To the majority of us Germanic or Romance language speaking folk, Hebrew falls slap bang in the middle of the category we call “difficult languages”. Probably because it’s so different to everything we’ve grown accustomed to in a language. We’re familiar with the building blocks, the structure and the pattern of English, French, German and Italian. No, we might not understand all of them. But at least we know how they behave. And Hebrew? Well, let’s just say that Hebrew behaves in its own, non-Germanic, unfamiliar and unexpected way.
Yet regardless of any further knowledge of the Hebrew language, there’s one Hebrew word that the majority of non-Hebrew speakers recognise. It transcends language barriers to an understanding, or rather, a shared agreement. Because no matter where you are in the Western word, the majority of people around you will know the word shalom. Maybe because it means peace. And maybe because that elusive peace is something humankind has strived for, prayed for and often fought for since, well, forever.
Which is also why shalom is used as a form of greeting, as a sort of hallo and goodbye. Sure, it’s more formal, not the casual “hi there” you say to a friend over the phone. But it’s used. Widely. See, instead of simply “hallo” or “bye”, the word shalom speaks a blessing on so many levels.
Because shalom means peace, yes. But a peace that goes much further than the simple absence of violence. Like many Hebrew words, shalom has layer upon layer of richer, deeper meanings that turn the word from something pleasant, something to be strived and prayed and fought for, into something extraordinary.
The word shalom (שלומ) comes from the verb shalam or shaleim (שלמ). Why is that so significant? Well, the verb shalam/shaleim, implies restoration, of replacing, of substituting what was lost or taken. And of providing that which is so desperately needed to restore to wholeness, to completeness.
Shalom means peace, absolutely. But it’s that specific type of peace that our souls so desperately long for. Yes, of course we want the world to stop fighting. We want peace in Syria, in Iraq, in Nigeria, on our streets and in our back yards. But what we really desire is for our souls, for our mind, will and emotions to stop swirling around our problems and to-do lists. To stop darting to and thro between solutions, hope, despair, worry and fear. What we truly long for is the sense of being whole, complete, content, safe, taken care of. What our souls desire is the peace that passes all understanding (Phil 4:7). Ah yes…
Because that is shalom – completeness, wholeness, health, welfare, safety soundness, tranquillity, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, the absence of agitation or discord (Strong’s Concordance 7965).
Sounds utterly blissful, I know. Yet all too often, we’d be happy if we could but achieve peace at the dinner table, in the office, in our neighbourhood, our country. We settle for the absence of animosity, of violence and of discord. We focus on the first, most obvious meaning of shalom. Because that true, meaningful shalom seems like too much of a stretch, too far beyond our reach. And so we settle for less then what is our inheritance.
See, Yeshua is called Sar Shalom – the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). He is the Bringer, the Cause, the Source and the Fountain of our peace. It’s one of the things He came to do. In fact, He said so Himself, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives” (John 14:27).
And isn’t that exactly what He did? His peace, the shalom of Yeshua implies restoration, replacing and substituting that which was lost or taken. He provided that which we so desperately needed to be restored to wholeness, to completeness. It doesn’t always feel that way. But then again, feelings have little bearing on the truth.
Which is why I wish you shalom. The true, deep shalom that passes all understanding (Phil 4:7).
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