1343. dikaiosuné
Lexical Summary
dikaiosuné: Righteousness, justice

Original Word: δικαιοσύνη
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: dikaiosuné
Pronunciation: dee-kah-yos-oo'-nay
Phonetic Spelling: (dik-ah-yos-oo'-nay)
KJV: righteousness
NASB: righteousness, right
Word Origin: [from G1342 (δίκαιος - righteous)]

1. equity (of character or act)
2. (specially) Christian justification

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
righteousness.

From dikaios; equity (of character or act); specially (Christian) justification -- righteousness.

see GREEK dikaios

HELPS Word-studies

1343 dikaiosýnē (from 1349 /díkē, "a judicial verdict") – properly, judicial approval (the verdict of approval); in the NT, the approval of God ("divine approval").

1343 /dikaiosýnē ("divine approval") is the regular NT term used for righteousness ("God's judicial approval"). 1343 /dikaiosýnē ("the approval of God") refers to what is deemed right by the Lord (after His examination), i.e. what is approved in His eyes.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from dikaios
Definition
righteousness, justice
NASB Translation
right (1), righteousness (90).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 1343: δικαιοσύνη

δικαιοσύνη, δικαιοσύνης, (δίκαιος); most frequently in the Sept. for צֶדֶק and צְדָקָה, rarely for חֶסֶד; "the virtue or quality or state of one who is δίκαιος;"

1. in the broad sense, the state of him who is such as he ought to be, righteousness (German Rechtbeschaffenheit); the condition acceptable to God (German Gottwohlgefalligkeit);

a. universally: λόγος τῆς δικαιοσύνης (like λόγος τῆς καταλλαγῆς, λόγος τοῦ σταυροῦ), the doctrine concerning the way in which man may attain to a state approved of God, Hebrews 5:13; βασιλεύς δικαιοσύνης, the king who himself has the approbation of God, and who renders his subjects acceptable to God, Hebrews 7:2; cf. Bleek at the passage b. "integrity, virtue, purity of life, uprightness, correctness in thinking, feeling, and acting: Matthew 3:15; Matthew 5:6, 10, 20; Matthew 6:1 G L T Tr, WH; Acts 13:10; Acts 24:25; Romans 6:13, 16, 18-20 (opposed to ἁμαρτία, ἀνομία, and ἀκαθαρσία); Romans 8:10 (opposed to ἁμαρτία); Romans 14:17 (? (see c.)); 2 Corinthians 6:7, 14 (opposed to ἀνομία, as in Xenophon, mem. 1, 2, 24); 2 Corinthians 11:15; Ephesians 5:9; Ephesians 6:14; Philippians 1:11; 1 Timothy 6:11; 2 Timothy 2:22; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Timothy 4:8; Titus 3:5; Hebrews 1:9; Hebrews 12:11; James 3:18; 1 Peter 3:14; 2 Peter 2:5, 21; 2 Peter 3:13, and very often in the O. T.; ἐν ὁδῷ δικαιοσύνης, walking in the way of righteousness equivalent to an upright, righteous, man, Matthew 21:32; τοῦ Θεοῦ, the righteousness which God demands, Matthew 6:33; James 1:20; of righteousness which manifests itself in "beneficence: 2 Corinthians 9:9f (cf. Tobit 14:11; Gesenius, Thesaurus iii., p. 1151; so Chaldean צִדְקָה, Daniel 4:24, and in the Talmud and rabbinical writings (Buxtorf. col. 1891 (p. 941, Fischer edition); cf. Winer's Grammar, 32)); where δίκαιος καί ὁσιότης are connected — Luke 1:75; Ephesians 4:24, (Wis. 9:3; Clement of Rome, 1 Cor. 48, 4 [ET] and occasionally in secular writings) — the former denotes right conduct toward men, the latter piety toward God (cf. Plato, Gorgias, p. 507 b.; Grimm on Sap., p. 181f; (cf. Trench, § 88, p. 328f; for additional examples see Wetstein (1752) on Ephesians, the passage cited; cf. ὅσιος); εὐσέβεια καί δικαιοσύνη, Diodorus 1, 2); ποιεῖν τήν δικαιοσύνην, to do righteousness, to live uprightly: 1 John 2:29; 1 John 3:7; 1 John 3:10 (not Lachmann); and in Revelation 22:11 according to the text now accepted; in like manner ἐργάζεσθαι δικαιοσύνην, Acts 10:35; Hebrews 11:33; ζῆν τῇ δικαιοσύνη, to live, devote the life, to righteousness, 1 Peter 2:24; πληροῦν πᾶσαν δικαιοσύνην, to perform completely whatever is right, Matthew 3:15. When affirmed of Christ, δικαιοσύνη denotes his perfect moral purity, integrity, sinlessness: John 16:8, 10; when used of God, his holiness: Romans 3:5, 25f.

