Meaning of the Hebrew word “Shalom”

Meaning of the Hebrew word “Shalom”

Most know that the Hebrew word Shalom is understood around the world to mean “peace.” However, “peace” is only one small part of the meaning. “Shalom” is used to both greet people and to bid them farewell, and it means much more than “peace, hello or goodbye”….

Hebrew words go beyond their spoken pronunciation. Each Hebrew word conveys feeling, intent and emotion. Shalom is more then just simply peace; it is a complete peace. It is a feeling of contentment, completeness, wholeness, well being and harmony.

According to Strong’s Concordance 7965 Shalom means completeness, wholeness, health, peace, welfare, safety soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, the absence of agitation or discord.

Shalom comes from the root verb shalom meaning to be complete, perfect and full. In modern Hebrew the obviously related word Shelem means to pay for, and Shulam means to be fully paid.

Of course, there is only one way to find TRUE Shalom – and that is in the Word of YAHUAH. Many search for fulfillment, happiness and contentment in material possessions, money, sex, entertainment, etc. But those things do nothing to fill “that little hole in our soul” that only YAHUAH can fill! 

Those things only serve to distract and prevent us from finding true Peace…the Shalom that can only come from Him who created and put all things into place.

If you’ll recall, YAHUSHA is called Sar Shalom, Prince of Peace, which perfectly describes the ministry and personality of our Messiah, Yesha’yahu (Isaiah) 9:6.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 

And, lo, the angel of YAH came upon them, and the glory of YAHUAH shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good news of great joy, which shall be to all people. 

For unto you is born this day in the city of David the Saviour, which is YAHUAH the MASHIACH. (1)

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a cukkah. 

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising YAH, and saying, 

Glory to YAHUAH in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

LUQAS (LUKE) 2:8-14

(1) One of the most powerful statements about YAHUAH and His MASHIACH in the entire Hebrew/Aramaic NT. YAHUAH is the real MASHIACH, who chose the vessel of YAHUSHA the man. However, within YAHUSHA the man is an occurrence of the One Divine Nature of YAHUAH, also known as the RUACH HA’QODESH (Holy Spirit). This is the literal meaning of the fullness of YAHUAH dwelling inside MASHIACH, and in accordance with Tanakh prophecy Yesha’hau (Isaiah) 53, Zakaryahu (Zechariah) 12:10. The divine and human natures exist separately yet side-by-side within YAHUSHA.

In other words, the word Shalom is a mighty blessing on several levels!

Mishlei (Proverbs) 18:21 tells us there is life or death in the power of the tongue. Therefore, whenever you employ the word “Shalom” you are speaking into someone’s life all the wonderful things that Shalom means!

And YAHUAH spoke unto Mosheh, saying, Speak unto El-Aharon and unto his sons, saying, 

On this wise ye shall bless את eth-the children of Yisrael, saying unto them, 

YAHUAH bless you, and guard you: YAHUAH make his face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: 

YAHUAH lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace. 

And they shall put my name upon the children of Yisrael; and I will bless them. 

BEMIDBAR (NUMBERS) 6:22-27

In the name of YAHUSHA HA’MASHIACH, SAR SHALOM – the Prince of Peace.

And take a look at these tidbits!

Each of the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet has a special meaning and a story to tell. The Hebrew letters spelling the word “Shalom” are Shin Lamed Uau Mem sofit. Taken together, and reading from right to left, they spell SHALOM.

SHIN is the 21st letter of the Hebrew alphabet and it has a numerical value of 300. SHIN means TOOTH, YEAR, REPEAT, TEACH. SHIN makes the sound SHHHHHH when the DOT is on the right, and SSSS when the DOT is on the left. Shin is one of 7 letters which may be adorned with Tagin, or little crowns, in the Torah, Tefillin or Mezzuzah scroll.

LAMED is the 12th letter of the Hebrew alphabet and has a numerical value of 30. Lamed makes a sound like the L in Like. Lamed means both TO LEARN and TO TEACH. The Lamed is the tallest and most majestic of all the letters. Since LAMED means LEARNING, it would seem that this would constitute a direct connection between LAMED, LEARNING and YAHUAH.

UAU is the 6th letter, has a numerical value of 6, and is constructed of a single vertical line. Uau means HOOK and makes a sound like the V in Victory. When used as a vowel, Vav can sound like a long o or a long u. Translated it means AND. It is the GREAT CONNECTOR. Uau appears in the Four Letter name of YAHUAH our ELOHIYM – Yod Hay Uau Hay.

MEM is the 13th letter of the Hebrew alphabet and has a numerical value of 40. Mem makes a sound like the M in Middle. But according to the ancient text Sefer Yetzirah, the MEM hummmmmms! Mem is usually associated with the word mayim – WATER or Eemah – MOTHER. Mem is composed of a Caf (20) and a Vav (6) = 26, which have the same GEMATRIA as the Yod (10) Hey (5) Uau (6) Hey (5) = 26, name of YAHUAH – the holiest of Name of YAHUAH. The first word in Torah is Bere’shiyth, meaning: A BEGINNING. If you divide Bere’shiyth into bara and sheet, it means HE CREATED SIX (sheet is 6 in Hebrew/Aramaic) Six what? The 6 days in which creation was completed ….