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תֹּם

𐤕𐤌

tôm

H8537 noun

SILEX Entry

Root תמם to be complete, to finish, to be whole, to be blameless

Definition

Wholeness, completeness, or integrity; the state of being undivided or unimpaired, conveying a sense of sincerity, innocence, or moral integrity depending on context. In some passages, it denotes soundness or prosperity—the idea of a life unbroken by calamity. In ethical contexts, it often refers to moral innocence or blamelessness. Used both of literal completeness (e.g., unblemished structure or state) and of internal or moral uprightness (sincerity, honesty, integrity).

Semantic Range

completeness, wholeness, moral integrity, innocence, sincerity, prosperity (figurative), blamelessness, uprightness

Root / Etymology

From the root תָּמַם (t-m-m), meaning 'to be complete, finished, or perfect.' The noun form תֹּם (tôm) builds directly from this root, expressing the abstract sense of completeness or integrity. The related term תֻּמִּים (tummim) is a plural or intensive form from the same root.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Historically, תֹּם appears in poetic and wisdom literature (e.g., Proverbs, Psalms, Job), especially in contrast to wickedness or duplicity. It connotes integrity or uprightness as an ethical ideal, often linked to the sincere adherence to covenantal responsibilities in the Israelite worldview. In some cases (Proverbs, Job), תֹּם stands for innocence or lack of guilt, distinct from mere external conformity. The word’s semantic field overlaps with תָּם (tam), also from the same root, but תֹּם more often refers to the quality or state, while תָּם can be a descriptor of a person (e.g., Job described as תָּם וְיָשָׁר, 'blameless and upright'). English translations like 'perfection' or 'simplicity' sometimes fail to convey the full breadth of the term, especially the resonance of wholeness or moral completeness in Hebrew thought. The meaning of 'at a venture' (KJV) is interpretative and does not reflect the primary meaning of the word in its most common contexts. Later tradition (see תֻּמִּים, 'Urim and Thummim') connects the term with ritual divination objects signifying manifest integrity, but this is a technical usage distinct from the ordinary sense. The semantic range remains consistent from the monarchic through post-exilic periods, always centering on completeness or integrity, whether literal or moral.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from תָּמַם; completeness; figuratively, prosperity; usually (morally) innocence; full, integrity, perfect(-ion), simplicity, upright(-ly, -ness), at a venture. See תֻּמִּים.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

תמם (t-m-m) — to be complete, to finish, to be whole, to be blameless

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4974 מְתֹם sound wholeness
H8535 תָּם whole and blameless
H8549 תָּמִים in integrity
H8550 תֻּמִּים the perfections
H8552 תָּמַם Wholeness

Word Forms

15 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H8537-04 בְּ/תֻמּ֑/וֹ betumo HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms in his integrity in his wholeness 3
H8537-02 בְּ/תָם betam HR/Ncmsc with integrity in wholeness 3
H8537-11 תֹּ֖ם tom HVqc integrity wholeness 3
H8537-03 בְּ/תֻמִּ֣/י betumi HR/Ncmsc/Sp1cs in my integrity in my wholeness 3
H8537-09 לְ/תֻמּ֔/וֹ letumo HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms at random to his integrity 2
H8537-01 בַּ֭/תֹּם batom HRd/Ncmsa in integrity wholeness 1
H8537-06 כְּ/תֻמָּ/ם֙ ketumam HR/Ncmsc/Sp3mp in full measure according to their integrity 1
H8537-13 וּ/כְ/תֻמִּ֣/י ukhetumi HC/R/Ncmsc/Sp1cs and according to my integrity my wholeness 1
H8537-10 תָּם tam HNcmsc the blameless morally whole 1
H8537-14 בְ/תָם vetam HR/Ncmsc in integrity wholeness of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

24 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H8537-02 Genesis 20:5 בְּ/תָם betam HR/Ncmsc in the integrity in wholeness
H8537-14 Genesis 20:6 בְ/תָם vetam HR/Ncmsc in integrity wholeness of
H8537-11 Leviticus 25:29 תֹּ֖ם tom HVqc completion wholeness
H8537-08 2 Samuel 15:11 לְ/תֻמָּ֑/ם letumam HR/Ncmsc/Sp3mp in their innocence to their integrity
H8537-02 1 Kings 9:4 בְּ/תָם betam HR/Ncmsc with integrity in wholeness
H8537-09 1 Kings 22:34 לְ/תֻמּ֔/וֹ letumo HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms at random to his integrity
H8537-06 Isaiah 47:9 כְּ/תֻמָּ/ם֙ ketumam HR/Ncmsc/Sp3mp in full measure according to their integrity
H8537-13 Psalms 7:9 וּ/כְ/תֻמִּ֣/י ukhetumi HC/R/Ncmsc/Sp1cs and according to my integrity my wholeness
H8537-11 Psalms 25:21 תֹּם tom HNcmsa integrity wholeness
H8537-03 Psalms 26:1 בְּ/תֻמִּ֣/י betumi HR/Ncmsc/Sp1cs in my integrity in my wholeness
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