Original Word: שְׁלֹמִי
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Shlomiy
Pronunciation: she-lo-MEE
Phonetic Spelling: (shel-o-mee')
KJV: Shelomi
NASB: Shelomi
Word Origin: [from H7965 (שָׁלוֹם שָׁלוֹם - peace)]

1. peaceable
2. Shelomi, an Israelite

Shelomi

From shalowm; peaceable; Shelomi, an Israelite -- Shelomi.

see HEBREW shalowm

Word Origin
from shalem
Definition
an Asherite
NASB Translation
Shelomi (1).

שְׁלֹמִי proper name, masculine in Asher, Numbers 34:27; Σελεμ(ε)ι.

שׁוּלַמִּית see above.

Name and Etymology

Shelomi derives from the Hebrew root sh-l-m, the well-known word group related to shalom, “peace, wholeness, well-being.” The form can be read “my peace” or “peaceful.” In Scripture, names built on this root often signal either a parental hope for covenantal rest or a testimony to the LORD’s provision of peace (for example, Solomon in 1 Kings 3:7).

Biblical Context (Numbers 34:27)

Only one explicit occurrence appears:

Numbers 34:27 – “from the tribe of the Asherites, Ahihud son of Shelomi;”

The verse is situated in the larger directive given in Numbers 34:16-29, where the LORD instructs Moses to appoint leaders who will oversee the apportioning of Canaan among the nine and one-half western tribes. Shelomi is not himself a commissioner but is identified as the father of Ahihud, the tribal chief representing Asher in this sacred task.

Role in the Division of Canaan

1. Covenant Fulfillment: The land promise, first sworn to Abraham (Genesis 12:7; 15:18-21), moves toward concrete realization as Israel prepares to cross the Jordan. By naming the fathers of each commissioner, Scripture underlines the continuity of covenantal generations. Shelomi’s inclusion links the ancestral tribe of Asher with the physical inheritance soon to be received.
2. Administrative Integrity: Every tribe provides a recognized leader, ensuring equitable distribution (cf. Deuteronomy 1:13). Shelomi’s household thus shares in the responsibility that no tribe be marginalized or defrauded.
3. Prophetic Foreshadowing of Rest: The root sh-l-m in Shelomi’s name quietly anticipates the “rest” theme realized later under Joshua (Joshua 21:44) and ultimately in Christ (Hebrews 4:8-10).

Tribal Identity and Heritage

The tribe of Asher, blessed by Jacob to “yield royal dainties” (Genesis 49:20), occupied fertile coastal territory in the north. That Shelomi’s son becomes Asher’s allotment official suggests the family’s standing among their clans. Although Scripture offers no extra genealogical data for Shelomi, later Asherite records (1 Chronicles 7:30-40) confirm the tribe’s stability and prosperity—conditions consonant with the notion of shalom.

Theological Themes

Peace as Covenant Goal: Shelomi’s name intersects with the overarching narrative in which God leads His people from bondage (Exodus) through wilderness strife (Numbers) into a land of peace. The solitary mention functions like a still-point in the text, accenting the divine intention that the inheritance culminate in shalom (Psalm 29:11; Isaiah 32:17-18).

Faithfulness through Generations: In a book marked by disobedience and judgment, the listing of faithful leaders and their fathers (including Shelomi) illustrates the remnant principle—families who remain available for divine assignment despite the nation’s failures (Numbers 13–14).

Typology of Christ as Greater Distributor: Just as these appointed men divided temporal land, Jesus Christ, “our peace” (Ephesians 2:14), bestows an eternal inheritance (1 Peter 1:4). The peaceful name Shelomi anticipates the One who will say, “Peace I leave with you” (John 14:27).

Practical Ministry Lessons

1. Hidden Faithfulness Matters: Though Shelomi never speaks or acts on the recorded page, his fidelity as a father prepared Ahihud for leadership. Modern believers are reminded that daily godliness within the home shapes future servants (2 Timothy 1:5).
2. Peaceable Foundations Enable Public Service: Names in Scripture often reveal character. Leaders who arise from “peaceful” households are well-suited to administer justice and equity (James 3:18).
3. The One Body Principle: Each tribe, each family, and even a single father like Shelomi contributes to the united purpose of God (1 Corinthians 12:12-27).

Connections to Other Passages

• Genesis 15:18-21 – Land covenant origins.
• Joshua 14–19 – Fulfillment of allocation promised in Numbers 34.
• Psalm 37:11; Matthew 5:5 – The meek inheriting the land, merging Old and New Covenant themes of possession and peace.

Summary

Shelomi, though briefly mentioned, represents the peaceful undercurrent of God’s covenant dealings—households molded for ministry, tribes anchored in divine promise, and an inheritance foreshadowing the ultimate shalom secured in Christ.

שְׁלֹמִֽי׃ שלמי׃ šə·lō·mî šəlōmî sheloMiInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts