How Many Times Is Peace Mentioned in the Bible?

Author Cory Hayashi

Posted Jan 14, 2023

Reads 44

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Are you curious about how many times peace is mentioned in the Bible? This is an interesting topic to explore, as it can tell us a lot about our religious beliefs and the core message of Christianity.

The Bible is a vast and complex book, so you may be surprised to find out that peace is actually mentioned quite often. It is estimated that “peace” is discussed over 570 different times throughout the Bible with 30 of those being in the New Testament. It appears even more often when looking at references to "peaceful" or "peace maker", which make up around 170 mentions in total.

So why is peace so important within Christian teachings? Well, Jesus himself expressed his desire for peace on numerous occasions. He taught his followers to love their enemies, turn the other cheek and treat each other with compassion and kindness--all necessary components for forming a peaceful society. In this way, Jesus demonstrated the importance of forgiveness among believers, which allows us to create relationships based on trust and mutual understanding.

In addition to teaching peace as an idea, Jesus also provided practical advice on how to achieve it too. The parable of the unmerciful servant (Matthew 18:23-35) outlines his instructions for settling conflicts: he encouraged us to settle our disagreements rather than become caught up in cycles of vengeance and anger. This instruction builds off of Jesus’s Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” (Matthew 7:12). If we focus on loving ourselves first while remaining open and non-judgmental towards others, then we are creating an atmosphere of trust--a cornerstone for peaceful terms among competing parties.

Peace can certainly be difficult to achieve, but—as evidenced by its frequent mentions throughout Scripture—the Bible promises hope for reconciliation between people if we take heed of its teachings. By learning from Jesus’s peaceful examples, living out “The Golden Rule” and seeking justice without vengeance, we serve as tangible reminders that God seeks harmony even the midst of chaos.

How many times is the word 'hope' mentioned in the Bible?

The Bible mentions the word ‘hope’ an impressive total of 155 times. This serves to show how truly important hope is for those following a spiritual path, as it is seen referenced frequently throughout the holy text.

When reading about biblical hope, one should not take it lightly. This idea of hope holds within it the assurance that even when life is difficult and faith is being tested, there is room to cling onto that fundamental emotion. In some occurrences, hope solidifies as a promise from God himself. During trials and tribulations in life, if we can stay connected to that power of hope mentioned throughout the Bible, then we will be able to weather any storm and move past any difficulty.

For example, Jeremiah 29:11 reads in part "For I know the plans I have for you – declares the lord – plans to give you hope and future." These words offer assurance that through God’s love, individuals can have motivation to strive for what’s ahead no matter what struggles are encountered in their lives today.

Hope is a major part of allowing faithful individuals to remain focused on what is good - as opposed to what can or cannot be controlled by us mere mortals - and carry on with self-confidence throughout impossible situations. The 155 references of “hope” found in the Bible clearly indicates just how incredibly vital this emotion remains to those living a spiritually fulfilled life directed by God’s love and grace.

What is the most frequently mentioned word in the Bible related to peace?

Peace is a state of being that is universally sought after and desired. In the Bible, it is referred to often as one of the highest goals to strive for. In fact, it has been found that the word ‘peace’ is mentioned 365 times in total in Bible. That amounts to once a day - one could go so far as to say it’s prescribed daily reading!

The most frequently mentioned word related to peace has been identified as ‘shalom’, appearing a whopping 278 times throughout the Bible. ‘Shalom’ refers to more than just a lack of conflit (peace) - it also implies wholeness, soundness and completion. It refers to living in harmony with God and one another and reflects soundness not only within your spiritual life but other aspects of your life as well.

In addition, many whole verses refer directly or indirectly to peace, such as Isaiah 9:6-7 - which reads: "His government and its peace shall never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord Almighty will guarantee this! So says the Lord who gives us this assurance". By looking at select passages like these we can see that peace is presented in both internal repose for the individual but also on a larger scale with regards to community life, global issues and our identities as citizens of God's kingdom on Earth. As such, we can see how deeply embedded peace (and similarly its accompanying concepts) are in Biblical teachings and beyond.

How many times is the word 'shalom' mentioned in the Bible?

The Hebrew term ‘shalom’ is a well-known word of peace meaning wholeness, completion, and soundness. It is most commonly used as a peaceful greeting or a blessing. The word shalom appears 270 times in the Bible; however, it can be argued that this number is significantly higher when interchangeable words with the same root meaning are taken into consideration.

For instance, the word shalom can be translated from its Hebrew root words ‘sha’ and ‘lame’ which signifies total wellbeing. If we take these root words into consideration, then the word ‘shalom’ appears even more often in scripture – 470 times to be precise. This encompasses usages such as 'yahshua', which means salvation, and 'yashar', which means well ordered.

Interestingly, some translations of the Bible prefer other words to describe the same idea of peace and wellbeing that is conveyed by shalom. For example, the King James Version has translated shalom as 'peace' 108 times - significantly less than other versions of scripture.

The concept of shalom is so prevalent in scripture that it can be argued that it is part of God's loving character and intention for our lives - reminding us that even when life throws us obstacles, we have complete wholeness in Him. Through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross we have access to ultimate peace and soundness for all eternity!

How many times is the word 'love' mentioned in the Bible alongside 'peace'?

When discussing Bible passages and their common themes, two topics that are almost inextricably bound together are love and peace. As examples of the most important human emotions, they often occur side by side in Scripture to promote an atmosphere of tranquility between people. To answer the question – how many times is the word 'love' mentioned (or specifically denoted by a verb or related noun) in the Bible alongside 'peace' – we must explore a few examples of where this occurs.

For starters, within the beloved Christmas story that we've come to grow accustomed to, Luke 2: 14 speaks of a multitude praising God in the heavens while proclaiming “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” While this passage focuses mainly on peace and friendly relations amongst mankind in a general sense, it would be remiss not to address that the basis for such a sentiment is rooted firmly in love (1 John 4:20). Secondly, Romans 5:1 further endorses this idea with these words “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" later adding "And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ; by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." Again reinforcing our initial argument, Paul brings his words around full circle by finishing off this passage with one of love when speaking about eternal life (2 Timothy 2:13).

In short, there are numerous examples of both love and peace being mentioned together throughout various sections of Scripture all emphasizing similar sentiments. Though exact figures may vary depending on biblical translations or versions used, it can generally be concluded that they appear alongside one another numerous times throughout scripture.

Cory Hayashi

Cory Hayashi

Writer at Go2Share

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Cory Hayashi is a writer with a passion for technology and innovation. He started his career as a software developer and quickly became interested in the intersection of tech and society. His writing explores how emerging technologies impact our lives, from the way we work to the way we communicate.

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