What does "Salem" mean in the Bible?
Salem, the place of which Melchizedek was king Gen 14:18; Heb 7:1-2. Salem appears in 4 verses across 3 books of the Bible.
What does the Bible say about Salem?
SA'LEM (peace), the place of which Melchizedek was king Gen 14:18; Heb 7:1-2. This word is only used elsewhere in Ps 76:2. Some would interpret it, in the first two passages, not as signifying a place, but that Melchizedek was "king of peace." The majority understand it to mean a place, and it is usually interpreted as referring to Jerusalem. Thus Josephus understood it. The name "Jireh," from Gen 22:14, was supposed to have been added to "Salem" to form "Jerusalem," but this is uncertain. Jerome made the Salem of Gen 14:18 and the Shalem of Gen 33:18 identical, and fixed it 6 miles from Scythopolis, while Van de Velde discovered the name in that neighborhood; but if such a Salem existed, it cannot be proved to be the town of Melchizedek. There might be an identity between Salem and Salim. See Salim.
Definition text: Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible · 1898. Public domain.
Compiled by Protos: the verse list on this page. Where one name belongs to more than one person or place, each of them gets a separate entry.
What is the Hebrew word for Salem?
Where does Salem appear in the Bible?
Salem is referenced in 4 verses across 3 books. Every passage below is about this one, not just every verse the word turns up in.
- Genesis 14:18
- Hebrews 7:1
- Hebrews 7:2
- Psalms 76:2
What else appears in these passages?
These turn up in the same passages as Salem.
Common questions
How many times does the Bible mention Salem?
Salem appears in 4 verses across 3 books, most often in Hebrews, which accounts for 2 of them.
Which books of the Bible mention Salem?
Hebrews, Genesis, Psalms.
What does the name Salem mean?
The name Salem means "complete or perfect peace".
Where can I read every verse about Salem?
This page lists 4 of them. Protos carries all 4, and opens this entry on the verse you are reading rather than in a separate tab.
