שָׁלוֹם237 H7965
Completeness, soundness, welfare, peace; spanning tranquility, well-being, greeting formulas, interpersonal alliance, and wholeness
Shalom is arguably the most culturally resonant word in biblical Hebrew, yet its meaning runs far deeper than the English 'peace' suggests. Built on the root sh-l-m denoting wholeness and completeness, it encompasses bodily health ('is it well with you?'), national security (absence of war), relational harmony (covenant of peace), and even serves as a standard greeting and farewell. Arabic salam preserves the cognate but narrows it mainly to safety and greeting, while Korean pyeonghwa captures the tranquility dimension and German Friede the cessation-of-conflict sense. No single translation in any language fully captures the integrated wholeness that shalom envisions.
1. peace, absence of conflict — Peace as the absence of conflict, war, or strife — the dominant sense covering the vast majority of occurrences (198x). This ranges from God granting peace in the land (Lev 26:6) to the Aaronic blessing 'the LORD give you peace' (Num 6:26) to prophetic visions of cosmic peace (Isa 9:7; 11:6-9). Arabic salam, Spanish paz, French paix, and German Friede all converge here. It includes both interpersonal peace ('go in peace,' Gen 43:23; 1 Sam 1:17) and the eschatological 'Prince of Peace' (Isa 9:6). 198×
AR["بِسَلَامٍ","سلامٌ","سَلاماً","سَلامٌ","سَلاَمٌ","سَلَامًا","سَلَامٌ","سَلَامٍ"]·ben["শান্তি","শান্তি।","শান্তির"]·DE["Friede","Frieden","es-geht-wohl","wohl"]·EN["peace"]·FR["paix"]·heb["שלום"]·HI["मेल","शन्ति","शन्ति-मेइन","शांति","शांति-है","शान्ति","संधि"]·ID["Damai","Damai-sejahtera","damai","damai-sejahtera","sejahtera"]·IT["pace"]·jav["Wilujeng","kaslametan","slamet","tentrem","tentrem-rahayu","wilujeng"]·KO["평강","평안이","평안이다","평안하고","평안하다","평안하라","평화","평화-가","평화-의","평화가","평화로","평화를"]·PT["Paz","paz"]·RU["Мир","здоров","мир","мира","мирно","мирно-ли","миром"]·ES["Paz","paz"]·SW["Amani","Shlum","amani","kuja","la-amani"]·TR["Barış","barış","esenlik","esenlik-mi","melek"]·urd["خیریت","سلام","سلامتی","سلامتی-سے","سلامتی-ہے","صلح","صلح-کی"]
Gen 29:6, Gen 43:23, Gen 43:28, Lev 26:6, Num 6:26, Num 25:12, Deut 2:26, Deut 20:11, Deut 29:19, Josh 9:15, Judg 4:17, Judg 6:23 (+38 more)
▼ 5 more senses below
Senses
2. welfare, well-being, prosperity — Welfare, well-being, or prosperity — the construct-chain usage asking about or referring to someone's total condition: health, safety, and flourishing. Jacob sends Joseph to inquire about the shalom of his brothers and the flock (Gen 37:14). David asks about the shalom of Joab, the army, and the war (2 Sam 11:7). German Wohlergehen and Spanish bienestar both shift vocabulary from 'peace' to 'well-being,' confirming a distinct semantic profile. Pharaoh's response to Joseph — 'it is not in me; God will answer the shalom of Pharaoh' (Gen 41:16) — shows the word covering favorable outcome and divine provision. 17×
AR["بِسَلَامِهَا","سَلامَ","سَلامَةَ","سَلامِ","سَلَامًا","سَلَامَ","سَلَامَةَ","سَلَامُ","عَن-سَلامَةِ","لِسَلَامِ","لِـ-سَلاَمٍ","وَعَن-سَلامَةِ"]·ben["এবং-শান্তির-জন্য","কুশল","শান্তি","শান্তিতে","শান্তিতে-তার","শান্তির-জন্য"]·DE["Friede","das-Wohlergehen","der-Friede-","fuer-Friede-von","fuer-der-Friede-von","fuer-welfare","in-Friede-","und-fuer-der-Friede-von","zu-welfare"]·EN["and-for-the-peace-of","for-peace-of","for-the-peace-of","for-welfare","in-its-welfare","in-peace-of","peace-of","the-peace-of","the-prosperity-of","to-welfare","welfare-of"]·FR["bien-être-de","et-pour-le-paix-de","paix","paix-de","pour-le-paix-de","pour-paix-de","pour-welfare","à-welfare"]·heb["ב-שלומה","ו-ל-שלום","ל-שלום","שלום"]·HI["और-कुशल-के-लिए","