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שָׁלֵם

𐤔𐤋𐤌

shâlêm

H8003 adjective

SILEX Entry

Definition

Whole, intact, complete, sound, or unimpaired in physical, moral, or social sense; also of an action or measure, that which is undiminished, perfect, or without defect. Extends to describe persons (in integrity, blamelessness), things (entire, undivided, unbroken), or states (restored, uninjured, peaceful, at full measure).

Semantic Range

whole, entire, complete, undivided, perfect (without defect), sound (in body/mind/character), intact, unimpaired, at full measure, blameless (of person), suitable/qualified (esp. for sacrifice), restored, uninjured, peaceful (by extension)

Root / Etymology

From the root שׁלמ, core meaning 'to be whole, complete, sound.' שָׁלֵם is the adjectival form, indicating the state of being whole or complete and is used to refer to the resultant condition of this root action—something in a state of wholeness, without lack or damage.

Historical & Contextual Notes

שָׁלֵם is used across a variety of contexts: to describe animals suitable for sacrifice (unblemished), objects (not broken or diminished), weights and measures (accurate, full), and personal character (honest, blameless, acting with integrity). In relational contexts, describes someone acting with 'shalom,' i.e., integrity and peacefulness. The later associations of 'peace' or 'peacefulness' derive from the underlying sense of wholeness or undamaged state, but shâlêm most fundamentally denotes completeness or soundness rather than tranquility or the absence of conflict, which are expressed by related nouns. In Genesis 33:18, שָׁלֵם is the name of a city (likely an early rendering or variant of Salem), but not properly a form derived from the adjective; this can cause translation confusion. In legal or cultic contexts (e.g., Leviticus, Deuteronomy), especially implies that which is suitable or qualified due to its lack of defect. Contrast with שָׁלוֹם (shalom), which is the noun form often translated 'peace,' but which encompasses broader welfare. Modern translations often narrow the sense to 'perfect,' but the Hebrew nuance is broader, involving entire, undivided soundness in moral, ritual, or physical terms.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from שָׁלַם; complete (literally or figuratively); especially friendly; full, just, made ready, peaceable, perfect(-ed), quiet, Shalem (by mistake for a name), whole.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

שׁלם (Meshulam) — to be complete, to be whole, to be at peace

Root שׁלם to be whole, to be complete, to be sound
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4918 מְשֻׁלָּם Recompensed one
H4920 מְשֶׁלֶמְיָה Yah has made whole
H7759 שׁוּלַמִּית in the Peaceful One
H7965 שָׁלוֹם in the wholeness
H7966 שִׁלּוּם in the restitution-payment

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H8003-02 שָׁלֵם֙ shalem HAamsa perfect whole, intact whole, intact 16
H8003-03 שְׁלֵמָ֥ה shelemah HAafsa perfect whole, intact whole, intact 7
H8003-04 שְֽׁלֵמִ֧ים shelemim HAampa at full strength whole ones peaceable 2
H8003-05 שְׁלֵמוֹת֙ shelemot HAafpa whole whole ones whole ones 2
H8003-01 בְּ/לֵבָ֤ב belevav HR/Ncmsa with perfect heart whole, intact with heart 1

Occurrences in Scripture

28 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H8003-02 Genesis 15:16 שָׁלֵ֛ם shalem HAamsa complete whole, intact complete
H8003-02 Genesis 33:18 שָׁלֵ֜ם shalem HAamsa safely whole, intact whole, intact
H8003-04 Genesis 34:21 שְֽׁלֵמִ֧ים shelemim HAampa peaceable whole ones peaceable
H8003-03 Deuteronomy 25:15 שְׁלֵמָ֤ה shelemah HAafsa perfect whole, intact whole, intact
H8003-03 Deuteronomy 25:15 שְׁלֵמָ֛ה shelemah-2 HAafsa perfect whole, intact whole, intact
H8003-05 Deuteronomy 27:6 שְׁלֵמוֹת֙ shelemot HAafpa whole whole ones whole ones
H8003-05 Joshua 8:31 שְׁלֵמ֔וֹת shelemot HAafpa whole whole ones whole ones
H8003-03 1 Kings 6:7 שְׁלֵמָ֥ה shelemah HAafsa finished whole, intact whole, intact
H8003-02 1 Kings 8:61 שָׁלֵ֔ם shalem HAamsa wholly devoted whole, intact whole
H8003-02 1 Kings 11:4 שָׁלֵם֙ shalem HAamsa perfect whole, intact whole
H8003-02 1 Kings 15:3 שָׁלֵם֙ shalem HAamsa perfect whole, intact whole
H8003-02 1 Kings 15:14 שָׁלֵ֛ם shalem HAamsa perfect whole, intact whole
H8003-02 2 Kings 20:3 שָׁלֵ֔ם shalem HAamsa perfect whole, intact whole, intact
H8003-02 Isaiah 38:3 שָׁלֵ֔ם shalem HAamsa perfect whole, intact whole, intact
H8003-03 Amos 1:6 שְׁלֵמָ֖ה shelemah HAafsa complete whole, intact the complete
H8003-03 Amos 1:9 שְׁלֵמָה֙ shelemah HAafsa complete whole, intact the whole
H8003-04 Nahum 1:12 שְׁלֵמִים֙ shelemim HAampa at full strength whole ones whole ones
H8003-03 Proverbs 11:1 שְׁלֵמָ֣ה shelemah HAafsa perfect whole, intact whole, intact
H8003-03 Ruth 2:12 שְׁלֵמָ֗ה shelemah HAafsa full whole, intact full
H8003-01 1 Chronicles 12:39 בְּ/לֵבָ֤ב belevav HR/Ncmsa with perfect heart whole, intact with heart
H8003-02 1 Chronicles 28:9 שָׁלֵם֙ shalem HAamsa perfect whole, intact whole, intact
H8003-02 1 Chronicles 29:9 שָׁלֵ֔ם shalem HAamsa whole whole, intact whole, intact
H8003-02 1 Chronicles 29:19 שָׁלֵ֔ם shalem HAamsa perfect whole, intact whole, intact
H8003-02 2 Chronicles 8:16 שָׁלֵ֖ם shalem HAamsa was perfected whole, intact was perfected
H8003-02 2 Chronicles 15:17 שָׁלֵ֖ם shalem HAamsa perfect whole, intact whole
H8003-02 2 Chronicles 16:9 שָׁלֵ֛ם shalem HAamsa perfect whole, intact whole
H8003-02 2 Chronicles 19:9 שָׁלֵֽם shalem HAamsa perfect whole, intact whole, intact
H8003-02 2 Chronicles 25:2 שָׁלֵֽם shalem HAamsa complete whole, intact whole, intact
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