I’ve had the most wonderful privilege of visiting the Holy Land three times, and in each of my visits there I have learned more and more about the Hebrew Language. Hebrew is the language that the Old Testament of the Bible was originally written. Something you notice quickly is that the common greeting in Israel is, “Shalom!” We would take it as “Hello” and “Goodbye”, but there is a much deeper meaning which reaches all the way back literally multiple thousands of years. Shalom is translated simply “peace” in our English bibles, but listen to what that word actually means in Hebrew encompassing its root word Shalem:
completeness, soundness, welfare (health, prosperity), peace (friendship), peace (from war),
peace, quiet, tranquility, contentment.
Multiple times in the Old Testament God is called the “God of Peace” or “Jehovah Shalom” and there are prophecies about Jesus long, long before He was ever born that He is the Prince of Peace! In the New Testament, in Jesus’ own words He says:
John 14:27 AMP Peace I leave with you; My [perfect] peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. [Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge.]
John 14:27 TLV “Shalom I leave you, My shalom I give to you; but not as the world gives! Do not let your heart be troubled or afraid.