The first occurrence of this expression is that of Gen. 6: 9, "Noah was a just man

and perfect in his generation". The last time the Hebrew word is translated "perfect" is

Ezek. 28: 15, the passage before us. Tamim occurs thirteen times in Ezekiel, and is

translated "without blemish" in that prophecy eleven times.

Satan as created was "without blemish". Of creation Scripture says that God did not

create it tohu and bohu, "without form and void", but that it became so (Gen. 1: 1, 2;

Isa. 14: 18). Of man Scripture says:--

So of the anointed cherub; at his creation he was perfect, the iniquity found in him

being the result of his own pride. Speaking of the Lord the Psalmist says, "there is no

unrighteousness in Him" (Psa. 92: 15). The word translated "unrighteousness" is the

same word that is translated "iniquity" in Ezek. 28: 15. It is set over against the word

This shows the condition into which Satan fell. From his original uprightness he

became unrighteous.

There are many words used for sin the Hebrew and the Greek, and several definitions

are given. There is one element common to many--a negation. Light is positive, its

negation is darkness. Righteousness is positive, sin is its negation:--

Rom. 3: 23 shows that sin "comes short", and the Hebrew word chata means "to

miss". The negation of perfectness could not have been discovered in Satan until he had

turned aside from the path of obedience and aspired to forbidden things. This iniquity is

seen from various angles in this chapter. It is closely connected with merchandise (16),

and traffic (18). It rendered the anointed cherub profane (16), and by it he had defiled his

sanctuaries (18). Its origin is given in verse 17:--

There is evident allusion to this passage in the words:--