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צֶדֶק

𐤑𐤃𐤒

tsedeq

H6664 noun

SILEX Entry

Root צדק to be just, to be righteous, to be in the right

Definition

Righteousness, that is, the quality or state of being just, in accordance with an ethical, legal, or communal standard. Refers to just conduct, integrity, or conformity to a norm of fairness, specifically in legal, social, or religious contexts among Israelites. Can also refer more abstractly to justice or equity as a principle operating within community relations or divine-human interactions. In some contexts, denotes the outcome of such righteous action (just behavior or fair judgment), or the condition/state achieved through justice.

Semantic Range

righteousness, justice, rightness, integrity, equity, conformity to a standard, just or fair behavior, legal rectitude, communal fairness

Root / Etymology

Root: צדק. Derives from the verb צָדַק (tsadaq), meaning 'to be just, to be righteous, to be in the right.' The noun form denotes the abstract quality or the concrete outcome of actions considered just or correct according to a standard, whether in human or divine perception.

Historical & Contextual Notes

צֶדֶק is frequently used in legal contexts, often describing the standards expected of judges, kings, or the Israelite community at large. In poetry and prophetic literature, it denotes the abstract concept of justice as both a divine attribute and a human ideal. The term is often paired with מִשְׁפָּט (mishpat, 'judgment, justice'), highlighting the interplay between fair legal process (mishpat) and the underlying principle of justice or equity (tsedeq). Over biblical periods, the term remains relatively stable in meaning but may shade into ideas of 'vindication' or 'just deliverance' when God acts as judge. English translations range across 'righteousness,' 'justice,' 'right,' and sometimes 'equity,' but none fully convey the community-anchored and relational dimension of tsedeq in biblical Hebrew; the term is broader than later religious categories like 'piety' or 'rightness before God.' Not to be confused with צְדָקָה (tsedaqah), which, although related, develops into a term for charitable giving or righteous acts, especially in later Hebrew. Translations using 'justice' are often appropriate where the context involves social or legal relationships, whereas 'righteousness' is often chosen for personal or moral qualities, though the underlying Hebrew concept encompasses both.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from צָדַק; the right (natural, moral or legal); also (abstractly) equity or (figuratively) prosperity; [idiom] even, ([idiom] that which is altogether) just(-ice), (un-)right(-eous) (cause, -ly, -ness).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

צדק (ṣ-d-q) — to be just, to be righteous, to be in the right

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H139 אֲדֹנִי־צֶדֶק righteousness
H3087 יְהוֹצָדָק and Yahweh-has-made-righteous
H3136 יוֹצָדָק Yah Is Righteous
H6659 צָדוֹק to Righteous-one
H6662 צַדִּיק the just one

Word Forms

19 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6664-11 צֶ֣דֶק tsedeq HNcmsa righteousness righteousness 66
H6664-13 צִדְקֶ֔/ךָ tsideqekha HNcmsc/Sp2ms your righteousness your righteousness 10
H6664-02 בְּ/צֶ֖דֶק betsedeq HR/Ncmsa in righteousness in righteousness 9
H6664-16 צִדְקִֽ/י tsideqi HNcmsc/Sp1cs my righteousness my righteousness 6
H6664-19 בְ/צֶ֖דֶק vetsedeq HR/Ncmsa in righteousness in righteousness 5
H6664-18 וָ/צֶ֨דֶק֙ vatsedeq HC/Ncmsa and just and righteousness 4
H6664-04 הַ/צֶּ֔דֶק hatsedeq HTd/Ncmsa of righteousness the righteousness 3
H6664-17 צִדְק֑/וֹ tsideqo HNcmsc/Sp3ms his righteousness his righteousness 3
H6664-05 כְּ/צִדְקִ֖/י ketsideqi HR/Ncmsc/Sp1cs according to my righteousness as my righteousness 2
H6664-15 צִדְקֵֽ/נוּ tsideqenu HNcmsc/Sp1cp our righteousness our righteousness 2

Occurrences in Scripture

119 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6664-02 Leviticus 19:15 בְּ/צֶ֖דֶק betsedeq HR/Ncmsa in-righteousness in righteousness
H6664-11 Leviticus 19:36 צֶ֣דֶק tsedeq HNcmsa just righteousness
H6664-11 Leviticus 19:36 צֶ֗דֶק tsedeq-2 HNcmsa just righteousness
H6664-11 Leviticus 19:36 צֶ֛דֶק tsedeq-3 HNcmsa just righteousness
H6664-11 Leviticus 19:36 צֶ֖דֶק tsedeq-4 HNcmsa just righteousness
H6664-11 Deuteronomy 1:16 צֶ֔דֶק tsedeq HNcmsa righteously righteousness
H6664-11 Deuteronomy 16:18 צֶֽדֶק tsedeq HNcmsa righteousness righteousness
H6664-11 Deuteronomy 16:20 צֶ֥דֶק tsedeq HNcmsa Justice righteousness
H6664-11 Deuteronomy 16:20 צֶ֖דֶק tsedeq-2 HNcmsa justice righteousness
H6664-18 Deuteronomy 25:15 וָ/צֶ֨דֶק֙ vatsedeq HC/Ncmsa and just and righteousness
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