Lexical Summary shalam: To be complete, to be sound, to make amends, to finish, to repay, to reward Original Word: שָׁלַם Strong's Exhaustive Concordance make amends, make an end, finish, full, give again, make good, repay againA 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 [שָׁלֵם]103 verb be complete, sound (Late Hebrew id. (Jastr), Phoenician שלם Pi`el complete, requite, especially in proper name, Lzb376 GACooke99, 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 שְׁלֵים,  be complete, safe, ᵑ7 peaceful; Old Aramaic שלם reward, repay (Pa; in proper name); compare Sabean סלם peace HomChr 124, Arabic  , also  safety, security; Assyrian šulmu, welfare; Ethiopic  Di322 security peace; Aramaic שְׁלָמָא,  security, welfare, Old Aramaic שלם Lzb376, especially = submission, in proper name RSSem.79 f.; Bondi70 (after Brugsch), compare šarm¹, greet, do homage, as loan-word in Egyptian); — Qal Perfect3plural שָֽׁלְמוּ Isaiah 60:20; Imperfect3masculine singular וַיִּשְׁלָ֑ם Job 9:4; feminine תַּשְׁלַם 1 Kings 7:51 2t.; — 1 be complete, finished, ended: temple 1 Kings 7:51 2Chronicles 5:1; walls of city Nehemiah 6:15; of time Isaiah 60:20. 2 be sound, uninjured, Job 9:4. Pi`el89 Perfect3masculine singular שִׁלַּם Leviticus 5:24 +, 1 singular וְשִׁלַּמְתִּ֫י Jeremiah 16:18 +, etc.; Imperfect3masculine singular יְשַׁלֵּם Exodus 21:34 +; suffix יְשַׁלְּמֶ֑נָּה Leviticus 24:18 +, etc.; Imperative masculine singular שַׁלֵּם Ecclesiastes 5:3 + Eccl 50:14, etc.; Infinitive absolute שַׁלֵּם Exodus 21:36 +; construct id. Proverbs 22:27, etc.; Participle מְשַׁלֵּם Deuteronomy 7:10 +, etc.; — 1 complete, finish, temple 1 Kings 9:25. 2 make safe, with accusative Job 8:6. 3 make whole or good, restore thing lost Joel 2:25, or stolen Exodus 21:37 (E); pay a debt 2 Kings 4:7; Psalm 37:21 Proverbs 22:27 Job 41:3; make compensation, for injury Leviticus 24:18,21 (P); for trespass in sacred things Leviticus 5:16 (P). 4 make good, i.e. pay, vows, with accusative נֶדֶר Deuteronomy 23:22; 2 Samuel 15:7 9t., + (with ל to God) Psalm 50:14; Psalm 66:13; Psalm 116:14; Psalm 116:18; object omitted Psalm 76:12; absolute Isaiah 19:21; with accusative תּוֺדוֺת with ל to God Psalm 56:13; פרים שׂפתינו Hosea 14:3. 5 requite, recompense, reward, good 1 Samuel 24:20; Ruth 2:12; evil Isaiah 65:6; Jeremiah 51:56; with ל person Deuteronomy 7:10 4t., + (with accusative of thing) Jeremiah 51:24; אל person Job 21:19; acc of thing Proverbs 20:22; Jeremiah 16:18; שְׁלַּם גְּמוּל לְ Isaiah 59:18 (twice in verse) (but see I.שִׁלֵּם), Isaiah 66:6 + (see גְּמוּל); מֹּעַל לְ ׳שׁ Job 34:11; גְּמוּל עַל ׳שׁ Joel 4:4; עַל חֵיק Isaiah 65:6; אֶלחַֿיק Jeremiah 32:18; with ל person and כ of deeds, ׳שׁ reward according to one's works 2 Samuel 3:39 3t.; accusative of person Psalm 31:24; accusative of thing רעה תחת טובה ׳שׁ Genesis 44:4 (J) + Genesis 35:12; Genesis 38:21 (read מְשַׁלְּמֵנִי). Pu`al Imperfect3masculine singular יְשֻׁלַּם Psalm 65:2; Jeremiah 18:20; יְשֻׁלָּ֑ם Proverbs 11:31; Proverbs 13:13; — 1 be performed, of vow Psalm 65:2. 