Loading...
righteousness, justice
Tsedek (along with the feminine form tsedaqah, H6666) is fundamental to biblical ethics and theology. BDB defines it as "rightness, righteousness" in various contexts: 1. **Ethical**: Right conduct, justice, integrity 2. **Legal**: What is right according to legal standard 3. **Theological**: God's righteous character and acts 4. **Relational**: Right-standing in relationship The word encompasses both the character of being righteous and the action of doing justice. God is the standard of tsedek; human righteousness is measured against his character and requirements.
righteousness (ethical)
Right conduct according to divine standard
justice (judicial)
Fair judgment, legal equity
righteous (divine attribute)
God's righteous character
to declare righteous, justify
“he believed YHWH, and he counted it to him as righteousness”
“paths of righteousness for his name's sake”
“by his knowledge shall the righteous one... make many righteous”
“YHWH Tsidqenu (YHWH our Righteousness)”
Tsedek is foundational for biblical theology: 1. **Imputed Righteousness**: Genesis 15:6—Abraham believed and it was "counted" to him as righteousness (Paul's argument in Romans 4, Galatians 3) 2. **Messianic Title**: "YHWH our Righteousness" (Jeremiah 23:6) is a messianic name 3. **Divine Attribute**: God's righteousness is both his character and his saving action 4. **Social Justice**: The prophets demand tsedek/mishpat (righteousness/justice) in society 5. **Servant's Work**: Isaiah 53:11—the Servant makes many righteous
Tsedek/Righteousness is apologetically significant: 1. **Imputation**: Genesis 15:6 establishes that righteousness can be credited to the one who believes—foundational for Pauline justification theology 2. **Messianic Title**: Jeremiah 23:6 "YHWH our Righteousness" implies the Messiah bears the divine name 3. **Isaiah 53:11**: The Servant "makes many righteous"—substitutionary atonement 4. **Counter-Missionary**: Jewish objections to "faith alone" must address Genesis 15:6 and the credited righteousness concept 5. **Prophetic Justice**: The prophets' demand for social righteousness demonstrates the ethical implications of faith
Modern scholarship has explored: 1. The forensic (legal declaration) vs. ethical (character) aspects 2. The relationship between righteousness and salvation 3. "Righteousness of God" as saving action or moral standard 4. The development from OT tsedek to NT dikaiosynē
צדק
ṣdq
to be righteous, just