Lexical Summary
shalam: To be complete, to be sound, to make amends, to finish, to repay, to reward
Original Word:שָׁלַם
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:shalam
Pronunciation:shah-LAHM
Phonetic Spelling:(shaw-lam')
KJV: 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, X surely
Word Origin:[a primitive root]
1. to be safe (in mind, body or estate)
2. (figuratively) to be completed
3. (causatively) to make completed
4. (by implication) to be friendly
5. (by extension) to reciprocate (in various applications)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
make amends, make an end, finish, full, give again, make good, repay again
A primitive root; 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) -- 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, X surely.
Brown-Driver-Briggs
[]
103 (Late Hebrew
id. (Jastr), Phoenician Pi`el
complete, requite, especially in proper name, Lzb
376 GACooke
99, also 81, 111, etc.; Arabic
be safe, secure, free from fault, II.
make over, resign to, IV.
resign or
submit oneself, especially to God, whence participle
Muslim, and infinitive
Isl¹m properly
submission to God; Assyrian
šalâmu, be complete, unharmed, be paid; Aramaic ,
be complete, safe,
peaceful; Old Aramaic
reward, repay (Pa; in proper name); compare Sabean
peace Hom
Chr 124, Arabic

, also
safety, security; Assyrian
šulmu, welfare; Ethiopic

Di
322security peace; Aramaic ,
security, welfare, Old Aramaic Lzb
376, especially =
submission, in proper name RS
Sem.79 f.; Bondi
70 (after Brugsch), compare
šarm¹,
greet, do homage, as loan-word in Egyptian); —
Perfect3pluralIsaiah 60:20;Imperfect3masculine singularJob 9:4; feminine1 Kings 7:51 2t.; —
be complete, finished, ended: temple1 Kings 7:51 2Chronicles 5:1; walls of cityNehemiah 6:15; of timeIsaiah 60:20.
be sound, uninjured,Job 9:4.
89Perfect3masculine singularLeviticus 5:24 +, 1 singularJeremiah 16:18 +, etc.;Imperfect3masculine singularExodus 21:34 +; suffixLeviticus 24:18 +, etc.;Imperative masculine singularEcclesiastes 5:3 + Eccl 50:14, etc.;Infinitive absoluteExodus 21:36 +; constructid.Proverbs 22:27, etc.;ParticipleDeuteronomy 7:10 +, etc.; —
complete, finish, temple1 Kings 9:25.
make safe, with accusativeJob 8:6.
make whole orgood, restore thing lostJoel 2:25, or stolenExodus 21:37 (E); pay a debt2 Kings 4:7;Psalm 37:21Proverbs 22:27Job 41:3;make compensation, for injuryLeviticus 24:18,21 (P); for trespass in sacred thingsLeviticus 5:16 (P).
make good, i.e.pay, vows, with accusativeDeuteronomy 23:22;2 Samuel 15:7 9t., + (with to God)Psalm 50:14;Psalm 66:13;Psalm 116:14;Psalm 116:18; object omittedPsalm 76:12; absoluteIsaiah 19:21; with accusative with to GodPsalm 56:13;Hosea 14:3.
requite, recompense, reward, good1 Samuel 24:20;Ruth 2:12; evilIsaiah 65:6;Jeremiah 51:56; with personDeuteronomy 7:10 4t., + (with accusative of thing)Jeremiah 51:24; personJob 21:19; acc of thingProverbs 20:22;Jeremiah 16:18;Isaiah 59:18 (twice in verse) (but see I.),Isaiah 66:6 + (see );Job 34:11; Joel 4:4;Isaiah 65:6;Jeremiah 32:18; with person and of deeds,reward according to one's works2 Samuel 3:39 3t.; accusative of personPsalm 31:24; accusative of thingGenesis 44:4 (J) +Genesis 35:12;Genesis 38:21 (read ).
Imperfect3masculine singularPsalm 65:2;Jeremiah 18:20;Proverbs 11:31;Proverbs 13:13; —
be performed, of vowPsalm 65:2.
be repaid, requited,Jeremiah 18:20;Proverbs 11:31;Proverbs 13:13.
complete, perform: Imperfect3masculine singularJob 23:14;Isaiah 44:26, V:28.
make an end of, 2 masculine singular suffixIsaiah 38:12,13 ( Du Martideliver up to pains, as in Aramaic).
[] ;-
ImperativeJob 22:21be at peace (in covt.);Participle suffixPsalm 7:5 i.e. my ally, friend (comparePsalm 41:10);Participle pass construct2 Samuel 20:19, read EwG iii. 264 Dr (compare We) HPS and modern
ParticipleIsaiah 42:19one in covenant of peace (with ; buttheir ruler, so CheHpt; Ges Hi Ew and othersone resigned (to God), read then , compare √, Arabic IV.; Krochm Grä Marti ).
Perfect3feminine singularJoshua 10:4;Joshua 11:19; 3masculine pluralJoshua 10:1;ImperfectIsaiah 44:26 +,Proverbs 16:7;1 Kings 22:45, etc.; —
make peace with, ,Joshua 10:1,4;2 Samuel 10:19 =1 Chronicles 19:19 ();Deuteronomy 20:12;1 Kings 22:45; with pregnantlyJoshua 11:19submitting unto.
cause to be at peace, ,Proverbs 16:7.
Perfect3feminine singularJob 5:23live in peace with, ("" ).
[] (see Biblical Hebrew; Egyptian Aramaicpay in full Cooke404 = S-CL 5. 7); —
Participle pass,Ezra 5:16finished, of temple.
Perfect3masculine singular suffixDaniel 5:26 Godhas finished it (the kingdom; brought it to an end);Imperative masculine singularEzra 7:19render in full, accusative of thing (compare Syriac Aph`el, BeRy Berthol), followed by dei.
Topical Lexicon
Conceptual Range and Theological ThemesShalam expresses the act of bringing something to a full, satisfactory conclusion—whether by paying a debt, restoring what was lost, rewarding righteousness, or settling hostility so that peace prevails. The verb moves in two main directions: human-to-human responsibility (legal, social, relational) and divine-to-human activity (judgment, recompense, covenant faithfulness). In either sphere the underlying idea is wholeness achieved through just settlement.
Usage in the Pentateuch: Cultic and Legal Restitution
InExodus 21–22 shalam forms the backbone of Israel’s civil code of restitution. When property is damaged (Exodus 21:34; 22:5), animals stolen (Exodus 22:1–4), or trust violated (Exodus 22:7–9), the guilty party must “make full restitution” so the injured party is restored to wholeness. The verb therefore safeguards community harmony by insisting that loss be answered with equivalent gain. The same principle informs the guilt offering inLeviticus 5:16, where the offender pays both restitution and an additional fifth, demonstrating that reconciliation with God also requires tangible satisfaction.
Settlement of Vows and Pledges
Numbers 30:2 equates vow-keeping with “doing all that your mouth has promised.” Fulfillment completes an obligation and preserves covenant integrity.Ecclesiastes 5:4–5 echoes this: “Better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it.” Broken promises fracture shalom; shalam repairs it.
Covenantal Faithfulness in Historical Narrative
The writers of Samuel and Kings employ shalam to highlight God’s righteous administration of history. David prays that God will “repay the evildoer according to his wickedness” (2 Samuel 3:39), confident that the throne is upheld by just recompense. When Jehu executes judgment against the house of Ahab, the Lord says, “I will repay you in this plot” (2 Kings 9:26). Conversely, Ruth is blessed: “May the LORD repay your work” (Ruth 2:12), showing that faithfulness is never overlooked. Thus rewards and penalties flow from the same covenant standard.
Wisdom Literature: Divine Justice and Human Integrity
Psalms and Proverbs repeatedly ground ethics in the certainty of God’s equitable repayment.
•Psalm 62:12: “For You will repay each man according to his deeds.”
•Proverbs 19:17: “Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and He will repay the lender.”
•Proverbs 24:12 warns that concealed sin will still meet its due.
Shalam underlines both comfort and caution: every action matters because God sees and will settle accounts.
Prophetic Emphasis: Judgment and Restoration
The prophets enlarge the verb’s range.Isaiah 59:18 promises God will “repay wrath to His adversaries,” yetJoel 2:25 assures the repentant, “I will restore to you the years the locust has eaten.” Shalam thus frames both sides of prophetic preaching—retribution for persistent rebellion and renewal for humbled hearts.Jeremiah 16:18 and 25:14 emphasize the former;Zechariah 9:12 features the latter, pledging “double restoration” to prisoners of hope.
Peace-Making and the Root of Shalom
Though 7999 is distinct from the noun shalom, its action often results in shalom. When Jacob tells Joseph’s brothers to take money “to make restitution” for the returned silver (Genesis 43:12), relational tension gives way to peace. Abigail averts bloodshed by “paying” David (1 Samuel 25:31, 35), turning vengeance into blessing. The verb creates the conditions for the deeper, enduring peace that characterizes God’s kingdom.
