The word ‘perfect’.
Of the 109 occurrences of the word “perfect” (as rendered in KJV English Bible), they reflect a dazzling array of original language words. There are fourteen different Hebrew words translated as “perfect” and ten different Greek words translated as “perfect”. Each of the original words has different meanings as well as carrying a wide range of possible individual tones, shadings and understandings. Even in one verse, such as
Ps 101:2, we find the word perfect used twice in our KJV Bibles. However, the first perfect means “whole, sound, healthful”, while the second perfect means “integrity”, which renders
Ps 101:2 differently than:
“I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.” KJV
This translation would frequently be interpreted as: I will behave in a way that is without error or flaw, so when will you (God) come to me? My heart will also be without defect, error or flaw. Or, some such rendering.
My translation of this same text:
“I will give heed to and follow the path (the way) of complete wholesomeness; Oh when will You come unto me? Inside my own house I will walk (live) my life in the integrity of my heart.” AWB
The interpretation could be something like this:
I will give heed to (take not of) and walk (live) in the precepts of your (God's) instructions for righteous living (Torah), requiring nothing else beyond your instructions. Therefore, tell me, when will you come unto me in true relationship? Even as I live out my life, within myself, I shall maintain my integrity (moral soundness, a life devoid of sin) before you.
See:
Job 2:3 And the LORD said unto Satan: ‘Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a whole-hearted and an upright man, one that feareth God, and shunneth evil? and he still holdeth fast his integrity, although thou didst move Me against him, to destroy him without cause.’
Job 2:9 Then said his wife unto him: ‘Dost thou still hold fast thine integrity? blaspheme God, and die.’
Job 27:5 Far be it from me that I should justify you; till I die I will not put away mine integrity from me.
In these passages, the English word, integrity is translated correctly from the Hebrew (H8538)תֻּמָּה : integrity
In
Job 4:6 "Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways?"
In this case the word 'uprightness' is used; from H8537, meaning
1) integrity, completeness
2) 1a) completeness, fullness
3) 1b) innocence, simplicity
4) 1c) integrity
5) The more correct translation should have been #1.
6) "Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the integrity of thy ways?"
Note that the English term, uprightness, as used in the KJV translation also means, "Righteousness as a consequence of being honorable and honest". So, while the English translators of the KJV of the Bible did not use the 'correct' English word in this case, they found a suitable substitute, that if properly understood, conveys the correct sense of the passage.
Anyway, this is the kind of exercise required in order to perform an acceptable translation and interpretation of the original language passages into a coherent English rendering. When the task includes taking the Greek and working backwards through the Hebrew to identify the original world view being presented (represented) and the religious context of a particular passage, the job becomes a little more difficult.
While I love working these kinds of problems, I do have a difficult time with Hebrew grammar, which is not surprising for me, as I have yet to master my second language grammar, English. Yes, English is not my native language, infantile gibberish is, and I didn't need any grammar to speak it - still don't!
Okay, I'm done.
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