Bible Word Study
שׁוּלַמִּית
Shûwlammîyth · peaceful (with the article always prefixed, making it a pet name); the Shulammith, an epithet of Solomon's queen
שׁוּלַמִּית
peaceful (with the article always prefixed, making it a pet name); the Shulammith, an epithet of Solomon's queen
Definition
The word שׁוּלַמִּית (Shûwlammîyth) is a feminine noun used exclusively in the Song of Solomon as a title or epithet for the female protagonist. It is derived from the root for 'peace' (שָׁלַם) and likely means 'the peaceful one' or 'the perfect one,' functioning as a term of endearment. In its single biblical occurrence (Song of Solomon 6:13), it is always prefixed with the definite article ('the Shulammite'), treating it as a personal name or a descriptive title. This designation poetically identifies the beloved woman, possibly drawing a connection to King Solomon (שְׁלֹמֹה) to symbolize ideal love and harmony.
Biblical Usage
This word appears only once in the Old Testament, in Song of Solomon 6:13. It is used as a direct address to the female beloved, asking her to return so that the observers may look upon her. The context is a poetic dialogue within the Song, where the title serves to personalize and honor the woman. Its usage is entirely confined to this book of love poetry, with no other biblical occurrences.
Etymology
Derived from the Hebrew root שָׁלַם (shalam, H7999), meaning 'to be complete, sound, at peace.' The form שׁוּלַמִּית is likely a feminine adjective or gentilic, possibly meaning 'the peaceful one' or 'the perfect one.' It is often seen as a feminine counterpart or a wordplay on the name Solomon (שְׁלֹמֹה), suggesting a connection like 'the Solomoness' or 'the one belonging to Solomon,' emphasizing harmony and wholeness in the relationship depicted.
Semantic Range
As a key term in the Song of Solomon, 'Shulammite' enriches the theological understanding of human love as a reflection of divine covenant love. It symbolizes peace, completeness, and ideal intimacy, which many interpreters see as an allegory for God's love for Israel or Christ's love for the Church. Understanding this Hebrew epithet deepens appreciation for the book's portrayal of committed, joyful love within God's design for relationships. In its original setting, the title likely functioned as a poetic pet name, emphasizing the woman's desirable qualities of peace and beauty. The connection to Solomon may have been a literary device to elevate the romance to a royal, idealized level. Modern readers might miss the wordplay and cultural resonance of 'peace' (shalom) as denoting wholeness and relational harmony, which was central to Israelite thought. שָׁלוֹם (shalom, H7965) — the root noun meaning 'peace, wholeness,' from which Shulammite is derived, focusing on the state rather than the person.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]