कुशल","कुशल-के-लिए","कुशलता","में-उसकी-शान्ति","लिश्लोम","शन्ति-के-लिये","शांति","शान्ति","समृद्धि"]·ID["dalam-kesejahteraannya","damai-sejahtera","dan-tentang-kesejahteraan","kesejahteraan","tentang-kesejahteraan","untuk-(memberi)-salam","untuk-kesejahteraan"]·IT["a-welfare","e-per-il-pace-di","pace","pace-di","per-il-pace-di","per-pace-di","per-welfare","welfare-di"]·jav["bab-kaslametan","kangge-keslametan","kanggé-kasarasan","kaslametan","kawilujenganing","lan-bab-kaslametan","tentrem","tentrem-ipun","tentrem-rahayu","wonten-ing-tentrem-ipun"]·KO["~의-평안-을-위하여","그것의-평화에","그리고-안부를","때에","안부를","평강-을","평강이","평안-을","평안을","평안을-위해","평화를"]·PT["a-paz","da-paz-de","e-pela-paz-de","em-sua-paz","para-paz","para-paz-de","paz-de","paz-de-","pela-paz-de"]·RU["благополучие","в-мире-его","для-мира","и-о-мире","мир","мира","о-мире"]·ES["bienestar-de","en-su-paz","para-paz","para-paz-de","paz-de","por-paz","por-paz-de","prosperidad-de","y-por-paz-de"]·SW["amani","amani-ya","amani-ya-","hali","hali-ya","katika-amani-yake","kuhusu-hali-ya","kwa-amani","kwa-amani-ya","na-kuhusu-hali-ya","ustawi"]·TR["eseliğini","esenlemek-için","esenligi-","esenlik","esenlik-için","esenliğinde-onun","esenliğini","ve-eseliğini"]·urd["اس-کی-سلامتی-میں","اور-سلامتی-کے-بارے-میں","سلامتی","سلامتی-سے","سلامتی-کی","سلامتی-کی۔","سلامتی-کے-بارے-میں","سلامتی-کے-لیے"]
Gen 37:14, Gen 37:14, Gen 41:16, 1 Sam 17:18, 1 Sam 17:22, 2 Sam 11:7, 2 Sam 11:7, 2 Sam 11:7, 2 Kgs 10:13, Esth 2:11, Ps 35:27, Ps 73:3 (+5 more)
3. greeting or inquiry of peace — A greeting formula or inquiry of peaceful intent — the performative speech-act use of shalom. 'Is it peace?' (2 Kgs 9:17-22) tests whether someone comes as friend or foe. 'Peace to you' (Judg 6:23; 19:20) extends welcome. German 'ist es Friede?' and Arabic 'hal salam?' preserve the interrogative formula. This sense overlaps with sense 1 but functions pragmatically as a social speech act rather than describing a state, as confirmed by its formulaic, non-propositional usage across Gen 29:6, Gen 43:27, and 2 Sam 18:28-32. 16×
AR["أَ-بِسَلاَمٍ","أَ-سَلامٌ","أَسَلامٌ","سَلامٌ","هَلْ-سَلامٌ","هَلْ-سَلَامٌ"]·ben["কি-শান্তি","শান্তি","শান্তি-কি","শান্তির-সঙ্গে"]·DE["geht-es-wohl","ist-Friede","ist-es-Friede","ist-shalom","shalom"]·EN["is-it-peace","is-peace","is-shalom","shalom"]·FR["est-cela-paix","est-paix","est-shalom","shalom"]·heb["ה-שלום","שלום"]·HI["क्या-कुशल","क्या-शांति","क्या-शांति-है","शांति","हश्शालोम"]·ID["Apakah-sejahtera","apakah sejahtera","apakah-damai","damai","damaikah","sejahterakah"]·IT["shalom","è-esso-pace","è-pace","è-shalom"]·jav["Menapa-wilujeng","Punapa-tentrem","Punapa-wilujeng","menapa-tentrem","punapa-slamet","punapa-tentrem","tentrem"]·KO["평안","평안하냐","평화냐"]·PT["(interrogativo)-paz","acaso-paz","há-paz","paz","paz-"]·RU["здоров-ли","мир","мир-ли","мирно-ли"]·ES["acaso-paz","paz","paz-a-ti","¿Hay-paz","¿Hay-paz?","¿Paz","¿Paz?","¿paz-de"]·SW["amani","amani-kwa","amani-kwako","hai","je-amani","je-kuna-amani","je-salama","je-uko-salama","je-yuko-salama","kuja-kwako"]·TR["Barış-mı","barış-mı","esenlik-mi","esenliği-mı","eşenlik","eşenlik-mi","mi-selam"]·urd["سلامتی","سلامتی-ہے","کیا-خیریت","کیا-سلامت-ہے","کیا-سلامتی","کیا-سلامتی-سے","کیا-سلامتی-ہے"]
Gen 29:6, Gen 43:27, 2 Sam 18:28, 2 Sam 18:29, 2 Sam 18:32, 2 Sam 20:9, 1 Kgs 2:13, 2 Kgs 4:26, 2 Kgs 4:26, 2 Kgs 4:26, 2 Kgs 5:21, 2 Kgs 9:11 (+4 more)
4. friend, ally, one at peace — A person at peace, friend, or ally — the substantival use where shalom denotes a confederate or trusted companion. Psalm 55:20 mourns betrayal by 'my shalom' — my close friend who violated the covenant. Jeremiah 20:10 reports enemies watching for 'the men of my shalom' to stumble. Arabic halīf 'ally' and Spanish aliado appear in translations, proving this is recognized as a distinct personal-relational use rather than an abstract state. The shift from abstract noun to concrete person is a standard Hebrew semantic extension. 3×
