Word Study for H7962 (שַׁלְוָה)

shalvâh /shal-vaw'/ Ask about this word

Meaningsecurity (genuine or false)

KJV usageabundance, peace(-ably), prosperity, quietness.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of shalvâh — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word shalvâh, represented by H7962, conveys a sense of security, which can be either genuine or false. It is defined as abundance, peace, prosperity, or quietness. This term appears 8 times across 8 unique verses, illustrating its nuanced role in describing states of being, from blessed tranquility to dangerous complacency.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, H7962 carries a distinct dual meaning. It can refer to a desirable state, such as the quietness that makes a simple meal better than a feast with strife Proverbs 17:1, or the prosperity wished for within Jerusalem's palaces Psalms 122:7. However, it is more frequently used to warn of a dangerous or deceptive security. This negative sense is seen when Israel's prosperity leads to disobedience against God Jeremiah 22:21 and when the prosperity of fools becomes the very thing that destroys them Proverbs 1:32. A vile ruler is described as coming in peaceably H7962 to seize a kingdom through flattery and using peace H7962 as a weapon to destroy many (Daniel 11:21, Daniel 8:25).

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help frame the different facets of H7962:

H7965 shâlôwm (peace): This closely related term also means welfare, prosperity, and peace. It appears alongside H7962 in a prayer for Jerusalem, asking for peace within its walls and prosperity in its palaces Psalms 122:7.
H8252 shâqaṭ (quietness, rest): This root word for repose or stillness is used in a negative context connected to H7962. Sodom's sin included an "abundance of idleness," linking a state of ease to moral failure Ezekiel 16:49.
H1347 gâʼôwn (pride, arrogancy): This word is explicitly tied to the misuse of abundance. The iniquity of Sodom began with pride H1347 which was coupled with "abundance of idleness" H7962, showing how prosperity can foster arrogance Ezekiel 16:49.
H34 ʼebyôwn (needy, poor): The presence of the needy is often a test of righteousness. Sodom's sin of prideful abundance was compounded because they did not strengthen the hand of the poor and needy Ezekiel 16:49.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H7962 is found in its sharp contrasts. It highlights key principles regarding wealth, security, and responsibility.

The Duality of Prosperity: The word illustrates that prosperity can be a blessing or a curse. While it can be a component of a peaceful life Proverbs 17:1, it can also lead to a hardened heart that refuses to obey God's voice Jeremiah 22:21. The prosperity of fools is self-destructive Proverbs 1:32.
False Security: H7962 is used to describe a deceptive peace that evil leaders use to achieve their goals. A vile person comes peaceably H7962 through flatteries and uses that very peace to destroy many (Daniel 11:21, Daniel 8:25). This serves as a warning against worldly security that is detached from divine truth.
Prosperity and Moral Obligation: The most stark theological lesson comes from the description of Sodom's sin. Its iniquity H5771 was defined as a combination of pride H1347, "fulness of bread," and an "abundance H7962 of idleness," which resulted in a failure to help the poor H6041 and needy H34 Ezekiel 16:49. This establishes a direct link between material abundance and the responsibility to care for the vulnerable.

Summary

In summary, H7962 is more than a simple word for prosperity. It is a powerful theological concept that challenges the reader to discern between true, God-given peace and a dangerous, worldly security. It can denote the quiet blessing of a simple life, but more often it serves as a solemn warning. The use of shalvâh demonstrates that abundance, when combined with pride and complacency, leads not to security but to moral decay and divine judgment.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 9 occurrences, inflected in 4 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

שַׁלְוָה
שַׁלְוַת
שַׁלְוֹתַיִ
שַׁלְוִ

Related Words

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 8 verses across 5 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Daniel (3 verses); never once in the other 34.

Psalms

Proverbs

Jeremiah

Ezekiel

Daniel

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.