Peace - Fruit of the Spirit

Shalom friends! In this episode we discuss the fruit of the Spirit of peace. 

The third fruit listed in Galatians 5:22-23 is peace. In this episode we deep dive into the Hebrew understanding of the fruit of the Spirit of peace, or shalom. 

 

Referenced Material: 

70 Hebrew Words Every Christian Should Know - Matthew Richard Schlimm

The Bible Project - Shalom word study

 

Notes:

 

Shalom (שָׁלוֹם) 

‘Peace’

Strongs translates שָׁלוֹם as: (over 200 uses in the TNK)

• completeness, soundness, welfare, peace
  • completeness (in number)
  • safety, soundness (in body)
  • welfare, health, prosperity
  • peace, quiet, tranquility, contentment
  • peace, friendship
    • of human relationships
    • with God especially in covenant relationship
  • peace (from war)
  • peace (as adjective)

From the root שָׁלַם translated as: 

• pay (19x), peace (11x), recompense (11x), reward (10x), render (9x), restore (8x), repay (7x), perform (7x), good (6x), end (4x), requite (4x), restitution (4x), finished (3x), again (3x), amends (1x), full (1x), miscellaneous (8x).
• Hirsch defines Shalom
  • Being complete and harmonious, being whole, compensating, being full, exacting retribution, being well, peace, prosperity, complete cover, as with a garment. (Clark, 1999)
• Shalom “…refers to a peace of mind, body, spirit, and relationship. A person who feels shalom is complete and whole…” (see Leviticus 26:6) The presence of shalom means not only the absence of swords and wild beasts, but also the presence of worry-free rest.” (Schlimm, 2018)

 

Usage and lessons of the word from scriptures:

• • Root, “Shalam” first use: “They left the city and did not get far, when Joseph said to the one over his household, “Get up, go after the men. When you catch up to them, say to them, “Why have you Shilam evil for good?” (Genesis 44:4)
    • This teaches us that the root of shalom is connected with a payment/a settled account
  • “Then He said to Abram, “Know for certain that your seed will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and they will be enslaved and oppressed 400 years. 14 But I am going to judge the nation that they will serve. Afterward they will go out with many possessions. But you, you will come to your fathers in shalom. You will be buried at a good old age.” (Genesis 15:15)
    • This suggests that shalom can be a state of being in life that is distinct from other options.  Abram’s descendants would suffer and be enslaved, but Abram would experience shalom during his days. 
  • “Then Jacob made a vow saying, “If God will be with me and watch over me on this way that I am going, and provide me food to eat and clothes to wear, 21 and I return in shalom to my father’s house, then Adonai will be my God.” (Genesis 28:20, 21)

• This teaches us that the process of restoring a relationship can be fraught with problems, but it is acceptable to pray for the process to be marked by shalom.

• • “When [Jacob’s] brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak to him in shalom.” (Genesis 37:4)
    • This teaches us that shalom is inhibited by hatred.
  • “Then Joseph answered Pharaoh saying, ‘It’s not within me. God will answer with shalom for Pharaoh.’” (Genesis 41:16)

• That is, “God’s answer will give Pharoah shalom”. Even though the interpretation provided good news and bad news, it was for shalom that the Lord spoke through Joseph

• “I will bring shalom in the land, and you will lie down, with no one making you afraid. I will remove dangerous beasts from the land and no sword will pass through your land.” (Leviticus 26:6)

Use in the Psalms:

• “I will lie down and sleep in shalom. For You alone, Adonai, make me live securely. (Psalm 4:9)
• “Do not drag me away with the wicked and with doers of iniquity, who speak shalom with their neighbors, while evil is in their hearts.” (Psalm 28:3)
• Depart from evil and do good. Seek shalom and pursue it. (Psalm 34:15, & see 1 Peter 3)
• May they shout for joy and be glad, those who delight in my righteous cause. May they always say: “Exalted be Adonai, who delights in His servant’s shalom.” (Psalm 35:27)
• Notice the man of integrity and watch the upright— for the end of that man is shalom. (Psalm 37:37)
• There is no health in my flesh because of Your indignation. There is no shalom in my bones because of my sin. (Psalm 38:3)
• David passed on His love of the Torah to his son, who wrote, “Her (The Torah) ways are pleasant ways, and all of her paths are shalom. (Proverbs 3:17)

 

In fact, David even named his son “Shalom” Solomon’s name in Hebrew is “Shlomo”.  

 

Antithesis: Strife, war, tumult, chaos, brokenness

 

New Covenant 

Septuagint uses εἰρήνη “Eirene” for shalom.  

Eirene is translated:

• peace (89x), one (1x), rest (1x), quietness (1x).

And defined:

• a state of national tranquility 
• exemption from the rage and havoc of war 
• peace between individuals, i.e. harmony, concord 
• security, safety, prosperity, felicity, (because peace and harmony make and keep things safe and prosperous) 
• of the Messiah's peace 
  • the way that leads to peace (salvation) 
• of Christianity, the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoever sort that is 
• the blessed state of devout and upright men after death.

 

Eirene in NT:

• “Whatever town or village you shall enter, find out who in it is worthy and stay there until you leave. 12 As you come into the house, greet it. 13 If the household is worthy, let your shalom come upon it. But if it’s not worthy, let your shalom return to you. 14 And whoever will not receive you or listen to your words, as you leave that house or that town, shake the dust off your feet.” (Matthew 10:11-13)
• 34 “Do not think that I came to bring shalom on the earth; I did not come to bring shalom, but a sword. 35 For I have come to set ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; 36 and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household.’ (Matthew 10:34-36) Shalom is not for those that reject Him
• “Therefore, having been made righteous by trusting, we have shalom with God through our Lord Yeshua the Messiah.” (Romans 5:1)
• “…for God is not a God of confusion, but shalom.” (1 Corinthians 14:33a)
• “But the fruit of the Ruach is love, joy, shalom, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control—against such things there is no law. “ (Galatians 5:22, 23)

Reference Material

Clark, M. (1999). Etymological dictionary of Biblical Hebrew. Jerusalem, Israel: Feldheim Publishers.

Howard, G. (1995). Hebrew Gospel of Matthew. Macon, GA: Mercer University Press.

Schlimm, M. R. (2018). 70 Hebrew Words Every Christian Should Know. Nashville: Abingdon Press.

Strong, J. (2022, June 9). H2617 - ḥeseḏ - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from Blue Letter Bible: https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h2617/kjv/wlc/ss0/0-1