YHVH Shalom is translated as “YHVH is peace”
(H7965, derived from shalam, H7999, that means to be safe, whole, complete, restored and content).
The name is found in Judges 6:12-24 where we read of the call of Gideon and the fascinating encounter between Gideon and YHVH. It says: And the Messenger of יהוה appeared to him, and said to him, יהוה is with you, you mighty brave one! And Giḏʽon said to Him, “O my master, if יהוה is with us, why has all this come upon us? And where are all His wonders which our fathers related to us, saying, ‘Did notיהוה bring us up from Mitsrayim?’ But now יהוה has left us and given us into the hands of Miḏyan.” Andיהוה turned to him and said, “Go in this strength of yours, and you shall save Yisra’ĕl from the hand of the Miḏyanites. Have I not sent you?” And he said to Him, “O יהוה, with what do I save Yisra’ĕl? See, my clan is the weakest in Menashsheh, and I am the least in my father’s house.” Andיהוה said to him, “Because I am with you, you shall smite the Miḏyanites as one man.” And he said to Him, “Please, if I have found favour in Your eyes, then show me a sign that it is You who are speaking with me. Please do not move away from here, until I come to You and bring out my offering and set it before You.” And He said, “I shall stay until you return.” And Giḏʽon went in, and prepared a young goat, and unleavened bread from an ĕphah of flour. The meat he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot. And he brought them out to Him, under the terebinth tree, and presented it. And the Messenger of Elohim said to him, “Take the meat and the unleavened bread and lay them on this rock, and pour out the broth.” And he did so. And the Messenger of יהוה put forth the end of the staff that was in His hand, and touched the meat and the unleavened bread. And fire went up out of the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened bread. And the Messenger of יהוה went from his sight. And when Giḏʽon saw that He was a Messenger of יהוה, Giḏʽon said, “Oh Master יהוה! For I have seen a Messenger of יהוה face to face.” And יהוה said to him, “Peace be with you! Do not fear, you do not die.” And Giḏʽon built an altar there to יהוה, and called it: יהוה Shalom.
Gideon denied the presence of YHVH, but YHVH was with him. While filled with emotions and unanswered questions, Gideon looked at his own weaknesses and inabilities. YHVH saw a brave and mighty one. Gideon sought YHVH for deliverance from the hands of the Midyanites, YHVH desired a face-to-face encounter and relationship. Gideon saw defeat and death, YHVH saw life. Gideon’s perspective changed the moment his eyes were opened and he received insight into the fact that he was indeed in the presence of the Almighty, at His altar. Instantly Gideon was in awe, not unlike Joshua when the latter saw the Captain of hosts in Joshua 5. There, in the knowledge and insight that he found himself in the presence of the Almighty, Gideon found safety, wholeness, restitution and restoration, and shalom, because HE was with YHVH Shalom.


