שָׁלֵם
sa.lem
to complete
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
Supported# Šālem: Hebrew's Word for Completion The Hebrew verb šālem carries the fundamental meaning "to complete," appearing 103 times throughout the biblical text. This frequency suggests it served as a common and important term for describing the finishing or fulfillment of actions, states, and obligations. The word encompasses the idea of bringing something to its intended end or making it whole—whether describing the completion of a task, the fulfillment of a covenant, or the achievement of a desired outcome. The widespread use of šālem across 103 biblical occurrences indicates that the concept of completion held significant weight in Hebrew thought and narrative. The verb could describe practical matters (finishing work, completing a journey) as well as more abstract concepts (fulfilling promises, achieving reconciliation). This range of applications suggests that ancient Hebrew speakers understood "completion" not merely as a mechanical finishing point, but as a concept central to order, obligation, and proper outcomes in both material and relational spheres.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
103 total occurrences across the text — showing 50
So the wall was finished in the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days.
Job 8:6If you were pure and upright, surely now he would awaken for you, and make the habitation of your righteousness prosperous.
Job 9:4God who is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who has hardened himself against him and prospered?
Job 21:19You say, ‘God lays up his iniquity for his children.’ Let him recompense it to himself, that he may know it.
Job 21:31Who will declare his way to his face? Who will repay him what he has done?
Job 22:27You will make your prayer to him, and he will hear you. You will pay your vows.
Job 23:14For he performs that which is appointed for me. Many such things are with him.
Job 34:11For the work of a man he will render to him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.
Job 34:33Shall his recompense be as you desire, that you refuse it? For you must choose, and not I. Therefore speak what you know.
Job 41:11Who has first given to me, that I should repay him? Everything under the heavens is mine.
Psalms 22:25My praise of you comes in the great assembly. I will pay my vows before those who fear him.
Psalms 31:23Oh love Yahweh, all you his saints! Yahweh preserves the faithful, and fully recompenses him who behaves arrogantly.
Psalms 35:12They reward me evil for good, to the bereaving of my soul.
Psalms 37:21The wicked borrow, and don’t pay back, but the righteous give generously.
Psalms 38:20They who render evil for good are also adversaries to me, because I follow what is good.
Psalms 41:10But you, Yahweh, have mercy on me, and raise me up, that I may repay them.
Psalms 50:14Offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving. Pay your vows to the Most High.
Psalms 56:12Your vows are on me, God. I will give thank offerings to you.
Psalms 61:8So I will sing praise to your name forever, that I may fulfill my vows daily.
Psalms 62:12Also to you, Lord, belongs loving kindness, for you reward every man according to his work.
Psalms 65:1Praise waits for you, God, in Zion. Vows shall be performed to you.
Psalms 66:13I will come into your temple with burnt offerings. I will pay my vows to you,
Psalms 76:11Make vows to Yahweh your God, and fulfill them! Let all of his neighbors bring presents to him who is to be feared.
Psalms 116:14I will pay my vows to Yahweh, yes, in the presence of all his people.
Psalms 116:18I will pay my vows to Yahweh, yes, in the presence of all his people,
Psalms 137:8Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, he will be happy who repays you, as you have done to us.
Proverbs 6:31but if he is found, he shall restore seven times. He shall give all the wealth of his house.
Proverbs 7:14“Sacrifices of peace offerings are with me. Today I have paid my vows.
Proverbs 11:31Behold, the righteous shall be repaid in the earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner!
Proverbs 13:13Whoever despises instruction will pay for it, but he who respects a command will be rewarded.
Proverbs 13:21Misfortune pursues sinners, but prosperity rewards the righteous.
Proverbs 19:17He who has pity on the poor lends to Yahweh; he will reward him.
Proverbs 20:22Don’t say, “I will pay back evil.” Wait for Yahweh, and he will save you.
Proverbs 22:27If you don’t have means to pay, why should he take away your bed from under you?
Proverbs 25:22for you will heap coals of fire on his head, and Yahweh will reward you.
Ecclesiastes 5:4When you vow a vow to God, don’t defer to pay it; for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay that which you vow.
Ecclesiastes 5:4When you vow a vow to God, don’t defer to pay it; for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay that which you vow.
Ecclesiastes 5:5It is better that you should not vow, than that you should vow and not pay.
Isaiah 19:21Yahweh will be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know Yahweh in that day. Yes, they will worship with sacrifice and offering, and will vow a vow to Yahweh, and will perform it.
Isaiah 38:12My dwelling is removed, and is carried away from me like a shepherd’s tent. I have rolled up my life like a weaver. He will cut me off from the loom. From day even to night you will make an end of me.
Isaiah 38:13I waited patiently until morning. He breaks all my bones like a lion. From day even to night you will make an end of me.
Isaiah 44:28Who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure,’ even saying of Jerusalem, ‘She will be built;’ and of the temple, ‘Your foundation will be laid.’ ”
Isaiah 57:18I have seen his ways, and will heal him. I will lead him also, and restore comforts to him and to his mourners.
Isaiah 59:18According to their deeds, he will repay as appropriate, wrath to his adversaries, recompense to his enemies; he will repay the islands their due.
Isaiah 59:18According to their deeds, he will repay as appropriate, wrath to his adversaries, recompense to his enemies; he will repay the islands their due.
Isaiah 60:20Your sun will not go down any more, nor will your moon withdraw itself; for Yahweh will be your everlasting light, and the days of your mourning will end.
Isaiah 65:6“Behold, it is written before me: I will not keep silence, but will repay, yes, I will repay into their bosom,
Isaiah 65:6“Behold, it is written before me: I will not keep silence, but will repay, yes, I will repay into their bosom,
Isaiah 66:6A voice of tumult from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of Yahweh that repays his enemies what they deserve.
Jeremiah 16:18First I will recompense their iniquity and their sin double, because they have polluted my land with the carcasses of their detestable things, and have filled my inheritance with their abominations.”