Lexical Summary tsedaqah: Righteousness, justice, rightness Original Word: צְדָקָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance justice, moderately, righteous act, From tsadaq; rightness (abstractly), subjectively (rectitude), objectively (justice), morally (virtue) or figuratively (prosperity) -- justice, moderately, right(-eous) (act, -ly,-ness). see HEBREW tsadaq NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as tsedeq Definition righteousness NASB Translation honesty (1), justice (1), merits (1), right (2), righteous (1), righteous acts (3), righteous deeds (7), righteously (1), righteousness (136), rights (1), vindication (3). Brown-Driver-Briggs צְדָקָה157 noun feminine righteousness; — absolute ׳צ Genesis 15:6+81 t.; construct צִדְקַת Deuteronomy 33:21+5 t.; suffix צִדְקָתִי Genesis 30:33 +, etc.; plural צְדָקוֺת Isaiah 33:15+3t.; construct צִדְקוֺת Judges 5:11+; suffix צִדְקֹתֶיךָ Daniel 9:16, etc.; — 1 righteousness, in government: a. of judge, ruler, king: "" משׁפט Isaiah 5:7; Isaiah 9:6; Amos 5:7; Amos 6:12; ׳משׁפט וצ 2 Samuel 8:15, עשׂה David executed justice and righteousness = 1 Chronicles 18:14, compare 1 Kings 10:9 2Chronicles 9:8; Jeremiah 22:3,15; Jeremiah 33:15; Ezekiel 45:9; יִכּוֺן כִּסֵּא ׳בּצ Proverbs 16:12, compare Isaiah 54:14; ׳עֲבֹדַת השׂ, ׳מַעֲשֵׂה הצ Isaiah 32:17, compare V:16; ׳נֹגְשַׂיִךְ צ Isaiah 60:17. b. of law, "" משׁפטים, ׳צִדְקַת י Deuteronomy 33:21. c. of Davidic king, Messiah, "" משׁפט, Psalm 72:1; Psalm 72:3; Isaiah 9:6; Jeremiah 23:5; Jeremiah 33:15. 2 God's attribute as sovereign Psalm 36:7; Psalm 71:19; in government, עשׂה ׳משׁפט וצ Psalm 99:4; Jeremiah 9:23; administering justice Job 37:28; punishment Isaiah 1:27; Isaiah 5:16; Isaiah 10:22; Isaiah 28:17; Daniel 9:7; vindication of his people Micah 7:9. 3 righteousness, in a case or cause, בצדקתי החזקתי Job 27:6 on my righteousness I hold fast; ׳מה ישׁ לי עוד צ 2 Samuel 19:29 what right have I yet ? of God's judgments, ׳הגיד צ Isaiah 57:12 (iron.); ׳השׁיב צ 1 Samuel 26:23; Job 33:26; ׳כּצ, השׁיב 2 Samuel 22:25, גמל 2 Samuel 22:21, נתן 1 Kings 8:52 2Chronicles 6:23. 4 righteousness = truthfulness, ׳באמת ובצ Isaiah 48:1; Zechariah 8:8; in word Isaiah 45:28; Isaiah 63:1, oath Jeremiah 4:2. 