שְׁלַם
to complete, to restore
Definition
The Aramaic verb שְׁלַם (shᵉlam) primarily means 'to complete' or 'to finish' a task or project, as seen in Ezra 5:16 where the temple construction is completed. It also carries the sense 'to restore' or 'to deliver' something to its proper state or recipient, as in Ezra 7:19, where vessels are to be restored for temple service. In Daniel 5:26, the word is used in a judicial sense, where God has 'numbered' the days of a kingdom and 'finished' it, indicating a completion of judgment.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively in the Aramaic portions of the Old Testament (Ezra and Daniel). Its three occurrences all relate to completion or restoration in a formal, often administrative or divine, context. In Ezra, it describes the finishing of the temple (Ezra 5:16) and the restoring of temple vessels (Ezra 7:19). In Daniel, it is used in God's decree to finish Belshazzar's kingdom (Daniel 5:26).
Etymology
שְׁלַם is the Aramaic cognate of the Hebrew verb שָׁלַם (shalam, H7999), which broadly means 'to be complete, sound, at peace.' The Aramaic form specifically carries forward the core idea of completion and restoration. Its semantic range in Biblical Aramaic is narrower, focusing on the concrete acts of finishing and returning to a state of wholeness.
Semantic Range
This word highlights God's sovereignty in bringing plans to completion, whether in restoration (like the temple) or in judgment (like a kingdom). It underscores that God not only initiates but perfectly finishes His work. Understanding this Aramaic term enriches reading by connecting God's acts of completion in the post-exilic period to the broader Hebrew concept of 'shalom'—ultimate wholeness and peace He establishes.
In the administrative Aramaic of the Persian Empire, this term would have been used in official documents and decrees concerning construction and the transfer of goods. Its use in Ezra reflects this bureaucratic context, while its use in Daniel elevates it to a divine decree, showing how biblical authors employed imperial language to describe God's supreme authority.
שָׁלַם (shalam, H7999) — The Hebrew root, with a broader meaning including peace, wholeness, and restitution. כָּלָה (kalah, H3615) — A Hebrew verb meaning 'to complete, finish, or consume,' often used for completing tasks or periods of time.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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