The word she•le•moot, wholeness, is a modern noun that is based on the biblical root ‘sha•lem’ meaning complete, whole. Many English translations of the Bible use the word ‘perfect’ for ‘sha•lem’ instead of the more accurate word ‘whole.’
‘I beseech you, O Lord, remember now how I have walked before you in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in your sight. And Hezekiah wept bitterly.’
Sha•lem is also single in its wholeness, not split:
‘All these men of war, ranged in battle order, came with a perfect heart to Hebron, to make David king over all Israel: and all the rest also of Israel were of a single heart to make David king.’
There are many words sprouting out from this core word: Jerusalem for example means ‘they will see the Wholeness’ or ‘they will feel the awe of the Wholeness.’
Shalom, peace, is also a derivative of wholeness and completeness. Peace, indeed, can only reign where there is wholeness and completeness. The name Solomon which is She•lo•mo in Hebrew is directly related to peace and completeness. During his reign Israel was not involved in any war and Jerusalem and all of of Israel was intact, enjoying wholeness and completeness.
Even the verb ‘to pay,’ le•sha•lem is derived from this noun. Paying then means bringing a deal into completeness. We all know that if a debt remains unpaid there is no completeness and there is no ‘sha•lom’!
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