Word studies · Hebrew · Strong's H7965
שָׁלוֹם · shâlôwm · appears 237 times in the Old Testament
In one line: Complete well-being and wholeness, not just absence of conflict.
You will keep in perfect peace the steadfast of mind, because he trusts in You.
Isaiah 26:3
Shalom is comprehensive well-being — wholeness, health, and right relationship, far richer than the mere absence of conflict.
Shalom describes a state of completeness and flourishing across every dimension of life — physical safety, right relationships, and inner contentment — rooted ultimately in a right relationship with God. It's the Old Testament's fullest vision of what human life is meant to be.
Shalom comes from a root meaning “to be complete” or “whole,” and its everyday uses ranged from a greeting to a description of safe return from a journey to covenant harmony between people. The word's breadth reflects its underlying idea: nothing missing, nothing broken.
Because English “peace” tends to mean only the absence of conflict, it under-translates shalom, which positively describes flourishing and wholeness — the priestly blessing “the LORD... give you peace” asks for far more than a ceasefire.
Shalom (H7965) still functions as the everyday Hebrew word for both “hello” and “goodbye” today.
Shalom describes the flourishing God intends for creation and covenant people, disrupted by sin but promised to be restored — prophets envision a coming reign of perfect shalom, which the New Testament links to the peace Christ brings.
Pursue shalom in your relationships and community, not just personal calm — pray and work for wholeness in places that are fractured around you. Identify one relationship or situation where you can actively pursue reconciliation this week.
safe, i.e. (figuratively) well, happy, friendly; also (abstractly) welfare, i.e. health, prosperity, peace
You, however, will go to your fathers in peace and be buried at a ripe old age.
Genesis 15:15Then Moses went back to his father-in-law Jethro and said to him, “Please let me return to my brothers in Egypt to see if they are still alive.” “Go in peace,” Jethro replied.
Exodus 4:18And I will give peace to the land, and you will lie down with nothing to fear. I will rid the land of dangerous animals, and no sword will pass through your land.
Leviticus 26:6may the LORD lift up His countenance toward you and give you peace.’
Numbers 6:26So from the Wilderness of Kedemoth I sent messengers with an offer of peace to Sihon king of Heshbon, saying,
Deuteronomy 2:26And Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore an oath to them.
Joshua 9:15Press and hold peace in any chapter and this study opens on the verse you are reading, with the lexicons, every occurrence and the commentaries beside it. The Bible is free to read.
Scripture quoted from the Berean Standard Bible, public domain. Strong's definitions are public domain. Counts come from The Pillar's own tagged text.