The Hebrew word shillêm, represented by H8005, is a specific term for requital or recompense. Derived from the root word שָׁלַם, its meaning is focused on a response or payment due. It is a rare term, appearing only 1 time in 1 unique verse in the entire Bible, which gives its single usage significant weight.
In the biblical narrative, H8005 is used in a declaration of divine authority and justice. In its sole appearance, God states, "To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence" Deuteronomy 32:35. Here, the word is part of a divine claim, establishing that the act of meting out requital is a prerogative belonging to God alone. The context is a warning of future judgment, where the "day of their calamity is at hand."
Two other words from its single scriptural context help to clarify its meaning:
- H5359 nâqâm (revenge; vengeance): This word appears directly alongside shillêm in Deuteronomy 32:35. It signifies that God's recompense is tied to His role as the ultimate avenger of wrong, who alone has the right to enact vengeance.
- H6264 ʻâthîyd (things that shall come): This word is used in the same verse to describe the imminent consequences awaiting the unrighteous. It underscores that the recompense of H8005 is not a forgotten debt but a future certainty, as "the things that shall come upon them make haste" Deuteronomy 32:35.
The theological weight of H8005 is concentrated in its single, powerful appearance.
- Divine Sovereignty in Justice: The use of shillêm in Deuteronomy 32:35 establishes a core theological principle: recompense and vengeance belong to God. It frames justice not as a human endeavor but as a divine right and responsibility.
- Assured Consequence: Paired with words denoting future certainty, shillêm teaches that actions have guaranteed consequences from a divine perspective. The "requital" is an inevitable event tied to God's timing.
- Balanced Judgment: By appearing with nâqâm (vengeance), shillêm (recompense) helps form a complete picture of God's response to sin—it is both a just punishment and a righteous payment for deeds done.
In summary, H8005 is a highly specific and impactful word. Though used only once, its appearance in Deuteronomy 32:35 is foundational to understanding the biblical concept of divine justice. It defines recompense as an action belonging solely to God, underscoring His sovereign authority to repay and bring about a just and certain outcome in His own time.
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