Compound Names with Jehovah
Jehovah-Shalom (יְהוָה שָׁלוֹם)
The LORD Is Peace
Description
The altar name יְהוָה שָׁלוֹם (Jehovah-Shalom), meaning 'the LORD is peace,' arose from Gideon's terrifying encounter with the angel of the LORD during Israel's oppression under Midian. For seven years, Midianite hordes had invaded Israel at harvest time, destroying crops and livestock, reducing Israel to desperate poverty. Gideon was secretly threshing wheat in a winepress (rather than the exposed threshing floor) when the angel appeared, addressing him, 'The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour' (Judges 6:12)—words that seemed mocking given Israel's subjugation and Gideon's fearful hiding.
After the angel confirmed his divine identity through miraculous signs (fire consuming Gideon's offering), Gideon realized with terror that he had seen the angel of the LORD face to face. Israel believed that seeing God meant death: 'Alas, O Lord GOD! for because I have seen an angel of the LORD face to face' (Judges 6:22). But the LORD spoke peace to his fear: 'Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die' (Judges 6:23). In response to this gracious assurance, Gideon built an altar and named it Jehovah-Shalom—'the LORD is peace'—commemorating both the divine word of peace and his survival of the theophany.The Hebrew שָׁלוֹם (shalom) encompasses far more than absence of conflict or cessation of hostilities. Its semantic range includes completeness, wholeness, soundness, welfare, safety, health, prosperity, harmony, and right relationship with God and others. Shalom represents the comprehensive well-being that results from covenant relationship with YHWH. When God speaks shalom, He bestows not merely the absence of harm but the presence of every blessing—spiritual, physical, relational, material. The common Hebrew greeting shalom ('peace') thus wishes comprehensive divine blessing. The name Jehovah-Shalom identifies God Himself as the source and essence of this multifaceted peace.
The context enriches the name's meaning. Israel had no peace—Midianites ravaged the land, Israelites lived in caves and dens, crops failed, poverty reigned. Gideon had no peace—hiding in fear, questioning God's presence ('if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us?'), doubting his own adequacy ('wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house'). Yet God declared peace: peace despite circumstances, peace through His presence, peace preceding deliverance. Jehovah-Shalom announces that God Himself constitutes Israel's peace; His presence brings wholeness regardless of external chaos.
This peace theme resonates throughout Scripture. Isaiah prophesies of Messiah as 'the Prince of Peace' whose 'government and peace there shall be no end' (Isaiah 9:6-7). Micah 5:5 declares, 'This man shall be the peace' when Assyria invades. Christ's birth announcement proclaimed 'on earth peace, good will toward men' (Luke 2:14). Jesus told His disciples, 'Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you' (John 14:27)—peace independent of circumstances, rooted in relationship with God. Paul declares Christ 'is our peace' (Ephesians 2:14), having made peace through the blood of His cross (Colossians 1:20), reconciling sinners to God. The God who spoke peace to terrified Gideon is Jehovah-Shalom, 'the God of peace' who will 'bruise Satan under your feet shortly' (Romans 16:20), granting not merely tranquility but comprehensive shalom—reconciliation, wholeness, eternal fellowship.
After the angel confirmed his divine identity through miraculous signs (fire consuming Gideon's offering), Gideon realized with terror that he had seen the angel of the LORD face to face. Israel believed that seeing God meant death: 'Alas, O Lord GOD! for because I have seen an angel of the LORD face to face' (Judges 6:22). But the LORD spoke peace to his fear: 'Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die' (Judges 6:23). In response to this gracious assurance, Gideon built an altar and named it Jehovah-Shalom—'the LORD is peace'—commemorating both the divine word of peace and his survival of the theophany.The Hebrew שָׁלוֹם (shalom) encompasses far more than absence of conflict or cessation of hostilities. Its semantic range includes completeness, wholeness, soundness, welfare, safety, health, prosperity, harmony, and right relationship with God and others. Shalom represents the comprehensive well-being that results from covenant relationship with YHWH. When God speaks shalom, He bestows not merely the absence of harm but the presence of every blessing—spiritual, physical, relational, material. The common Hebrew greeting shalom ('peace') thus wishes comprehensive divine blessing. The name Jehovah-Shalom identifies God Himself as the source and essence of this multifaceted peace.
The context enriches the name's meaning. Israel had no peace—Midianites ravaged the land, Israelites lived in caves and dens, crops failed, poverty reigned. Gideon had no peace—hiding in fear, questioning God's presence ('if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us?'), doubting his own adequacy ('wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house'). Yet God declared peace: peace despite circumstances, peace through His presence, peace preceding deliverance. Jehovah-Shalom announces that God Himself constitutes Israel's peace; His presence brings wholeness regardless of external chaos.
This peace theme resonates throughout Scripture. Isaiah prophesies of Messiah as 'the Prince of Peace' whose 'government and peace there shall be no end' (Isaiah 9:6-7). Micah 5:5 declares, 'This man shall be the peace' when Assyria invades. Christ's birth announcement proclaimed 'on earth peace, good will toward men' (Luke 2:14). Jesus told His disciples, 'Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you' (John 14:27)—peace independent of circumstances, rooted in relationship with God. Paul declares Christ 'is our peace' (Ephesians 2:14), having made peace through the blood of His cross (Colossians 1:20), reconciling sinners to God. The God who spoke peace to terrified Gideon is Jehovah-Shalom, 'the God of peace' who will 'bruise Satan under your feet shortly' (Romans 16:20), granting not merely tranquility but comprehensive shalom—reconciliation, wholeness, eternal fellowship.
Key Verses
And when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the LORD, Gideon said, Alas, O Lord GOD! for because I have seen an angel of the LORD face to face. And the LORD said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die. Then Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD, and called it Jehovahshalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.