Definition and Background:
Dike, in the context of the Bible, refers to the concept of justice or judgment. The term is derived from the Greek word "Δίκη" (Dikē), which is often associated with justice, righteousness, or the execution of judgment. In ancient Greek culture, Dike was personified as a goddess who represented moral order and fair judgment. In the New Testament, the term is used to convey the idea of divine justice or the righteous judgment of God.

Biblical References:
The term "Dike" appears in the New Testament, specifically in the Book of Acts. In Acts 28:4 , the Apostle Paul is shipwrecked on the island of Malta. The local inhabitants, upon seeing a viper fasten itself to Paul's hand, say to one another, "Surely this man is a murderer; although he has been saved from the sea, Justice (Dike) has not allowed him to live." Here, Dike is personified as a force ensuring that justice is served, reflecting the belief that divine justice would not allow a guilty person to escape punishment.

Theological Significance:
In the Christian context, Dike is understood as an aspect of God's character, emphasizing His role as the ultimate judge who administers justice. The Bible consistently portrays God as just and righteous, ensuring that justice prevails in the end. This is seen in passages such as Romans 2:5-6 , which states, "But because of your hard and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. God 'will repay each one according to his deeds.'"

Justice in the New Testament:
The New Testament expands on the concept of justice by highlighting the role of Jesus Christ in fulfilling divine justice. Through His sacrificial death and resurrection, Jesus satisfies the requirements of God's justice, offering redemption and forgiveness to humanity. This is articulated in Romans 3:25-26 : "God presented Him as the atoning sacrifice through faith in His blood, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand. He did this to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and to justify the one who has faith in Jesus."

Practical Implications:
For believers, the concept of Dike serves as a reminder of the importance of living righteously and justly, reflecting God's character in their daily lives. Christians are called to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God, as stated in Micah 6:8. The assurance of God's ultimate justice provides comfort and hope, especially in a world where injustice often seems to prevail.

Conclusion:
While the term "Dike" is not frequently used in the New Testament, its implications are profound, underscoring the biblical theme of divine justice. It serves as a reminder of God's righteous nature and His promise to bring about justice in His perfect timing.1. (n.) A ditch; a channel for water made by digging.

2. (n.) An embankment to prevent inundations; a levee.

3. (n.) A wall of turf or stone.

4. (n.) A wall-like mass of mineral matter, usually an intrusion of igneous rocks, filling up rents or fissures in the original strata.

5. (v. t.) To surround or protect with a dike or dry bank; to secure with a bank.

6. (v. t.) To drain by a dike or ditch.

7. (v. i.) To work as a ditcher; to dig.

DIKE

di'-ke (dike, "justice"): The avenging justice of God personified as a goddess (Acts 28:4). See JUSTICE.

1349. dike -- right (as self-evident), justice (the principle, a ...
... 1348, 1349. dike. 1350 . ... see GREEK deiknuo. (dike) -- 1 Occurrence. (diken) --
2 Occurrences. (katadiken) -- 1 Occurrence. 1348, 1349. dike. 1350 . ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1349.htm - 7k

1166. deiknumi -- to show
... to show. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: deiknumi Phonetic Spelling:
(dike-noo'-o) Short Definition: I point out, show Definition: I point out, show ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1166.htm - 7k

1342. dikaios -- correct, righteous, by impl. innocent
... Word Origin from dike Definition correct, righteous, by impl. ... see GREEK dike. (dikaia) --
4 Occurrences. (dikaiai) -- 3 Occurrences. (dikaian) -- 2 Occurrences. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1342.htm - 8k

2993. Laodikeia -- Laodicea, a city in Phrygia
... Word Origin from laos and dike Definition Laodicea, a city in Phrygia NASB Word
Usage Laodicea (6). Laodicea. ... see GREEK dike. (laodikeia) -- 4 Occurrences. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2993.htm - 6k

2613. katadikazo -- to pass sentence upon
... condemn. From kata and a derivative of dike; to adjudge against, ie Pronounce guilty --
condemn. see GREEK kata. see GREEK dike. (katadikazete) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2613.htm - 6k

1731. endeiknumi -- to indicate (by word or act), to prove
... to indicate (by word or act), to prove. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration:
endeiknumi Phonetic Spelling: (en-dike'-noo-mee) Short Definition: I show forth ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1731.htm - 8k

1558. ekdikos -- exacting penalty from, avenging
... See 1557 (). Word Origin from ek and dike Definition exacting penalty from, avenging
NASB Word Usage avenger (2). ... see GREEK dike. (ekdikos) -- 2 Occurrences. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1558.htm - 7k

476. antidikos -- an opponent, adversary
... Word Origin from anti and dike Definition an opponent, adversary NASB Word Usage
adversary (1), opponent (3), opponent at law (1). adversary. ... see GREEK dike. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/476.htm - 8k

