Tummah – Hebrew for Integrity

Tummah – Strong’s H8538 from H8537 – tomme – which is from H8552 – tâmam – a primitive root; to complete – to be complete, be finished, be at an end.

Tummah is integrity; a feminine noun and the feminine form of tomme. Appears 4 times in Job.

1. “he holdeth fast his integrity” (2:3); Brenton has “innocence”; CEV has “he hasn’t changed” ; “still faithful” (ERV); “still holds on to his principles” (GW);
2. “Dost thou still retain thine integrity?” (2:9) GW – “holding on to your principles;” GNB – “still as faithful as ever;” ERV – “holding on to your faith”
3. “till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me” (27:5) Brenton – ” my innocence;” CEV – “refuse to do wrong;” ERV – “will not be untrue to myself;” GNB – “I will insist on my innocence”
4. “Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity.” (31:6) Brenton – “my innocence;”

…and once in Proverbs 11:3

“The integrity (tummah) of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.”  (Proverbs 11:3)

In Genesis 20:5,6; 1 Kings 9:4; Psalms 7:8; 25:21; 26:1,11; 41:12; 78:72; Proverbs 19:1; 20:7 tom (H8537) is translated “integrity” in the KJV. It is also variously translated as upright, 2 uprightly, 2 uprightness, 2 venture (“But, a certain man, drawing a bow in his innocence…”), 2; end, 1; full, 1; perfect, 1; perfection, 1; simplicity, 1. Tom is never used on Job.

The person who is “upright” is honest and just; he adheres to standards of right, truth or justice and does not deviate from correct moral principles. tom is innocence which according to Webster is “unimpaired integrity.”

So tomme is unimpaired integrity; honesty and justice; adherence to standards of righteousness, truthfulness or justice and not deviating from correct moral principles.

• The LORD shall judge the people: judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me. (Psalms 7:8)
• Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.  (Psalms 25:21)
• Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide (waver).  (Psalms 26:1)
• The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness [hypocrisy] of transgressors shall destroy them.  (Proverbs 11:3)
• Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.  (Proverbs 19:1)
• The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.  (Proverbs 20:7)

The man of integrity walks securely but he who takes crooked paths will be found out (Proverbs 10:9).  The man who lives a life of integrity does not have to hide what he is doing. He is authentic and honest. His word is his bound. His actions and his words are not at odds. What he says he will do, he does. He is dependable and trustworthy. No one has to guess what he is thinking or what his motives are. He does not have to look around every corner to see who is coming to avoid the bill collector. He cannot be caught in a lie because he is not a liar. He is not manipulative and deceitful so he lives in the open with nothing to hide.

The integrity of the upright will guide him but those who are unfaithful will be destroyed by their duplicity (Proverbs 11:3). When the man of integrity is in the uncharted waters of life, he can avoid ruining his life because he lives by values and principles that he will not compromise on. The act as a sure guide, seeing him through tumultuous life events.

Better is the man who is poor but walks in his integrity than he who is perverse in speech and is a fool (Proverbs 19:1). “A blameless life is far more valuable than wealth, but most people don’t act as if they believe this. Afraid of not getting everything they want, they will pay any price to increase their wealth—cheating on their taxes, stealing from stores or employers, withholding tithes, refusing to give. But when we know and love God, we realize that a lower standard of living—or even poverty—is a small price to pay for personal integrity. Do your actions show that you sacrifice your integrity to increase your wealth? What changes do you need to make in order to get your priorities straight?” (LASB) Compare with Proverbs 28:6 – “Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness (tome – integrity), than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.” The ESV is more clear: “Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.” The wealthy man who has to lie, cheat and steal to get what he has is despised and avoided. No one wants to be in his company unless they are like him. Oh but, sadly, today there are more on his side then on the side of the godly. Hollywood, politicians and journalists all cheer for the rich man hoping to gain his favor and so to be enriched themselves. Would to God that integrity was valued by this lot. How much better the world would be! What a different world it would be if  hollywood, politicians and journalists would extol the virtues of integrity instead of the “crooked ways” that get all of the attention today.

A righteous man who walks in his integrity, how blessed are his sons after him (Proverbs 20:7). The man of integrity has the honor of being an example before the next generation. They can watch him and learn how to live a life of honor, respect and dignity. What more could anyone hope to pass along to those who will live after them? Money is all well and good. There is nothing wrong with a fine home and nice clothes assuming you did not have to sacrifice your integrity to obtain them. Oh, but of how much greater value are principles such as honesty, truthfulness and dependability!{[(|fnote_stt|)]}In an economic system that rewards such character traits, such a man will never be in want. I refer here to a capitalistic system such was we have in America. In a socialist economic system there are no such rewards. All, the lazy and dishonest receive what the honest, hardworking and industrious man receives. This is the evil in socialism!{[(|fnote_stt|)]} These are the values that a man of integrity has the privilege of instilling in the next generation as they hear him preach and then observe him live out what he preaches. Unlike the scribes and the Pharisees of Jesus’ day. Jesus was blunt and called them what they were – “hypocrites” (Mat. 6:2,5,16; 15:7; 22:18; 23:13,15,23,25,27,29; 24:51. He called them out because, “they say, and do not” (Mat 23:3 ). This is the best way to identify a hypocrite. They will always reveal themselves by saying one thing then doing another. They say that they will help, but then find an excuse not to do so. They say that they that they love God, but live like the devil. They claim to follow Christ but never darken the doors of the Church or pick up a Bible or do anything to promote The Kingdom of God on earth. They say one thing then do another. And then, hypocrites, “do all their deeds to be seen by others” (Matt. 23:5). This is all important to a hypocrite. They crave the notice and praise of others (Matt. 23:6-7). To accomplish this, they become like chameleons changing who they are to fit the circumstances and the audience. Our word “hypocrisy” is derived from the Greek, hypokrisis. This word referred to playing a part, as on a stage. In the Greek plays, one person could play many parts by the use of a mask that hide their true identity. By putting a mask over their face, a person could become any of a number of characters. This is the way the Bible views hypocrisy. The hypocrite has a mask on as it were and is not authentically who they really are but, rather, they are playing a part depending on who they wish to impress. And they are often successful in their sheraide. But, “the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart” (1Sam. 16:7). For this reason, Jesus warns us to “not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”  (John 7:24, ESV)