Peace: More Than the Absence of War
How shalom became eirēnē
The Hebrew shalom is among the most frequently misunderstood words in Scripture. It does not simply mean an end to conflict—it describes comprehensive flourishing: wholeness, health, justice, and right relationship. This journey traces how that vision shaped the Greek eirēnē and Jesus' own proclamation of peace.
שָׁלוֹם — Wholeness, Flourishing, Right Order
safe, i.e. (figuratively) well, happy, friendly; also (abstractly) welfare, i.e. health, prosperity, peace
Also rendered: do, familiar, fare, favour
Shalom is the Hebrew Bible's great comprehensive word for wellbeing. Its range is astonishing: it describes bodily health, safety, harmonious relationships, prosperity, completeness, and the state of a community where everything is as it should be. When the prophets envision the messianic age, they reach for shalom—not just an end to fighting but the positive flourishing of every dimension of life.