94. adikos -- unjust, unrighteous
... Word Origin from alpha (as a neg. prefix) and dike Definition unjust, unrighteous
NASB Word Usage unjust (3), unrighteous (8), wicked (1). ... see GREEK dike. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/94.htm - 7k

1738. endikos -- righteous, just
... Word Origin from en and dike Definition righteous, just NASB Word Usage just (2).
just, righteous. From en and dike; in the right, ie Equitable -- just. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1738.htm - 6k

On the Way to Thebes
... He prayed for the well-remembered end of the white dike, where the Nile
curved about the southernmost limits of the capital. The ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xxi on the way.htm

Under Ban of the Ritual
... The city was walled on the north, west, and south, and its river-front was protected
by a mighty dike, built by Menes, the first king of the first dynasty in ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter ii under ban of.htm

Acts XXVIII
... violent death. They attributed his punishment to the goddess of justice,
using the Greek term Dike, the name of that goddess. When ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts xxviii.htm

A Threefold Cord
... can build a dam as they do in Holland that will keep out, not only the waters of
a river, but the waters of an ocean, and not a drop will come through the dike ...
/.../maclaren/romans corinthians to ii corinthians chap v/a threefold cord.htm

Case, 50-61
... diamarturia diamarturein oionismo oionizesthai. diaphtheirein phthora orgizesthai
orge. dike ekdikein horko horkizein. ekballein ekbole paradosei paradothenai. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/conybeare/a grammar of septuagint greek/case 50-61.htm

Doctrine of the Resurrection of the Body, Continued How are the ...
... [5676] 1 Corinthians 15:55. [5677] Isaiah 25:8 and (especially) Hosea 13:14. [5678]
The Septuagint version of the passage in Hosea is, pou he dike sou, thanate ...
/.../the five books against marcion/chapter x doctrine of the resurrection.htm

The Absurdity and Impiety of the Heathen Mysteries and Fables ...
... Other objects deified by men take their rise from events, and are fashioned in bodily
shape, such as a Dike, a Clotho, and Lachesis, and Atropos, and Heimarmene ...
/.../clement/exhortation to the heathen/chapter ii the absurdity and impiety.htm

Philippians ii. 8-May
... My well-beloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill, and I made a fence about
it, and surrounded it with a dike, and planted it with the vine of Sorech ...
/.../homily vi philippians ii 8-may.htm

Personal Service
... I would like you to sleep one night at a lodging-house, I should dike you to eat
one meal with the poor man; I should like you to sit in the midst of one ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 6 1860/personal service.htm

Quotations from the Lxx. In the New Testament.
... [840] pou sou, thanate, to nikos; pou sou, thanate, to kentron; Isaiah 25:8 katepien
ho thanatos ischusas Hosea 13:14 pou he dike sou, thanate; pou to kentron ...
/.../chapter ii quotations from the.htm

Dike
... 5. (vt) To surround or protect with a dike or dry bank; to secure with a bank. 6.
(vt) To drain by a dike or ditch. 7. (vi) To work as a ditcher; to dig. ...DIKE. ...
/d/dike.htm - 7k

Plague (142 Occurrences)
... One of the latest prophetic mentions of plague is Hosea 13:14, where the plague
(debher, Septuagint dike) of death and the destruction (qaTabh, Septuagint ...
/p/plague.htm - 49k

Retribution (14 Occurrences)
... The words which come nearest to it are orge, and thumos wrath attributed to God;
ekdikeo, ekdikesis, ekdikos, and dike, all giving the idea of vengeance ...
/r/retribution.htm - 29k

Vein (1 Occurrence)
... mass of rock intersecting other rocks, and filling inclined or vertical fissures
not corresponding with the stratification; a lode; a dike; -- often limited ...
/v/vein.htm - 8k

Levy (19 Occurrences)
... 9. (vt) To erect, build, or set up; to make or construct; to raise or cast
up; as, to levy a mill, dike, ditch, a nuisance, etc. 10. ...
/l/levy.htm - 13k

Trap (35 Occurrences)
... also some kinds of diorite. Called also trap rock. 3. (a.) of or pertaining
to trap rock; as, a trap dike. 4. (n.) A machine or ...
/t/trap.htm - 19k

Righteousness (442 Occurrences)
... or occasionally "just" tsedheq, noun, occasionally = "riahteousness," occasionally =
"justice"; dikaios, adjective, dikaiosune, noun, from dike, whose first ...
/r/righteousness.htm - 56k

Diklah (2 Occurrences)

/d/diklah.htm - 7k

Dihon (2 Occurrences)

/d/dihon.htm - 6k

Bank (28 Occurrences)
... 9. (vt) To raise a mound or dike about; to enclose, defend, or fortify with a bank;
to embank. 10. (vt) To heap or pile up; as, to bank sand. 11. ...
/b/bank.htm - 26k

Dike: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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