c. in the writings of Paul δικαιοσύνη has a peculiar meaning, opposed to the views of the Jews and Judaizing Christians. To understand this meaning, the following facts especially must be kept in view: the Jews as a people, and very many who had become converts from among them to Christianity, supposed that they secured the favor of God by works conformed to the requirements of the Mosaic law, as though by way of merit; and that they would thus attain to eternal salvation. But this law demands perfect obedience to all its precepts, and threatens condemnation to those who do not render such obedience (Galatians 3:10, 12). Obedience of this kind no one has rendered (Romans 3:10), neither Jews nor Gentiles (Romans 1:24-2:1) — for with the latter the natural law of right written on their souls takes the place of the Mosaic law (Romans 2:14f). On this account Paul proclaims the love of God, in that by giving up Christ, his Son, to die as an expiatory sacrifice for the sins of men he has attested his grace and good-will to mankind, so that they can hope for salvation as if they had not sinned. But the way to obtain this hope, he teaches, is only through faith (see πίστις (especially 1 b. and d.)), by which a man appropriates that grace of God revealed and pledged in Christ; and this faith is reckoned by God to the man as δικαιοσύνη; that is to say, δικαιοσύνη denotes "the state acceptable to God which becomes a sinner's possession through that faith by which he embraces the grace of God offered him in the expiatory death of Jesus Christ (see δικαιόω, 3 b.). In this sense δικαιοσύνη is used without an adjunct in Romans 4:5f, 11; Romans 5:17, 21; Romans 9:30; Romans 14:11 (? (see b.)); 1 Corinthians 1:30; Galatians 5:5; δικαιοσύνη Θεοῦ, τοῦ Θεοῦ δικαιοσύνη, the righteousness which God ascribes, what God declares to be righteousness (Winer's Grammar, 186 (175)), Romans 1:17; Romans 3:21; Romans 10:3; by a pregnant use, equivalent to that divine arrangement by which God leads men to a state acceptable to him, Romans 10:4; as abstract for concrete, equivalent to those whom God accounts righteous, 2 Corinthians 5:21; δικαιοσύνη Θεοῦ διά πίστεως, Romans 3:22; δικαιοσύνη τῆς πίστεως, which is acquired by faith, or seen in faith, Romans 4:11, 13; ἐκ Θεοῦ δικαιοσύνη which comes from God, i. e. is adjudged, imputed, Philippians 3:9 (wbere the addition ἐπί τῇ πίστει depends on ἔχων, having ... founded upon faith (cf. Winer's Grammar, 137 (130); 392 (367); yet cf. Ellicott, at the passage)); ἐκ πίστεως δικαιοσύνη which comes from faith, Romans 9:30; Romans 10:6; διά πίστεως Χριστοῦ, Philippians 3:9; κατά πίστιν δικαιοσύνη according to, appropriate to, faith, Hebrews 11:7 (but it should be kept in mind that the conception of 'faith' in the Epistle to the Hebrews is broader than in Paul's writings (cf. e. g. Kurtz, at the passage)); Christ is called δικαιοσύνη, as being the one without whom there is no righteousness, as the author of righteousness, 1 Corinthians 1:30; εἰς δικαιοσύνην, unto righteousness as the result, to obtain righteousness, Romans 10:4, 10; πίστις λογίζεται τίνι εἰς δικαιοσύνην, faith is reckoned to one for righteousness, i. e. is so taken into account, that righteousness is ascribed to it or recognized in it: Romans 4:3, 6, 9, 22; Galatians 3:6; James 2:23; διακονία τῆς δικαιοσύνης (see διακονία, 2 b.), 2 Corinthians 3:9. Opposed to this δικαιοσύνη, arising from faith, is ἐκ νόμου δικαιοσύνη, a state acceptable to God which is supposed to result from obedience to the law, Romans 10:5f; δικαιοσύνη ἐν νόμῳ relying on the law, i. e. on imaginary obedience to it, Philippians 3:6; ἰδίᾳ δικαιοσύνη and ἐμή ἐδικαιοσυνη, such as one supposes that he has acquired for himself by his own works, Romans 10:3 Philippians 3:9, cf. Galatians 2:21; Galatians 3:21.

