Integrity

in-teg'-ri-ti (tom, tummah): The translation of tom, "simplicity," "soundness," "completeness," rendered also "upright," "perfection." Its original sense appears in the phrase letom (1Ki 22:34; 2Ch 18:33), "A certain man drew his bow at a venture" margin "Hebrew, in his simplicity" (compare 2Sa 15:11, "in their simplicity"). It is translated "integrity" (Ge 20:5,6; 1Ki 9:4; Ps 7:8; 25:21; 26:1,11; 41:12; 78:72; Pr 19:1; 20:7), in all which places it seems to carry the meaning of simplicity, or sincerity of heart and intention, truthfulness, uprightness. In the plural (tummim) it is one of the words on the breastplate of the high priest (Ex 28:30; De 33:8; Ezr 2:63; Ne 7:65), one of the sacred lots, indicating, perhaps, "innocence" or "integrity" Septuagint aletheia). See URIM AND THUMMIM. Another word translated "integrity" is tummah, from tamam, "to complete," "be upright," "perfect," only in Job 2:3,1; 27:5; 31:6; Pr 11:3.

The word "integrity" does not occur in the New Testament, but its equivalents may be seen in "sincerity," "truth," the "pure heart," the "single eye," etc. In the above sense of simplicity of intention it is equivalent to being honest, sincere, genuine, and is fundamental to true character.

W. L. Walker

• → General scriptures concerning Ge 18:19; Ex 18:21; De 16:19,20; 2Sa 22:21; Job 10:7; 13:15,18; 16:17; 27:4-6; 29:14; 31:1-40; Ps 7:3-5,8; 15:1-5; 17:3; 18:20; 24:3-5; 26:1-3; 69:4; 73:2-22; 119:121; Pr 1:3; 2:2,5,9; 3:3,4; 4:25-27; 10:9; 11:3,5; 12:22; 14:30; 15:21; 16:11; 19:1; 20:7; 21:3,15; 22:11; 28:6,20; Isa 26:7; 33:15,16; 56:1; Jer 7:5,7; Eze 18:5,7-9; Mic 6:8; Zec 7:9; Mal 2:6; Lu 3:13,14; 6:31; 11:42; 16:10; Ac 23:1; 24:16; Ro 9:1; 13:5; 14:5,14,22; 2Co 4:2; 5:11; 7:2; 8:21; Php 4:8; Col 3:22,23; Eph 6:6; 1Th 2:4; 1Ti 1:5; 3:9; Tit 1:7,8; Heb 13:18; 1Pe 2:12; 3:16
• → See CHARACTER
• → See DISHONESTY
• → See FRAUD
• → See HONESTY
• → See JUSTICE
• → See RIGHTEOUSNESS
• → INSTANCES OF
  • Pharaoh, when he learned that Sarah was Abraham's wife Ge 12:18
  • Abimelech, when warned by God that the woman he had taken into his household was actually Abraham's wife Ge 26:9-11
  • Jacob, in the care of Laban's property Ge 31:39
  • Joseph, in resisting Potiphar's wife Ge 39:8-12
  • Joseph, innocent of the charge which caused him to be cast into the dungeon Ge 40:15
  • Jacob's sons, when accused by Joseph of robbery Ge 43:15-22; 44:7-16
  • The Egyptian midwives when commanded to destroy the newborn babies of the Israelites Ex 1:17-21
  • Moses, in taking nothing from the Israelites in consideration of his services Nu 16:15
  • Samuel, in exacting nothing from the people on account of his services 1Sa 12:4
  • David, in self-reproach for the cutting of Saul's robe 1Sa 24:5
  • David, in preventing foraging by his insurgent forces 1Sa 25:15
  • David, in his conduct while in refuge with the Philistines 1Sa 29:6,9; with 29:1-11
  • Workmen, who repaired the temple 2Ki 12:15; 22:7
  • Joab, when ordered by David to count the military forces of Israel 1Ch 21:6
  • Priests, who received the offerings of gold and other gifts for the renewing of the temple under Ezra Ezr 8:24-30
  • Nehemiah, reforming the civil service, and receiving no compensation for his own services Ne 5:14-19
  • The Rechabites, in keeping the Nazarite vows Jer 35:12-17
  • Daniel, in his abstemiousness (i. e. abstinent) Da 1:8-20
  • Daniel, in maintaining uprightness of character and consistent devoutness Da 6:4
  • Joseph, the husband of Mary, in not jealously accusing her of immorality Mt 1:19
  • Zacchaeus, in the administration of his wealth Lu 19:8
  • Nathanael, in whom was no guile Joh 1:47
  • Joseph, a counselor Lu 23:50,51
  • Peter, when offered money by Simon Magus Ac 8:18-23
  • Paul and Barnabas, when the people of Lystra desired to deify them Ac 14:12-15