Perfect: A Word of Completion

Hebrews 11:39–40

‘These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.’

This word card traces how ‘perfect’ first meant something finished or fulfilled. Latin ‘perfectus’ described work brought to its end, and the Greek in Hebrews follows the same idea of reaching a purpose rather than becoming flawless. Later French and English added the sense of purity, but the older meaning still sits behind many European translations. The photo from Langballigau Strand, taken as the day drew to a close, echoes that older picture of completion—a moment brought to its natural end.

Each word card set begins with an image that captures the theme of the word. The following cards trace its story: a main word card (or two, if extended), a junior version with a paler border, an etymological breakdown showing how the word travelled through time, and a list of sources. Some sets also include cards for related words or translations across other languages. Together they show where each word came from, how it changed, and what it still carries with it.