Perfect
Vine's Expository Dictionary of OT Words [1]
A. Adjectives.
Tâmı̂ym ( תָּמִים , Strong'S #8549), “perfect; blameless; sincerity; entire; whole; complete; full.” The 91 occurrences of this word are scattered throughout biblical literature with 51 of them in passages dealing with cultic offerings.
Tâmı̂ym means “complete,” in the sense of the entire or whole thing: “And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the peace offering an offering made by fire unto the Lord; the fat thereof, and the whole rump, it shall he take off hard by the backbone …” (Lev. 3:9). The sun stood still for the “whole” day while Joshua fought the Gibeonites (Josh. 10:13). In Lev. 23:15 God commands that there be seven “complete” sabbaths after the first fruit feast plus fifty days and then that the new grain offering be presented. A house within a walled city must be purchased back within a “full” year if it is to remain the permanent property of the seller (Lev. 25:30).
This word may mean “intact,” or not cut up into pieces: “Behold, when it was whole, it [a piece of wood] was meet for no work …” (Ezek. 15:5).
Tâmı̂ym may mean incontestable or free from objection. In Deut. 32:4 the word modifies God’s work: “His work is perfect.” The people of God are to avoid the idolatrous practices of the Canaanites. They are to “be perfect with the Lord thy God” (Deut. 18:13). Used in such contexts the word means the one so described externally meets all the requirements of God’s law (cf. Ps. 18:23). This word modifies the victim to be offered to God (51), times). It means that the victim has no blemish (Lev. 22:18-21) as “blemish” is defined by God: “Ye shall offer at your own will a male without blemish, of the beeves, of the sheep, or of the goats” (Lev. 22:19).
In several contexts the word has a wider background. When one is described by it, there is nothing in his outward activities or internal disposition that is odious to God; “… Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God” (Gen. 6:9). This word describes his entire relationship to God. In Judg. 9:16, where tâmı̂ym describes a relationship between men it is clear that more than mere external activity is meant: “Now therefore, if ye have done truly and sincerely [literally, “in a sincere manner”], in that ye have made Abimelech king.…” This extended connotation of this nuance is also evidenced when one compares Gen. 17:1 with Rom. 4 where Paul argues that Abraham fulfilled God’s condition but that he did so only through faith.
Another adjective, tam , appears 15 times. With a cognate in Ugaritic the word means “complete or perfect” (Song of Sol. 5:2, RSV), “sound or wholesome” (Gen. 25:27), and “complete, morally innocent, having integrity” (Job 1:8).
B. Noun.
Tôm ( תֹּם , Strong'S #8537), “completeness.” This noun, which occurs 25 times, signifies “completeness” in the following senses: fullness (Job 21:23), innocency or simplicity (2 Sam. 15:11), integrity (Gen. 20:5).
C. Verb.
Tâmam ( תָּמַם , Strong'S #8552), “to be complete, be finished, be consumed, be without blame.” This verb, which appears 64 times, has cognates in Aramaic, Syriac, and Arabic. The word means “to be finished or completed” in Gen. 47:18: “When that year was ended, they came unto him.…”
Holman Bible Dictionary [2]
Colossians 3:14 Matthew 22:37-39 James 1:25 Deuteronomy 32:4 Psalm 18:30 Matthew 5:48
Through a covenant relationship with His people, and by grace, God thus offers to His people the possibility of perfection. In the Old Testament being “perfect” is ascribed to individuals, such as Noah ( Genesis 6:9 ) and Job ( Genesis 1:1 ), in response to their wholehearted obedience. In other contexts, corporate perfection and being “upright” belong together ( Psalm 37:37; Proverbs 2:21 ). In the New Testament, God's relationship with His people is itself fulfilled, as the old covenant is replaced, and through Christ believers can be perfected for ever ( Hebrews 10:14 ). Christians are, however, to grow from spiritual infancy to maturity so as to share the full stature of Christ, in whose image they may become renewed and perfected ( Colossians 3:10 ).
A tension exists here. Because on earth sin remains a possibility for all, believers ( 1 John 1:8 ), need to become perfect even while attaining a relative perfection ( Micah 6:6-8; Philippians 3:16 ,Philippians 3:16, 3:12-14 ). For that reason, perfection is not equated in the Bible with sinlessness (but see 1John 3:6, 1 John 3:9 NIV). The New Testament also stops short of deification (becoming God) as an option for believers, even if it allows for their perfect relationship with God ( 2 Peter 1:4 ). The divine gift of perfection will be fully realized only in eternity ( Philippians 3:10-14; 1 John 3:2 ). It is a goal to be sought ( 2 Corinthians 7:1; Hebrews 6:1 ) which, like the complete vision of God, cannot be found this side of heaven ( Ephesians 4:13; James 3:2 ).
How, then, may even this limited perfection be achieved? The New Testament locates the means of perfection in Christ. Through His suffering and exaltation, God made Jesus perfect ( Hebrews 2:10 ) and fitted Him to win for the church and the individual believer a completeness which echoes His own ( Colossians 1:28; Hebrews 5:9 ). So we and all the saints of God can be saved, and through the Spirit be given access to God and the daily help we need ( Hebrews 7:25; Hebrews 4:14-16 ). See Holy .
Stephen S. Smalley
Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types [3]
Genesis 6:9 Noah was perfect in obedience
Genesis 17:1 Abraham was perfect in trust
Job 1:1 Job was perfect in uprightness
Ezekiel 28:15 Satan was perfect in his actions at that time
Matthew 5:48 The Christian is to be perfect in forgiveness of others
Matthew 19:21 The Christian is to be perfect in devotion to Christ
Luke 6:40 The Christian is to be perfect in discipleship
Luke 13:32 CHRIST was perfect in His training course on earth
John 17:23 The Christian is to be perfect in his relationship to GOD
1 Corinthians 2:6 The Christian is to be perfect in understanding
2 Corinthians 13:11 The Christian is to be perfect in fellowship
Ephesians 4:13 The Christian is to be perfect in his development
Philippians 3:15 The Christian is to be perfect in his efforts and desires
Colossians 1:28 The Christian is perfect in salvation
Colossians 4:12 The Christian is to be perfect in obedience
2 Timothy 3:17 The Christian is to be perfect in instruction
Hebrews 2:10 CHRIST is perfect in His experience ( 5:9)
Hebrews 12:23 The Christian is perfect in the culmination
James 1:4 The Christian is to be perfect in patience
James 3:2 The Christian is to be perfect in conversation
1 Peter 5:10 The Christian is to be perfect in his training
The word "perfect" as it pertains to the Christian always refers to the subject under consideration. The word is never used in connection with the Christian being sinless, or with all sin eradicated, nor anything else that pertains to the character. It always pertains to the conduct. The word is used in the Old Testament, Isaiah 42:19 in regard to the attitude of GOD's child toward temptation, the call of the world, and the attractions which Satan offers. GOD always indicates that His child can be perfect in his attitudes, not in sinlessness.
Morrish Bible Dictionary [4]
The principal words in the N.T. thus translated are τέλειόω, τέλειος, 'full, complete, perfect.' The Lord Jesus was always morally perfect, yet scripture speaks of His being 'made perfect,' for instance, as the captain of salvation: antitype of Joshua, leader into the purpose of God. All had been completed in view of that office. Hebrews 2:10 . Though a Son, yet He learned obedience (not 'to be obedient') by the things which He suffered; and being made 'perfect ' (that is, glorified) after He had finished the work of redemption, He became the author of eternal salvation to all that obey Him ( Hebrews 5:9 ): this may be the meaning of the words "the third day I shall be perfected." Luke 13:32 .
The disciples were exhorted to be perfect as their Father in heaven is perfect, for He sends His blessings on the evil and the good. Matthew 5:48 . By one offering Christ hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. His work consecrates them for the priesthood, Hebrews 10:14 : cf. Colossians 1:12 . Being 'perfect' is also applied to being a 'full grown ' man. Ephesians 4:13 . The same word is translated 'of full age' in Hebrews 5:14; and simply 'men' (of a ripe age) in 1 Corinthians 14:20 . The spirits of just men are made perfect. Hebrews 12:23 . Paul was not yet perfected, Philippians 3:12; yet in Philippians 3:15 he adds "as many as be perfect be thus minded." There are various applications of the term which can be gathered from the context of each occurrence, but in general it may be said to have reference either to the purging of conscience, which is indispensable to the service of God, or to intelligence of a true standard (dead and risen with Christ) as a necessity to testimony for Christ here.
King James Dictionary [5]
PER'FECT, a. L. perfectus, perficio, to complete per and facio, to do or make through, to carry to the end.
1. Finished complete consummate not defective having all that is requisite to its nature and kind as a perfect statue a perfect likeness a perfect work a perfect system.
As full, as perfect in a hair as heart.
2. Fully informed completely skilled as men perfect in the use of arms perfect in discipline. 3. Complete in moral excellencies.
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father who is in heaven is perfect. Matthew 5
4. Manifesting perfection.
My strength is made perfect in weakness. 2 Corinthians 12
Perfect chord,in music, a concord or union of sounds which is perfectly coalescent and agreeable to the ear, as the fifth and the octave a perfect consonance.
A perfect flower, in botany, has both stamen and pistil, or at least another and stigma.
Perfect tense, in grammar, the preterit tense a tense which expresses an act completed.
Per'Fect, L perfectus, perficio. To finish or complete so as to leave nothing wanting to give to any thing all that is requisite to its nature and kind as, to perfect a picture or statue. 2 Chronicles 8
-Inquire into the nature and properties of things, and thereby perfect our ideas of distinct species.
If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. 1 John 4 .
1. To instruct fully to make fully skillful as, to perfect one's self in the rules of music or architecture to perfect soldiers in discipline.
Webster's Dictionary [6]
(1): ( n.) The perfect tense, or a form in that tense.
(2): ( a.) Hermaphrodite; having both stamens and pistils; - said of flower.
(3): ( a.) Well informed; certain; sure.
(4): ( a.) Brought to consummation or completeness; completed; not defective nor redundant; having all the properties or qualities requisite to its nature and kind; without flaw, fault, or blemish; without error; mature; whole; pure; sound; right; correct.
(5): ( a.) To make perfect; to finish or complete, so as to leave nothing wanting; to give to anything all that is requisite to its nature and kind.
