When Jacob said Shalom
Three Hebrew root letters, Shin-Lamed-Mem (ש.ל.מ), express the basic meaning of the Hebrew word SHALOM. We use “shalom” in Hebrew to say “Hi” and also “Goodbye”, but actually what we do is use an ancient Biblical Hebrew expression.
Biblical meaning? Let me explain. Do you remember Jacob's dream? Where he sees angels going up and down the ladder? Now, Imagine young Jacob, travelling alone from Beer-Sheba in Canaan to Haran in Mesopotamia on his way to the house of an uncle he had never met before. In his dream God said: "I am with you […] I will not leave you ". Jacob awakens and pronounces a vow of trust in God: "וְשַׁבְתִּי בְשָׁלוֹם אֶל בֵּית אָבִי"- "so that I come again to my father’s house in peace"(Genesis 28:15, 21). Years later, Jacob returned to the Promised Land with HIS WHOLE FAMILY! – HE RETURNED IN PEACE!
SHALOM is a word we use to express our WELLBEING! In your first class, your teacher will greet you: "Shalom, Ma Shlomcha?", literally "How is your inner PEACE?". While studying Biblical Hebrew with us, at eTeacherBiblical, you will understand the true meaning of the Hebrew words, thus you will be in Peace! Enroll today, a new course is about to begin.
