The term "unrighteous" in the Bible refers to individuals or actions that are not in alignment with God's standards of holiness and justice. It is often used to describe those who live in opposition to God's laws and commandments, engaging in behaviors that are morally and ethically wrong according to Scripture.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, the concept of unrighteousness is frequently associated with injustice, idolatry, and moral corruption. The Hebrew word often translated as "unrighteous" is "rasha," which conveys the idea of wickedness or guilt. For example, in Psalm 1:1, the psalmist contrasts the way of the righteous with that of the wicked, stating, "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or set foot on the path of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers."

The prophets often condemned the unrighteousness of Israel and the surrounding nations, calling them to repentance and a return to God's covenant. Isaiah 10:1-2 warns, "Woe to those who enact unjust statutes and issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of fair treatment and withhold justice from the oppressed of My people, to make widows their prey and rob the fatherless."

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, unrighteousness is further defined in the context of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The Greek word "adikia" is commonly used, which means injustice or moral wrong. Jesus often addressed the unrighteousness of the Pharisees and religious leaders, who outwardly appeared righteous but were inwardly corrupt. In Matthew 23:28 , Jesus says, "In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness."

The Apostle Paul also speaks extensively about unrighteousness, particularly in his letters to the early churches. In Romans 1:18 , Paul writes, "The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness." Paul emphasizes that unrighteousness is a result of humanity's fallen nature and separation from God.

Theological Implications

Unrighteousness is fundamentally at odds with the character of God, who is perfectly holy and just. It is a manifestation of sin, which entered the world through Adam and Eve's disobedience (Genesis 3). The Bible teaches that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), and thus, all are unrighteous apart from divine intervention.

The remedy for unrighteousness is found in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. Through His death and resurrection, believers are justified and made righteous before God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 states, "God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God."

Practical Application

Believers are called to live righteously, reflecting the character of Christ in their daily lives. This involves turning away from sin and pursuing holiness through the power of the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 4:22-24 exhorts Christians to "put off your former way of life, your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be renewed in the spirit of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."

The Bible warns that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-10), underscoring the importance of repentance and faith in Jesus Christ as the pathway to righteousness and eternal life.1. (a.) Not righteous; evil; wicked; sinful; as, an unrighteous man.

2. (a.) Contrary to law and equity; unjust; as, an unrighteous decree or sentence.

94. adikos -- unjust, unrighteous
... unjust, unrighteous. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: adikos Phonetic
Spelling: (ad'-ee-kos) Short Definition: unjust, unrighteous Definition: unjust ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/94.htm - 7k

903. Balaam -- Balaam, an unrighteous prophet
... Balaam, an unrighteous prophet. Part of Speech: Proper Noun, Indeclinable
Transliteration: Balaam Phonetic Spelling: (bal-ah-am') Short Definition: Balaam ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/903.htm - 6k

824. atopos -- out of place, strange
... of place, strange. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: atopos Phonetic Spelling:
(at'-op-os) Short Definition: improper, unrighteous, perverse Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/824.htm - 7k

1646. elachistos -- least (in size, amount, dignity, etc.)
... Lk 16:10: "He who is faithful in a (1646 ) is faithful also in much; and he who
is unrighteous in a (1646 ) is unrighteous also in much" (). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1646.htm - 8k

93. adikia -- injustice, unrighteousness
... injustice, unrighteousness NASB Word Usage doing wrong (1), evildoers (1), iniquities
(1), iniquity (2), injustice (1), unrighteous (2), unrighteousness (12 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/93.htm - 7k

3800. opsonion -- provisions, wages
... hence, (""). 3800 () is used figuratively for the (divine recompense) of the
unrighteous, in keeping with their earthly deeds (Ro 6:23). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3800.htm - 7k

5767. avval -- unjust, unrighteous one
... 5766, 5767. avval. 5767a . unjust, unrighteous one. Transliteration: avval
Phonetic Spelling: (av-vawl') Short Definition: unjust. unjust, unrighteous, wicked ...
/hebrew/5767.htm - 5k

5767a. avval -- unjust, unrighteous one
... 5767, 5767a. avval. 5767b . unjust, unrighteous one. Transliteration:
avval Short Definition: unjust. Word Origin from the same ...
/hebrew/5767a.htm - 5k

2555. chamas -- violence, wrong
... cruelty, damage, false, injustice, oppressor, unrighteous, violence against,
done,. From chamac; violence; by implication, wrong; by meton. ...
/hebrew/2555.htm - 6k

205. aven -- trouble, sorrow, wickedness
... 1), evil (4), false (1), harm (1), idol (1), iniquity (37), misfortune (1), mourners'
(1), mourning (1), sorrow (1), trouble (2), unrighteous (1), vanity (1 ...
/hebrew/205.htm - 6k

5765. aval -- to act wrongfully
... deal unjustly, unrighteous. A primitive root; to distort (morally) -- deal unjustly,
unrighteous. 5764, 5765. aval. 5766 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/5765.htm - 6k