Messianic and Eschatological Overtones
Isaiah 53 anticipates a Servant who will “make many righteous.” While shalam is not the surface verb, the concept of complete satisfaction toward God culminates at the cross where the debt of sin is settled. Jesus’ cry, “It is finished,” mirrors the Hebrew idea of obligations fully paid.Revelation 22:12, echoingIsaiah 40:10 andPsalm 62:12, closes Scripture with the promise, “My reward is with Me, to give each according to his work.” The biblical account ends where shalam has always pointed: perfect wholeness secured by just recompense.
Key Representative Passages
Exodus 22:6 “...the one who kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.”
Deuteronomy 7:10 “He repays those who hate Him to their faces, to destroy them.”
1 Samuel 24:19 “May the LORD reward you with good for what you have done to me today.”
Psalm 91:8 “You will only see it with your eyes and witness the punishment of the wicked.”
Isaiah 35:4 “Behold, your God will come with vengeance; with divine retribution He will come and save you.”
Joel 2:25 “I will restore to you the years the locust has eaten...”
Proverbs 6:31 “Yet if caught, the thief must repay sevenfold; he must give up all the wealth of his house.”
Frequency Snapshot
Exodus (18), Deuteronomy (7), 1 Samuel (6), 2 Samuel (8), 1 Kings (5), 2 Kings (6), Psalms (13), Proverbs (9), Isaiah (9), Jeremiah (8), Ezekiel (6), Minor Prophets and other writings (21). Figures are approximate but illustrate the verb’s consistent distribution across Law, History, Wisdom, and Prophets.
Practical Ministry Application
1. Restitution as a gospel witness: voluntary repayment exemplifies repentance (Luke 19:8 echoes the principle).
2. Confidence in divine justice: believers trust that no wrong or right will go unsettled (Romans 12:19).
3. Commitment to fulfill promises: marriage vows, financial obligations, and ministry pledges should be completed promptly and fully.
4. Pursuit of reconciliation: paying debts, admitting fault, and restoring losses cultivate peace within the body of Christ.
Summary
Shalam weaves through Scripture as God’s insistence that broken situations be made whole—by offenders, by kings, and ultimately by Himself. Every occurrence, whether in ancient case law or prophetic promise, presses toward the same outcome: a community and a cosmos where all accounts are settled and true peace prevails.
Forms and Transliterations
אֲ֝שַׁלֵּ֗ם אֲשַׁלְּמָה־ אֲשַׁלֵּ֑ם אֲשַׁלֵּ֑מָה אֲשַׁלֵּ֖ם אֲשַׁלֵּֽם׃ אשלם אשלם׃ אשלמה אשלמה־ הִשְׁלִ֙ימָה֙ הִשְׁלִ֜ימוּ הִשְׁלִ֥ימָה הַיְשֻׁלַּ֤ם הָשְׁלְמָה־ הישלם השלימה השלימו השלמה־ וְ֝שִׁלַּ֗ם וְשִׁלֵּֽמוּ׃ וְשִׁלַּ֖ם וְשִׁלַּ֤ם וְשִׁלַּמְתִּ֖י וְשִׁלַּמְתִּ֣י וְשִׁלַּמְתִּ֤י וְשִׁלַּמְתִּ֥י וְשִׁלַּמְתִּ֨י וְשַׁלְּמִ֖י וְשַׁלְּמוּ֮ וְשַׁלֵּ֖ם וְשָׁלְמ֖וּ וַֽאֲשַׁלְּמָ֥ה וַאֲשַׁלֵּ֑ם וַאֲשַׁלֵּ֛ם וַאֲשַׁלֵּ֧ם וַיִּשְׁלָֽם׃ וַיַּשְׁלִ֥ימוּ וַיַּשְׁלִ֥מוּ וַיַּשְׁלֵ֥ם וַתִּשְׁלַם֙ וּֽנְשַׁלְּמָ֥ה וּמְשַׁלְּמֵ֣י וּמְשַׁלֵּ֥ם וּמְשַׁלֵּ֧ם וּמְשַׁלֵּם֙ וּשְׁלם ואשלם ואשלמה וישלימו וישלם וישלם׃ וישלמו ומשלם ומשלמי ונשלמה ושלם ושלמו ושלמו׃ ושלמי ושלמתי ותשלם יְשַׁלְּמ֣וּנִי יְשַׁלְּמֶ֑נָּה יְשַׁלְמֶ֨נָּה יְשַׁלֵּ֑ם יְשַׁלֵּ֔ם יְשַׁלֵּ֖ם יְשַׁלֵּ֗ם יְשַׁלֵּ֣ם יְשַׁלֵּ֥ם יְשַׁלֵּ֧ם יְשַׁלֵּֽם׃ יְשַׁלֵּם֙ יְשַׁלֶּם־ יְשַׁלֶּמְךָ֣ יְשֻׁלַּם־ יְשֻׁלָּ֑ם יְשֻׁלָּֽם׃ יַשְׁלִ֑ים יַשְׁלִ֑ם יַשְׁלִ֣ים יַשְׁלִ֥ם ישלים ישלם ישלם־ ישלם׃ ישלמוני ישלמך ישלמנה כִּמְשֻׁלָּ֔ם כמשלם לְֽשַׁלְּמִ֥י לְשַׁלְּמ֑וֹ לְשַׁלְּמ֔וֹ לְשַׁלֵּ֑ם לשלם לשלמו לשלמי מְשַׁלְּמִ֣ים מְשַׁלֵּ֖ם מְשַׁלֵּ֥ם משלם משלמים שְׁלֻמֵ֖י שִׁלַּ֔מְתִּי שִׁלַּ֥מְתִּי שִׁלַּם־ שִׁלַּמְתֶּ֥ם שֶׁיְשַׁלֶּם־ שַׁלְּמִ֣י שַׁלְּמוּ־ שַׁלֵּ֣ם שַׁלֵּ֥ם שַׁלֵּ֨ם שַׁלֵּֽם׃ שֽׁוֹלְמִ֥י שולמי שישלם־ שלם שלם־ שלם׃ שלמו־ שלמי שלמתי שלמתם תְשַׁלֵּ֖ם תְשַׁלֵּֽם׃ תַּשְׁלִימֵֽנִי׃ תַשְׁלִים֙ תשלים תשלימני׃ תשלם תשלם׃ ’ă·šal·lê·māh ’ă·šal·lə·māh- ’ă·šal·lêm ’ăšallêm ’ăšallêmāh ’ăšalləmāh- ashalLem ashallemah hā·šə·lə·māh- hāšələmāh- hashelemah hay·šul·lam hayshulLam hayšullam hiš·lî·māh hiš·lî·mū hishLimah hishLimu hišlîmāh hišlîmū kim·šul·lām kimshulLam kimšullām lə·šal·lə·mî lə·šal·lə·mōw lə·šal·lêm ləšallêm ləšalləmî ləšalləmōw leshalLem leshalleMi leshalleMo mə·šal·lə·mîm mə·šal·lêm məšallêm məšalləmîm meshalLem meshalleMim šal·lə·mî šal·lə·mū- šal·lêm šallêm šalləmî šalləmū- šə·lu·mê šəlumê šey·šal·lem- šeyšallem- shalLem shalleMi shallemu sheluMei sheyshallem shillam shillamTem shilLamti sholMi šil·lam- šil·lam·tem šil·lam·tî šillam- šillamtem šillamtî šō·wl·mî šōwlmî taš·lî·mê·nî ṯaš·lîm tashLim tashliMeni ṯašlîm tašlîmênî ṯə·šal·lêm ṯəšallêm teshalLem ū·mə·šal·lə·mê ū·mə·šal·lêm ū·nə·šal·lə·māh ū·šə·lm ūməšallêm ūməšalləmê umeshalLem umeshalleMei ūnəšalləmāh uneshalleMah ūšəlm ushelm vaashalLem vaashalleMah vaiyashLem vaiyashLimu vaiyishLam vattishLam veshalLem veshalleMi veshalleMu veshalMu veshilLam veshillamTi veshilLemu wa’ăšallêm wa’ăšalləmāh wa·’ă·šal·lə·māh wa·’ă·šal·lêm wat·tiš·lam wattišlam way·yaš·lêm way·yaš·li·mū way·yaš·lî·mū way·yiš·lām wayyašlêm wayyašlimū wayyašlîmū wayyišlām wə·šā·lə·mū wə·šal·lə·mî wə·šal·lə·mū wə·šal·lêm wə·šil·lam wə·šil·lam·tî wə·šil·lê·mū wəšāləmū wəšallêm wəšalləmî wəšalləmū wəšillam wəšillamtî wəšillêmū yaš·lim yaš·lîm yashLim yašlim yašlîm yə·šal·lə·men·nāh yə·šal·lə·mū·nî yə·šal·lêm yə·šal·lem- yə·šal·lem·ḵā yə·šal·men·nāh yə·šul·lām yə·šul·lam- yəšallêm yəšallem- yəšalləmennāh yəšallemḵā yəšalləmūnî yəšalmennāh yeshalLem yeshallemCha yeshalleMennah yeshalleMuni yeshalMennah yeshullam yəšullām yəšullam-
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