# H7965 - shalom **Strong's:** [H7965](https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h7965/) · BLB lookup **Pronunciation:** shaw-lome' **Part of speech:** masculine noun **OT occurrences:** ~237 **Greek equivalent (LXX):** *eirēnē* (G1515, peace) ## Semantic range 1. **Peace**, the absence of strife / war (the popular sense) 2. **Wholeness, completeness, integrity**, the deeper Hebraic sense 3. **Well-being, prosperity, health, flourishing**, comprehensive welfare 4. **Friendship, harmony in relationships**, relational dimension 5. **Greeting / farewell** ("*shalom!*" as common Hebrew greeting) The semantic range is **far broader than English "peace"**. *Shalom* signifies *integrated wholeness across every dimension of human existence*, physical, relational, social, spiritual, communal, ecological. ## Theological force ### *Shalom* as God's gift The OT presents *shalom* as a comprehensive divine gift: - **[Numbers 6:24-26](/codex/numbers-6-24-26/)**, Aaronic blessing: "*YHWH bless you and keep you… YHWH lift up His countenance on you and give you shalom*" - **[Psalm 29:11](/codex/psalms-29-11/)**, "the LORD blesses His people with *shalom*" - **[Isaiah 9:6](/codex/isaiah-9-6/)**, Messianic title: *Sar-Shalom*, "Prince of *shalom*" - **[Isaiah 26:3](/codex/isaiah-26-3/)**, "the steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect *shalom* (*shalom shalom*)" - **[Isaiah 32:17](/codex/isaiah-32-17/)**, "the work of righteousness will be *shalom*… the result of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever" - **[Isaiah 53:5](/codex/isaiah-53-5/)**, "the chastening for our *shalom* fell upon Him", Servant suffering for our peace - **[Isaiah 54:13](/codex/isaiah-54-13/)**, "great will be the *shalom* of your sons" - **[Isaiah 57:19](/codex/isaiah-57-19/)**, "*shalom, shalom* to him who is far and to him who is near" - **[Jeremiah 29:11](/codex/jeremiah-29-11/)**, "I know the plans I have for you… plans for *shalom* and not for evil" ### *Shalom* as comprehensive human flourishing In Hebraic thought, *shalom* describes the *whole-life* state of God's blessing: - **Bodily health**, [Genesis 43:27-28](/codex/genesis-43-27-28/); [2 Samuel 18:28](/codex/2-samuel-18-28/) - **Right relationship with God**, [Numbers 6:24-26](/codex/numbers-6-24-26/) - **Right relationship with neighbors**, [Psalm 34:14](/codex/psalms-34-14/) - **Right relationship with enemies**, [Deuteronomy 20:10-12](/codex/deuteronomy-20-10-12/) - **Material prosperity / sufficiency**, [Psalm 122:6-7](/codex/psalms-122-6-7/); [Zechariah 8:12](/codex/zechariah-8-12/) - **Social-political stability**, [Jeremiah 29:7](/codex/jeremiah-29-7/) ("seek the *shalom* of the city") - **Eschatological consummation**, [Isaiah 11:6-9](/codex/isaiah-11-6-9/) (the wolf and lamb together) ### *Shalom* and covenant *Shalom* is **covenant-loaded**. [Numbers 25:12](/codex/numbers-25-12/), *brit shalom* (covenant of peace) given to Phinehas; [Isaiah 54:10](/codex/isaiah-54-10/), God's "covenant of *shalom*" cannot be moved; [Ezekiel 34:25](/codex/ezekiel-34-25/); 37:26, eschatological covenant of *shalom*. The pattern: *shalom* flows from being-in-right-covenant-relationship with God. Apart from God, there is no *shalom* ([Isaiah 48:22](/codex/isaiah-48-22/); 57:21, "no *shalom* for the wicked"). ## Christological fulfillment ### Messianic *shalom* Christ as the Messianic *Sar-Shalom* ([Isaiah 9:6](/codex/isaiah-9-6/)) brings *shalom*: - **[Luke 2:14](/codex/luke-2-14/)**, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth *eirēnē* among men with whom He is pleased" - **[Luke 2:29](/codex/luke-2-29/)**, Simeon: "now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant in *eirēnē*" - **[John 14:27](/codex/john-14-27/)**, "*eirēnēn aphiēmi hymin*; My *eirēnēn* I give to you" - **[John 16:33](/codex/john-16-33/)**, "in Me you may have *eirēnēn*" - **[John 20:19](/codex/john-20-19/), [21](/codex/john-20-21/), [26](/codex/john-20-26/)**, risen Christ: "*eirēnē* be with you" - **[Romans 5:1](/codex/romans-5-1/)**, "having been justified by faith, we have *eirēnēn* with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" - **[Romans 14:17](/codex/romans-14-17/)**, "the kingdom of God is… righteousness and *eirēnē* and joy in the Holy Spirit" - **[Ephesians 