Many are familiar with the Hebrew word shalom. Shalom means “peace” in English. But beyond that simple definition, what is “shalom’s” true meaning? The common western definition of peace is — the absence of conflict or war — but in Hebrew it means so much more. The root word of Shalom is “shalam”.
Shalom (Hebrew: שָׁלוֹם šālōm) is a Hebrew word meaning peace and can be used idiomatically to mean hello and goodbye. [1][2]
In the original Hebrew text, “shalom” (שָׁלוֹם) is derived from a root that conveys the idea of being whole, finished, or made complete. This sense of fullness and perfection underscores many instances of the word throughout the Hebrew Scriptures.
Shalom derives from the Hebrew root "shin-lamed-mem" (שלם), which fundamentally means "to be complete" or "to be whole." This root appears throughout Hebrew scripture in various forms, always carrying the core concept of totality and perfection.
Along with truth and justice, peace is among the most hallowed Jewish values. The Hebrew word for peace, shalom (שׁלום) is derived from a root denoting wholeness or completeness, and its frame of reference throughout Jewish literature is bound up with the notion of shelemut, perfection.
Shalom, like many Hebrew words, has more than one meaning. Shalom means peace, and is rooted in the word שלם (shaleim), which means completion. Without peace, there can be no completion... Shalom is also commonly used as a greeting and salutation and can mean both "hello" and "goodby."
The Hebrew word שָׁלֹ֥ום , pronounced “shalom” is one of the most recognizable Hebrew words in the entire language. The word is a noun that shows up 236 times throughout the Old Testament and is often translated as: peace, welfare, safe, prosperity, and/or wellness.