AR["سَلَامِي","على-مُسالِميهِ","وَ-لِ-لآمِنينَ"]·ben["আমার-শান্তির","ও-শান্তির-জন্য","বিরুদ্ধে-শান্তির-তার"]·DE["Friede","gegen-sein-Friede","und-zu-Friede"]·EN["against-his-friends","and-for-those-at-peace","peace-my"]·FR["dans-paix","et-à-paix","paix"]·heb["ב-שלומי-ו","ו-ל-שלומים","שלומי"]·HI["मित्र-मेरे"]·ID["dan-untuk-yang-damai","yang-berdamai-denganku"]·IT["e-pace","pace"]·jav["lan","saha-dhateng-kasantosan","tentrem-kawula,"]·KO["그리고-평안한-자-들-에게","나의-평화의","평화로운-자-들-에게"]·PT["contra-os-que-estavam-em-paz-com-ele","e-para-os-que-estão-em-paz","minha-paz,"]·RU["и-для-мирных","мира-моего","на-мирных-с-ним"]·ES["contra-sus-aliados","paz-mía","y-para-los-que-están-en-paz"]·SW["dhidi-ya-rafiki-zake","na-kwa-amani-yao","wa-amani-yangu"]·TR["barış-olanlarına-","barışım","ve-refaha-"]·urd["بَ-صُلح-کَرنے-والوں-اُس-کے","سلامتی-میری","وَ-لِ-سلامتی-والوں-کو"]
5. Salem, proper name — Used as or associated with a proper name — Gideon's altar 'YHWH-Shalom' (Judg 6:24) and the messianic title 'Prince of Peace' in Isaiah 9:6 treat shalom as a divine attribute elevated to naming status. While overlapping with sense 1, these occurrences function as names or epithets rather than descriptions of a state. The theophoric and christological naming convention sets these apart from ordinary usage. 2×
AR["السَّلَامِ","شَلومَ"]·ben["শান্তি","শান্তির"]·DE["Friede","Shalom"]·EN["Peace","Shalom"]·FR["Shalom","paix"]·heb["שלום"]·HI["शान्ति-का","शालोम"]·ID["Damai","Damai-Sejahtera"]·IT["Shalom","pace"]·jav["Tentrem"]·KO["왕이라","평안"]·PT["Paz","Shalom"]·RU["Мир","Шалом"]·ES["Shalom"]·SW["Amani"]·TR["Shalom","öleceksin"]·urd["سلامتی","سلامتی-کا"]
6. sense 6 — Completeness or totality — the etymological core sense reflecting the root sh-l-m 'to be whole.' Jeremiah 13:19 reads 'Judah is carried away captive, all of it' (shelemim), where the nuance is total, complete deportation. Arabic kamil 'complete' and English 'completely' capture this rare but foundational sense, which underlies all the other meanings: peace is wholeness, welfare is wholeness, and greeting someone with shalom wishes them total well-being. 1×
AR["تَمَامًا"]·ben["সম্পূর্ণরূপে"]·DE["Friede"]·EN["completely"]·FR["paix"]·heb["שלומים"]·HI["पूर्णता-से"]·ID["sepenuhnya"]·IT["pace"]·jav["kanthi-jangkep"]·KO["완전히"]·PT["completamente."]·RU["полностью"]·ES["completamente"]·SW["kabisa"]·TR["tamamıyla"]·urd["مکمل-طور-پر"]
Related Senses
H5921a 1. upon, on, over (spatial) (5443×)H0413 1. directional: to, toward (5366×)H3605 1. all, every, whole (5352×)H1121a 1. son, male offspring, descendant (4914×)H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)H4428 1. king, human ruler (2518×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)H6440 1. before, in front of (spatial) (1870×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H3027 1. physical hand (body part) (1596×)H1697 1. word, speech, utterance (1235×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H0259 1. one (cardinal numeral) (940×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
שָׁלוֹם237 n.m. Is 54:13 completeness, soundness, welfare, peace (LagBN 174);—שׁ׳ Gn 29:6 +; שָׁלֹם (rare) Ez 13:16 +; cstr. שְׁלוֹם Gn 37:14 +; sf. שְׁלוֹמִי ψ 41:10 +, etc.; pl. (all dub.) שְׁלוֹמִים Je 13:19 ψ 69:23; sf. שְׁלֹמָיו 55:21;— †1. completeness in no., הָגְלָת שְׁלוֹמִים Je 13:19 Judah is wholly carried captive (but read גָּלוּת שְׁלֵמָה, cf. Am 1:6; so 𝔊 We Am SS Buhl). †2.…