שֶׁ֫לֶם (she.lem)
she.lem
peace offering
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 78 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun shelem refers to a peace offering, a voluntary sacrifice offered in thanksgiving or to celebrate fellowship with God. Its root meaning involves completion or requital, suggesting that this gift restores or maintains a right relationship between the worshiper and the divine. Unlike burnt offerings given entirely to God, this sacrifice involved a shared meal, symbolizing communion and alliance.
Scripture highlights its use in moments of gratitude and covenant renewal. For instance, Leviticus 7 details how portions were shared between the priests and the offerer, turning a ritual act into a communal feast. It appears frequently in historical books like Judges and Chronicles, where people offered peace sacrifices to mark significant events or seek favor during times of distress, such as before battle.
Translators often render shelem as "peace offering," which captures its function but may miss the nuance of wholeness inherent in the Hebrew root. The term implies a state of integrity and restored harmony rather than merely the absence of conflict. This distinction underscores the theological weight of the sacrifice: it was not just an apology, but a celebration of reconciled relationship.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word shelem describes a peace offering, a voluntary gift given to celebrate fellowship with God. Unlike other sacrifices that focused solely on atonement or total dedication, this offering involved a shared meal. The worshiper, the priests, and God himself were all participants in a communal feast. This act symbolized a restored relationship and a state of wholeness between the people and their Creator.
When you encounter this concept today, it reminds us that our connection with God is not just about fixing mistakes but also about enjoying communion. It invites us to view worship as a time of gratitude and shared joy. Whether in moments of thanksgiving or covenant renewal, this offering points to the peace that comes from being in right standing with Him.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 78 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ peace offerings23×
- peace offerings13×
- the/ peace offering<s>10×
- and/ peace offerings7×
- peace offering<s>6×
- peace offering<s>/ his5×
- and/ the/ peace offerings4×
- peace offerings/ your3×
- peace offerings/ their2×
- to/ peace offerings1×
- to/ a peace offering<s>1×
- and/ with/ peace offerings/ our1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/שְּׁלָמִים֮14×
- שְׁלָמִ֖ים7×
- הַ/שְּׁלָמִ֑ים5×
- שְׁלָמִ֔ים3×
- וְ/הַ/שְּׁלָמִ֑ים3×
- הַ/שְּׁלָמִֽים\׃3×
- הַ/שְּׁלָמִ֖ים3×
- שְׁלָמָֽי/ו\׃2×
- שְׁלָמִים֙2×
- שְׁלָמִֽים\׃2×
- שְׁלָמִ֛ים2×
- שְׁלָמִ֑ים2×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 20:24
You shall make an altar of earth for me, and shall sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your cattle. In every place where I record my name I will come to you and I will bless you.
This verse establishes the peace offering as a fundamental part of early altar worship, paired with burnt offerings to show that blessing follows obedience.
-
Leviticus 3:1
“‘If his offering is a sacrifice of peace offerings, if he offers it from the herd, whether male or female, he shall offer it without defect before Yahweh.
The requirement for an unblemished animal highlights that true fellowship with God requires integrity and purity in the worshiper's approach.
-
Leviticus 7:15
The flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving shall be eaten on the day of his offering. He shall not leave any of it until the morning.
The rule to eat the meat on the day of offering emphasizes the immediacy and joy of the communal meal, preventing the ritual from becoming stale or hoarded.
-
Leviticus 7:34
For the waved breast and the heaved thigh I have taken from the children of Israel out of the sacrifices of their peace offerings, and have given them to Aaron the priest and to his sons as their portion forever from the children of Israel.’”
God’s specific designation of portions for Aaron and his sons shows that this shared meal also provided for those who facilitated the worship.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a peace offering in the Bible?
How is a peace offering different from a burnt offering?
Why is this offering called 'peace'?
Every Occurrence (78 verses across 14 books)
Exodus 4 verses
You shall make an altar of earth for me, and shall sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your…
Exodus 24:5He sent young men of the children of Israel, who offered burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings of cattle to…
Exodus 29:28It shall be for Aaron and his sons as their portion forever from the children of Israel; for it is a wave offering. It…
Exodus 32:6They rose up early on the next day, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down…