In common English usage, “peace” means the avoidance or absence of conflict. It indicates the lack of something: war or lesser forms of overt violence.

In Scripture, on the other hand, shalom indicates the active presence of multiple dynamics: well-being, harmony, honest relations, forgiveness. It is a relational concept indicating health and balance.

The foundation of peace, biblically speaking, is justice—the quality of right-relatedness that used to govern (at creation) and will someday reign again (in the promised “new heaven and new earth”).