5 righteousness, as ethically right: Genesis 30:33 (J) Deuteronomy 6:25; Isaiah 33:5; Isaiah 41:18; Ezekiel 14:14,20; Proverbs 10:2; Proverbs 11:4,5,18,19+17 t., +צִדְקַת (ה)צַדִּיק(יםׅ Isaiah 5:23; Ezekiel 18:20; Ezekiel 33:12; ישׁרים ׳צ Proverbs 11:6; ׳אֹרַח צ Proverbs 8:20; Proverbs 12:28; ׳דֶּרֶךְ צ Proverbs 16:31; ׳עשׂה צ do righteousness Psalm 106:3; Isaiah 56:1; Isaiah 58:2; Ezekiel 18:22; ׳עשׂה משׁפט וצ Ezekiel 18:5 6t. Ezekiel; ומשׁפט ׳עשׂה צ Genesis 18:10 (J) Proverbs 21:8; ׳רדף צ Proverbs 15:9; Proverbs 21:21; ׳הלך באמת ובצ1k Proverbs 3:6; ׳חשׁב לוֺ (ל)צ Genesis 15:6 (JE) imputed to him (for) righteousness, Psalm 106:31; וָחֶסֶד ׳צ Proverbs 21:21 (twice in verse) (strike out ᵐ5A B Toy). 6 righteousness as vindicated, justification, salvation, etc. (compare צֶדֶק 6): a. of God "" יָשַׁע, תְּשׁוּעָה, יְשׁוּעָה Isaiah 45:8; Isaiah 46:13; Isaiah 51:6 7t. Isa2; "" בְּרָכָה Psalm 24:6; "" נַחֲלָה Isaiah 54:17; "" חֶסֶד Psalm 36:11; Psalm 103:17; ׳שֶׁמֶשׁ צ Malachi 3:20 sun of righteousness (with healing); ׳בִּצ, ׳י delivers, guides, exalts his people Psalm 5:9; Psalm 31:2; Psalm 71:2; Psalm 89:17; Psalm 119:40; Psalm 143:1; Psalm 143:11; אַליָֿבאֹוּ בְּצִדְקָתֶ֑ךָ Psalm 69:28 (of wicked); as accusative after verbs of declaring, etc., his saving (delivering) righteousness Psalm 22:32; Psalm 40:11; Psalm 51:16; Psalm 71:15; Psalm 71:16; Psalm 71:24; Psalm 98:2; Psalm 145:7; also ׳יִוָּדַע צ Psalm 88:13; עֹמֶדֶת ׳צ לָעַד his righteousness endureth for ever Psalm 111:3; compare Psalm 119:142. b. of people, = prosperity, "" הון, עשׁר Proverbs 8:18; ׳מוֺרֶה לצ early rain for prosperity Joel 2:23. 7 plural righteous acts: a. of God Judges 5:11 (twice in verse); 1 Samuel 12:7; Micah 6:5; vindication of right Psalm 103:6; redemptive Isaiah 45:24; Daniel 9:16. b. of man's moral conduct Isaiah 64:5; Jeremiah 51:10, also probably Ezekiel 3:20; Ezekiel 18:24; Ezekiel 33:13 (Kt singular) Psalm 11:7 (? gloss), Daniel 9:18; as adverb accusative, הֹלֵךְ צְדָקוֺת Isaiah 33:15. Topical Lexicon Conceptual Rangeצְדָקָה (tsedaqah) gathers within one term the ideas of rightness, equity, faithful conformity to a norm, charitable deeds, legal vindication, and covenant loyalty. In Scripture the word embraces both character and conduct, the inward standard and the outward act. Of the approximately 157 occurrences, tsedaqah speaks at times of the righteous character of God (Psalm 36:6), the ethical obligations of His people (Proverbs 11:4), acts of social justice (Deuteronomy 24:13), and the saving intervention that restores what sin has ruined (Isaiah 46:13). Righteousness as Divine Attribute God’s own nature defines righteousness. Psalm 36:6 declares, “Your righteousness is like the highest mountains.” His judgments spring from this unchanging rightness, giving