Lexical Summary tsidqah: Righteousness, justice Original Word: צִדְקָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance righteousness (Aramaic) corresponding to tsdaqah; beneficence -- righteousness. see HEBREW tsdaqah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to tsedaqah Definition right-doing NASB Translation righteousness (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs צִדְקָה noun feminine right doing (Talmud, Old Aramaic; see Biblical Hebrew צְדָקָה, √ צדק); — ׳צ Daniel 4:24. Topical Lexicon Meaning and Scopeצִדְקָה (Strong’s 6665) expresses concrete, visible righteousness—right conduct that accords with God’s moral order and expresses covenant faithfulness. Unlike abstract virtue, the term highlights righteousness made manifest in deeds, especially toward the vulnerable. Primary Old Testament Usage Daniel 4:27 contains the sole occurrence: “Therefore, O king, may my counsel be pleasing to you. Break away from your sins by practicing righteousness, and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, so that perhaps your prosperity may be prolonged.” Here Daniel exhorts Nebuchadnezzar to demonstrate repentance through acts of justice and mercy. Righteousness is not presented as ceremonial precision but as ethical reform evidenced in tangible compassion. Contextual Setting in Daniel 1. Historical backdrop: Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the felled tree (Daniel 4:4-18) warns of impending humiliation. Theological Themes 1. Repentance Evidenced by Deeds Daniel’s directive echoes John the Baptist’s, “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance” (Matthew 3:8). Righteous actions authenticate inward contrition. 2. Social Justice Tethered to Personal Holiness By pairing righteousness with mercy to the oppressed, Scripture affirms that right standing with God translates into right treatment of people (compare Isaiah 1:17; Micah 6:8). 3. Conditional Warning and Grace Daniel’s “perhaps” underscores divine patience. God grants space for leaders—even pagan ones—to repent, yet holds them accountable when they spurn righteousness. Relation to the Wider Biblical Witness While צִדְקָה itself appears only in Daniel 4:27, the broader family of “righteousness” terms permeates Scripture: • Patriarchal era: Abraham “believed the LORD, and He credited it to him as righteousness” (Genesis 15:6). Historical Insights Babylonian kings prided themselves on justice rhetoric inscribed on steles, yet practiced oppression. Daniel’s use of צִדְקָה taps into this cultural vocabulary while re-defining it according to Yahweh’s standards, exposing the inadequacy of humanistic justice apart from divine authority. Ministry Implications • Preaching: Prophetic messages to secular powers must include both warning and an offer of grace grounded in God’s character. Practical Applications 1. Examine whether personal repentance is accompanied by restorative action. Christological Fulfillment Jesus embodies צִדְקָה perfectly: “He went about doing good” (Acts 10:38). At the cross He supplies the righteousness humans lack (2 Corinthians 5:21), and through His resurrection He empowers believers to “present your members as instruments of righteousness” (Romans 6:13). The call in Daniel anticipates the gospel reality that only in union with Christ can consistent, God-honoring righteousness flow. Contemporary Relevance Modern societies echo Babylon’s pride and neglect of the oppressed. Daniel 4:27 challenges individuals, churches, and nations to repent and to practice actionable righteousness. Where such obedience flourishes, divine favor follows; where it is resisted, judgment remains imminent. Forms and Transliterations בְּצִדְקָ֣ה בצדקה bə·ṣiḏ·qāh bəṣiḏqāh betzidKahLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Daniel 4:27 HEB: (וַחֲטָאָךְ֙ ק) בְּצִדְקָ֣ה פְרֻ֔ק וַעֲוָיָתָ֖ךְ NAS: now from your sins by [doing] righteousness and from your iniquities KJV: thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities INT: and sin by righteousness break your iniquities 1 Occurrence |