Original Word: צָדַק
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: tsadaq
Pronunciation: tsaw-dake'
Phonetic Spelling: (tsaw-dak')
KJV: cleanse, clear self, (be, do) just(-ice, -ify, -ify self), (be turn to) righteous(-ness)
NASB: righteous, justified, justify, right, just, justifying, made your appear righteous
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to be (causatively, make) right (in a moral or forensic sense)

cleanse, clear self, be, do justice be turn to righteousness

A primitive root; to be (causatively, make) right (in a moral or forensic sense) -- cleanse, clear self, (be, do) just(-ice, -ify, -ify self), (be turn to) righteous(-ness).

Word Origin
denominative verb from tsedeq
Definition
to be just or righteous
NASB Translation
acquit (1), acquitted (1), declare you right (1), do justice (1), give him justice (1), just (2), justified (5), justifies (1), justify (5), justifying (2), lead the to righteousness (1), made your appear righteous (2), properly restored (1), proved right (1), proved...righteous (1), right (4), righteous (9), vindicated (1), vindicates (1).

[צָדֵק, צָדֹק] verb denominative be just, righteous; —

Qal Perfect3feminine singular צָֽדְקָה Isaiah 38:26; 2masculine singular צָדַקְתָּ Job 33:12; Job 35:7; etc.; Imperfect3masculine singular יִצְדַּק Job 9:2 +; יִצְדָּ֑ק Job 4:17; Job 11:2; 3feminine plural תִּצְדַּקְנָה Ezekiel 16:52 (ᵐ5 Co תְּצַדְּקִין, not Berthol Toy Krae), etc; —

1 have a just cause, be in the right, Job 9:15,20; Job 13:18; Job 34:5; in complaint Job 33:12; with מִן person Genesis 38:26 (J; of Tamar).

2 be justified, in one's plea Job 11:2; with עִם (man with God) Job 9:2; Job 25:4; ׳בי Isaiah 45:25; by witnesses Isaiah 43:9; by acquittal Psalm 143:2; Isaiah 43:26; by condemnation of opponent Job 40:8.

3 be just: of God, in his government, in charging with sin Psalm 51:6; of ׳מִשְׁמְּטֵייֿ Psalm 19:10.

4 be just, righteous, in conduct and character: of men Job 10:15; Job 15:14; Job 22:3; Job 35:7, with מִן compare, Job 4:17 (more than God; Dr at God's hand, מִן 2d), Ezekiel 16:52 (< ᵐ5 Co Pi`el).

Niph`al Perfect3masculine singular וְנִצְדַּק קֹדֶשׁ consecutive Daniel 8:14 the holy place shall be put right, in a right condition (Marti^Kau Buhl SS; Bev Dr Marti^Comm. be justified, its cause vindicated).

Pi`el Perfect3feminine singular צִדְּקָה Jeremiah 3:11; Imperfect2feminine singular תְּצַדְּקִי Ezekiel 16:51; Infinitive construct suffix צַדְּקֶ֑ךָּ Job 33:32; צַדֶּקְתֵּךְ (Ges^{§ 52p}) Ezekiel 16:52; צַדְּקוֺ Job 32:2; — justify: עַל צַדְּקוֺ נַפְשׁוֺ מֵאֱלֹהִים Job 32:2 because he justified himself rather than God (compare Qal 1); make to appear righteous Jeremiah 3:11; Ezekiel 16:51,52 (all with מִן compare); חָפַצְתִּי צַדְּקֶ֑ךָּ Job 33:32 I desire to justify thee (in thy plea, compare Qal 2).

Hiph`il Perfect1singular suffix הִצְדַּקְתִּיו 2 Samuel 15:4; 3masculine plural הִצְדִּיקוּ Deuteronomy 25:1; Imperfect3masculine singular יַצְדִּיק Isaiah 53:11; 1singular אַצְדִּיק Exodus 23:7; Job 27:5; Infinitive construct הַצְדִּיק 1 Kings 8:32 2Chronicles 6:23; Imperative masculine plural הַצְדִּיקוּ Psalm 82:3; Participle מַצְדִּיק Proverbs 17:15, etc.; —

1 do justice, in administering law 2 Samuel 15:4; Psalm 82:3.

2 declare righteous, justify, with accusative (ה)צַדִּיק Deuteronomy 25:1; 1 Kings 8:32 2Chronicles 6:23; רָשָׁע Exodus 23:7 (E) Isaiah 5:23; Proverbs 17:15; Justify accusers, by recognizing charge as just Job 27:5.