2. in a closer sense, justice, or the virtue which gives each one his due; it is said to belong to God and Christ, as bestowing ἰσότιμον πίστιν upon all Christians impartially, 2 Peter 1:1; of judicial justice, Romans 9:28 R G Tr marginal reading in brackets; κρίνειν ἐν δικαιοσύνη, Acts 17:31; Revelation 19:11. (See references under the word δικαιόω at the end.)

Topical Lexicon
Overview

The noun δικαιοσύνη appears ninety-two times in the Greek New Testament. It gathers the rich Old Testament background of “rightness” before God (Hebrew ṣĕdāqâ) and carries it forward into the gospel era where it denotes (1) the flawless moral integrity of God, (2) the saving status granted to believers in Christ, and (3) the Spirit-wrought life that conforms to God’s standards.

Divine Attribute and Saving Action

Scripture joins God’s righteousness to His faithfulness and justice. “The Lord is righteous; He loves justice” (Psalm 11:7). In Romans 3:25-26 Paul displays the cross as the scene where God proves Himself “just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” Thus δικαιοσύνη is never a cold abstraction; it is God acting consistently with His own character to rescue sinners while remaining morally perfect.

Righteousness Revealed in the Gospel

“For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith” (Romans 1:17). The revelation is both vertical (God’s character unveiled) and horizontal (His saving gift bestowed). The resurrection publicly confirms this righteous intervention (Acts 17:31).

Imputed Righteousness through Faith

Paul reaches back to Genesis 15:6—“Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness” (Romans 4:3)—to demonstrate that right standing before God has always been graciously counted, never earned. 2 Corinthians 5:21 states the great exchange: “God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” Philippians 3:9 contrasts “a righteousness of my own from the law” with “that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness from God on the basis of faith.”

Transforming Ethical Righteousness

The New Testament refuses to sever status from conduct. Having been “set free from sin, you became slaves to righteousness” (Romans 6:18). Jesus blesses “those who hunger and thirst for righteousness” (Matthew 5:6) and warns against merely external piety (Matthew 6:1). John insists, “The one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous” (1 John 3:7). James speaks of “the fruit of righteousness that is sown in peace by those who make peace” (James 3:18).

Righteousness and the Law

Paul affirms the law’s goodness yet exposes human inability: Israel “pursued a law of righteousness” but “did not attain it” (Romans 9:31). Christ is therefore “the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes” (Romans 10:4). In Galatians 2:21 he states, “If righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.” Nevertheless, the Spirit fulfills the law’s righteous requirement in us (Romans 8:4).

Eschatological Righteousness and Final Judgment

Future hope is cast in righteous terms: believers “look forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13). The conquering Rider judges “and wages war in righteousness” (Revelation 19:11). A “crown of righteousness” awaits all who love Christ’s appearing (2 Timothy 4:8).

