צְדָקָה
𐤑𐤃𐤒𐤄
tsᵉdâqâh
H6666 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
The quality or state of being just, righteous, or in conformity to an ethical or legal standard; frequently denotes social justice, fairness, or acts of righteousness, often in maintaining proper relationships within community or fulfilling communal and covenantal responsibilities. The term can indicate both an abstract quality and concrete acts or deeds reflecting that quality. In poetic and prophetic literature, it often appears as a parallel to 'mishpat' (judgment/justice), emphasizing equitable conduct, impartiality, or the fulfillment of one's duty to the community or the divine covenant. In some contexts, it also refers to generosity, almsgiving, or charitable deeds (especially in later usage).
Semantic Range
righteousness, justice, just or righteous act, moral virtue, social justice, conformity to ethical standards, fulfillment of communal or covenantal obligations, acts of charity (esp. postbiblical usage)
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root צ־ד־ק (צדק), which primarily signifies 'to be just, righteous' or 'to act in accordance with a standard of justice.' 'צְדָקָה' is the feminine noun formation indicating 'right conduct,' 'justice,' or 'righteousness' as an attribute or action. The root itself encompasses both legal and ethical connotations, expressing conformity to communal, covenantal, or divine norms.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, 'צְדָקָה' is frequently paired with 'מִשְׁפָּט' (justice/judgment), highlighting the expectation of both fair legal process and moral accountability in public life. During the monarchic and prophetic periods, the term increasingly reflects social responsibility—upholding the rights of the vulnerable and acting for communal welfare. In later biblical texts and in Second Temple period literature, 'צְדָקָה' begins to carry nuances of benevolence or charity, a meaning that becomes prominent in post-biblical (rabbinic) Hebrew as 'almsgiving.' English translations like 'righteousness' or 'justice' do not always capture the word's communal, covenantal, and at times judicial nuances. Modern associations with charity are postbiblical; in biblical usage, social justice and relational fidelity to Israelite covenantal norms are central. Contrasts with related terms such as "mishpat" (legal justice), 'chesed' (steadfast loyalty), and 'emunah' (faithfulness). Usage varies: legislative and legal in Torah, social-ethical in Prophets, and poetic praise in Psalms and Proverbs.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from צָדַק; rightness (abstractly), subjectively (rectitude), objectively (justice), morally (virtue) or figuratively (prosperity); justice, moderately, right(-eous) (act, -ly, -ness).
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
צדק (ṣ-d-q) — to be just, to be righteous, to act rightly
| 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
32 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6666-24 |
וּ/צְדָקָ֖ה | utsedaqah | HC/Ncfsa |
and righteousness | and righteousness | 31 |
H6666-12 |
צְדָקָֽה | tsedaqah | HNcfsa |
righteousness | righteousness | 30 |
H6666-29 |
בְ/צִדְקָתְ/ךָ֗ | vetsideqatekha | HR/Ncfsc/Sp2ms |
and your righteousness | your righteousness | 9 |
H6666-15 |
צִדְקָֽתְ/ךָ֨ | tsideqatekha | HNcfsc/Sp2ms |
Your righteousness | your righteousness | 8 |
H6666-04 |
בִּ/צְדָקָֽה | bitsedaqah | HR/Ncfsa |
by righteousness | in righteousness | 7 |
H6666-01 |
בְּ/צִדְקָתְ/ךָ֥ | betsideqatekha | HR/Ncfsc/Sp2ms |
in your righteousness | in your righteousness | 6 |
H6666-18 |
צִדְקָת֖/וֹ | tsideqato | HNcfsc/Sp3ms |
his righteousness | his righteousness | 6 |
H6666-14 |
צִדְקַ֤ת | tsideqat | HNcfsc |
righteousness of | righteousness-of | 5 |
H6666-08 |
לִ/צְדָקָ֖ה | litsedaqah | HR/Ncfsa |
as righteousness | for righteousness | 4 |
H6666-31 |
וְ/צִדְקָת֖/וֹ | vetsideqato | HC/Ncfsc/Sp3ms |
and his righteousness | and his righteousness | 4 |
Occurrences in Scripture
159 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6666-12 |
Genesis 15:6 | צְדָקָֽה | tsedaqah | HNcfsa |
righteousness | righteousness |
H6666-12 |
Genesis 18:19 | צְדָקָ֖ה | tsedaqah | HNcfsa |
righteousness | righteousness |
H6666-17 |
Genesis 30:33 | צִדְקָתִ/י֙ | tsideqati | HNcfsc/Sp1cs |
my righteousness | my righteousness |
H6666-24 |
Deuteronomy 6:25 | וּ/צְדָקָ֖ה | utsedaqah | HC/Ncfsa |
and-righteousness | and righteousness |
H6666-02 |
Deuteronomy 9:4 | בְּ/צִדְקָתִ/י֙ | betsideqati | HR/Ncfsc/Sp1cs |
because of my righteousness | in my righteousness |
H6666-29 |
Deuteronomy 9:5 | בְ/צִדְקָתְ/ךָ֗ | vetsideqatekha | HR/Ncfsc/Sp2ms |
for your righteousness | your righteousness |
H6666-29 |
Deuteronomy 9:6 | בְ/צִדְקָֽתְ/ךָ֙ | vetsideqatekha | HR/Ncfsc/Sp2ms |
in your righteousness | your righteousness |
H6666-12 |
Deuteronomy 24:13 | צְדָקָ֔ה | tsedaqah | HNcfsa |
righteousness | righteousness |
H6666-14 |
Deuteronomy 33:21 | צִדְקַ֤ת | tsideqat | HNcfsc |
righteousness of | righteousness-of |
H6666-19 |
Judges 5:11 | צִדְק֣וֹת | tsideqot | HNcfpc |
righteous deeds | righteous acts of |