3 justify, vindicate the cause of, save, with accusative, Isaiah 50:8 (of God), with לְ of object Isaiah 53:11 (of servant of ׳י).

4 make righteous, turn to righteousness, Daniel 12:3, compare Aboth Daniel 5:26,27 Bev.

Hithpa`el Imperfect1plural נִצְטַדָּ֑ק Genesis 44:16 (J) how shall we justify ourselves, clear ourselves from suspicion?

Meaning and Range of Use

צָדַק expresses the act or declaration of being righteous, proving right, or causing to be right. It can describe (1) God’s own perfect rectitude, (2) His judicial verdict that declares a person or cause righteous, or (3) human efforts—legitimate or illegitimate—to secure a verdict of innocence. The verb appears in legal proceedings, covenant affirmations, prophetic promises, wisdom maxims, and personal laments, revealing a multifaceted biblical theology of justification and vindication.

Legal and Forensic Setting

The earliest clear occurrences are set in court-like contexts. Deuteronomy 25:1 instructs Israel’s judges “to justify the righteous and condemn the wicked,” establishing a paradigm for just jurisprudence. Solomon prays that the heavenly Judge will “condemn the wicked … and justify the righteous by giving him according to his righteousness” (1 Kings 8:32; 2 Chronicles 6:23). Exodus 23:7 warns magistrates not to pervert justice, for the LORD Himself says, “I will not justify the wicked.”

These passages provide the Old Testament foundation for the later Pauline exposition that God is “just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Romans 3:26), demonstrating that divine justification never ignores sin but satisfies justice.

Covenant and Redemptive Promise

Prophetic literature elevates the term from earthly courts to eschatological hope:

• Isaiah 45:25: “In the LORD all the descendants of Israel will be justified and will glory.”
• Isaiah 50:8: “He who vindicates Me is near.”
• Isaiah 53:11: “My righteous Servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities.”

Here צָדַק anchors the promise that God will bring His covenant people into right standing through the vicarious suffering of the Servant—anticipating the gospel revelation of Christ’s atoning work.

Personal and Ethical Dimension

Job wrestles with the tension between self-defense and reverence for God: “Though I were righteous, my own mouth would condemn me” (Job 9:20). In Psalm 51:4 David confesses sin so that God “may be justified when You judge,” acknowledging that divine vindication stands even when it exposes human guilt.

Proverbs 17:15 declares, “He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous—both are detestable to the LORD,” warning against moral relativism. Proverbs 18:17 observes, “The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him,” reminding believers that perceived righteousness must withstand scrutiny.

Warnings against False Justification

Isaiah 5:23 condemns leaders “who justify the wicked for a bribe,” and Micah 6:11 exposes commercial deceit: “Shall I count pure those with dishonest scales?” Jeremiah 3:11 records God’s startling verdict that “faithless Israel has proved herself more righteous than treacherous Judah,” illustrating that outward religiosity without repentance invites indictment rather than vindication.

Messianic and Eschatological Significance

Daniel 12:3 promises that “those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever,” linking ministry that directs sinners to God’s justifying grace with eternal reward. Isaiah 53:11 locates ultimate justification in the suffering Servant, preparing the way for the New Testament doctrine that believers are “justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24).

Pastoral and Ministry Implications

1. Assurance of Salvation: Believers may rest in the divine declaration of righteousness secured by Christ, echoing Isaiah’s promise that the LORD Himself vindicates His people.
2. Preaching and Evangelism: Proclaiming God’s readiness to justify the repentant frames the gospel call; Isaiah 45:22-25 provides both invitation and certainty of acceptance.
3. Counseling and Discipleship: The misuse of צָדַק—self-justification—remains a pastoral concern. Job’s struggle cautions against defending oneself at God’s expense, while Proverbs exhorts transparent integrity.
4. Social Justice: The judicial contexts urge the church to pursue fair verdicts and protect the innocent, mirroring the character of the righteous Judge.

Representative Occurrences

• Genesis 38:26 – Judah admits, “She is more righteous than I.”
• Exodus 23:7 – God will not acquit the guilty.
• Deuteronomy 25:1 – Judges must justify the innocent.
• 1 Kings 8:32 – Solomon prays for divine vindication.
• Job 9:2; 32:2 – The dilemma of justifying oneself before God.
• Psalm 51:4 – Divine righteousness upheld in judgment.
• Proverbs 17:15 – Abomination of justifying the wicked.
• Isaiah 45:25; 50:8; 53:11 – Promise of national and messianic justification.
• Jeremiah 3:11 – Comparative indictment of Judah.
• Daniel 12:3 – Reward for leading many to righteousness.