Righteousness in Worship and Prayer

Jesus urges disciples: “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). The kingdom is “righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17). Believers are clothed with “the breastplate of righteousness” (Ephesians 6:14), guarding heart and conscience in spiritual warfare.

Righteousness in Suffering and Persecution

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake” (Matthew 5:10). Peter encourages endurance when believers suffer “for doing what is right” (1 Peter 3:14), pointing to Christ “who Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness” (1 Peter 2:24).

Pastoral and Discipleship Implications

• Preaching: Proclaim God’s righteous character and the gifting of righteousness in Christ (Romans 3–4).
• Discipleship: Train believers “in righteousness” through Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16).
• Mission: Like Paul before Felix, reason “about righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment” (Acts 24:25).
• Mercy: Demonstrate righteousness by impartial generosity; God “multiplies your seed and increases the harvest of your righteousness” (2 Corinthians 9:10).

Historical Theology and Church Application

The early church treasured δικαιοσύνη as both forensic declaration and moral imperative. Augustine highlighted its grace; the Reformers, reading Romans, clarified justification by faith alone while stressing sanctification as its fruit. Contemporary ministry continues to balance the unearned gift with the Spirit’s transformative work, urging believers to “pursue righteousness” (1 Timothy 6:11) until the day when justice and righteousness cover the earth as the waters cover the sea.

Forms and Transliterations
δικαιοσύναι δικαιοσύναις δικαιοσύνας δικαιοσυνη δικαιοσύνη δικαιοσύνῃ δικαιοσυνην δικαιοσύνην δικαιοσυνης δικαιοσύνης δικαιοσυνών dikaiosune dikaiosunē dikaiosunen dikaiosunēn dikaiosunes dikaiosunēs dikaiosyne dikaiosynē dikaiosýne dikaiosýnē dikaiosýnei dikaiosýnēi dikaiosynen dikaiosynēn dikaiosýnen dikaiosýnēn dikaiosynes dikaiosynēs dikaiosýnes dikaiosýnēs
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Matthew 3:15 N-AFS
GRK: πληρῶσαι πᾶσαν δικαιοσύνην τότε ἀφίησιν
NAS: all righteousness. Then
KJV: all righteousness. Then
INT: to fulfill all righteousness Then he permits

Matthew 5:6 N-AFS
GRK: διψῶντες τὴν δικαιοσύνην ὅτι αὐτοὶ
NAS: and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
KJV: thirst after righteousness: for
INT: thirst for righteousness for they

Matthew 5:10 N-GFS
GRK: δεδιωγμένοι ἕνεκεν δικαιοσύνης ὅτι αὐτῶν
NAS: for the sake of righteousness, for theirs
KJV: for righteousness' sake: for
INT: have been persecuted on account of righteousness for theirs

Matthew 5:20 N-NFS
GRK: ὑμῶν ἡ δικαιοσύνη πλεῖον τῶν
NAS: to you that unless your righteousness surpasses
KJV: your righteousness shall exceed
INT: your righteousness above [that] of the

Matthew 6:1 N-AFS
GRK: δὲ τὴν δικαιοσύνην ὑμῶν μὴ
NAS: of practicing your righteousness before
INT: moreover the righteousness of you not

Matthew 6:33 N-AFS
GRK: καὶ τὴν δικαιοσύνην αὐτοῦ καὶ
NAS: His kingdom and His righteousness, and all
KJV: and his righteousness; and all
INT: and the righteousness of him and

Matthew 21:32 N-GFS
GRK: ἐν ὁδῷ δικαιοσύνης καὶ οὐκ
NAS: to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe
KJV: the way of righteousness, and
INT: in [the] way of righteousness and not

Luke 1:75 N-DFS
GRK: ὁσιότητι καὶ δικαιοσύνῃ ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ
NAS: In holiness and righteousness before
KJV: holiness and righteousness before him,
INT: holiness and righteousness before him

John 16:8 N-GFS
GRK: καὶ περὶ δικαιοσύνης καὶ περὶ
NAS: sin and righteousness and judgment;
KJV: and of righteousness, and of
INT: and concerning righteousness and concerning

