8535. tam
Lexical Summary
tam: Blameless, perfect, complete, upright

Original Word: תָּם
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: tam
Pronunciation: tahm
Phonetic Spelling: (tawm)
KJV: coupled together, perfect, plain, undefiled, upright
NASB: blameless, guiltless, complete, perfect one, blameless man, integrity, peaceful
Word Origin: [from H8552 (תָּמַם - finished)]

1. complete
2. usually (morally) pious
3. specifically, gentle, dear

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
coupled together, perfect, plain, undefiled, upright

From tamam; complete; usually (morally) pious; specifically, gentle, dear -- coupled together, perfect, plain, undefiled, upright.

see HEBREW tamam

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from tamam
Definition
complete
NASB Translation
blameless (5), blameless man (1), complete (2), guiltless (3), integrity (1), peaceful (1), perfect one (2).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
תָּם adjective complete׳ת Genesis 25:27 10t.; suffix תַּמָּתִי Songs 5:2; Songs 6:9 (late, except Genesis 25:27); —

1 complete, perfect: in beauty Songs 5:2; Songs 6:9; of physical strength Psalm 73:4 (read לָ֑מוֺ תָּם Ew De DrSam. xxxi Che Bae and others).

2 sound, wholesome: אישׁ תָּם, of Jacob as tent-dweller, opposed to Esau, hunter, Genesis 25:27 (J; De leutseliger Mann, Di ruhig, still, AV RV plain man; ׳ת here possibly redactional, = 3).

3 complete, morally innocent, having integrity: אִישׁ תָּם Job 1:8; Job 2:3; ׳ת alone Job 1:1; Job 8:20; Job 9:20,21,22; Proverbs 29:10; Psalm 37:37; Psalm 64:5. — תַּמִּים see [תָּאם]. p. 1060f

Topical Lexicon
Overview

Found in narrative, cultic, poetic, wisdom and love‐song settings, תָּם portrays a life or object that is whole, integrated and without moral fracture. Its uses range from the physical completeness of Tabernacle joinery to the moral integrity that marks God’s people, offering a unifying biblical portrait of “blamelessness” that anticipates the New Testament call to be “complete in Christ.”

Patriarchal Roots – Jacob the “Quiet” Man (Genesis 25:27)

The first appearance describes Jacob as “a quiet man, dwelling in tents.” The word highlights a settled, peaceable disposition that contrasts Esau’s restless hunting. Far from weakness, Jacob’s “quiet” character becomes the soil in which covenant promises mature. His life shows that God’s redemptive plan often moves through those whose strength is inward rather than aggressive.

Tabernacle Craftsmanship – Complete Frames (Exodus 26:24)

Applied to the corner frames of the Tabernacle, תָּם depicts boards perfectly paired at top and bottom. The sanctuary’s integrity depends on components that fit without gap or flaw. The blameless life symbolized here foreshadows the necessity of purity for those who minister before the Lord and anticipates the Church as a dwelling “fitly framed together” in Christ (compare Ephesians 2:21).

Job – The Paradigm of Blamelessness (Job 1–2; 8:20; 9:20-22)

Job is introduced as “blameless and upright, fearing God and shunning evil” (Job 1:1). Heaven endorses the verdict: “‘There is no one on earth like him, a man who is blameless and upright’” (Job 1:8; 2:3). Job’s integrity is tested by catastrophe, challenged by friends and assaulted by his own anguish:
• “Surely God does not reject a blameless man” (Job 8:20).
• “Though I am blameless, I have no concern for myself” (Job 9:21).

The drama demonstrates that genuine blamelessness is not immunity from suffering but steadfast fear of God amid suffering. Job becomes a living prophecy of the Righteous Sufferer fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

Wisdom Literature – Integrity Commended

Psalm 37:37: “Consider the blameless and observe the upright, for a posterity awaits the man of peace.”

Psalm 64:4 depicts the wicked ambushing the innocent, underscoring that blameless people may be targeted precisely because their lives expose evil.

Proverbs 29:10: “Men of bloodshed hate a blameless man, but the upright care for his life.”

Together these texts locate blamelessness at the heart of biblical wisdom: it brings lasting security, provokes hostility from the violent, and calls the righteous community to protective solidarity.

Song of Songs – The Flawless Bride (Song of Songs 5:2; 6:9)

The beloved is addressed as “my flawless one” and “my perfect one,” language that elevates covenant love to the realm of moral and relational wholeness. Traditionally interpreted as portraying Christ and His Church, these verses celebrate the work of grace that presents the bride “without spot or wrinkle” (Ephesians 5:27).

Theological Themes

1. Integrity before God: Blamelessness is a relational category, defined not by sinless perfection but by wholehearted devotion and quick repentance.
2. Integrated life: תָּם envisages harmony between belief and behavior, inner faith and outward action.
3. Covenant expectation: From patriarchs to prophets, God calls His people to integrity as fitting companions for His holy presence.
4. Eschatological hope: The Psalms and Job anticipate a final vindication of the blameless, a hope secured in the risen Christ.

New Testament Parallels

Greek terms such as teleios (“perfect,” Matthew 5:48) and amomos (“blameless,” Ephesians 1:4) echo תָּם. Believers are chosen “to be holy and blameless in His presence,” rooting the Old Testament ideal in Christ’s atoning work and the Spirit’s sanctifying power (Colossians 1:22).

Ministry Implications

• Pastoral Leadership: Elders must be “above reproach,” reflecting תָּם as a prerequisite for oversight.
• Spiritual Formation: Discipleship aims at integrated character, not mere rule-keeping.
• Suffering and Integrity: Congregations can draw on Job’s account to shepherd saints who suffer despite faithfulness.
• Worship and Service: Like the Tabernacle’s perfect corners, ministries should be built with moral soundness, ensuring durability under pressure.

Key References

Genesis 25:27; Exodus 26:24; Job 1:1, 8; Job 2:3; Job 8:20; Job 9:20-22; Psalm 37:37; Psalm 64:4; Proverbs 29:10; Song of Songs 5:2; Song of Songs 6:9

Forms and Transliterations
תַמִּים֙ תַמָּתִ֔י תָ֑ם תָּ֑ם תָּ֔ם תָּ֥ם תָּ֧ם תָּ֭ם תָּֽם־ תם תם־ תמים תמתי Tam tām ṯām tām- ṯam·mā·ṯî ṯam·mîm tammaTi ṯammāṯî tamMim ṯammîm
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Genesis 25:27
HEB: וְיַעֲקֹב֙ אִ֣ישׁ תָּ֔ם יֹשֵׁ֖ב אֹהָלִֽים׃
NAS: but Jacob was a peaceful man,
KJV: and Jacob [was] a plain man,
INT: Jacob man was a peaceful living tents

Exodus 26:24
HEB: וְיַחְדָּ֗ו יִהְי֤וּ תַמִּים֙ עַל־ רֹאשׁ֔וֹ
NAS: and together they shall be complete to its top
INT: together shall form shall be complete unto top

Job 1:1
HEB: הָאִ֣ישׁ הַה֗וּא תָּ֧ם וְיָשָׁ֛ר וִירֵ֥א
NAS: and that man was blameless, upright,
KJV: and that man was perfect and upright,
INT: man he was blameless upright feared

Job 1:8
HEB: בָּאָ֔רֶץ אִ֣ישׁ תָּ֧ם וְיָשָׁ֛ר יְרֵ֥א
NAS: him on the earth, a blameless and upright
KJV: that [there is] none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright
INT: the earth man A blameless and upright feareth

Job 2:3
HEB: בָּאָ֗רֶץ אִ֣ישׁ תָּ֧ם וְיָשָׁ֛ר יְרֵ֥א
NAS: him on the earth, a blameless and upright
KJV: that [there is] none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright
INT: the earth man A blameless and upright feareth

Job 8:20
HEB: לֹ֣א יִמְאַס־ תָּ֑ם וְלֹֽא־ יַ֝חֲזִ֗יק
NAS: will not reject [a man of] integrity, Nor
KJV: will not cast away a perfect [man], neither will he help
INT: Nor reject integrity Nor aid

Job 9:20
HEB: פִּ֣י יַרְשִׁיעֵ֑נִי תָּֽם־ אָ֝֗נִי וַֽיַּעְקְשֵֽׁנִי׃
NAS: will condemn me; Though I am guiltless, He will declare me guilty.
KJV: shall condemn me: [if I say], I [am] perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.
INT: my mouth will condemn I am guiltless I will declare

Job 9:21
HEB: תָּֽם־ אָ֭נִי לֹֽא־
NAS: I am guiltless; I do not take notice
KJV: [Though] I [were] perfect, [yet] would I not know
INT: I am guiltless I not

Job 9:22
HEB: כֵּ֥ן אָמַ֑רְתִּי תָּ֥ם וְ֝רָשָׁ֗ע ה֣וּא
NAS: He destroys the guiltless and the wicked.'
KJV: [it], He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.
INT: after that say the guiltless and the wicked He

Psalm 37:37
HEB: שְׁמָר־ תָּ֭ם וּרְאֵ֣ה יָשָׁ֑ר
NAS: Mark the blameless man, and behold
KJV: Mark the perfect [man], and behold
INT: Mark the blameless and behold the upright

Psalm 64:4
HEB: לִיר֣וֹת בַּמִּסְתָּרִ֣ים תָּ֑ם פִּתְאֹ֥ם יֹ֝רֻ֗הוּ
NAS: from concealment at the blameless; Suddenly
KJV: in secret at the perfect: suddenly
INT: to shoot concealment the blameless Suddenly shoot

Proverbs 29:10
HEB: דָ֭מִים יִשְׂנְאוּ־ תָ֑ם וִֽ֝ישָׁרִ֗ים יְבַקְשׁ֥וּ
NAS: hate the blameless, But the upright
KJV: hate the upright: but the just
INT: of bloodshed hate the blameless the upright are concerned

Songs 5:2
HEB: רַעְיָתִי֙ יוֹנָתִ֣י תַמָּתִ֔י שֶׁרֹּאשִׁי֙ נִמְלָא־
NAS: My dove, my perfect one! For my head
KJV: my dove, my undefiled: for my head
INT: my darling my dove my perfect my head is drenched

Songs 6:9
HEB: הִיא֙ יוֹנָתִ֣י תַמָּתִ֔י אַחַ֥ת הִיא֙
NAS: [But] my dove, my perfect one, is unique:
KJV: My dove, my undefiled is [but] one;
INT: he my dove my perfect only is her

14 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 8535
14 Occurrences


tām — 11 Occ.
ṯam·mā·ṯî — 2 Occ.
ṯam·mîm — 1 Occ.

8534
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