No word in the Hebrew language is more graphic in its pictorial form than the word Shalom! The idea that peace originates in multiple forms is seldom considered. However, Yeshua made it clear that His Shalom was different from all other when He told His disciples, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.” (John 14:27) The pictographs clearly demonstrate the uniqueness of God’s approach to peace.
Peace
Shalom (shaw-lome’)
MvLs
שָׁלוֹם
| s | The ‘Shin’ represents two front teeth and can mean sharp, eat, consume, separate, or destroy. |
| L | The ‘Lamed’ is a picture of a shepherd’s staff. The shepherd used the staff to exercise authority over the sheep to direct or lead them. It can mean teach, lead, yoke, move forward, or authority. |
| v | The ‘Vav’ represents a tent peg or nail and means to secure or hook. But it can also simply mean peg or nail. |
| M | The ‘Mem’ illustrates water or waves. As a nomadic people, the Hebrews did not understand the waves or waters of the ocean. So the letter came to mean chaos, mighty, or blood. |
Destroy the authority that establishes chaos.
