H8001 H8001
welfare, prosperity, peace (Aramaic greeting formula)
This Aramaic noun functions as a standard greeting formula in official Persian-period correspondence and royal decrees. It appears in the opening or closing of letters wishing the recipient well-being and prosperity. Ezra 4:17 uses it absolutely: 'Peace!' Daniel's usage is fuller: 'May your peace increase greatly' (3:31, 6:26). The term is the Aramaic cognate of Hebrew shalom, carrying similar overtones of comprehensive well-being, security, and prosperity. The multilingual evidence ('paz,' 'peace,' 'prospérité') confirms this sense of holistic welfare rather than mere absence of conflict.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Standard epistolary greeting in Aramaic administrative documents. Ezra 5:7 opens a letter with the simple greeting 'Peace!' (shalom). Daniel 3:31 and 6:26 expand this in royal proclamations: 'May your peace increase greatly'—a wish for the subjects' comprehensive prosperity and security. Though classified under the domain 'Trouble, Hardship, Relief,' the term itself is entirely positive, representing the desired state of safety and flourishing. The cross-linguistic unanimity ('paz,' 'peace,' 'paix') shows this is a well-established formula for expressing goodwill. 3×
AR["سَلام", "سَلاَمُكُمْ"]·ben["তোমাদের-শান্তি", "শান্তি"]·DE["[שלמא]", "[שלמכון]"]·EN["peace", "your-peace"]·FR["paix", "prospérité"]·heb["שלומכם", "שלמא"]·HI["तुम्हारी-शान्ति", "शांति"]·ID["Sejahtera-kalian", "sejahtera", "sejahteramu"]·IT["[שלמכון]", "prosperità"]·jav["Tentrem-rahayu-panjenengan", "sadaya", "tentrem-dalem"]·KO["너희-의-평강-이", "평안"]·PT["Vossa-paz", "paz", "vossa-paz"]·RU["мир", "мир-вам", "мир-ваш"]·ES["paz", "vuestra-paz"]·SW["amani", "amani-yenu"]·TR["esenliğiniz", "selam"]·urd["تمہاری-سلامتی", "سلامتی"]
Related Senses
H7965 1. peace, absence of conflict (198×)H3467 1. save, deliver, rescue (Hifil active) (156×)H5127 1. flee, run away (Qal) (144×)G1515 1. peace, well-being, harmony (93×)H8002 1. peace offering(s) (87×)G4982 1. save spiritually, grant salvation (79×)H3444 1. salvation, deliverance (67×)H4422 1. Nifal: escape, flee (63×)H1272 1. flee, run away (Qal) (58×)H6869b 1. distress, trouble (57×)G4991 1. of salvation (46×)G2347 1. tribulation, affliction, distress (45×)H0983 1. security, safety, confidence (42×)H6031b 1. Piel: afflict, oppress (42×)H6040 1. affliction, misery, suffering (36×)H3468 1. salvation, deliverance (33×)G5343 1. flee, run away (28×)H3467 2. savior, deliverer (Hifil participle substantive) (28×)H8668 1. salvation, deliverance (27×)H8252 1. be quiet, be at rest (26×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† שְׁלָם n.m.Dn 3:31 welfare, prosperity;—in greetings: abs. Ezr 4:17 prosperity! emph. שְׁלָמָא 5:7; sf. שְׁלָֽמְכוֹן יַשְׂגִּיא Dn 3:31; 6:26.