2:14-17](/codex/ephesians-2-14-17/)**, "He Himself is our *eirēnē*… that He might create… one new man, thus establishing *eirēnēn*" - **[Philippians 4:7](/codex/philippians-4-7/)**, "*eirēnē tou Theou hē hyperechousa panta noun*", "the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension" - **[Colossians 1:20](/codex/colossians-1-20/)**, "having made *eirēnopoiēsas* through the blood of His cross" Christ *is* peace, *brings* peace, and *establishes* peace through the cross. ### Three relational dimensions of *shalom* in Christ 1. **Peace with God**, vertical reconciliation through justification ([Romans 5:1](/codex/romans-5-1/)) 2. **Peace with self**, inner peace, freedom from fear / anxiety ([John 14:27](/codex/john-14-27/); [Philippians 4:7](/codex/philippians-4-7/)) 3. **Peace with others**, horizontal reconciliation; ethnic / social barriers broken ([Ephesians 2:14-17](/codex/ephesians-2-14-17/)) The cross effects all three. ## Apologetic significance *Shalom* anchors: 1. **A holistic vision of salvation**, not just individual-soul-rescue but comprehensive flourishing 2. **The Christian critique of partial-peace**, political peace, psychological peace, etc., are insufficient apart from God 3. **The Messianic-fulfillment apologetic**, [Isaiah 9:6](/codex/isaiah-9-6/)'s *Sar-Shalom* fulfilled in Christ 4. **Eschatological hope**, the new heavens and new earth as *shalom*-consummation 5. **Christian-ethical mission**, pursuing *shalom* in the world ([Jer 29:7](/codex/jeremiah-29-7/); [Mt 5:9](/codex/matthew-5-9/), peacemakers) ## Notable verses ### Aaronic blessing - **[Numbers 6:24-26](/codex/numbers-6-24-26/)**, "the LORD lift up His countenance on you and give you *shalom*" ### *Shalom* as covenant gift - **[Numbers 25:12](/codex/numbers-25-12/)**, *brit shalom* - **[Isaiah 54:10](/codex/isaiah-54-10/)**, God's covenant of *shalom* - **[Ezekiel 34:25](/codex/ezekiel-34-25/); 37:26**, eschatological *shalom*-covenant ### Messianic *shalom* - **[Isaiah 9:6](/codex/isaiah-9-6/)**, *Sar-Shalom* - **[Isaiah 53:5](/codex/isaiah-53-5/)**, chastening for our *shalom* - **[Isaiah 26:3](/codex/isaiah-26-3/); 32:17; 57:19; 66:12**, eschatological *shalom* - **[Micah 5:5](/codex/micah-5-5/)**, "this One will be our *shalom*" - **[Zechariah 9:10](/codex/zechariah-9-10/)**, "He will speak *shalom* to the nations" ### *Shalom* as comprehensive flourishing - **[Genesis 26:31](/codex/genesis-26-31/); 28:21; 29:6; 37:14; 43:27-28**, *shalom* greetings/inquiries - **[2 Samuel 11:7](/codex/2-samuel-11-7/); 18:28-29, 32**, *shalom* of armies - **[Psalm 34:14](/codex/psalms-34-14/); 35:27; 37:11; 119:165; 122:6-7**, *shalom* in worship - **[Proverbs 3:1-2](/codex/proverbs-3-1-2/), [17](/codex/proverbs-3-17/); 12:20**, wisdom-uses - **[Isaiah 48:18](/codex/isaiah-48-18/), [22](/codex/isaiah-48-22/); 57:21; 59:8; 60:17**, extensive ### NT *eirēnē* fulfillments - **[John 14:27](/codex/john-14-27/); 16:33; 20:19, 21, 26**, Christ's gift - **[Romans 5:1](/codex/romans-5-1/); 8:6; 14:17, 19; 15:13, 33**, peace with God - **[Ephesians 2:14-17](/codex/ephesians-2-14-17/); 6:15**, peace as Christ's accomplishment - **[Philippians 4:7](/codex/philippians-4-7/), [9](/codex/philippians-4-9/)**, peace of God - **[Colossians 1:20](/codex/colossians-1-20/)**, peace by the blood of His cross ## Patristic / scholarly note The *shalom* tradition is centrally important in: - Liturgical worship (Aaronic blessing widely used) - Hebrew ethics / Jewish-Christian dialogue (the *shalom*-vision of human flourishing) - Modern integral / wholistic theological work Modern conservative engagement: - Cornelius Plantinga Jr. (*Not the Way It's Supposed to Be*, 1995), *shalom* as governing biblical category - Nicholas Wolterstorff (*Justice: Rights and Wrongs*, 2008) - N. T. Wright (*Surprised by Hope*, 2008), eschatological *shalom* - Tim Keller (*Generous Justice*, 2010) ## See also - H7999 - shalam, verb to be complete - G1515 - eirene, Greek peace - [H2617 - hesed](/codex/h2617-hesed/), paired covenant-relational terms - [H6664 - tzedeq](/codex/h6664-tzedeq/), *tzedeq u-shalom* paired - [Isaiah 9.6](/codex/isaiah-9-6/), *Sar-Shalom* - [Isaiah 53](/codex/isaiah-53/), Servant for our *shalom* - [Romans 5.8](/codex/romans-5-8/), peace with God ## Notes _Lexical workspace for shalom._