What does שָׁלַם · טוֹב · רַע mean in the Bible?
שָׁלַם · טוֹב · רַע is a Hebrew phrase meaning "evil repaid for good".
Hebrew · H7999, H2896, H7451
הֲיְשֻׁלַּם תַּחַת־טוֹבָה רָעָה
To be safe (in mind, body or estate); figuratively, to be (causatively, make ) completed ; by implication, to be friendly ; by extension, to reciprocate (in various applications) · good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well) · bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
Words in this compound — expand to study each participant
שָׁלַם H7999 to be safe (in mind, body or estate); figuratively, to be (causatively, make ) completed ; by implication, to be friendly ; by extension, to reciprocate (in various applications)
Pronunciation shalam
Wholeness encompassing safety, completion, and peace; foundational to covenant restoration and reciprocal obligation
Open lexicon entry →
טוֹב H2896 good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well)
רַע H7451 bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)
Pronunciation ra
Encompasses both moral wickedness and physical affliction; God's judgment often conflates ethical and natural evil.
Open lexicon entry →
What does הֲיְשֻׁלַּם תַּחַת־טוֹבָה רָעָה (hayeshullam tachat-tovah raah) mean in the Bible?
שָׁלַם · טוֹב · רַע is a Hebrew phrase meaning "evil repaid for good".
Full entry for הֲיְשֻׁלַּם תַּחַת־טוֹבָה רָעָה (H7999, H2896, H7451) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How many biblical occurrences are listed for H7999, H2896, H7451?
H7999, H2896, H7451 is connected to 1,347 lexical occurrence verses in the lexicon data.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew phrase. evil repaid for good
Source Gloss
evil repaid for good
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups 5 Aligned forms 70
Piel intensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action 57×
Imperfect 2Sam 12:6 · Deut 7:10 · Exod 21:34 · Exod 21:36 · Exod 21:37 · Exod 22:2 · Exod 22:3 · Exod 22:4 · Exod 22:5 · Exod 22:6 · Exod 22:8 · Exod 22:10 · Exod 22:11 · Exod 22:12 · Exod 22:13 · Exod 22:14 39×
Infinitive absolute Exod 21:36 · Exod 22:2 · Exod 22:5 · Exod 22:13 · Jer 51:56 5×
Perfect Isa 65:6 · Prov 7:14 · Gen 44:4 · Judg 1:7 4×
Participle active Isa 66:6 · Jer 51:6 · Joel 4:4 3×
Sequential imperfect Eccl 5:3 · Jer 50:29 · Nah 2:1 3×
Cohortative Jonah 2:10 · Prov 20:22 2×
Jussive 2Sam 3:39 1×
Hiphil causative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action 8×
Imperfect Isa 44:26 · Isa 44:28 · Job 23:14 · Prov 16:7 · Deut 20:12 5×
Perfect Josh 10:4 · Josh 11:19 · Josh 10:1 3×
Pual intensive passive — intensive action received by the subject 3×
Imperfect Prov 11:31 · Prov 13:13 · Ps 65:2 3×
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 1×
Participle passive 2Sam 20:19 1×
Hophal causative passive — the subject is caused to perform the action 1×
Perfect Job 5:23 1×
Word Origins
הֲיְשֻׁלַּם תַּחַת־טוֹבָה רָעָה is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain