שָׁלַם
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)
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.
Canonical witness: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
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What does שָׁלַם (shalam) mean in the Bible?
שָׁלַם (shalam) is a Hebrew word meaning "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)". The completion emphasizes God’s faithfulness in bringing covenant restoration to a decisive milestone. This term runs through the canonical themes of Covenant.
Meaning
Wholeness encompassing safety, completion, and peace; foundational to covenant restoration and reciprocal obligation
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) BDB: be complete Usage: make amends, (make an) end, finish, full, give again, make good, (re-) pay (again), (make) (to) (be at) peace(-able), that is perfect, perform, (make) prosper(-ous), recompense, render, requite, make restitution, restore, reward, × surely.
Why This Word Matters
The completion emphasizes God’s faithfulness in bringing covenant restoration to a decisive milestone. Nehemiah 6:15-19
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
Piel intensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action 57×
Hiphil causative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action 8×
Pual intensive passive — intensive action received by the subject 3×
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 1×
Hophal causative passive — the subject is caused to perform the action 1×
Canonical Themes
Biblical Occurrences
Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.
Old Testament Witnesses
Showing 8 of 116 occurrences in the biblical text.
Appears In
Compound and idiomatic lexemes in which this word is a constituent. Follow a link to study the phrase and its other participating words.