Shalom

“Shalom” means completeness, wholeness, health, peace, welfare, safety, soundness, tranquillity, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, the absence of agitation or discord, a state of calm without anxiety or stress.

Shalom, שלומ, is derived from the Hebrew root SH-L-M meaning completeness and wholeness, every part of well-being is suggested in body, mind, spirit; in the individual, community, society, culture and the world. It is a reality and a hope.

And just like many things in God’s Kingdom it is both now and not yet fully established. It is an all-encompassing noun, verb, adverb and adjective.

The majority of biblical references refer to an inner completeness and tranquillity.

In Israel today, when you greet someone or say goodbye, you say, Shalom. You are literally saying, “may you be full of well-being” or, “may health and prosperity be upon you.”

It is what the Hebrew Apostle Paul was saying when he ended his letter to the Thessalonians in 2 Thessalonians 3:16 “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you His peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all.”.

And it was Jesus said when He first met the disciples after the resurrection:

“While they were telling these things, He Himself stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be to you.” (Luke 24:36).

Remember, Jesus was a Hebrew-speaking Jewish Rabbi. He spoke to His Jewish disciples in Jerusalem. He probably would have smiled at His stunned friends and said in Hebrew, “shalom lehkhem” (Peace to you).

So to you, the reader of this blog, in Jesus Name, Shalom.

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