John 16:10 N-GFS
GRK: περὶ δικαιοσύνης δέ ὅτι
NAS: and concerning righteousness, because
KJV: Of righteousness, because I go
INT: concerning righteousness moreover because

Acts 10:35 N-AFS
GRK: καὶ ἐργαζόμενος δικαιοσύνην δεκτὸς αὐτῷ
NAS: Him and does what is right is welcome
KJV: and worketh righteousness, is accepted
INT: and works righteousness acceptable to him

Acts 13:10 N-GFS
GRK: ἐχθρὲ πάσης δικαιοσύνης οὐ παύσῃ
NAS: of all righteousness, will you not cease
KJV: of all righteousness, wilt thou
INT: enemy of all righteousness not will you cease

Acts 17:31 N-DFS
GRK: οἰκουμένην ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ ἐν ἀνδρὶ
NAS: the world in righteousness through
KJV: in righteousness by
INT: world in righteousness by a man

Acts 24:25 N-GFS
GRK: αὐτοῦ περὶ δικαιοσύνης καὶ ἐγκρατείας
NAS: But as he was discussing righteousness, self-control
KJV: of righteousness, temperance,
INT: he concerning righteousness and self-control

Romans 1:17 N-NFS
GRK: δικαιοσύνη γὰρ θεοῦ
NAS: For in it [the] righteousness of God
KJV: is the righteousness of God
INT: [the] righteousness indeed of God

Romans 3:5 N-AFS
GRK: ἡμῶν θεοῦ δικαιοσύνην συνίστησιν τί
NAS: demonstrates the righteousness of God,
KJV: commend the righteousness of God,
INT: of us God's righteousness commends what

Romans 3:21 N-NFS
GRK: χωρὶς νόμου δικαιοσύνη θεοῦ πεφανέρωται
NAS: from the Law [the] righteousness of God
KJV: now the righteousness of God
INT: apart from law [the] righteousness of God has been revealed

Romans 3:22 N-NFS
GRK: δικαιοσύνη δὲ θεοῦ
NAS: even [the] righteousness of God
KJV: Even the righteousness of God
INT: [the] righteousness moreover of God

Romans 3:25 N-GFS
GRK: ἔνδειξιν τῆς δικαιοσύνης αὐτοῦ διὰ
NAS: [This was] to demonstrate His righteousness, because
KJV: his righteousness for
INT: a showing forth of the righteousness of him in respect of

Romans 3:26 N-GFS
GRK: ἔνδειξιν τῆς δικαιοσύνης αὐτοῦ ἐν
NAS: for the demonstration, [I say], of His righteousness at the present
KJV: his righteousness: that
INT: [the] showing forth the righteousness of him in

Romans 4:3 N-AFS
GRK: αὐτῷ εἰς δικαιοσύνην
NAS: AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.
KJV: unto him for righteousness.
INT: to him for righteousness

Romans 4:5 N-AFS
GRK: αὐτοῦ εἰς δικαιοσύνην
NAS: is credited as righteousness,
KJV: is counted for righteousness.
INT: of him for righteousness

Romans 4:6 N-AFS
GRK: θεὸς λογίζεται δικαιοσύνην χωρὶς ἔργων
NAS: credits righteousness apart
KJV: imputeth righteousness without
INT: God credits righteousness apart from works

Romans 4:9 N-AFS
GRK: πίστις εἰς δικαιοσύνην
NAS: TO ABRAHAM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.
KJV: to Abraham for righteousness.
INT: faith as righteousness

Romans 4:11 N-GFS
GRK: σφραγῖδα τῆς δικαιοσύνης τῆς πίστεως
NAS: a seal of the righteousness of the faith
KJV: a seal of the righteousness of the faith
INT: a seal of the righteousness of the faith

Strong's Greek 1343
92 Occurrences


δικαιοσύνη — 26 Occ.
δικαιοσύνην — 37 Occ.
δικαιοσύνης — 29 Occ.

1342
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