Description

This piece of wood is approximately 8″ x 8″. It is finished with 3 coats of Krylon Satin on the front, and 2 coats on the back. The metal easel shown in the photo is not included in the listed price. If you would like to order the stand, please add it to your cart: https://www.countrydandelions.com/product/wood-stand/

This piece has the word Shalom written in English letters with the Hebrew letters written under it. Behind the words is a scroll. The scroll is the way the Scriptures were written 2,000+ years ago. There were no book bindings at that time.

Up until about 3 years ago, I didn’t think much about the word Shalom other than perhaps it was a Hebrew word. Now I see it as something a bit different.

The Hebrew language is often associated with the Jewish religion. Hebrew is the spoken language in Israel, so it makes sense to make that correlation. And it further makes sense because the Old Testament of the Bible was originally written in Hebrew and the Old Testament is what Jewish people use as their Scriptures. However, Christians also use the Old Testament as part of their Bible, so the Hebrew language should also have importance to Christians.

Anyone who speaks another language will tell you that there are some words that simply don’t translate properly or have the same meaning in English. My husband will often say a phrase to his brother in Spanish and say “there is no way to say it in English” when I ask him what he meant. We do our best to translate, but there can be something lost in the translation.

If you look it up, the word Shalom translates from Hebrew to English as “peace” which is the absence of conflict or war. But there is much more to this word.

Shalom comes from the root word that means “wholeness”. Hebraically thinking, wholeness is the joining together of opposites. It is a bit different than the word “peace”.

Rabbi Robert I. Kahn of Houston, Texas, discusses the distinctives of “Roman” peace and “Hebrew” shalom:
“One can dictate a peace; shalom is a mutual agreement. Peace is a temporary pact; shalom is a permanent agreement. One can make a peace treaty; shalom is the condition of peace.Peace can be negative, the absence of commotion. Shalom is positive, the presence of serenity. Peace can be partial; shalom is whole.Peace can be piecemeal; shalom is complete.”

Biblical shalom refers to an inward sense of completeness or wholeness. Although it can describe the absence of conflict, the majority of biblical references refer to an inner completeness and tranquility. This tranquility cannot come from man, but only from God Himself. Consider this verse from Isaiah:

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace (shalom), whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength:”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭26:3-4‬ KJV (parentheses added for emphasis for Hebrew meaning of peace)

Christ also said:
“Peace (shalom) I leave with you, my peace (shalom) I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
‭‭John‬ ‭14:27‬ ‭KJV (parentheses added for emphasis for Hebrew meaning of peace)

This is why people will say “shalom” when they greet each other and also when they say goodbye. These are completely opposite situations, hello/goodbye, but yet the same word, shalom, is used.
You are literally saying, may you be full of well-being and may health and prosperity be upon you.

Shalom!