What does שֶׁלֶם (šelem) mean in the Bible?
H8002, šelem, is a Hebrew noun used for a peace or well-being offering. Leviticus places it within sacrifices that may express thanksgiving, fulfill a vow, or be brought freely.
Hebrew · H8002
שֶׁלֶם
Properly, requital , i.e. a (voluntary) sacrifice in thanks
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שֶׁלֶםH8002
Pronunciationšelem
What does שֶׁלֶם (šelem) mean in the Bible?
H8002, šelem, is a Hebrew noun used for a peace or well-being offering. Leviticus places it within sacrifices that may express thanksgiving, fulfill a vow, or be brought freely.
Reader summary
Full entry for שֶׁלֶם (H8002) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H8002?
The BSB source-word alignment has 87 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include and peace offerings (17), and a peace offering (12), peace offerings (6), of the peace offering (5), of the peace offerings (5).
Where does שֶׁלֶם (šelem) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Exodus 20:24. Its strongest book concentrations include Leviticus (30), Numbers (19), Ezekiel (6), 1 Kings (5).
What This Word Actually Means
H8002, šelem, is a Hebrew noun used for a peace or well-being offering. Leviticus places it within sacrifices that may express thanksgiving, fulfill a vow, or be brought freely. Portions belong to the altar, priests, and worshipers, and the meat is eaten within specified time limits. Deuteronomy joins these offerings to eating and rejoicing before the Lord. The word therefore belongs to sacrifice, covenant fellowship, gratitude, and shared celebration, but its ritual category does not guarantee that the worship is rightly directed or ethically faithful.
The narratives display that ambiguity. Israel offers peace offerings at Sinai, after Joshua's altar, when Saul's kingship is confirmed, when the ark is brought to Jerusalem, and after Solomon's dream. Yet the golden-calf worship also includes peace offerings, and Proverbs places completed vows in the speech of a person preparing deception. Correct ritual vocabulary can be misdirected or manipulated. Joshua 22 shows tribes nearly going to war over an altar before testimony and explanation clarify its intended role, offering a model of inquiry before violent accusation.
Amos says God disregards peace offerings when worship coexists with injustice. The offering cannot manufacture peace with God while community life denies righteousness. Christian readers should not reenact Israel's animal sacrifices or reduce the peace offering to a direct synonym for a modern meal or sacrament. Its witness can still open themes of thanksgiving, vows, shared provision, reconciliation, joy, and worship answerable to justice. Animal life, priestly portions, economic cost, and communal eating should be acknowledged without sentimentalizing the rite or using sacrificial language to pressure vulnerable people into costly giving.
source_lexicongrammaticalPassage contextBook contextCanonical parallelPastoral application
How the Bible Uses It
H8002 moves through regulated peace sacrifices, thanksgiving and vows, covenant ceremonies, shared eating and joy, misdirected golden-calf worship, intertribal suspicion, royal celebrations, restored worship, manipulative ritual claims, and prophetic rejection amid injustice.
- Exod.24.5
Then he sent out some young men of Israel, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as peace offerings to the Lord.
Peace offerings accompany Sinai's covenant ceremony, where sacrifice, blood, words, and the people's response belong together.
- Exod.32.6
So the next day they arose, offered burnt offerings, and presented peace offerings. And the people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.
The golden-calf festival includes peace offerings, proving that a recognized ritual form can be directed toward idolatry and excess.
- Lev.3.1
“If one’s offering is a peace offering and he offers an animal from the herd, whether male or female, he must present it without blemish before the Lord.
The peace offering may come from the herd, male or female, and must be presented without blemish before the Lord.
- Lev.7.11
Now this is the law of the peace offering that one may present to the Lord:
The law introduces a defined peace-offering category before distinguishing thanksgiving, vow, and freewill presentations.
- Lev.7.13
Along with his peace offering of thanksgiving he is to present an offering with cakes of leavened bread.
Leavened cakes accompany a thanksgiving peace offering, showing that ingredient rules vary by offering and ritual function.
- Lev.7.14
From the cakes he must present one portion of each offering as a contribution to the Lord. It belongs to the priest who sprinkles the blood of the peace offering.
A contribution from the accompanying cakes belongs to the officiating priest, joining sacrifice to regulated provision.
- Lev.7.15
The meat of the sacrifice of his peace offering of thanksgiving must be eaten on the day he offers it; none of it may be left until morning.
The thanksgiving-offering meat must be eaten the same day, limiting storage and shaping the shared meal's immediate setting.
- Lev.19.5
When you sacrifice a peace offering to the Lord, you shall offer it for your acceptance.
The worshiper must present the peace offering in the prescribed way for acceptance, placing willingness inside covenant order.
- Lev.22.21
When a man presents a peace offering to the Lord from the herd or flock to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering, it must be without blemish or defect to be acceptable.
A vow or freewill peace offering must be without defect, so voluntary purpose does not remove the offering's covenant standards.
- Deut.27.7
There you are to sacrifice your peace offerings, eating them and rejoicing in the presence of the Lord your God.
Israel sacrifices, eats, and rejoices before the Lord after inscribing the law, joining worshipful celebration to covenant hearing.
- Josh.22.23
If we have built for ourselves an altar to turn away from Him and to offer burnt offerings and grain offerings on it, or to sacrifice peace offerings on it, may the Lord Himself hold us accountable.
The eastern tribes call on the Lord to judge if their altar was built for unauthorized sacrifices, submitting their explanation to accountability.
- Josh.22.27
Rather, let it be a witness between us and you and the generations to come, that we will worship the Lord in His presence with our burnt offerings, sacrifices, and peace offerings.’ Then in the future, your descendants cannot say to ours, ‘You have no share in the Lord!’
They describe the altar as a witness that future descendants share in the Lord, and dialogue averts an intertribal war.
- 1Sam.11.15
So all the people went to Gilgal and confirmed Saul as king in the presence of the Lord. There they sacrificed peace offerings before the Lord, and Saul and all the Israelites rejoiced greatly.
Peace offerings and great rejoicing accompany the public confirmation of Saul's kingship after deliverance.
- 2Sam.6.17
So they brought the ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it. Then David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord.
David presents peace offerings after the ark is placed in its tent, within a celebration that also includes blessing and distributed food.
- 1Kgs.8.63
And Solomon offered as peace offerings to the Lord 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. So the king and all the Israelites dedicated the house of the Lord.
Solomon's enormous peace-offering count marks temple dedication and royal-scale celebration, while later narrative still tests his reign.
- 2Chr.33.16
Then he restored the altar of the Lord and sacrificed peace offerings and thank offerings on it, and he told Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel.
The restored Manasseh repairs the altar, presents peace and thank offerings, and directs Judah to serve the Lord.
- Prov.7.14
“I have made my peace offerings; today I have paid my vows.
A speaker cites completed peace offerings and vows while arranging deception, so ritual compliance cannot authenticate manipulative intent.
- Amos.5.22
Even though you offer Me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; for your peace offerings of fattened cattle I will have no regard.
The Lord rejects peace offerings within worship severed from justice, making ethical life inseparable from acceptable praise.
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itand peace offerings17×Exodus 20:24, Joshua 22:27, Judges 20:26, Judges 21:4
and a peace offering12×Numbers 7:17, Numbers 7:23, Numbers 7:29, Numbers 7:35
peace offerings6×Exodus 32:6, Joshua 8:31, 1 Samuel 10:8, 1 Samuel 11:15
of the peace offering5×Leviticus 4:10, Leviticus 7:11, Leviticus 7:14, Leviticus 7:21
of the peace offerings5×Leviticus 4:26, Leviticus 6:12, 1 Kings 8:64, 2 Chronicles 7:7
a peace offering4×Leviticus 7:29, Leviticus 19:5, Leviticus 22:21, Ezekiel 46:12
as a peace offering4×Leviticus 23:19, Numbers 6:14, Numbers 6:17, Numbers 15:8
. . .2×Leviticus 7:29, 1 Kings 8:64
and the peace offering2×Leviticus 7:37, Leviticus 9:22
From the peace offering2×Leviticus 3:3, Leviticus 7:20
from the peace offerings2×Leviticus 4:35, Leviticus 10:14
peace2×Joshua 22:23, 2 Chronicles 30:22
the peace offering2×Leviticus 4:31, Numbers 6:18
[is] a peace offering1×Leviticus 3:1
[your] peace offerings1×Deuteronomy 27:7
And from the peace offering1×Leviticus 3:9
and peace1×Numbers 10:10
and the peace offerings1×1 Samuel 13:9
as peace1×Exodus 24:5
for a peace offering1×Leviticus 9:4
for the peace offering1×Numbers 7:88
for your peace offerings1×Amos 5:22
from his peace offering1×Leviticus 7:18
from their peace offerings1×Exodus 29:28
from your peace offering1×Leviticus 7:32
his peace offering1×Leviticus 7:13
I have made my peace1×Proverbs 7:14
of his peace offering1×Leviticus 7:15
of his peace offerings1×2 Kings 16:13
of peace offerings1×Leviticus 17:5
of their peace offerings1×Leviticus 7:34
one’s peace offering1×Leviticus 3:6
or peace offering1×Ezekiel 46:12
or peace offerings1×Numbers 29:39
peace offering1×Leviticus 9:18
Show sample aligned rows
Exodus 20:24שְׁלָמֶ֔יךָtoand peace offeringsNoun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singularExodus 24:5שְׁלָמִ֛יםtoas peaceNoun - masculine pluralExodus 29:28שַׁלְמֵיהֶ֔םtofrom their peace offeringsNoun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine pluralExodus 32:6שְׁלָמִ֑יםtopeace offeringsNoun - masculine pluralLeviticus 3:1שְׁלָמִ֖יםto[is] a peace offeringNoun - masculine pluralLeviticus 3:3הַשְּׁלָמִ֔יםtoFrom the peace offeringArticle | Noun - masculine pluralLeviticus 3:6שְׁלָמִ֖יםtoone’s peace offeringNoun - masculine pluralLeviticus 3:9הַשְּׁלָמִים֮toAnd from the peace offeringArticle | Noun - masculine pluralLeviticus 4:10הַשְּׁלָמִ֑יםtoof the peace offeringArticle | Noun - masculine pluralLeviticus 4:26הַשְּׁלָמִ֑יםtoof the peace offeringsArticle | Noun - masculine plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowExodus 20:24
Aligned rows87
Books represented15
Exodus4Leviticus30Numbers19Deuteronomy1Joshua3Judges21 Samuel32 Samuel31 Kings52 Kings11 Chronicles32 Chronicles5Proverbs1Ezekiel6Amos1
Source forms
הַשְּׁלָמִים֮14xhaš·šə·lā·mîmLeviticus 3:9, Numbers 7:17, Numbers 7:23, Numbers 7:29
שְׁלָמִ֖ים7xšə·lā·mîmLeviticus 3:1, Leviticus 3:6, Leviticus 19:5, Numbers 15:8
הַשְּׁלָמִ֑ים5xhaš·šə·lā·mîmLeviticus 4:10, Leviticus 4:26, Leviticus 7:11, 1 Kings 8:64
הַשְּׁלָמִֽים׃4xhaš·šə·lā·mîmLeviticus 6:12, Leviticus 7:37, Numbers 6:18, 1 Kings 8:64
הַשְּׁלָמִ֖ים3xhaš·šə·lā·mîmLeviticus 7:14, Leviticus 7:21, Leviticus 9:18
וְהַשְּׁלָמִ֑ים3xwə·haš·šə·lā·mîm1 Samuel 13:9, 2 Samuel 6:18, 1 Chronicles 16:2
שְׁלָמָ֔יו3xšə·lā·māwLeviticus 7:15, Ezekiel 46:2, Ezekiel 46:12
שְׁלָמִ֔ים3xšə·lā·mîmJoshua 22:23, 1 Kings 3:15, 2 Chronicles 30:22
Parsing patterns
Article | Noun - masculine plural35xLeviticus 3:3, Leviticus 3:9, Leviticus 4:10, Leviticus 4:26
Noun - masculine plural20xExodus 24:5, Exodus 32:6, Leviticus 3:1, Leviticus 3:6
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural7xJudges 20:26, Judges 21:4, 2 Samuel 6:17, 2 Samuel 24:25
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular7xLeviticus 7:13, Leviticus 7:15, Leviticus 7:18, Leviticus 7:29
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine plural4xLeviticus 9:22, 1 Samuel 13:9, 2 Samuel 6:18, 1 Chronicles 16:2
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural3xLeviticus 7:32, Numbers 10:10, Ezekiel 43:27
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural2x2 Chronicles 31:2, Ezekiel 45:15
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural2xExodus 29:28, Leviticus 7:34
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Join thanksgiving and celebration to justice, truth, shared provision, and honest reconciliation rather than symbolic peace alone.
