Lexical Summary
tamam: To be complete, to be finished, to be perfect, to be consumed
Original Word:תָּמַם
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:tamam
Pronunciation:tah-MAHM
Phonetic Spelling:(taw-mam')
KJV: accomplish, cease, be clean (pass-)ed, consume, have done, (come to an, have an, make an) end, fail, come to the full, be all gone, X be all here, be (make) perfect, be spent, sum, be (shew self) upright, be wasted, whole
NASB:finished, destroyed, consumed, meet their end, perished, completely, ended
Word Origin:[a primitive root]
1. to complete, in a good or a bad sense, literal, or figurative, transitive or intransitive (as follows)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
accomplish, cease, be clean passed, consume, have done, come to an end
A primitive root; to complete, in a good or a bad sense, literal, or figurative, transitive or intransitive (as follows) -- accomplish, cease, be clean (pass-)ed, consume, have done, (come to an, have an, make an) end, fail, come to the full, be all gone, X be all here, be (make) perfect, be spent, sum, be (shew self) upright, be wasted, whole.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origina prim. root
Definitionto be complete or finished
NASB Translationall (1), all gone (1), all spent (2), been completed (1), blameless (1), blossoms (1), boil the well (1), came to an end (1), cease (1), come to an end (2), complete (2), completed (1), completely (3), consume (1), consumed (4), count (1), destroyed (6), end (1), ended (3), fail (1), finally (1), finish (1), finished (7), full (1), gone (1), lie (1), make an end (1), make your perfect (1), meet their end (4), met our end (1), perished (4), perished* (1), ready (1), run (1), show yourself blameless (2), spent (1), utterly (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
[], (Arabic
id., Phoenician , Syriac
derived species and derivatives; compare Late Hebrew = Biblical Hebrew (rare), Aramaic ,
perfect); —
Perfect3masculine singularGenesis 47:18 3t. (+ QrJeremiah 6:29); 3pluralDeuteronomy 2:16 +;2 Kings 7:13; 1plural (Ges§ 67dd)Numbers 17:28;Psalm 64:7;Jeremiah 44:18; (Lamentations 3:22 read Ew Löhr Bu);Imperfect3masculine singular (Ges§ 67g)Genesis 47:15;Ezekiel 47:12; 3feminine singularEzekiel 24:11 (Ges§ 67q; strike out Co),Genesis 47:18;1 Kings 7:22; 1singularPsalm 19:14; 3masculine pluralNumbers 14:35 +,Deuteronomy 34:8;Infinitive constructLeviticus 25:29 10t.;Isaiah 18:5; suffixJeremiah 27:8 7t. suffix; —
be finished, completed; the writing of wordsDeuteronomy 31:24,30 (see Dr.; J),Job 31:40; building of temple1 Kings 6:22, compare1 Kings 7:22;fulfilled, 's command (by obedience)Joshua 4:10 (E); as auxil. + finite verb =completely, wholly, entirely,Joshua 3:16 (E)were wholly cut off;Psalm 73:19entirely consumed; followed by infinitive:were finished in regard to, etc., i.e.were entirely passed overJoshua 3:17;Joshua 4:1,11 (JE)2 Samuel 15:24;Joshua 5:8 (E)entirely circumcised,Numbers 17:28.
be finished, come to an end, cease: the year,Genesis 47:18 (J),Leviticus 25:29 (P),Jeremiah 1:3; the years of have no endPsalm 102:28; days of weepingDeuteronomy 34:8 (P), compareLamentations 4:22; alsoIsaiah 18:5;Lamentations 3:22.
be complete, of number,1 Samuel 16:11.
be consumed, exhausted, spent: silverGenesis 47:15,18 (J); strengthLeviticus 26:20 (H); leadJeremiah 6:29 (Qr); breadJeremiah 37:21; fruitEzekiel 47:12; rustEzekiel 24:11.
be finished, consumed, destroyed: peopleNumbers 14:33 (J),Numbers 14:35;Numbers 17:28 (P; "" ).Numbers 32:13 (J),Joshua 8:24;Joshua 10:20 (JE),Deuteronomy 2:14,15,16;Joshua 5:6 (D),1 Kings 14:10;2 Kings 7:13;Isaiah 16:4;Jeremiah 14:15;Jeremiah 24:10;Jeremiah 27:8;Jeremiah 36:23;Jeremiah 44:12 (twice in verse);Jeremiah 44:18,27;Psalm 9:7 (but read ),Psalm 104:35.
be complete, sound, unimpaired, ethically,Psalm 19:14 ("" ; late).
