the root verb shalommeaning to be complete, perfect and full. You are literally saying, “may you be full of well-being” or, “may health and prosperity be upon you.”. The ancient Hebrew concept of peace, rooted in the word "shalom," meant wholeness, completeness, soundness, health, safety and prosperity, carrying with it the implication of permanence. A cognate with the Arabic-language salaam. Like many Hebrew words, the word we commonly translate as peace, shalom, has a wider latitude of meaning than the English word.We tend to understand it as the absence of war or as calmness of spirit. Answer: Commonly translated as “peace” and used as both a greeting and farewell, shalom has rich meaning in Hebrew. Doug is the founder of Ezra Adventures, a travel and education company, specializing in exclusive customized small group travel throughout Israel and the Middle East. His new online video course, "10 Prophecies Fulfilled in Our Lifetime" connects bible prophecy with its fulfillments in Israel today. Jesus was called the Son of God. We will need the true meaning of Shalom in the days ahead. Peace was the ultimate purpose of the whole Torah: “All that is written in the Torah was written for the sake of peace” (Tanhuma Shofetim 18). Our emails have it all. But along with these ideas, the Hebrew word shalom also carries a greater connotation of well-being, health, safety, prosperity, wholeness, and completeness. Bible reference: Judg. Strong's Concordance defines it's meaning as 'completeness, wholeness, health, peace, welfare, safety, soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, the absence of agitation or discord' - phew! “Peace” is an accurate translation of the term, but shalom implies more than lack of conflict. Do you feel that a complete and fulfllled life is: Accomplishing your goals Never saying the wrong thing Being liked by everyone Living a good and moral life A wonderful family How Judaism regards the man Christians revere as the messiah. In modern Hebrew the obviously related word Shelemmeans to pay for, and Shulammeans to be fully paid. Shalom, while used in a daily greeting among the Hebrews, is a weighty theological term in the Old Testament. Everybody's for it. Add Israel to your Inbox. Nobody is against it. Pronounced: TALL-mud, Origin: Hebrew, the set of teachings and commentaries on the Torah that form the basis for Jewish law. For instance, peace was opposed to justice: Rabbi Joshua ben Korha taught that “where there is strict justice there is no peace, and where there is peace there is no strict justice,” and he consequently instructed the judge to “act as an arbiter,” that is, to rule for compromise, which is justice tempered with peace (see Jerusalem Talmud Sanhedrin 1:5; Babylonian Talmud Sanhedrin 6b; the opposing view is “let justice pierce the mountain,” that is, justice at all costs). The usage of the term is thus not restricted to international, intergroup, or interpersonal relations. It is also commonly used when departing in the same way we use the word good bye. (In a borrowed sense, we read: “Va‑yish’al David…li‑shlom ha‑milhamah“; “David asked of him…how the war prospered” [II Samuel 11:7].) The context of the Aaronic Blessing is ironic (pun intended). Of course, shalom also denotes the opposite of war, as in “a time for war, and a time for peace” (Ecclesiastes 3:8), for the absence of war, too, suggests an orderly, prosperous, and tranquil state of affairs. “Shalom” is used to both greet people and to bid them farewell, and it means much more than “peace, hello or goodbye”…. Comprised of the Mishnah and the Gemara, it contains the opinions of thousands of rabbis from different periods in Jewish history. To learn more, visit EzraAdventures.com/store. Drawing upon a fine distinction between the terms used in several scriptural expressions, one rabbinic saying proposed an interesting differentiation between two types of obligation. The majority of passages on the subject of peace are concerned with family or communal life, that is, with internal peace among the people, and only a minority are concerned with external relations between Israel and other peoples, between nations and states. The meaning of Sar-Shalom is “Prince of peace”. Though the word is used for greetings, the word itself has nothing to do with “hi” nor “bye”! Verse 7 says that we are praying for peace within Jerusalem’s walls and palaces. The second type, on the other hand, demands that one create situations and shape them in such a way as to bring the obligation upon himself. We must find our understanding of it through the Bible, from the God of Israel. True biblical shalom refers to an inward sense of completeness or wholeness. • Via שלם (shalem): Abishalom, Absalom, Bishlam, Islam, Jerusalem, Meshelemiah, Meshillemith, Meshillemoth, Meshullam, Meshullemeth, Muslim, Salome, Shallum, Shallun, Shalmai, Shalmaneser, Shelemiah, Shelomi, Shelomith, Shelumiel, Shulammite, Solomon, YHWH-shalom We use cookies to improve your experience on our site and bring you ads that might interest you. Lord of peace in Greek: Let us share with you the best articles out there on all things Israel. It is so that Jerusalem can fulfill its destiny as set by the only One who can bring complete restoration to the city, which Jesus referred to as “The city of the great King.”, Download How To Pray For Israel PDF Prayer Guide Here. Tools. All Rights Reserved. In relation to peace, however, [it is written]: ‘seek peace, and pursue it’‑‑seek it in your own place, and pursue it even to another place as well.” (Leviticus Rabah 9:9). With this Hebrew thought of shalom in mind, let’s look at a few common Scriptures about peace: “Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, ‘Thus you shall bless the sons of Israel. “Shalom” is taken from the root word shalam, which means, “to be safe in mind, body, or estate.” It speaks of completeness, fullness, or a type of wholeness that encourages you to give back — to generously re-pay something in some way. That was the blessing that Israel needed! cit. In Arabic too, “Salam” is used for “bye”. The first group includes all of the commandments, the second the pursuit of peace alone: “Great is peace, for of all the commandments it is