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שָׁלֵם

𐤔𐤋𐤌

shâlêm

H8003 adjective

SILEX Entry

Root שׁלם to be whole, to be complete, to be sound

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

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Root Family

שׁלם (š-l-m) — 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 the Peaceful Woman
H7965 שָׁלוֹם in the wholeness
H7966 שִׁלּוּם in the restitution-payment

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

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

Occurrences in Scripture

28 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H8003-02 Genesis 15:16 שָׁלֵ֛ם shalem HAamsa complete whole, intact
H8003-02 Genesis 33:18 שָׁלֵ֜ם shalem HAamsa safely whole, intact
H8003-04 Genesis 34:21 שְֽׁלֵמִ֧ים shelemim HAampa peaceable whole ones
H8003-03 Deuteronomy 25:15 שְׁלֵמָ֤ה shelemah HAafsa perfect whole, intact
H8003-03 Deuteronomy 25:15 שְׁלֵמָ֛ה shelemah-2 HAafsa perfect whole, intact
H8003-05 Deuteronomy 27:6 שְׁלֵמוֹת֙ shelemot HAafpa whole whole ones
H8003-05 Joshua 8:31 שְׁלֵמ֔וֹת shelemot HAafpa whole whole ones
H8003-03 1 Kings 6:7 שְׁלֵמָ֥ה shelemah HAafsa finished whole, intact
H8003-02 1 Kings 8:61 שָׁלֵ֔ם shalem HAamsa wholly devoted whole, intact
H8003-02 1 Kings 11:4 שָׁלֵם֙ shalem HAamsa perfect whole, intact
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