Lexical Summary dikaioó: To justify, to declare righteous, to acquit Original Word: δικαιόω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance free, justify, be righteous. From dikaios; to render (i.e. Show or regard as) just or innocent -- free, justify(-ier), be righteous. see GREEK dikaios HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 1344 dikaióō (from dikē, "right, judicial-approval") – properly, approved, especially in a legal, authoritative sense; to show what is right, i.e. conformed to a proper standard (i.e. "upright"). The believer is "made righteous/justified" (1344 /dikaióō) by the Lord, cleared of all charges (punishment) related to their sins. Moreover, they are justified (1344 /dikaióō, "made right, righteous") by God's grace each time they receive (obey) faith (4102 /pístis), i.e. "God's inwrought persuasion" (cf. the -oō ending which conveys "to bring to/out"). See 1343 (dikaiosynē). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom dikaios Definition to show to be righteous, declare righteous NASB Translation acknowledged...justice (1), acquitted (1), freed (3), justified (24), justifier (1), justifies (2), justify (4), vindicated (3). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1344: δικαιόωδικαιόω, δικαίῳ; future δικαιώσω; 1 aorist ἐδικαίωσα; passive (present δικαιοῦμαι); perfect δεδικαίωμαι; 1 aorist ἐδικαιωθην; future δικαιωθήσομαι; (δίκαιος); the Sept. for צִדֵּק and הִצְדִּיק; 1. properly, (according to the analogy of other verbs ending in , as τυφλόω, δουλόω) to make δίκαιος; to render righteous or such as he ought to be; (Vulg.justifico); but this meaning is extremely rare, if not altogether doubtful; ἐδικαίωσα τήν καρδίαν μου stands for לְבָבִי זִכִּיתִי in Psalm 72:13 2. τινα, to show, exhibit, evince, one to be righteous, such as he is and wishes himself to be considered (Ezekiel 16:51f; τήν ψυχήν αὐτοῦ, Jeremiah 3:11, and, probably, δικαιοῦν δίκαιον, Isaiah 53:11): ἡ σοφία ἐδικαιώθη ἀπό τῶν τέκνων αὐτῆς, the wisdom taught and exemplified by John the Baptist, and by Jesus, gained from its disciples (i. e. from their life, character, and deeds) the benefit of being shown to be righteous, i. e. true and divine (cf. Buttmann, 322 (277); others interpret, was acknowledged to be righteous on the part of (nearly, equivalent to, by) her children; cf. Buttmann, 325 (280); see ἀπό, II. 2 d. bb.), Luke 7:35; Matthew 11:19 (here T Tr text WH read ἔργων, i. e. by her works); passive, of Christ: ἐδικαιώθη ἐν πνεύματι, evinced to be righteous as to his spiritual (divine ((?) cf. e. g. Ellicott at the passage or Meyer on Romans 1:4)) nature, 1 Timothy 3:16; of God: ὅπως δικαιωθῇς ἐν τοῖς λόγοις σου, Romans 3:4 from Psalm 50:6 3. τινα, to declare, pronounce, one to be just, righteous, or such as he ought to be, (cf. ὁμοιόω to declare to be like, liken, i. e. compare; ὁσιόω, Wis. 6:11; ἀξιόω, which never means to make worthy, but to judge worthy, to declare worthy, to treat as worthy; see also κοινόω, 2 b.); a. with the negative idea predominant, to declare guiltless one accused or who may be accused, acquitted of a charge or reproach, (Deuteronomy 25:1; Sir. 13:22 (21), etc.; an unjust judge is said δικαιοῦν τόν ἀσεβῆ in Exodus 23:7; Isaiah 5:23): ἑαυτόν, Luke 10:29; passive οὐ δεδικαίωμαι, namely, with God, 1 Corinthians 4:4; pregnantly with ἀπό τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν added, to be declared innocent and therefore to be absolved from the charge of sins (cf. Buttmann, 322 (277)), Acts 13:38 (39) (so ἀπό ἁμαρτίας, Sir. 26:29; simply, to be absolved, namely, from the payment of a vow, Sir. 18:22 (21)); hence, figuratively, by a usage not met with elsewhere, to be freed, ἀπό τῆς ἁμαρτίας, from its dominion, Romans 6:7, where cf. Fritzsche or ((less fully) Meyer). b. with the positive idea predominant, to judge, declare, pronounce, righteous and therefore acceptable, (God is said δικαιοῦν δίκαιον, 1 Kings 8:32): ἑαυτόν, Luke 16:15; ἐδικαίωσαν τόν Θεόν, declared God to be righteous, i. e. by receiving the baptism declared that it had been prescribed by God rightly, Luke 7:29; passive by God, Romans 2:13; ἐξ ἔργων ἐδικαιώθη, got his reputation for righteousness (namely, with his countrymen (but see Meyer (edited by Weiss) at the passage)) by works, Romans 4:2; ἐκ τῶν λόγων, by thy words, in contrast with καταδικάζεσθαι, namely, by God, Matthew 12:37. Especially is it so used, in the technical phraseology of Paul, respecting God who judges and declares such men as put faith in Christ to be righteous and acceptable to him, and accordingly fit to receive the pardon of their sins and eternal life (see δικαιοσύνη, 1 c.): thus absolutely, δικαιοῦν τινα, Romans 3:26; Romans 4:5; Romans 8:30, 33 (namely, ἡμᾶς, opposed to ἐγκάλειν); with the addition of ἐκ (in consequence of) πίστεως, Romans 3:30; Galatians 3:8; of διά τῆς πίστεως, Romans 3:30; men are said δικαιοῦσθαι, δικαιωθῆναι, τῇ χάριτι τοῦ Θεοῦ, Titus 3:7; δωρεάν τῇ χάριτι τοῦ Θεοῦ, Romans 3:24 πίστει, Romans 3:28; ἐκ πίστεως, by means of faith, Romans 5:1; Galatians 2:16; Galatians 3:24; ἐν τῷ αἵματι τοῦ Χριστοῦ (as the meritorious cause of their acceptance, as the old theologians say, faith being the apprehending or subjective cause), Romans 5:9; ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι τοῦ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ καί ἐν τῷ πνεύματι τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν, by confessing the name of the Lord (which implies faith in him, Romans 10:10, cf. 2 Corinthians 4:13), and by the Spirit of God (which has awakened faith in the soul), 1 Corinthians 6:11; ἐν Χριστῷ through Christ, Galatians 2:17; Acts 13:39; it is vehemently denied by Paul, that a man δικαιοῦται ἐξ ἔργων νόμου, Galatians 2:16 — with the addition ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ, i. e. of God, Romans 3:20, cf. Romans 3:28; Romans 4:2, (see δικαιοσύνην, 1 c. under the end) — a statement which is affirmed by James in 1. equivalent to δίκαιον νομίζω, to deem right or fair: τί, often followed by the infinitive; to choose what is right and fair, hence, universally, to choose, desire, decide: Herodotus, Sophocles, Thucydides, others. 2. with the accusative of person, τό δίκαιον ποιῶ τινα to do one justice, in a bad sense, viz. to condemn, punish, one: Herodotus, Thucydides, Plato, others; hence, δικαιοῦσθαι, to have justice done oneself, to suffer justice, be treated rightly, opposed to ἀδικεῖσθαι, Aristotle, eth. Nic. 5, 9, 11, p. 1136{a}, 18ff (In like manner the German rechtfertigen in its early forensic use bore a bad sense, viz. to try judicially (so for ἀνακρίνειν, Acts 12:19 Luther), then condemn; execute judgment, especially put to death.) Strong’s Greek 1344 expresses the judicial act of declaring someone “in the right.” The verb does not describe a process of moral improvement but a verdict rendered before God or people. According to context it can refer to (1) God’s forensic declaration of righteousness, (2) public vindication of a person’s claim, or (3) self-justification, whether true or false. Old Testament Foundations New Testament writers inherit the forensic sense of צדק (tsadaq, “to justify”) found in Deuteronomy 25:1 and Isaiah 50:8. The Servant of Isaiah 53:11 is “justified” after bearing sin, providing the prophetic matrix for Paul’s doctrine that God “is just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Romans 3:26). Usage in the Gospels and Acts 1. Vindication of Jesus and His ministry 2. False or self-justification 3. Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector 4. Apostolic proclamation Paul’s Doctrine of Justification 1. Ground: the atoning death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 2. Means: faith apart from works of law. 3. Scope: Jew and Gentile alike. 4. Results: peace and hope. Justification and Sanctification While justification is a declarative act, it inaugurates a life of holiness empowered by the Spirit. 1 Corinthians 6:11 ties the past verdict to ongoing transformation: “You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” Titus 3:7 similarly links the verdict with the hope of eternal life. Faith and Works: Paul and James James 2:21-25 uses the verb to show that genuine faith proves itself by deeds: “You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone” (James 2:24). Paul addresses the basis of justification before God; James addresses the demonstration of that verdict before humans. Both affirm that living faith cannot remain fruitless. Eschatological Dimension Matthew 12:36-37 speaks of a future day when “by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” The verdict pronounced now in Christ is affirmed publicly at the final judgment. Romans 2:13 anticipates that those who “hear the law” without doing it “will not be justified,” underscoring that the absence of obedience reveals unbelief. Christological Significance The exaltation of Jesus is portrayed as His justification. 1 Timothy 3:16, together with Romans 4:25 and 8:34, shows that the Father’s vindication of the Son secures the believer’s justification. Union with the risen Christ assures the believer of the same verdict. Pastoral and Ministry Implications • Gospel Proclamation: Present justification as God’s gracious verdict received by faith, offering assurance and freedom from guilt. Key Passages for Personal Study Luke 18:9-14 – humility and justification Acts 13:38-39 – justification through Christ alone Romans 3:21-26 – the heart of the gospel Romans 5:1-11 – peace, access, and hope resulting from justification Galatians 2:15-21 – cruciform faith justifies James 2:14-26 – faith proved genuine by works Summary Strong’s Greek 1344 portrays God’s decisive, legal declaration that sinners are righteous through faith in Jesus Christ. This verdict, grounded in the cross, confirmed by the resurrection, and received by faith apart from works, provides peace with God, energizes sanctification, and guarantees future glory. Genuine faith, while never the meritorious ground, necessarily bears the fruit that vindicates its reality before others and ultimately before God. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 11:19 V-AIP-3SGRK: ἁμαρτωλῶν καὶ ἐδικαιώθη ἡ σοφία NAS: wisdom is vindicated by her deeds. KJV: But wisdom is justified of her INT: of sinners And was justified the wisdom Matthew 12:37 V-FIP-2S Luke 7:29 V-AIA-3P Luke 7:35 V-AIP-3S Luke 10:29 V-ANA Luke 16:15 V-PPA-NMP Luke 18:14 V-RPM/P-NMS Acts 13:39 V-ANP Acts 13:39 V-PIM/P-3S Romans 2:13 V-FIP-3P Romans 3:4 V-ASP-2S Romans 3:20 V-FIP-3S Romans 3:24 V-PPM/P-NMP Romans 3:26 V-PPA-AMS Romans 3:28 V-PNM/P Romans 3:30 V-FIA-3S Romans 4:2 V-AIP-3S Romans 4:5 V-PPA-AMS Romans 5:1 V-APP-NMP Romans 5:9 V-APP-NMP Romans 6:7 V-RIM/P-3S Romans 8:30 V-AIA-3S Romans 8:30 V-AIA-3S Romans 8:33 V-PPA-NMS 1 Corinthians 4:4 V-RIM/P-1S Strong's Greek 1344 |
    |