Shalom

Occurrences in Scripture

Shalom appears in many places in the Old Testament. Depending on the context, the Korean Revised Version renders it with several terms, including pyeonggang (peace), pyeongan (well-being), pyeonghwa (peace), hwapyeong (concord), and anbu (welfare).

• Greetings and inquiries after welfare: In Genesis 37:14, Jacob sends Joseph to "see whether it be well with thy brethren"; the phrase "whether it be well" translates shalom. The greeting in 1 Samuel 25:6, "Peace be both to thee, and peace be to thine house," uses the same word.
• The priestly blessing: The blessing in Numbers 6:22–27 concludes with "and give thee peace."
• A name of God: In Judges 6:24, Gideon built an altar and called it "Jehovah-shalom."
• Messianic promise: Isaiah 9:6 calls the one who is to come "The Prince of Peace." Isaiah 53:5 declares, "the chastisement of our peace was upon him."
• The welfare of the community: Jeremiah 29:7 instructs the exiles to "seek the peace of the city" to which they had been carried away. Jeremiah 6:14 rebukes false prophets who say "Peace, peace; when there is no peace."

Background and Original Language

Shalom derives from a root generally understood to mean "to be whole, to be complete." Accordingly, it denotes not merely the absence of war but a state in which bodily health, material sufficiency, right relationships among people, and a right relationship with God are all present together. In ancient Israel it was also an everyday greeting, as it remains today. The Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament, usually rendered the word as eirēnē.

Continuity in the New Testament

The New Testament carries forward the meaning of shalom through the word eirēnē.

• The words of Jesus: Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you" (John 14:27). After His resurrection, He appeared to the disciples and greeted them with the words "Peace be unto you" (John 20:19).
• The teaching of Paul: Paul wrote that those who are justified by faith "have peace with God" (Romans 5:1). He also described Christ as "our peace," who broke down the wall between Jews and Gentiles (Ephesians 2:14–17).
• Other uses: The opening greetings of the Pauline epistles typically begin with "grace and peace." Peace is also listed among the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22).

Interpretation and Points of Discussion

Christian traditions differ in where they place the emphasis of shalom.

• Evangelicalism: Evangelical interpreters generally focus on the "peace with God" obtained through the forgiveness of sins and justification, and regard personal inner peace as its fruit.
• The ecumenical movement: Those within the ecumenical movement read shalom more broadly as the justice and peace of the kingdom of God, and therefore frequently invoke it as a basis for social and interethnic reconciliation.
• Anabaptist traditions: The peace church tradition descended from the Anabaptist movement connects shalom with a life of nonviolence.

These interpretations often differ in emphasis rather than excluding one another.

So-called "letter-by-letter" interpretations, which claim that each Hebrew letter of shalom carries a hidden meaning, also circulate in sermons and on the internet. Because such explanations rest neither on the biblical text nor on standard linguistics, they should be distinguished from interpretations grounded in either.

In the Korean Church

In Korean churches, members commonly greet one another with "Shalom!" The word also appears frequently in the names of churches and fellowship groups and in the lyrics of worship songs. In the benediction at the close of a worship service, words invoking "peace" are spoken, drawing on the blessing of Numbers 6 and other passages.