שִׁלּוּם (shil.lum)
shil.lum
recompense
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun shillum denotes a precise return or payment, functioning as recompense for an action. It appears in only three verses, primarily within the prophetic books of Micah, Isaiah, and Hosea. The term captures the idea that deeds produce corresponding results, whether those outcomes are positive rewards or negative retribution.
Lexical sources highlight a significant semantic range: shillum can mean just reward, but it also frequently carries the weight of retribution or penalty. In some contexts, particularly where justice is perverted, it even refers to a bribe used to silence truth. This dual nature underscores the biblical theme that actions inevitably trigger a fitting response from God.
Its usage in Micah 6:10 illustrates this tension vividly. The prophet condemns those who hoard ill-gotten gains, describing their houses as filled with shillum—wealth acquired through oppression and deceit. Here, the word does not signify a blessed inheritance but rather the accumulated evidence of injustice that invites divine judgment.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word shillum reminds us that our actions have real weight. It is not just about getting what we deserve, but about how our choices shape the world around us. When we act with integrity, we build trust. When we cut corners or take advantage of others, we create a debt that cannot be ignored.
In Micah 7:3, the prophet describes a society where even judges and rulers accept bribes to twist justice. Their wealth is called shillum—ill-gotten gains that bring no true peace. This word shows that God sees the hidden cost of dishonesty. It is not a blessing, but a burden that weighs on the soul and the community.
Yet this truth also offers hope. Because God is just, He will right every wrong. We do not need to fear that evil will go unnoticed. Instead, we can trust that He brings fairness in His time. This assurance allows us to live with clear consciences, knowing that our efforts to do what is right are seen and valued by Him.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- retribution<s>1×
- for <the>/ bribe1×
- <the>/ retribution1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שִׁלּוּמִ֖ים1×
- הַ/שִׁלֻּ֔ם1×
- בַּ/שִׁלּ֑וּם1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 34:8
For Yahweh has a day of vengeance, a year of recompense for the cause of Zion.
This verse uses shillum to describe God's specific year of recompense for Zion, linking divine justice directly to the protection of His people.
-
Micah 7:3
Their hands are on that which is evil to do it diligently. The ruler and judge ask for a bribe. The powerful man dictates the evil desire of his soul. Thus they conspire together.
Here the term highlights how systemic corruption turns wealth into a mark of guilt rather than blessing, as leaders accept bribes to pervert justice.