Original Word: צֶדֶק
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: tsedeq
Pronunciation: tseh'-dek
Phonetic Spelling: (tseh'-dek)
KJV: X even, (X that which is altogether) just(-ice), ((un-))right(-eous) (cause, -ly, -ness)
NASB: righteousness, righteous, just, righteously, justice, what is right, accurate
Word Origin: [from H6663 (צָּדַק - righteous)]

1. the right (natural, moral or legal)
2. (abstractly) equity
3. (figuratively) prosperity

justice, righteous cause

From tsadaq; the right (natural, moral or legal); also (abstractly) equity or (figuratively) prosperity -- X even, (X that which is altogether) just(-ice), ((un-))right(-eous) (cause, -ly, - ness).

see HEBREW tsadaq

Word Origin
from an unused word
Definition
rightness, righteousness
NASB Translation
accurate (1), fairly (1), just (10), just cause (1), justice (3), righteous (15), righteously (6), righteousness (76), righteousness' (1), rightly (1), vindication (1), what is right (3).

צֶ֫דֶק noun masculine^{Isaiah 1:21} rightness, righteousness; — ׳צ Leviticus 19:36 87t.; צִדְקִי Isaiah 41:10 8t., etc.; —

1 what is right, just, normal; rightness, justness, of weights and measures, אֵיפָה, אֶבֶן שְׁלֵמָה וָצֶדֶק Deuteronomy 25:15 a perfect and a just weight, ephah; ׳מאֹזְנֵי צ; ׳אַבְנֵי צ, ׳אֵיפַת צ, ׳הִין צ, ׳בַּת צ Leviticus 19:36 (H) Job 31:6; Ezekiel 45:10; ׳מַעְגְּלֵי צ right paths Psalm 23:3; ׳זִבְחֵי צ right peace-offerings Deuteronomy 33:19; Psalm 4:6; Psalm 51:21.

2 righteousness, in government:

a. of judges, rulers, kings, ׳שׁפט בצ Leviticus 19:15(H); ׳שׁפט צ Deuteronomy 1:16; Proverbs 31:9; ׳משׁפט צ Deuteronomy 16:18; ׳רדף צ Deuteronomy 16:20; ׳חוֺקֵק צ Proverbs 8:15; ׳מלך לצ Isaiah 32:1; ׳דבּר צ Psalm 58:2; also Proverbs 25:5; Psalm 94:15; Ecclesiastes 5:7.

b. of law, as מִשְׁמָּטִים Isaiah 58:2; Psalm 119:7; Psalm 119:62; Psalm 119:75; Psalm 119:106; Psalm 119:160 (ᵐ5, but ᵑ0 מִשְׁמַּט), Psalm 119:164; as עֵדוֺת Psalm 119:138; Psalm 119:144; as מִצְוֺר Psalm 119:172.

c. of Davidic king, Messiah Isaiah 11:4,5; Isaiah 16:5; Psalm 45:5, ׳דין דצ Psalm 72:2.

d. of Jerusalem, as seat of just government, עִיר הַצֶּדֶק Isaiah 1:26 city of righteousness; ׳נְוֵה צ Jeremiah 31:23; Jeremiah 50:7 (possibly these reflect an original god צֶדֶק, see מַלְכִּי צֶדֶק); יָלִין בָּהּ ׳צ Isaiah 1:21 righteousness used to lodge in her; compare ׳מְקוֺם הצ Ecclesiastes 3:16 the place of righteousness.

e. of God's attribute as sovereign Job 36:3, husband of Israel Hosea 2:21; ׳צ his personified agent Psalm 85:11; Psalm 85:12; Psalm 85:14, foundation of his throne Psalm 89:15 = Psalm 97:2; in his government Psalm 9:9; Psalm 65:6; Psalm 96:13 = Psalm 98:9, promise Isaiah 45:19, administration of justice Job 8:3; Jeremiah 11:20; Psalm 7:18; Psalm 48:11; Psalm 50:6 = Psalm 97:6, vindication of his people Psalm 9:5; Psalm 35:24; Psalm 35:28; raising up Cyrus Isaiah 45:13, calling his servant Isaiah 42:6; אֱלֹהֵי צִדְקִי Psalm 4:2 God of my righteousness (who vindicates me); his ׳צ is everlasting Psalm 119:142.

