What does תָּמַם mean in the Bible?
Tamam describes reaching an endpoint, being used up, coming to completion, or, in some contexts, showing integrity or completeness. The endpoint may be constructive, neutral, painful, or judicial.
Hebrew · H8552
תָּמַם
To complete , in a good or a bad sense, literal, or figurative, transitive or intransitive
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תָּמַםH8552
What does תָּמַם mean in the Bible?
Tamam describes reaching an endpoint, being used up, coming to completion, or, in some contexts, showing integrity or completeness. The endpoint may be constructive, neutral, painful, or judicial.
Reader summary
Full entry for תָּמַם (H8552) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H8552?
The BSB source-word alignment has 62 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include . . . (5), was gone (3), had finished (2), is gone (2), They will meet their end (2).
Where does תָּמַם appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 47:15. Its strongest book concentrations include Jeremiah (10), Joshua (9), Psalms (7), Deuteronomy (6).
What This Word Actually Means
Tamam describes reaching an endpoint, being used up, coming to completion, or, in some contexts, showing integrity or completeness. The endpoint may be constructive, neutral, painful, or judicial. Temple work can be finished, money can run out, a generation can perish, a period of mourning can end, and a person can be described as blameless. The verb does not make every completion desirable and does not mean that every hardship has reached God's disclosed final purpose.
Lamentations 3:22 uses a negated form to confess that the people are not consumed because the Lord's covenant mercies do not cease. That hope must not erase the book's grief. When the word is rendered perfect or blameless, context concerns wholeness or integrity, not autonomous sinlessness. Teachers should identify what reaches its limit, who acts, whether the clause is positive or negative, and whether the passage reports completion, depletion, judgment, preservation, or character.
How the Bible Uses It
Tamam gathers several kinds of endpoints: a task finished, resources exhausted, a people consumed, a period completed, or integrity displayed. The same completion idea can mark blessing, ordinary sequence, loss, judgment, or merciful preservation.
- 1Kgs.6.22
So he overlaid with gold the whole interior of the temple, until everything was completely finished. He also overlaid with gold the entire altar that belonged to the inner sanctuary.
The temple interior reaches the stated endpoint of its construction and overlay, a concrete completion within a larger building account.
- Gen.47.15
When the money from the lands of Egypt and Canaan was gone, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, “Give us food. Why should we die before your eyes? For our funds have run out!”
Money is exhausted during famine, showing that reaching an end can describe severe material depletion rather than successful accomplishment.
- Lam.3.22
Because of the loving devotion of the Lord we are not consumed, for His mercies never fail.
A negated form confesses that the afflicted people are not consumed because the Lord's mercies remain, preserving hope inside lament.
- Ps.19.13
Keep Your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless and cleansed of great transgression.
The prayer for blamelessness places completeness of life under divine restraint and forgiveness rather than human moral perfectionism.
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It. . .5×Deuteronomy 2:16, Joshua 5:8, Joshua 8:24, Psalms 9:6
was gone3×Genesis 47:15, Numbers 32:13, Jeremiah 37:21
had finished2×Joshua 4:1, Joshua 4:11
is gone2×Genesis 47:18, Isaiah 18:5
They will meet their end2×Numbers 14:35, Jeremiah 44:12
You show Yourself blameless2×2 Samuel 22:26, Psalms 18:25
a full1×Leviticus 25:29
and have been perishing1×Jeremiah 44:18
and have him count1×2 Kings 22:4
are blameless1×Job 22:3
are doomed1×2 Kings 7:13
Are these all1×1 Samuel 16:11
Are we all1×Numbers 17:13
came to an end1×Deuteronomy 34:8
completely1×Psalms 73:19
consumed1×Lamentations 3:22
cook1×Ezekiel 24:10
disputes were settled1×2 Samuel 20:18
end1×Psalms 102:27
fail1×Ezekiel 47:12
from beginning to end1×Deuteronomy 31:24
had been consumed1×Jeremiah 36:23
had completed1×Joshua 4:10
had died1×Joshua 5:6
had passed1×2 Samuel 15:24
had perished1×Deuteronomy 2:14
has reached its full measure1×Daniel 8:23
have vanished1×Isaiah 16:4
I have destroyed1×Jeremiah 27:8
I will be blameless1×Psalms 19:13
I will purge1×Ezekiel 22:15
is complete1×Lamentations 4:22
it is gone1×1 Kings 14:10
lies1×Numbers 14:33
or be consumed1×Jeremiah 44:12
they had all perished1×Deuteronomy 2:15
they had finished them off1×Joshua 10:20
they have perished1×Jeremiah 24:10
Thus conclude1×Job 31:40
to end1×Deuteronomy 31:30
vanish1×Psalms 104:35
vvv1×Joshua 3:17
was completed1×1 Kings 7:22
was completely1×Joshua 3:16
was completely finished1×1 Kings 6:22
was over1×Genesis 47:18
We have perfected1×Psalms 64:6
When you have finished1×Isaiah 33:1
will be consumed1×Ezekiel 24:11
will be spent1×Leviticus 26:20
will meet his end1×Jeremiah 44:27
will meet their end1×Jeremiah 14:15
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 47:15וַיִּתֹּ֣םtowas goneConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularGenesis 47:18וַתִּתֹּם֮towas overConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularGenesis 47:18תַּ֣םtois goneVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularLeviticus 25:29תֹּ֖םtoa fullVerb - Qal - Infinitive constructLeviticus 26:20וְתַ֥םtowill be spentConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularNumbers 14:33תֹּ֥םtoliesVerb - Qal - Infinitive constructNumbers 14:35יִתַּ֖מּוּtoThey will meet their endVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralNumbers 17:13תַּ֖מְנוּtoAre we allVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common pluralNumbers 32:13תֹּם֙towas goneVerb - Qal - Infinitive constructDeuteronomy 2:14תֹּ֨םtohad perishedNoun - masculine singular construct
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 47:15
Aligned rows62
Books represented16
Genesis3Leviticus2Numbers4Deuteronomy6Joshua91 Samuel12 Samuel31 Kings32 Kings2Job2Psalms7Isaiah3Jeremiah10Lamentations2Ezekiel4Daniel1
Source forms
תֹּ֥ם3xtōmNumbers 14:33, 2 Samuel 15:24, Jeremiah 37:21
תֹּם֙3xtōmNumbers 32:13, Jeremiah 1:3, Jeremiah 36:23
תַּ֥מּוּ3xtam·mūJoshua 5:8, Psalms 9:6, Isaiah 16:4
יִתַּ֔מּוּ2xyit·tam·mūJeremiah 14:15, Jeremiah 44:12
תֹּ֨ם2xtōmDeuteronomy 2:14, Joshua 5:6
תֹּ֣ם2xtōmJoshua 4:10, 1 Kings 6:22
תַּ֣מּוּ2xtam·mūJoshua 3:16, Joshua 4:1
תֻּמָּ֑ם2xtum·māmJoshua 8:24, Joshua 10:20
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural11xDeuteronomy 2:16, Joshua 3:16, Joshua 3:17, Joshua 4:1
Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct10xLeviticus 25:29, Numbers 14:33, Numbers 32:13, Joshua 4:10
Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural6xDeuteronomy 2:15, Deuteronomy 31:24, Deuteronomy 31:30, Joshua 8:24
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural5xNumbers 14:35, Psalms 102:27, Psalms 104:35, Jeremiah 14:15
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common plural4xNumbers 17:13, Psalms 64:6, Jeremiah 44:18, Lamentations 3:22
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular3xGenesis 47:18, Joshua 4:11, Lamentations 4:22
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural2xJeremiah 44:12, Jeremiah 44:27
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular2xGenesis 47:18, 1 Kings 7:22
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- People whose money, energy, or options are depleted need material care, not an accusation that their faith has failed.
- Calls to finish well must not pressure ill, grieving, disabled, or exhausted people to ignore truthful limits.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not claim that H8552 means spiritual perfection in every occurrence.
- Do not claim that every loss, death, or completed event reveals a specific divine reason.
- Do not claim that Lamentations promises immediate relief from the suffering it names.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. to complete , in a good or a bad sense, literal, or figurative, transitive or intransitive
Source Gloss
to complete , in a good or a bad sense, literal, or figurative, transitive or intransitive
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups3Aligned forms41
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense36×
Perfect2Kgs 7:13 · Deut 2:16 · Isa 16:4 · Job 31:40 · Josh 3:16 · Josh 3:17 · Josh 4:1 · Josh 5:8 · Ps 9:7 · Ps 73:19 · Gen 47:18 · Jer 6:29 · Josh 4:11 · Lam 4:22 · Jer 44:18 · Lam 3:2218×
Infinitive construct1Kgs 6:22 · 2Sam 15:24 · Deut 2:14 · Jer 1:3 · Jer 36:23 · Jer 37:21 · Josh 4:10 · Josh 5:6 · Num 14:33 · Num 32:1310×
ImperfectJer 14:15 · Jer 44:12 · Num 14:35 · Ps 102:28 · Ps 104:35 · Ezek 24:11 · Ezek 47:12 · Ps 19:148×
Hithpaelreflexive or reciprocal — the subject acts on itself or mutually with others2×
Imperfect2Sam 22:26 · Ps 18:262×
Hiphilcausative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action3×
Perfect2Sam 20:181×
Infinitive absoluteEzek 24:101×
ImperfectJob 22:31×
Word Origins
תָּמַם is a primitive root - no further derivation.
For the Preacher and Teacher
Tamam is an endpoint word whose theological force depends on what ends and how the passage evaluates that end. First Kings can use it for completed temple work. Genesis 47 uses it for money running out during famine, an endpoint that exposes desperation rather than achievement. In Lamentations 3, the negated verb confesses that grief has not become total annihilation because the Lord's mercies remain.
Psalm 19 connects blamelessness with prayer for protection from presumptuous sin, not with a claim of flawless independence. This range guards the church from easy slogans. Finishing a ministry project does not prove divine approval, depleted resources do not prove personal failure, and a painful ending should not be labeled God's disclosed purpose when Scripture has not done so.
Completion can invite gratitude, lament, repentance, rest, or renewed responsibility. God's faithfulness gives hope within unfinished grief, while human integrity remains dependent on His searching, forgiving, and preserving grace.
Anchor passage
Lam.3.22
Doctrinal connections
- God's covenant mercy preserves sufferers without denying the reality of lament.
- Completed sacred work remains accountable to God's commands and covenant purposes.
- Material depletion calls for truthful care rather than blame or prosperity formulas.
- Blamelessness names integrity before God, not autonomous or absolute sinlessness.
- Divine judgment and ordinary completion must be distinguished by explicit context.
- Creaturely limits can invite rest, dependence, generosity, and patient hope.
The Hebrew verb can be intransitive or transitive and may describe being complete, ending, being spent, consuming, or acting with integrity. Translation must attend to stem, negation, subject, and object instead of forcing every occurrence into the English word perfect.
From Old to New Testament
John 19:30 announces the completion of Jesus' saving work in its own Greek wording, and Philippians 1:6 expresses confidence that God will bring His good work to completion. These texts illuminate canonical themes of fulfillment and divine faithfulness, but neither supplies a lexical definition for H8552 or turns every endpoint into a type of the cross.