2 be repaid, requited, Jeremiah 18:20; Proverbs 11:31; Proverbs 13:13. Hiph`il 1. complete, perform: Imperfect3masculine singular יַשְׁלִים Job 23:14; Isaiah 44:26, יַשְׁלִם V:28. 2 make an end of, 2 masculine singular suffix תֵּשְׁלִימֵנִי Isaiah 38:12,13 (ᵐ5 Du Marti deliver up to pains, as in Aramaic). [שָׁלַם] verb denominative be in covenant of peace;- Qal Imperative שְׁלָ֑ם Job 22:21 be at peace (in covt.); Participle suffix שׁוֺלְמִי Psalm 7:5 i.e. my ally, friend (compare Psalm 41:10); Participle pass construct שְׁלֻמֵי 2 Samuel 20:19, read שָׂמוּ ᵐ5 EwG iii. 264 Dr (compare We) HPS and modern Pu`al Participle מְשֻׁלָּם Isaiah 42:19 one in covenant of peace (with ׳י; but ᵐ5 משְׁלָם their ruler, so CheHpt; Ges Hi Ew and others one resigned (to God), read then מָשְׁלָם, compare √, Arabic IV.; Krochm Grä Marti מְשֻׁלָּחַי). Hiph`il Perfect3feminine singular הִשְׁלִ֫ימָה Joshua 10:4; Joshua 11:19; 3masculine plural הִשְׁלִ֫ימוּ Joshua 10:1; Imperfect יַשְׁלִים Isaiah 44:26 +, יַשְׁלִם Proverbs 16:7; וַיַּשְׁלֵם 1 Kings 22:45, etc.; — 1 make peace with, אֶת, Joshua 10:1,4; 2 Samuel 10:19 = 1 Chronicles 19:19 (עִם); עִם Deuteronomy 20:12; 1 Kings 22:45; with אֶל pregnantly Joshua 11:19 submitting unto. 2 cause to be at peace, אֶת, Proverbs 16:7. Hoph`al Perfect3feminine singular הָשְׁלְאָה Job 5:23 live in peace with, לְ ("" ברית). [שְׁלֵם] verb be complete (see Biblical Hebrew; Egyptian Aramaic שלם pay in full Cooke404 = S-CL 5. 7); — Pe`al Participle pass, שְׁלִם Ezra 5:16 finished, of temple. Haph`el Perfect3masculine singular suffix הַשְׁלְמַהּ Daniel 5:26 God has finished it (the kingdom; brought it to an end); Imperative masculine singular הַשְׁלֵם Ezra 7:19 render in full, accusative of thing (compare Syriac Aph`el, BeRy Berthol), followed by קֳדָם dei. Topical Lexicon Conceptual Range and Theological Themes Shalam 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 In Exodus 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 in Leviticus 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. 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,” yet Joel 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, echoing Isaiah 40:10 and Psalm 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). 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-Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 44:4 HEB: אֲלֵהֶ֔ם לָ֛מָּה שִׁלַּמְתֶּ֥ם רָעָ֖ה תַּ֥חַת NAS: to them, 'Why have you repaid evil KJV: them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil INT: to Why repaid evil Thahash Exodus 21:34 Exodus 21:36 Exodus 21:36 Exodus 22:1 Exodus 22:3 Exodus 22:3 Exodus 22:4 Exodus 22:5 Exodus 22:6 Exodus 22:6 Exodus 22:7 Exodus 22:9 Exodus 22:11 Exodus 22:12 Exodus 22:13 Exodus 22:14 Exodus 22:14 Exodus 22:15 Leviticus 5:16 Leviticus 6:5 Leviticus 24:18 Leviticus 24:21 Deuteronomy 7:10 Deuteronomy 7:10 116 Occurrences |
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