Psalm 64:7we have completed (read probably );Jeremiah 27:8 (read with Gr ).
Perfect1singularEzekiel 22:15; 3masculine plural2 Samuel 20:18;Imperfect2 Kings 22:4; 2masculine singularJob 22:3 (Ges§ 67y);Infinitive absoluteEzekiel 24:10;construct, id.,Daniel 8:23 +Daniel 9:24 Qr (see Dr.); suffix (Ges§ 67v)Isaiah 33:1; —
finish, complete, perfect, a matter2 Samuel 20:18 (but
,come to an end, with interrogative, We Dr and others); flesh in cookingEzekiel 24:10.
finish, cease doing a thing, followed by participle (Ges§ 120b),Isaiah 33:1.
complete, sum up, with accusative money2 Kings 22:4 (other conjectures Klo Gr Gi); transgressionsDaniel 8:23; sinDaniel 9:24 (Qr; Kt ).
destroy uncleanness, withfrom,Ezekiel 22:15.
(of ): accusativeJob 22:3make sound thy ways.
Imperfect2masculine singular2 Samuel 22:26, withdeal in integrity with =Psalm 18:26 (late, see ).
Topical Lexicon
OverviewThe verb תָּמַם occurs about sixty-one times and consistently conveys the idea of bringing something to its full and proper end—whether a resource, a period of time, a work assignment, or a person’s earthly life. Because it speaks of completion rather than mere cessation, תָּמַם frequently marks decisive turning points in Israel’s history and in the lives of individuals.
Completion of Material Resources
Earliest occurrences deal with the exhaustion of money and grain in Egypt. “When the money in Egypt and Canaan was gone, all Egypt came to Joseph and said, ‘Give us food…’” (Genesis 47:15). The same language is repeated inGenesis 47:18. Here תָּמַם highlights human limitation and prepares the reader for God’s provision through Joseph.
The Passing of Generations
Moses recalls the wilderness years: “The time we took to come from Kadesh Barnea until we crossed the Zered Brook was thirty-eight years—until the entire generation of fighting men had perished” (Deuteronomy 2:14–15). תָּמַם punctuates covenant judgment; a generation’s end is not random attrition but fulfillment of the LORD’s oath (Numbers 14:35;Numbers 32:13).
Completion of Divine Commands
Joshua records, “When the entire nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the LORD said to Joshua…” (Joshua 4:1). The verb marks obedience brought to its goal, setting the stage for conquest. Similarly, Moses “finished speaking all these words to all Israel” (Deuteronomy 31:1, 24), sealing the covenantal witness of Deuteronomy.
Construction and Craftsmanship
In1 Kings 6:38 תָּמַם signals the temple’s completion: “In the eleventh year… the temple was finished in all its parts and according to all its specifications.” The same idea governs the summary statement of2 Chronicles 8:16, underscoring that sacred architecture must reach full conformity to divine pattern before worship can flourish.
Divine Judgment Consummated
Prophets employ the verb for the exhaustion of wrath. Ezekiel declares, “I will put an end to your lewdness” (Ezekiel 23:27), and Amos warns of a day when songs will turn to wailing “and in every place I will bring an end” (Amos 8:10). Judgment is not arbitrary; it comes to its appointed limit, demonstrating both God’s justice and His measured purpose.
Moral and Spiritual Wholeness
Although the adjective תָּמִים more directly expresses blamelessness, the verb supplies its dynamic background.Psalm 19:13 prays, “Then I will be blameless and innocent of great transgression.” The psalmist seeks not sinless perfection in isolation but a life brought to its intended integrity—completion in covenant loyalty.
Foreshadowing Ultimate Fulfillment
The Old Testament’s patterned use of תָּמַם prepares readers for the climactic declaration of Jesus Christ: “It is finished” (John 19:30). While the Greek verb differs, the theological continuity is clear: the redemptive work reaches its ordained end. The verb’s Old Testament trajectory thus amplifies confidence in Scripture’s unified message of promise and completion.
Ministry and Discipleship Implications
1. Perseverance: Just as the temple could not serve until fully finished, believers are called to press on until faith’s work is complete (Philippians 1:6).
2. Stewardship: Israel’s resources “were gone” when separated from Joseph’s mediation; churches today are reminded to depend on the greater Joseph for every need (Ephesians 3:20).
3. Mortality and Hope: Generational endings urge sober numbering of days (Psalm 90:12) but also encourage hope, for God’s purposes outlive any single generation.
4. Preaching: Moses “finished” declaring the law; faithful preaching today aims at bringing hearers to maturity, not merely imparting information (Colossians 1:28).
Pastoral Reflection
Every occurrence of תָּמַם reassures that history is not adrift. Whether the finishing of bread in a famine, the ending of an era in the wilderness, or the completion of Solomon’s temple, God controls both process and outcome. The verb invites believers to trust that what the LORD begins He unfailingly brings to completion—in personal sanctification, in congregational life, and ultimately in the consummation of His kingdom.
Forms and Transliterations
אֵיתָ֑ם איתם הֲתַ֣מּוּ הֵתַֽמּוּ׃ הָתֵ֖ם התם התמו התמו׃ וְיַתֵּ֣ם וְתַ֥ם וְתַ֨מּוּ וְתַמּוּ֩ וַֽיִּתְּמ֔וּ וַהֲתִמֹּתִ֥י וַיִּתֹּ֣ם וַתִּתֹּ֖ם וַתִּתֹּם֮ והתמתי ויתם ויתמו ותם ותמו ותתם יִתַּ֔מּוּ יִתַּ֖מּוּ יִתַּ֤מּוּ יִתָּֽמּוּ׃ יִתֹּ֣ם יתם יתמו יתמו׃ כְּהָתֵ֖ם כְּתָם־ כַּהֲתִֽמְךָ֤ כהתם כהתמך כתם־ תִּתַּמָּֽם׃ תִּתֻּ֖ם תַ֝֗מּוּ תַּ֖מְנוּ תַּ֙מּוּ֙ תַּ֜מּוּ תַּ֝֗מּוּ תַּ֣ם תַּ֣מּוּ תַּ֥ם תַּ֥מּוּ תַּ֭מְנוּ תַּם־ תַתֵּ֥ם תָ֔מְנוּ תָּ֑מּוּ תָּֽמְנוּ׃ תֹּ֣ם תֹּ֥ם תֹּ֨ם תֹּם֙ תֻּמִּ֥י תֻּמָּ֑ם תֻּמָּֽם׃ תֻּמָּם֙ תֻּמּֽוֹ׃ תם תם־ תמו תמו׃ תמי תמם תמם׃ תמנו תמנו׃ תתם תתמם׃ ’ê·ṯām ’êṯām eiTam hă·ṯam·mū hā·ṯêm haTammu hăṯammū haTem hāṯêm hê·ṯam·mū heTammu hêṯammū ka·hă·ṯim·ḵā kahatimCha kahăṯimḵā kə·hā·ṯêm kə·ṯām- kehaTem kəhāṯêm kəṯām- ketom tā·mə·nū ṯā·mə·nū tam tam- tam·mū tām·mū ṯam·mū tam·nū Tamenu tāmənū ṯāmənū Tammu tammū tāmmū ṯammū Tamnu tamnū ṯat·têm tatTem ṯattêm tit·tam·mām tit·tum tittamMam tittammām tittum tom tōm tum·mām tum·mî tum·mōw tumMam tummām tumMi tummî tumMo tummōw vahatimmoTi vaiyitteMu vaiyitTom vattitTom veTam veTammu veyatTem wa·hă·ṯim·mō·ṯî wahăṯimmōṯî wat·tit·tōm wattittōm way·yit·tə·mū way·yit·tōm wayyittəmū wayyittōm wə·ṯam wə·ṯam·mū wə·yat·têm wəṯam wəṯammū wəyattêm yit·tam·mū yit·tām·mū yit·tōm yitTammu yittammū yittāmmū yitTom yittōm
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