certainty to His rule (Isaiah 33:5). When the prophets appeal to the LORD’s tsedaqah, they rely on His consistency and covenant fidelity (Micah 6:5). The divine righteousness therefore undergirds every further use of the term; it is the plumb-line for human life. Righteousness in Covenant Relationship In the patriarchal and Mosaic settings, tsedaqah marks the standing of covenant partners. Genesis 15:6 records, “Abram believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” linking faith and righteous status from the outset of redemptive history. Under the Sinai covenant, obedience constitutes “our righteousness” (Deuteronomy 6:25), and specific compassionate actions—such as returning a poor man’s cloak before sunset—are called righteousness (Deuteronomy 24:13). Here tsedaqah is relational fidelity expressed through concrete acts that mirror the LORD’s gracious dealings. Righteousness, Justice, and Social Order Though distinct from מִשְׁפָּט (mishpat, “justice”), tsedaqah frequently pairs with it. Isaiah 1:27 promises, “Zion will be redeemed with justice, her repentant ones with righteousness.” Together the terms describe a society where legal structures (mishpat) and moral integrity (tsedaqah) align. Kings were evaluated by this measure (2 Samuel 8:15), prophets condemned its absence (Amos 5:24), and wisdom literature teaches that “Righteousness exalts a nation” (Proverbs 14:34). Social righteousness includes honest commerce (Leviticus 19:36), impartial courts (Leviticus 19:15), protection of the vulnerable (Isaiah 10:2), and generous almsgiving (Isaiah 58:7-8). Personal Ethical Conduct In Proverbs, tsedaqah contrasts with wickedness as the pathway to life. “Riches are worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death” (Proverbs 11:4). The term describes integrity (Proverbs 12:5), blameless speech (Proverbs 12:17), and a steady pursuit of godliness (Proverbs 21:21). Such righteousness is not self-generated merit but the practical fruit of revering the LORD (Proverbs 15:9). Righteousness and Sacrificial Piety Sacrifices offered in true repentance are called “righteous” (Psalm 51:19, cf. 4:5). Worship divorced from righteous living, however, provokes divine displeasure (Isaiah 1:11-17). The prophets insist that ritual alone cannot supply the righteousness God requires; it must be joined to justice and mercy (Hosea 6:6). Righteousness and Salvation A striking development appears when tsedaqah becomes almost synonymous with deliverance. Isaiah 46:13 proclaims, “I am bringing My righteousness near… and My salvation will not be delayed.” The righteous character of God moves Him to save His people. Daniel foresaw the climax: the Anointed One would “bring in everlasting righteousness” (Daniel 9:24). The Servant Songs celebrate a gift of righteousness clothing the redeemed like a robe (Isaiah 61:10). Thus righteousness is both the demand of the covenant and the gift that fulfills it. Prophetic Vision and Messianic Fulfillment Jeremiah 23:5 foretells a Davidic King who “will administer justice and righteousness in the land.” His title “The LORD Our Righteousness” (Jeremiah 23:6; 33:16) points forward to the Messianic provision ultimately unfolded in the New Testament. Romans 3:21-22 announces that “now, apart from the Law, the righteousness of God has been revealed… through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.” The Hebrew background shows that this is not a new concept but the promised flowering of tsedaqah into universal scope. Wisdom Tradition Application Job longs that God would weigh him “in righteous scales” (Job 31:6), while Psalms repeatedly celebrate divine righteousness as a refuge (Psalm 31:1; 71:15-16). The wisdom books emphasize that righteousness guides speech (Proverbs 10:11), secures one’s path (Proverbs 12:28), and blesses descendants (Proverbs 20:7). Ecclesiastes concludes that God “will bring every deed into judgment” (Ecclesiastes 12:14), affirming that true righteousness is ultimately evaluated by Him. Practical Ministry Implications 1. Proclamation: Preaching must present God’s righteous standard alongside His gracious provision in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21). Key Texts for Study • Genesis 15:6; 18:19 These passages trace the rich tapestry of צְדָקָה—from the promise to Abraham, through Israel’s worship and ethics, to the prophetic hope of a righteous King and the gospel declaration of righteousness revealed in Jesus Christ. Forms and Transliterations בְּצִדְקָת֥וֹ בְּצִדְקָתְךָ֓ ׀ בְּצִדְקָתְךָ֗ בְּצִדְקָתְךָ֥ בְּצִדְקָתִ֣י בְּצִדְקָתִי֙ בְּצִדְקָתֶֽךָ׃ בְּצִדְקָתֽוֹ׃ בְצִדְקָֽתְךָ֙ בְצִדְקָתְךָ֗ בְצִדְקָתֶ֗ךָ בְצִדְקָתָ֖ם בְצִדְקָתָם֙ בִ֝צְדָקָ֗ה בִּצְדָקָ֑ה בִּצְדָקָ֖ה בִּצְדָקָֽה׃ בִצְדָקָֽה׃ בצדקה בצדקה׃ בצדקתו בצדקתו׃ בצדקתי בצדקתך בצדקתך׃ בצדקתם הַצְּדָקָ֔ה הַצְּדָקָ֖ה הצדקה וְ֝צִדְקָֽתְךָ֗ וְ֝צִדְקָת֗וֹ וְ֝צִדְקָתְךָ֗ וְצִדְקַ֥ת וְצִדְקָת֖וֹ וְצִדְקָתְךָ֖ וְצִדְקָתְךָ֥ וְצִדְקָתִ֖י וְצִדְקָתִי֙ וְצִדְקָתָ֛ם וּ֝צְדָקָ֗ה וּבְצִדְקָתְךָ֥ וּבִצְדָקָ֑ה וּבִצְדָקָ֛ה