WG: Peace / Shalom
Overview
The shalom concept in Hebrew Scripture involves a cluster of words expressing wholeness, safety, and the absence of conflict. At its center is the noun shalom (H7965), derived from the root verb shalam (H7999 "to be complete, make whole"). The concept has a sacrificial expression in the peace offering (shelem H8002), is contrasted with war (milchamah H4421), and overlaps with security language (betach H983, shalvah H7962).
Word Group Members
| Strong's |
Word |
Transliteration |
POS |
Occurrences |
Role in Concept |
Library Entry |
| H7965 |
שָׁלוֹם |
shalom |
masc. noun |
206 |
The state (peace, wholeness, welfare) |
H7965-shalowm.md |
| H7999 |
שָׁלַם |
shalam |
verb |
107 |
The root action (to be complete, requite) |
H7999-shalam.md |
| H8002 |
שֶׁלֶם |
shelem |
masc. noun |
84 |
The offering (peace/fellowship offering) |
H8002-shelem.md |
| H4421 |
מִלְחָמָה |
milchamah |
fem. noun |
308 |
The antithesis (war, battle) |
TODO(need H4421 study) |
| H983 |
בֶּטַח |
betach |
adverb/noun |
41 |
Overlapping concept (safety, security) |
TODO(need H983 study) |
| H7962 |
שַׁלְוָה |
shalvah |
fem. noun |
8 |
Cognate synonym (ease, tranquility) |
TODO(need H7962 study) |
Relationships
Shared Roots
- shalom (H7965), shalam (H7999), shelem (H8002) — all from root ש-ל-מ (sh-l-m)
- shalvah (H7962) — from the related root שׁלה (shalah, H7951 "to be at ease")
Co-occurrence (appear in same verses)
| Word A |
Word B |
Shared Verses |
Typical Context |
| shalom (H7965) |
milchamah (H4421) |
10 |
Contrast: "peace vs war" (Ecc 3:8, Deu 20:12, 1Ki 20:18) |
| shalom (H7965) |
betach (H983) |
3 |
Parallel: dwelling in peace and safety (Psa 4:8, Job 21:9) |
| shalam (H7999) |
shelem (H8002) |
2 |
Offering context (1Ki 9:25) |
| shalam (H7999) |
milchamah (H4421) |
2 |
Peace-making vs war-making (Deu 20:12) |
| milchamah (H4421) |
betach (H983) |
2 |
Contrast: war vs security (Hos 2:18) |
| shalom (H7965) |
shalvah (H7962) |
1 |
Paired: "Peace within thy walls, prosperity within thy palaces" (Psa 122:7) |
LXX Overlaps
| Hebrew Words |
Shared Greek |
Notes |
| shalom (H7965) + betach (H983) |
both → εἰρήνη (G1515) |
eirene absorbs both "peace" and "safety" in some LXX renderings (13 co-occ for betach) |
| shalom (H7965) + shelem (H8002) |
both → εἰρηνικός (G1516) |
The adjectival form bridges noun shalom (11x) and sacrificial shelem (11x) |
Roles in the Concept
- State: shalom (שָׁלוֹם H7965) — the condition of wholeness, well-being, peace
- Action/Root: shalam (שָׁלַם H7999) — to be complete, make whole; also to requite/repay (fulfilling obligation restores wholeness)
- Ritual Expression: shelem (שֶׁלֶם H8002) — peace offering: the sacrificial act that celebrates and maintains covenant wholeness
- Antithesis: milchamah (מִלְחָמָה H4421) — war: the state that shatters shalom
- Security Dimension: betach (בֶּטַח H983) — safety, security: the practical experience of shalom
- Ease Dimension: shalvah (שַׁלְוָה H7962) — tranquility, abundance: the prosperity aspect of shalom (can carry negative connotation of false security)
Key Passages Where Multiple Group Words Appear Together
- Deu 20:10-12 — shalom + milchamah + shalam: "proclaim peace... if it will make no peace with thee, but will make war"
- Psa 4:8 — shalom + betach: "I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety"
- Psa 122:6-7 — shalom + shalvah: "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem... Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces"
- Hos 2:18 — milchamah + betach (implied shalom): covenant making them "lie down safely" with "the bow and the sword and the battle" broken
- Nah 1:15 — shalom + shalam: "publisheth peace... pay thy vows" (shalam = fulfill obligations in context of proclaimed shalom)
Generated from: gather_word_group_data.py, search_strongs.py
Last updated: 2025-05-05