Lexical Summary yesharah: Uprightness, integrity, straightness Original Word: יִשְׁרָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance uprightness Feminine or yashar; rectitude -- uprightness. see HEBREW yashar NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfem. of yashar Definition uprightness NASB Translation uprightness (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [יְשָׁרָה] noun feminine uprightness; — בְּיִשְׁרַת לֵבָב 1 Kings 3:6 (for form see Bö§ 644 a Kö§ 90 (ii, 170)). Topical Lexicon Biblical Usage יִשְׁרָה appears once in the canon (1 Kings 3:6), where Solomon recounts the character of his father David before the LORD: “he walked before You in truth and righteousness and uprightness of heart toward You”. The singular occurrence highlights a nuanced aspect of heart–integrity rather than a broad, generic term for righteousness. Literary Context in 1 Kings 3:6 The setting is Solomon’s inaugural audience with God at Gibeon. Solomon grounds his petition for wisdom in covenant history: God’s steadfast devotion to David flowed from David’s life of “truth and righteousness and uprightness of heart.” The threefold description climaxes in our term, underscoring inner alignment with divine standards. The verse establishes the moral foundation upon which Solomon seeks wisdom; uprightness of heart is portrayed as the catalyst for divine favor and covenant continuity. Historical Significance in the Davidic Narrative David’s reign, viewed retrospectively by Solomon, is characterized by an interior integrity that guided public leadership. This emphasis counters the pagan royal ideology of the surrounding nations, which measured kingship primarily by military expansion or monumental building. Israel’s Scripture locates royal legitimacy in the heart’s orientation to God. Thus יִשְׁרָה functions as a historiographical lens, framing David’s life—and by extension the Davidic covenant (2 Samuel 7:12-16)—as an unfolding of God’s faithfulness rooted in relational integrity. Theology of Heart-Integrity 1. Singularity of Focus: The lone occurrence calls attention to a distinctive quality rather than a commonplace virtue. Intertextual Connections with Uprightness While יִשְׁרָה itself is unique, its root notion permeates Scripture: These passages collectively frame uprightness as walking in divine ways, receiving guidance, and being preserved by God. Ministry and Practical Application • Leadership: True authority in any sphere flows from a heart aligned with God’s truth; strategic skill without uprightness imperils both people and purpose. Eschatological Fulfillment The ideal of complete heart-uprightness reaches its apex in Jesus Christ, the Son of David, whose sinless integrity secures the everlasting throne promised to David (Luke 1:32-33). Believers, united to Christ, become “partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4), empowered to walk in true uprightness and thus to display the reality anticipated in יִשְׁרָה. Forms and Transliterations וּבְיִשְׁרַ֥ת ובישרת ū·ḇə·yiš·raṯ ūḇəyišraṯ uveyishRatLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Kings 3:6 HEB: בֶּאֱמֶ֧ת וּבִצְדָקָ֛ה וּבְיִשְׁרַ֥ת לֵבָ֖ב עִמָּ֑ךְ NAS: and righteousness and uprightness of heart KJV: and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart INT: truth and righteousness and uprightness of heart toward 1 Occurrence |
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