Across its forty-one appearances, צָדַק unfolds the consistent biblical testimony: God is righteous, demands righteousness, exposes false claims of righteousness, and graciously grants true righteousness through His redemptive provision—ultimately fulfilled in the Messiah.

אֶ֭צְדָּק אֶצְדָּֽק׃ אַצְדִּ֖יק אַצְדִּ֪יק אצדיק אצדק אצדק׃ בְּצַדֶּקְתֵּ֖ךְ בצדקתך הַצְדִּֽיקוּ׃ הצדיקו׃ וְ֭צָדַקְתִּי וְהִצְדִּ֙יקוּ֙ וְהִצְדַּקְתִּֽיו׃ וְיִצְדָּ֔קוּ וְנִצְדַּ֖ק וַתְּצַדְּקִי֙ וּלְהַצְדִּ֣יק וּמַצְדִּיקֵי֙ והצדיקו והצדקתיו׃ ויצדקו ולהצדיק ומצדיקי ונצדק וצדקתי ותצדקי יִ֝צְדַּ֗ק יִּצְדַּ֖ק יִּצְדַּ֣ק יִצְדְּק֥וּ יִצְדַּ֖ק יִצְדָּ֑ק יִצְדָּֽק׃ יַצְדִּ֥יק יצדיק יצדק יצדק׃ יצדקו מַצְדִּ֣יק מַצְדִּיקִ֔י מַצְדִּיקֵ֥י מצדיק מצדיקי נִּצְטַדָּ֑ק נצטדק צִדְּקָ֥ה צַדְּק֥וֹ צַדְּקֶֽךָּ׃ צָ֭דַקְתִּי צָ֭דַקְתָּ צָֽדְק֥וּ צָֽדְקָ֣ה צָדַ֑קְתִּי צָדַ֣קְתָּ צדקה צדקו צדקך׃ צדקת צדקתי תִּצְדַּ֣קְנָה תִּצְדַּ֥ק תִּצְדָּֽק׃ תִצְדָּ֑ק תצדק תצדק׃ תצדקנה ’aṣ·dîq ’aṣdîq ’eṣ·dāq ’eṣdāq atzDik bə·ṣad·deq·têḵ bəṣaddeqtêḵ betzaddekTech etzDak Etzdok haṣ·dî·qū haṣdîqū hatzDiku maṣ·dî·qê maṣ·dî·qî maṣ·dîq maṣdîq maṣdîqê maṣdîqî matzDik matzdiKei matzdiKi niṣ·ṭad·dāq niṣṭaddāq nitztadDak ṣā·ḏaq·tā ṣā·ḏaq·tî ṣā·ḏə·qāh ṣā·ḏə·qū ṣad·də·qe·kā ṣad·də·qōw ṣāḏaqtā ṣāḏaqtî ṣaddəqekā ṣaddəqōw ṣāḏəqāh ṣāḏəqū ṣid·də·qāh ṣiddəqāh tiṣ·daq tiṣ·dāq ṯiṣ·dāq tiṣ·daq·nāh tiṣdaq tiṣdāq ṯiṣdāq tiṣdaqnāh titzDak titzDaknah tzaDakta Tzadakti tzaddeKeka tzaddeKo tzadeKah tzadeKu tziddeKah ū·lə·haṣ·dîq ū·maṣ·dî·qê ūləhaṣdîq ulehatzDik ūmaṣdîqê umatzdiKei vattetzaddeKi vehitzdakTiv vehitzDiku venitzDak Vetzadakti veyitzDaku wat·tə·ṣad·də·qî wattəṣaddəqî wə·hiṣ·daq·tîw wə·hiṣ·dî·qū wə·niṣ·daq wə·ṣā·ḏaq·tî wə·yiṣ·dā·qū wəhiṣdaqtîw wəhiṣdîqū wəniṣdaq wəṣāḏaqtî wəyiṣdāqū yaṣ·dîq yaṣdîq yatzDik yiṣ·daq yiṣ·dāq yiṣ·də·qū yiṣdaq yiṣdāq yiṣdəqū yitzDak yitzdeKuInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts