שְׁלֵוָה
safety
Definition
The Hebrew noun שְׁלֵוָה (shᵉlêvâh) denotes a state of safety, security, and tranquility. It specifically conveys the idea of being free from danger, disturbance, or anxiety, resulting in a peaceful and prosperous condition. In its single biblical occurrence in Daniel 4:27 (Aramaic portion), it is used by Daniel in his counsel to King Nebuchadnezzar, urging him to break from his sins by practicing righteousness and showing mercy to the oppressed, so that his 'prosperity' or 'tranquility' might be prolonged. This suggests a divinely granted peace linked to righteous living.
Biblical Usage
This word appears only once in the Old Testament, in the Aramaic section of the Book of Daniel (Daniel 4:27). It is used in a prophetic warning from Daniel to King Nebuchadnezzar. The context is a royal decree concerning the interpretation of a dream, where Daniel advises the king that his continued 'tranquility' (שְׁלֵוָה) is contingent upon repentance and justice. The usage ties national or personal peace directly to moral and ethical conduct before God.
Etymology
שְׁלֵוָה is an Aramaic word used in the Hebrew Bible, corresponding directly to the Hebrew noun שַׁלְוָה (shalvah, H7962), which also means 'quietness, ease, prosperity.' Both derive from the root שָׁלֵו (shalev, H7961), meaning 'at ease, quiet, secure.' The core concept across these related terms is a state of undisturbed safety and contentment.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it connects material peace and security directly to covenant faithfulness and righteous behavior. In Daniel 4:27, tranquility is not presented as a default human right or a result of mere political stability, but as a conditional blessing from God that can be prolonged through repentance and justice. It enriches the reading of the text by highlighting the biblical principle that true, lasting peace is a divine gift intertwined with moral responsibility.
In the ancient Near Eastern context, a king's 'tranquility' or 'prosperity' (שְׁלֵוָה) was often seen as a sign of divine favor and a stable, successful reign. Daniel's warning subverts any notion that this state is automatic or solely achieved through military or economic power; instead, he roots it in the king's personal righteousness and treatment of the vulnerable, reflecting a distinctly Israelite worldview where national fortune depends on obedience to God.
שָׁלוֹם (shalom, H7965) — a broader term encompassing peace, wholeness, and well-being in relationships, not just safety. שַׁלְוָה (shalvah, H7962) — the direct Hebrew equivalent, meaning quietness, ease, or prosperity. מְנוּחָה (mᵉnuchah, H4496) — emphasizes rest, a place or state of settling down and ceasing from labor.
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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