3 righteousness, justice, in a case or cause Job 6:29; Job 8:6; Job 29:14; Psalm 35:27; Isaiah 59:4; God ׳שׁפט כצ Psalm 7:9 judges according to righteousness; ׳גמל כצ Psalm 18:21; ׳השׁיב כצ Psalm 18:25; ׳שׁמע צ Psalm 17:1 ׳הוציא צ Psalm 37:6.

4 rightness, in speech, ׳דבּר צ Psalm 52:5 (opposed to שֶׁקֶר); ׳יַגִּיד צ Proverbs 12:17; כל אמרי פי ׳בצ Proverbs 8:8; ׳שִׂפְתֵי צ Proverbs 16:13.

5 righteousness, as ethically right Job 35:2; Psalm 17:15; Psalm 45:8; Proverbs 1:3; Proverbs 2:9; Ecclesiastes 7:15; Jeremiah 22:13; Ezekiel 3:20; Hosea 10:12 (read ׳מְּרִי צ, so ᵐ5 We Now); עלמים׳צ Daniel 9:24; ׳עשׂה צ Isaiah 64:4; Psalm 119:121; ׳פעל צ Psalm 15:2; ׳למד צ Isaiah 26:6,10; ׳בקּשׁ צ Zephaniah 2:3; ׳רדף צ Isaiah 51:1; ׳ידע צ Isaiah 51:7.

6 righteousness as vindicated, justification in controversy with enemies and troubles, deliverance, victory, prosperity:

a. of God as covenant-keeping, in redemption, בִּימִין צִדְקִי Isaiah 41:10, "" יֵשַׁע Isaiah 45:8; Isaiah 51:5, compare Isaiah 42:21; ׳בשּׂר צ Psalm 40:10; ׳אִמְרַת צ Psalm 119:123.

b. in name יהוה צִדְקֵנוּ, of Messianic king (vindicating people's cause and giving victory) Jeremiah 23:6; of city Jeremiah 33:16.

c. of people as enjoying ׳צ of salvation, "" יְשׁוּעָה Isaiah 62:1; "" כָּבוֺד Isaiah 58:8; Isaiah 62:2; ׳כהנים יִלְבְּשׁוּ צ Psalm 132:9; ׳שַׁעֲרֵי צ Psalm 118:19; ׳אֵילֵי הצ Isaiah 61:3.

d. of Cyrus, יִקְרָאֵהוּ לְרַגְלוֺ ׳צ Isaiah 41:2 (who) in victory calleth him at every step (Che^Hpt on whose steps attends victory, so Di Du).

Meaning and Scope

צֶדֶק (tsedeq) gathers into one term the ideas of what is right, straight, just, normal, and in full conformity with God’s moral order. It is used of character, speech, verdicts, measurements, social structures, and saving acts. Rather than a merely human ideal, tsedeq is the objective standard flowing from the Lord Himself and therefore remains immutable throughout redemptive history. About one-third of the occurrences describe God, one-third describe human obligation, and one-third speak of the righteous order God will finally establish.

Righteousness as Divine Attribute

The first note struck by tsedeq is doxological. “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne” (Psalm 97:2). He is “the Rock; His work is perfect; all His ways are justice, a God of faithfulness without iniquity, righteous and upright is He” (Deuteronomy 32:4). Divine righteousness guarantees that every promise, warning, and judgment in Scripture is trustworthy. When the psalmists appeal for vindication they ground their plea in the Lord’s tsedeq, not their own (Psalm 35:24; Psalm 50:6).

Covenantal Faithfulness

Righteousness is the relational fidelity God shows to His covenant and the fidelity He requires from His people. “The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of His loving devotion” (Psalm 33:5). Judges in Israel were commanded, “Judge the people with righteous judgment” (Deuteronomy 16:18). By insisting that the redeemed community mirror His tsedeq, God reveals that covenant privileges can never be divorced from covenant responsibilities (Isaiah 1:21-27; Micah 6:8).

Honest Weights and Everyday Equity

Practical righteousness extends to commerce: “You shall have honest scales, honest weights, an honest ephah, and an honest hin” (Leviticus 19:36). Similar instructions appear in Deuteronomy 25:15 and Proverbs 16:11. Tsedeq here guards the helpless from exploitation and places the fear of the Lord at the heart of economic life.

Righteousness in Worship

Acceptable worship is offered “in righteousness” (Psalm 4:5). Psalm 51:19 links “burnt offerings and whole offerings” with “righteous sacrifices,” teaching that ritual divorced from moral integrity is abhorrent (Isaiah 1:11-17; Amos 5:21-24). True worship involves aligning one’s life with God’s ethical demands so that sacrifice and righteousness harmonize.

Righteousness and Kingship

Royal ideology in Israel is saturated with tsedeq. The enthronement prayer of Psalm 72 petitions, “May he judge Your people with righteousness and Your afflicted with justice” (verse 2). Ideal kings “detest wrongdoing, for a throne is established through righteousness” (Proverbs 16:12). The “belt of righteousness” around the waist of the Davidic Messiah (Isaiah 11:5) anticipates the perfectly just reign of Jesus Christ, in whom the Old Testament hope is fulfilled (Romans 1:17; Revelation 19:11).

Prophetic Indictments and Promises

The prophets repeatedly expose unrighteousness:

• “They turn justice into wormwood and cast righteousness to the ground” (Amos 5:7).
• “Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands at a distance” (Isaiah 59:14).

Yet tsedeq also anchors prophetic comfort:

• “My righteousness draws near, My salvation is on the way” (Isaiah 51:5).
• “I have stirred him up in righteousness; I will make all his ways straight” (Isaiah 45:13).

The same word that convicts also consoles because God’s saving acts are themselves acts of righteousness.

Paths, Fruits, and Garments

Psalm 23:3 pictures the Lord guiding His sheep “in paths of righteousness.” Hosea 10:12 portrays it agriculturally: “Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of loving devotion.” Isaiah 61:10 celebrates it sartorially: “He has clothed me with garments of salvation and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness.” The diversity of metaphors underscores tsedeq as both direction and destination of the believer’s life.

Eschatological Realization

Old Testament hope culminates in a world where “righteousness and peace kiss” (Psalm 85:10) and the Judge “will judge the world in righteousness” (Psalm 96:13). Zechariah 8:8 foresees a restored Zion where the Lord reigns “in faithfulness and righteousness.” The New Testament explicitly locates that consummation in the return of Christ, but the foundation was laid in the Scriptures where tsedeq is a guaranteed future.

Ministry Implications

1. Preaching: Proclaim the gospel as the revelation of God’s righteousness (Romans 1:17) already sketched in tsedeq.
2. Discipleship: Call believers to walk “in the way of righteousness” (Proverbs 12:28), reflecting God’s character in every sphere.
3. Social Action: Promote equitable structures modeled on Israel’s just weights; defend the oppressed as mandated by Isaiah 1:17.
4. Worship: Encourage integrity in all offerings—praise, possessions, and service—so that worship is “in spirit and truth.”
5. Pastoral Care: Offer God’s righteous character as assurance to the afflicted and warning to the unrepentant.

Key Old Testament Passages (Representative Selection)

Leviticus 19:36; Deuteronomy 16:18-20; Deuteronomy 25:15

1 Samuel 12:7

2 Samuel 8:15

Job 8:3; Job 34:12

Psalm 4:5; Psalm 23:3; Psalm 45:7; Psalm 72:1-3; Psalm 85:10-13; Psalm 97:2

Proverbs 2:9; Proverbs 8:8; Proverbs 11:5-6; Proverbs 16:11; Proverbs 21:3

Ecclesiastes 3:16-17

Isaiah 11:5; Isaiah 32:16-17; Isaiah 45:19; Isaiah 51:5-6; Isaiah 54:14

Jeremiah 23:5; Jeremiah 33:15

Ezekiel 18:5-9; Ezekiel 33:12-16

Hosea 10:12

Amos 5:7, 24

Micah 6:8

Zechariah 8:8

Summary

Tsedeq binds the biblical account together: the righteous God creates a righteous order, calls a covenant people to live righteously, judges their unrighteousness, and in the fullness of time provides in the Messiah both the perfect display of righteousness and the means by which sinners may be declared righteous. Consequently, every pursuit of holiness, justice, and faithful ministry today is an echo of the Old Testament cry for tsedeq and an anticipation of the day when “the heavens will proclaim His righteousness, for God Himself is Judge” (Psalm 50:6).

בְּ֭צֶדֶק בְּצִדְק֔וֹ בְּצֶ֑דֶק בְּצֶ֖דֶק בְּצֶ֙דֶק֙ בְּצֶ֣דֶק בְּצֶ֥דֶק בְצֶ֑דֶק בְצֶ֔דֶק בְצֶ֖דֶק בַּצֶּ֣דֶק בצדק בצדקו הַצֶּ֔דֶק הַצֶּ֖דֶק הצדק וְ֝צֶ֗דֶק וָצֶ֑דֶק וָצֶ֖דֶק וָצֶ֙דֶק֙ וצדק כְ֭צִדְקְךָ כְּצִדְק֑וֹ כְּצִדְקִ֑י כְּצִדְקִ֖י כְצִדְקִ֑י כצדקו כצדקי כצדקך לְצֶ֖דֶק לצדק מִצִּדְקוֹ֙ מצדקו צִ֫דְקִ֥י צִדְק֑וֹ צִדְקִ֗י צִדְקִ֥י צִדְקִֽי׃ צִדְקִי֙ צִדְקִי־ צִדְקֵ֔ךְ צִדְקֵֽנוּ׃ צִדְקֶ֑ךָ צִדְקֶ֔ךָ צִדְקֶֽךָ׃ צִדְקָ֔הּ צֶ֑דֶק צֶ֔דֶק צֶ֖דֶק צֶ֗דֶק צֶ֙דֶק֙ צֶ֛דֶק צֶ֝֗דֶק צֶ֣דֶק צֶ֥דֶק צֶ֧דֶק צֶ֨דֶק ׀ צֶ֭דֶק צֶּֽדֶק׃ צֶּדֶק֮ צֶֽדֶק׃ צדק צדק׃ צדקה צדקו צדקי צדקי־ צדקי׃ צדקך צדקך׃ צדקנו׃ baṣ·ṣe·ḏeq baṣṣeḏeq batzTzedek bə·ṣe·ḏeq ḇə·ṣe·ḏeq bə·ṣiḏ·qōw bəṣeḏeq ḇəṣeḏeq bəṣiḏqōw beTzedek betzidKo Chetzidkecha chetzidKi haṣ·ṣe·ḏeq haṣṣeḏeq hatzTzedek ḵə·ṣiḏ·qə·ḵā kə·ṣiḏ·qî ḵə·ṣiḏ·qî kə·ṣiḏ·qōw ḵəṣiḏqəḵā kəṣiḏqî ḵəṣiḏqî kəṣiḏqōw ketzidKi ketzidKo lə·ṣe·ḏeq ləṣeḏeq leTzedek miṣ·ṣiḏ·qōw miṣṣiḏqōw mitztzidKo ṣe·ḏeq ṣeḏeq ṣiḏ·qāh ṣiḏ·qe·ḵā ṣiḏ·qê·nū ṣiḏ·qêḵ ṣiḏ·qî ṣiḏ·qî- ṣiḏ·qōw ṣiḏqāh ṣiḏqêḵ ṣiḏqeḵā ṣiḏqênū ṣiḏqî ṣiḏqî- ṣiḏqōw Tzedek tzidKah tzidKech tzidKecha tzidKenu tzidki tzidKo vaTzedek veTzedek wā·ṣe·ḏeq wāṣeḏeq wə·ṣe·ḏeq wəṣeḏeqInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts