H8003 H8003
Complete, whole, safe, or peaceable; fullness of measure, moral integrity, physical safety, or friendly intent
Shalem expresses a rich wholeness rooted in the same shin-lamed-mem cluster as shalom (peace). A stone is shalem when uncut and unhewn (Deut 27:6; Josh 8:31), a weight is shalem when honest and full (Deut 25:15; Prov 11:1), and a heart is shalem when wholly devoted to God (1 Kgs 8:61; 11:4). The word also touches physical safety -- Jacob arrived 'shalem' at Shechem (Gen 33:18) -- and social harmony, when the Shechemites are called 'peaceful' toward Jacob's family (Gen 34:21). Spanish captures the primary sense as 'completo/integro,' while German 'wohlbehalten' (safe and sound) serves the personal-safety nuance.
Senses
1. complete, whole, perfect — Complete, whole, or perfect in quality, measure, or moral devotion. Covers honest weights and measures (Deut 25:15; Prov 11:1), unhewn altar stones (Deut 27:6; Josh 8:31), a full/ripe iniquity (Gen 15:16), undivided loyalty to God (1 Kgs 8:61; 2 Chr 16:9), and Ruth's 'full reward' (Ruth 2:12). Spanish 'completo/integro' and French 'acheve' reflect this wholeness. 26×
AR["الكَامِلَةِ", "كامِلًا", "كامِلٌ", "كَامِلاً", "كَامِلًا", "كَامِلٌ", "كَامِلٍ", "كَامِلَةً"]·ben["পরিপূর্ণ", "পূর্ণ", "সম্পূর্ণ"]·DE["Salomo", "complete", "ganz", "vergalt", "vollenden", "vollkommen"]·EN["and-the-good", "complete", "full", "whole"]·FR["[שלם]", "achever", "achève", "complet", "entier", "entière", "tout-entier"]·heb["שלם", "שלמה"]·HI["खरे", "पूरा", "पूरी", "पूरे", "पूरे।", "पूर्ण", "सिद्ध"]·ID["penuh", "seluruhnya", "sempurna", "utuh", "yang-penuh", "yang-sempurna", "yang-tepat", "yang-tulus"]·IT["Sallum", "Salomone", "completa", "completare", "completo", "intero", "pieno"]·jav["jangkep", "kang-sampurna", "lan-nangis", "sampurna", "wetah", "wutuh"]·KO["온전하기를", "온전하지", "온전한", "온전히", "완전하기를", "완전한"]·PT["completo", "inteira", "inteiro", "perfeita", "perfeito", "íntegro"]·RU["полная", "полностью", "полный", "целое", "целом", "целый", "целым", "цельным"]·ES["completa", "completo", "íntegra", "íntegro"]·SW["kamili", "mkamilifu", "yote"]·TR["butun", "bütün", "tam"]·urd["مکمل", "پورا", "پوری", "پورے", "کامل"]
Gen 15:16, Deut 25:15, Deut 25:15, Deut 27:6, Josh 8:31, Ruth 2:12, 1 Kgs 6:7, 1 Kgs 8:61, 1 Kgs 11:4, 1 Kgs 15:3, 1 Kgs 15:14, 2 Kgs 20:3 (+14 more)
2. safe, unharmed — Safe, unharmed, having arrived or returned in a state of physical well-being. Genesis 33:18 reports that Jacob came shalem to Shechem -- the Vulgate renders it 'incolumis' (uninjured). German 'wohlbehalten' (safe and sound) precisely captures this sense of personal security after a journey or ordeal. 1×
AR["سالِمًا"]·ben["নিরাপদে"]·DE["wohlbehalten"]·EN["safely"]·FR["safely"]·heb["שלם"]·HI["सालेम"]·ID["dengan-selamat"]·IT["safely"]·jav["kanthi-wilujeng"]·KO["평안히"]·PT["em-paz"]·RU["благополучно"]·ES["en-paz"]·SW["salama"]·TR["sağ-salim"]·urd["سلامتی-سے"]
3. peaceable, friendly — Peaceable, friendly, well-disposed toward others. When Hamor and Shechem assure the sons of Jacob that 'these men are peaceable with us' (Gen 34:21), shalem describes social intent rather than physical condition. Spanish 'pacificos' and the English 'peaceful' mark this interpersonal register, distinct from both wholeness and safety. 1×
AR["مُسالِمُونَ"]·ben["শান্তিপূর্ণ"]·DE["friedlich"]·EN["peaceful"]·FR["peaceful"]·heb["שלמים"]·HI["शान्तिपूर्ण-हैं"]·ID["damai"]·IT["peaceful"]·jav["tentrem"]·KO["평화롭다"]·PT["pacíficos"]·RU["мирные"]·ES["pacíficos"]·SW["wanataka"]·TR["barışçıl"]·urd["سلامتی-والے-ہیں"]
Related Senses
H2896a 1. good (quality or moral) (305×)H7563 1. wicked person (259×)H7451c 1. moral evil or wickedness (234×)H5771 1. iniquity, sin, wrongdoing (222×)H7965 1. peace, absence of conflict (198×)H6662 1. righteous person (substantive) (195×)G0266 1. sin, failure, transgression (173×)H2403b 1. sin, transgression (170×)H2617a 1. Covenant faithfulness, steadfast love (167×)G2309 1. want, desire (166×)H2398 1. Qal: to sin, commit sin (165×)H3467 1. save, deliver, rescue (Hifil active) (156×)H6666 1. righteousness, moral uprightness (145×)H5127 1. flee, run away (Qal) (144×)G5485 1. grace, divine favor (141×)G0025 1. to love actively (133×)H0157 1. love (verb, active Qal) (129×)H7451a 1. morally evil, wicked (129×)H8055 1. Qal: rejoice, be glad (123×)H2403b 2. sin-offering, sacrifice for sin (120×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† I. שָׁלֵם adj. complete, safe, at peace;—שׁ׳ Gn 15:16 +; pl. שְׁלֵמִים Gn 34:21; Na 1:12; f. שְׁלֵמָה Dt 25:15 +; pl. שְׁלֵמוֹת 27:6 Jos 8:31;— 1. complete: a. full, perfect: אֶבֶן שְׁלֵמָה full weight Dt 25:15; Pr 11:1, אֵיפָה שׁ׳ Dt 25:15; of עָוֹן Gn 15:16 (JE); number of captives Am 1:6, 9; of army Na 1:12 (text corrupt; 𝔊 משֵׁל מַיִם, but?; v. Comm.); of reward Ru 2:12; of stones, whole…