וּבִצְדָקָֽה׃ וּצְדָקָ֑ה וּצְדָקָ֔ה וּצְדָקָ֖ה וּצְדָקָ֛ה וּצְדָקָ֣ה וּצְדָקָ֤ה וּצְדָקָֽה׃ ובצדקה ובצדקה׃ ובצדקתך וצדקה וצדקה׃ וצדקת וצדקתו וצדקתי וצדקתך וצדקתם כְּצִדְקָתִ֑י כְּצִדְקָתֽוֹ׃ כצדקתו׃ כצדקתי לִצְדָקָ֑ה לִצְדָקָ֖ה לִצְדָקָה֙ לצדקה מִצְּדָקָֽה׃ מִצִּדְקָת֖וֹ מִצִּדְקָת֛וֹ מִצִּדְקָתוֹ֙ מצדקה׃ מצדקתו צְ֝דָקָ֗ה צְ֭דָקָה צְדָק֔וֹת צְדָק֣וֹת צְדָקָ֑ה צְדָקָ֔ה צְדָקָ֖ה צְדָקָ֛ה צְדָקָ֣ה צְדָקָ֥ה צְדָקָֽה׃ צְדָקָה֙ צִ֭דְקָתוֹ צִדְק֣וֹת צִדְק֥וֹת צִדְקַ֣ת צִדְקַ֤ת צִדְקָֽתְךָ֨ ׀ צִדְקָת֑וֹ צִדְקָת֖וֹ צִדְקָתְךָ֣ צִדְקָתְךָ֬ צִדְקָתִי֙ צִדְקָתֵ֑ךְ צִדְקָתֶ֑ךָ צִדְקָתֶ֗ךָ צִדְקָתֶֽךָ׃ צִדְקָתֽוֹ׃ צִדְקֹ֥ת צִדְקֹתֵ֑ינוּ צִדְקֹתֵ֗ינוּ צִדְקֹתֶ֙ךָ֙ צִדְקֹתָ֤יו צִדְקֹתָו֙ צִדְקֹתָיו֙ צדקה צדקה׃ צדקות צדקת צדקתו צדקתו׃ צדקתי צדקתיו צדקתינו צדקתך צדקתך׃ ḇə·ṣiḏ·qā·ṯām bə·ṣiḏ·qā·ṯe·ḵā bə·ṣiḏ·qā·ṯə·ḵā ḇə·ṣiḏ·qā·ṯe·ḵā ḇə·ṣiḏ·qā·ṯə·ḵā bə·ṣiḏ·qā·ṯî bə·ṣiḏ·qā·ṯōw ḇəṣiḏqāṯām bəṣiḏqāṯeḵā bəṣiḏqāṯəḵā ḇəṣiḏqāṯeḵā ḇəṣiḏqāṯəḵā bəṣiḏqāṯî bəṣiḏqāṯōw betzidkateCha betzidkaTi betzidkaTo biṣ·ḏā·qāh ḇiṣ·ḏā·qāh biṣḏāqāh ḇiṣḏāqāh bitzdaKah haṣ·ṣə·ḏā·qāh haṣṣəḏāqāh hatztzedaKah kə·ṣiḏ·qā·ṯî kə·ṣiḏ·qā·ṯōw kəṣiḏqāṯî kəṣiḏqāṯōw ketzidkaTi ketzidkaTo liṣ·ḏā·qāh liṣḏāqāh litzdaKah miṣ·ṣə·ḏā·qāh miṣ·ṣiḏ·qā·ṯōw miṣṣəḏāqāh miṣṣiḏqāṯōw mitztzedaKah mitztzidkaTo ṣə·ḏā·qāh ṣə·ḏā·qō·wṯ ṣəḏāqāh ṣəḏāqōwṯ ṣiḏ·qā·ṯe·ḵā ṣiḏ·qā·ṯə·ḵā ṣiḏ·qā·ṯêḵ ṣiḏ·qā·ṯî ṣiḏ·qā·ṯōw ṣiḏ·qaṯ ṣiḏ·qō·ṯāw ṣiḏ·qō·ṯe·ḵā ṣiḏ·qō·ṯê·nū ṣiḏ·qō·wṯ ṣiḏ·qōṯ ṣiḏqaṯ ṣiḏqāṯêḵ ṣiḏqāṯeḵā ṣiḏqāṯəḵā ṣiḏqāṯî ṣiḏqāṯōw ṣiḏqōṯ ṣiḏqōṯāw ṣiḏqōṯeḵā ṣiḏqōṯênū ṣiḏqōwṯ tzedaKah tzedaKot tzidKat tzidkaTech tzidkaTecha tzidkaTi tzidkaTo tzidKot tzidkoTav tzidkoTecha tzidkoTeinu ū·ḇə·ṣiḏ·qā·ṯə·ḵā ū·ḇiṣ·ḏā·qāh ū·ṣə·ḏā·qāh ūḇəṣiḏqāṯəḵā ūḇiṣḏāqāh ūṣəḏāqāh utzedaKah uvetzidkateCha uvitzdaKah vetzidKat vetzidkaTam vetzidkateCha vetzidkaTi vetzidkaTo vitzdaKah wə·ṣiḏ·qā·ṯām wə·ṣiḏ·qā·ṯə·ḵā wə·ṣiḏ·qā·ṯî wə·ṣiḏ·qā·ṯōw wə·ṣiḏ·qaṯ wəṣiḏqaṯ wəṣiḏqāṯām wəṣiḏqāṯəḵā wəṣiḏqāṯî wəṣiḏqāṯōwLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 15:6 HEB: וַיַּחְשְׁבֶ֥הָ לּ֖וֹ צְדָקָֽה׃ NAS: and He reckoned it to him as righteousness. KJV: and he counted it to him for righteousness. INT: the LORD reckoned righteousness Genesis 18:19 Genesis 30:33 Deuteronomy 6:25 Deuteronomy 9:4 Deuteronomy 9:5 Deuteronomy 9:6 Deuteronomy 24:13 Deuteronomy 33:21 Judges 5:11 Judges 5:11 1 Samuel 12:7 1 Samuel 26:23 2 Samuel 8:15 2 Samuel 19:28 2 Samuel 22:21 2 Samuel 22:25 1 Kings 3:6 1 Kings 8:32 1 Kings 10:9 1 Chronicles 18:14 2 Chronicles 6:23 2 Chronicles 9:8 Nehemiah 2:20 Job 27:6 157 Occurrences |