Hebrew word · Strong's H7965

שָׁלוֹם

shâlôwm · shaw-lome' · noun · “peace, wholeness”

In a sentence

Shalom means peace — but far more than the absence of conflict. It is wholeness, completeness, and flourishing in every relationship: with God, others, and the world.

Shalom is one of the great words of the Hebrew Bible. It pictures life as it was meant to be — whole, healthy, at rest, and rightly ordered. To wish someone shalom is to wish them total well-being, not just calm.

Ultimately shalom is God’s gift and goal. The prophets long for it; the Messiah is the “Prince of Peace” (Sar Shalom). The New Testament’s peace (eirēnē) inherits this fullness, secured by Christ who “is our peace.”

Strong's reference

Definition: safe, i.e. (figuratively) well, happy, friendly; also (abstractly) welfare, i.e. health, prosperity, peace

KJV usage: [idiom] do, familiar, [idiom] fare, favour, [phrase] friend, [idiom] great, (good) health, ([idiom] perfect, such as be at) peace(-able, -ably), prosper(-ity, -ous), rest, safe(-ty), salute, welfare, ([idiom] all is, be) well, [idiom] wholly.

Reference gloss from Strong's Concordance (1890, public domain).

Key verses BSB · Public Domain (CC0)

Isaiah 9:6 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Numbers 6:24 “‘May the LORD bless you and keep you;” Psalms 29:11 “The LORD gives His people strength; the LORD blesses His people with peace.”

Original BibleDawn word study. Original-language data and the public-domain Strong's (1890) gloss are referenced; see sources.