Shalom Aleichem Definition

One of my favorite words is “shalom.” Shalom is a Hebrew word that has multiple meanings. It is commonly used as a greeting in Jewish culture, utilized similarly to the English “hello.” It literally translates as “well-being be upon you” or “may you be well.” Jesus even appropriated a similar phrase in John 20:2, “shalom Aleichem,” which in English is literally translated as “Peace be unto you.” It can also be used to refer to peace between entities or individuals. Jewish people may call for shalom or peace between themselves and God or Israel and another country. In this case, shalom is applied as a noun where one wishes “shalom” upon another person. Shalom refers to the well-being, safety, health, and prosperity of an individual or nation. Shalom is a popular term utilized by Jewish people and even …show more content…
Shalom is also a Biblical concept, meaning completeness, fulfillment, and harmony, that sweeps throughout the Biblical metanarrative. In Genesis 1, God created the universe and everything in it with simply the word of His mouth. Creation was whole and complete without sin and its decay and corruption. Creation existed in shalom. In this sense, shalom represents reality as God originally intended it to be. However, after Adam and Eve’s actions in Genesis 3, sin’s curse was released on the earth and shalom was lost. The land became cursed and man’s relationship and shalom with God had become severed. However, not all hope was lost as God promises in Genesis 3:15 that someone will come to “crush (Satan’s) heel” and rebuild what has been broken. This person is Jesus Christ, whose perfect life qualified him as the son of God to pay for the sins of mankind and defeat sin and the grave. Shalom is even one of God’s seventy-two names in Hebrew and the prophet Isaiah calls Jesus the “Prince of Peace.” Not only did Jesus bring shalom, He Himself is Shalom. Shalom is part of his