TEVET 6
Without Blemish
Tâmı̂ym
(Strong’s H8549) is the Hebrew word that has been translated here as
‘integrity’ – other translations read uprightly or blamelessly. The word tâmı̂ym is
used, for the most part, in connection with the sacrificial system, in
describing the requirements of each offering as perfect, without defect or
blemish (see Ex 12:5; Lev 3:1; Num 6:14).
Other words attributed to the meaning of tâmı̂ym are
complete, sound, mature and without blame.
How
does this relate to us, those of us who cling to the Elohim of Abraham, Isaac
and Jacob? To ‘walk’ has to do with our
everyday lifestyle, how we live our lives.
Someone who walks blamelessly is one who walks in integrity, and the one
who is mature is the one who is complete.
Bear in mind, please, that it is most generally throughout the course of
any given day that we interact with other people, and it is in how we interact with these people that
“walking with tâmı̂ym” is
critical.
One of
the definitions listed by Noah Webster for the word ‘integrity’ is “The entire,
unimpaired state of anything, particularly of the mind; moral soundness or
purity; incorruptness; uprightness; honesty. Integrity comprehends the whole moral character, but has a special reference to uprightness in
mutual dealings, transfers of property, and agencies for
others”[1] (emphasis mine). All of this has to do with living the Torah
lifestyle, first and foremost, and with the commitment to always bringing honor to the One who created us.
Further instructions
for interpersonal activity are found in a verse that most of us know well: “Do not take vengeance or bear a grudge
against the children of your people. And you shall love your neighbour as
yourself. I am יהוה” (Lev 19:18). When we
choose to love our neighbor, we typically do not steal, cheat, defraud, or
slander each other. And let us also
remember the admonition of “through love serve one another” (Gal 5:13). This is
the formula for “walking with tâmı̂ym”.
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