שָׁלֵם

From the study of Genesis 14:18

Range of meaning

A place name. It shares a root with shalom ('wholeness, peace, well-being') and shalem ('complete, whole'). Shalim was also a god's name in the Canaanite world (the god of dusk in the texts from Ugarit), and the city name Jerusalem (Urusalim in the 14th-century BC Amarna letters) is often explained as 'foundation of Shalem'.

Against the English

'Salem' as a bare name hides both its sound-link to 'peace' and its probable identity with Jerusalem. A reader who knows Psalm 76:2 ('His tent is in Salem, His dwelling place in Zion') would hear Jerusalem.

Used elsewhere in the period

Psalm 76:2 puts Salem in parallel with Zion. The Genesis Apocryphon from Qumran (1QapGen 22:13) says plainly 'Salem, that is Jerusalem'. Josephus (Antiquities 1.180) says Salem was later called Hierosolyma (Jerusalem). Targum Onqelos renders 'king of Jerusalem'. A minority tradition places Salem near Shechem: Genesis 33:18 can be read 'came to Shalem, a city of Shechem'; Samaritan tradition and Pseudo-Eupolemus link Melchizedek to Mount Gerizim; and John 3:23 mentions a Salim in Samaria.

From the study of Psalm 76:2

Range of meaning

A place name, short for Jerusalem (Yərûšālaim). It appears only here and in Gen 14:18, where Melchizedek is 'king of Salem' and 'priest of God Most High'. The sound is close to šālôm ('peace, wholeness, well-being') and šālēm ('whole, complete').

Against the English

English versions rightly keep 'Salem'. NLT replaces it with 'Jerusalem', which is clear but drops the archaic name and its echo of 'peace'.

Used elsewhere in the period

Gen 14:18; Ps 76:2. The Genesis Apocryphon from Qumran (1QapGen 22:13) and Josephus (Antiquities 1.180) identify Melchizedek's Salem with Jerusalem. Some ancient interpreters placed Gen 14's Salem near Shechem instead (compare Gen 33:18). This verse is the clearest biblical basis for equating Salem with Jerusalem. The Septuagint read the word here as 'peace'.