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In Arabic, the root S-L-M (س ل م) has a general meaning of "Peace", but can also be used for "Submission" (such as in the words Islam/Muslim). Given the close relation between Hebrew and Arabic, I'm curious to know whether the Hebrew Sh-L-M (ש ל ם) can be similarly interpreted thus.

In particular, was this root ever used to refer to those who whole-heartedly submitted themselves to the Mosaic Law (and thus to G-D's authority)? If not, was a different term (with similar meaning) used for these people, in order to distinguish them as the best followers among the children of Israel?

I got following Hebrew terms from a Wikipedia article:

  • Mushlam (מושלם) — perfect
  • Shalem (שלם) — whole, complete

Have these concepts ever been extended to perfect (Mushalam) followers or complete (Shalem) submission in any literature and can root ש ל ם be used to mean “Submission” ?

Update:

Would also be interested to know the answer for other related languages like Aramaic or any ancient biblical period languages?

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Another way to phrase this and keep it within the realm of linguistics is "Is the sense 'submission' common to the Semitic root S-L-M or was it acquired by Arabic alone after it and Hebrew split from their common Semitic ancestor?" – hippietrail Feb 21 at 13:18
It could also be worth comparing other related languages like Amharic, Aramaic, Somali, or Syriac. (I would assume Maltese is much too closely related to be of any help of course.) – hippietrail Feb 25 at 9:41
It turns out that there's a very good Wikipedia article on this root: S-L-M – hippietrail Feb 25 at 9:45
the article was already referenced in the question @hippietrail thanks for the suggestion , I would also be very much interested in Aramaic and other ancient biblical languages – Ali Feb 25 at 14:32
@hippietrail hope you saw above comment – Ali Feb 25 at 17:05
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1 Answer

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As a native Hebrew speaker i have ever heard the root שׂ.ל.מ (s.l.m), or any of it conjugations used in the context of submission. Neither does the root שׁ.ל.מ (Sh.l.m). The word שלם (shalem) means, as the Wikipedia article states, whole (and all its derived meanings like perfect or or complete) or peace.

Here is the Wiktionary entry on the root and its various meanings.

The Hebrew word for submission (not necessarily religious) is כְּנִיעה (kni'a), and devoted can be translated as מָסוּר (masur, literaly- to give yourself) from the root מ.ס.ר. But there is no particular word with this meaning in a religious context.

I suspect the extra meaning for the root, in Arabic, came from the religious context, as the name of the religion Islam and the word for submission إسلام (ʾIslām), and one who submits is is translated مسلم‎ (muslim), also the name for an Islamic man.

Although the Hebrew and Arabic are close, I think this word in particular got its meaning after the two languages split.

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Thanks for the answer, does root occur in Hebrew for followers of God's commandments? Like Mushalim,Mushalam, Mushalom ...? – Ali Feb 24 at 15:36
@Ali - What do you meant by "root occur"? Do you mean exist? In Hebrew a root is 3/4 consonants from which verbs are created. – Lson Feb 25 at 0:13
does this root Sh-L-M occur in Hebrew for followers of God's commandments? Like Mushalim,Mushalam, Mushalom – Ali Feb 25 at 4:11
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@Ali - As i said, i never saw it being used with that meaning, I really doubt it. – Lson Feb 25 at 9:26

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