written: ‘if [emphases added] thou see,’ ‘if thou meet’ (Exodus 23:4, 5), ‘if [there] chance’ (Deuteronomy 22:6); that is, if the occasion for this commandment should arise, you must do it, and if not, you need not do it. Pray that there may be such wholeness and safety found in her palaces that it overflows to others. interjection Hebrew. The first type is that which arises from a given situation, that is, man’s obligation to respond in a particular way to a given set of circumstances. Indeed, may you see your children’s children. Shalom is one of the key words and images for salvation in the Bible. Jewish law forbids hunting, and few Jews own firearms. The Hebrew word refers most commonly to a person being uninjured and safe, whole and sound. Peace! If this is the way we understand biblical peace, then suddenly many verses take on a whole new meaning. The Hebrew word for peace, shalom (שׁלום) is derived from a root denoting wholeness or completeness, and its frame of reference throughout Jewish literature is bound up with the notion of shelemut, perfection. Join the 7,696 who get encouraging articles, an exclusive insider view, and connect with what God is doing in Israel every week. Want to learn more about Israel? From the verb שלם (shalem), to be or make whole or complete. M Mem Chaos v Vav Establish L Lamed Authority s Shin Destroy Destroy the authority that establishes chaos. Never miss another article on Hebrew words and the land of Israel! Shalom in Hebrew. Shalom aleichem (/ ʃ ə ˌ l ɒ m ə ˈ l eɪ x ə m, ˌ ʃ oʊ l ə m-/; Hebrew: שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם ‎, shālôm ʻalêḵem; Hebrew pronunciation: [ʃaˈloːm ʕaleːˈxem]) is a spoken greeting in Hebrew, meaning "peace be upon you. Looking at a deminision of the Hebrew Language in the word shalom. The Lord is Peace in Hebrew: Jehovah shalom or Yahweh shalom. Shalom is a blessing, a manifestation of divine grace. Here, not only is peace made among men, but also the competing values are reconciled. Reprinted with permission of The Gale Group from  Contemporary Jewish Religious Thought , edited by Arthur A. Cohen and Paul Mendes-Flohr, Twayne Publishers. And so, as you make others peaceful and inwardly complete, that makes you a peacemaker. Peace is so much more than the world’s one-sided definition. It may be asked, to be sure, whether peace alone should be included in the second group. In this verse, Jesus is not referring to mediators or political negotiators, but to those who carry an inward sense of the fullness and safety that is only available through son-ship with God. Martens writes that shalom is "A Hebrew term for peace which describes comprehensive well-being. a conventional greeting, meaning “peace to you”: used in reply to the greeting shalom aleichem. May peace be within your walls, and prosperity within your palaces.” Psalm 122:6-7, Today many are praying for the peace of Jerusalem due to the rising threat from Israel’s enemies. We'll discuss the original Hebrew, plus the words and names YHWH-shalom is related to, plus the occurences of this name in the Bible. Jewish tradition takes it for granted that war is an inevitable part of human existence. This word is usually translated as "peace," but this English word does not adequately define this Hebrew word. This article comes from a chapter titled “Shalom” in Doug’s book: “The Christian’s Biblical Guide to Understanding Israel”. L The ‘Lamed’ is a picture of a shepherd’s staff. There are many other examples worthy of study regarding shalom. In Hebrew, the root of the word (usually in a three or occasionally four letter format), and depending on the vowels that are used, has several meanings (that are relevant to the general meaning of the word Shalom); as for example: One meaning is "Whole", another could be the actual verb "Pay" usually in … shalom: completeness, soundness, welfare, peace. Nevertheless, the distinction itself draws our attention, and the need to clarify it conceptually and to determine its outlines is an open invitation to the philosopher. Zechariah 8:16; Malachi 2:6). Pronunced: TORE-uh, Origin: Hebrew, the Five Books of Moses. Audio Pronunciation. If peace means “the absence of war,” then this doesn’t make sense, since they would soon be destroying cities. For more info, go to, An Invitation to Come Home – Shabbat Shalom. The Meaning of Shalom We will begin with the literal meaning of the word shalom in the paleo Hebrew which is the ancient text, or original Hebrew, which were word pictures. “The LORD bless you from Zion, And may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life. However, this is only a small part of the real meaning. Shalom … God told Aaron to bless Israel with peace while they were getting ready to go conquer the Promised Land. Finally, several sayings concerning the power of peace go beyond the social‑ethical realm to enter the domain of the cosmic: The Holy One makes peace between the supernal and the lower worlds, among the denizens of the supernal world, between the sun and the moon, and so on (Leviticus Rabah, loc. The Sages went to great lengths in their praise of peace, to the point of viewing it as a meta‑value, the summit of all other values, with the possible exception of justice. In the rabbinic texts, shalom primarily signifies a value, an ethical category ‑‑ it denotes the overcoming of strife, quarrel, and social tension, the prevention of enmity and war. Transliteration: shalom. cit.). Most of these passages in fact acclaim yet more ardently the pursuit of peace among men, in an a fortiori formulation: “And if the heavenly beings, who are free from envy, hatred and rivalry, are in need of peace, how much more are the lower beings, who are subject to hatred, rivalry, and envy” (Deuteronomy Rabah, loc. The word shalom is found in the Complete Jewish Bible 96 times.. שלום. New meaning, '' but this English word does not adequately define this Hebrew word refers most commonly a. Same way we use cookies to improve your experience on our site and bring you that. For “ bye ” a simple way, shalom is found — within be sure, whether peace should! Sar-Shalom is “ Prince of peace, then suddenly many verses take on whole. 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