- Investigate disputed worship carefully, hear affected communities, and resist violence or exclusion before facts and purpose are clear.
- Honor the peace offering as Israel's covenant practice without reenacting it or forcing a direct modern equivalent.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not claim that religious generosity cancels accountability for manipulation, exploitation, abuse, or injustice.
- Do not claim that peace requires silence, premature reconciliation, unsafe contact, or surrender of due process.
- Do not claim that a large sacrifice or public celebration proves a leader's continuing faithfulness.
- Do not claim that Christian worship replaces Israel through contempt for Jewish sacrificial history or living Jewish people.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Voluntary sacrifice expressing gratitude and covenant relationship; foundational to communal peace and divine alliance
Source Gloss
properly, requital , i.e. a (voluntary) sacrifice in thanks
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Voluntary sacrifice expressing gratitude and covenant relationship; foundational to communal peace and divine alliance
properly, requital, i.e. a (voluntary) sacrifice in thanks BDB: sacrifice for alliance Usage: peace offering.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
Foundational legislation describing the peace offering as voluntary sacrifice of cattle or sheep
Extension of peace offering regulations to include flock animals, showing breadth of acceptable sacrifices
Detailed instructions on peace offering categories, consumption rules, and ritual requirements for thanksgiving sacrifices
Practical stipulations regarding timing of consumption and acceptability of peace offering sacrifices for communal benefit
Showing 4 selected witnesses from 87 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
For the Preacher and Teacher
H8002 holds sacrifice and shared well-being together without making ritual a guarantee. Leviticus regulates animal, portions, timing, thanksgiving, vows, and freewill offerings. Deuteronomy joins sacrifice to eating and joy before the Lord. Narratives place peace offerings at covenant and royal celebrations, but Exodus 32 uses the same term in worship of the golden calf, and Proverbs shows ritual language serving seduction.
Joshua 22 is particularly pastoral: fear over an altar nearly produces war until representatives investigate and hear why it was built. Amos then states the decisive ethical boundary, because God refuses offerings where justice is absent. Christian preaching can honor this sacrificial world as part of Israel's Scripture while refusing reenactment, ethnic caricature, or a simple one-to-one equation with a later practice.
Thanksgiving, shared provision, vows, reconciliation, and joy remain accountable to truthful allegiance and the treatment of neighbors.
Anchor passage
Deut.27.7
Doctrinal connections
- Peace offerings belong to Israel's covenant worship and make room for thanksgiving, vows, freewill devotion, priestly provision, and shared meals.
- Covenant celebration joins hearing God's instruction to eating and rejoicing in His presence rather than separating worship from communal life.
- Golden-calf offerings reveal that ritual familiarity cannot rescue worship directed toward an idol.
- Joshua 22 places disputed worship under testimony, investigation, and covenant concern, averting violence through accountable dialogue.
- Prophetic refusal of peace offerings shows that reconciliation language cannot conceal injustice or substitute for righteousness.
- Restored worship may include thanksgiving after repentance, while the wider narrative still requires continuing fidelity rather than a ceremonial reset.
H8002 is a masculine noun most commonly appearing in the plural for peace or well-being offerings. Context further identifies thanksgiving, vow, and freewill settings and can place the same ritual term in faithful, disputed, idolatrous, or rejected worship.
From Old to New Testament
The New Testament describes peace with God, thanksgiving, shared fellowship, praise, and generous service through Christ without simply reproducing Israel's peace-offering rite. Hebrews' account of Jesus' sacrifice also requires careful distinction among older offering types rather than treating them as one undifferentiated system.
Canonical parallelPastoral application