Jerusalem

Today, our journey through biblical locations brings us to the holiest city in the world, Jerusalem. The meaning of this name is quite astonishing. The core word in this name is, ‘sha•lem,’ which means ‘completeness’ and ‘wholeness.’ The word ‘shalom’ ‘peace,’ comes from this word, because any peace depends on both ‘completeness’ and ‘wholeness.’ Keep in mind that Jerusalem must be a place of completeness and wholeness, because it is the dwelling place of the Lord God, as He Himself attests:

“Thus says the Lord: ‘I have returned to Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem; and Jerusalem shall be called the City of Truth; and the mountain of the Lord of Hosts the Holy Mountain'”

The first part of the name Jerusalem is ‘yir•oo,’ which can mean either ‘[they] will see’ or ‘[they] will feel the awe.’ When you put the first part together, you fully understand the name Jerusalem: “[they] will see ‘The Wholeness’ or ‘[they] will feel the awe of The Completeness.” From this point, we need no interpretation regarding the identity of ‘The Wholeness’ or of ‘The Completeness.’ Jerusalem is mentioned 813 times in the Bible, 670 times in the Old Testament, and 143 times in the New Testament, more than any other place in both Books. There are 3 cities named Jerusalem in the U.S. in New York, Ohio, and in Maryland.