The Unrighteous Mammon
... SERMON XXIV. THE UNRIGHTEOUS MAMMON. (Ninth Sunday after Trinity.) Luke
16:1-8. And he said also unto his disciples, There was a ...
/.../kingsley/town and country sermons/sermon xxiv the unrighteous mammon.htm

Of the Righteous and Unrighteous Passion of Wrath.
... Prolegomena. Chapter VI. Of the righteous and unrighteous passion of wrath.
From almost every cause the emotion of wrath boils over ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter vi of the righteous.htm

The Three Last Parables of the Per??an Series: the Unrighteous ...
... CHAPTER XIX. THE THREE LAST PARABLES OF THE PER??AN SERIES: THE UNRIGHTEOUS JUDGE -
THE SELF-RIGHTEOUS PHARISEE AND THE PUBLICAN - THE UNMERCIFUL SERVANT. ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xix the three last.htm

Argument: Righteous and Pious Men Shall be Rewarded with Never ...
... Chapter XXXV."Argument: Righteous and Pious Men Shall Be Rewarded with Never-Ending
Felicity, But Unrighteous Men Shall Be Visited with Eternal Punishment. ...
/.../the octavius of minucius felix/chapter xxxv argument righteous and pious.htm

Cassius of Macomades Said: "Since There Cannot be Two Baptisms...
... Another might say: Since there cannot be two baptisms, he who grants baptism
to the unrighteous takes it away from himself. But ...
/.../chapter 29 55 cassius.htm

Petilianus Said: "But that I May Thoroughly Investigate the ...
... Surely you must now perceive that baptism can exist in an unrighteous man, and be
administered by an unrighteous man, and that no unrighteous baptism, but such ...
/.../chapter 33 77 petilianus.htm

Samech.
... St. Augustin on the Psalms. Samech. 112. "I have hated the unrighteous;
and Thy law have I loved" (ver.113). He saith not, I hate ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/samech.htm

How the Law was not Made for a Righteous Man.
... Yet it is not for him that it is made, but for the unrighteous. Must then
the unrighteous man, in order that he may be justified ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 16 x how the law.htm

Second Great Group of Parables.
... (Time: One Year Less One Week.) XCII. Second Great Group of Parables. (Probably
in Per??a.) Subdivision E. Parable of the Unrighteous Steward. ^C Luke 16:1-18. ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xcii second great group of 5.htm

The Marcionite Interpretation of God and Mammon Refuted the ...
... Accordingly, this will throw light upon the sense in which it was said, "If ye have
not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust ...
/.../chapter xxxiii the marcionite interpretation of.htm

Unrighteous (32 Occurrences)
... 1. (a.) Not righteous; evil; wicked; sinful; as, an unrighteous man. 2. (a.) Contrary
to law and equity; unjust; as, an unrighteous decree or sentence. ...
/u/unrighteous.htm - 16k

Unjust (44 Occurrences)
... Is God unrighteous who inflicts wrath? I speak like men do. ... Job 27:7 "Let my enemy
be as the wicked. Let him who rises up against me be as the unrighteous. ...
/u/unjust.htm - 18k

Mammon (4 Occurrences)
... In these passages mammon merely means wealth, and is called "unrighteous," because
the abuse of riches is more frequent than their right use. ...
/m/mammon.htm - 10k

Malicious (13 Occurrences)
... (WEB NAS RSV NIV). Deuteronomy 19:16 If an unrighteous witness rise up against
any man to testify against him of wrongdoing, (See NAS RSV NIV). ...
/m/malicious.htm - 10k

Adulterers (10 Occurrences)
... Luke 18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed to himself like this:'God, I thank you,
that I am not like the rest of men, extortioners, unrighteous, adulterers, or ...
/a/adulterers.htm - 9k

Ungodly (41 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 6:1 Dare any of you, having a matter against his neighbor, go to law
before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? (See NIV). ...
/u/ungodly.htm - 18k

Unrighteousness (57 Occurrences)
... Romans 3:5 But if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of God, what will
we say? Is God unrighteous who inflicts wrath? I speak like men do. ...
/u/unrighteousness.htm - 22k

Rises (56 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 19:16 If an unrighteous witness rise up against any man to bear
perverted witness against him; (See NAS RSV). Deuteronomy ...
/r/rises.htm - 22k

Parable (52 Occurrences)
... Servants, the Barren Fig Tree, the Chief Seats, the Great Supper, the Rash Builder,
the Rash King, the Lost Coin, the Lost Son, the Unrighteous Steward, the ...
/p/parable.htm - 38k

Dwellings (54 Occurrences)
... Luke 16:9 I tell you, make for yourselves friends by means of unrighteous mammon,
so that when you fail, they may receive you into the eternal tents. ...
/d/dwellings.htm - 25k

What is the meaning of the Parable of the Unjust Steward (Luke 16:1-13)? | GotQuestions.org

What did Jesus mean when He spoke of making friends by worldly wealth (Luke 16:9)? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Salome in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Unrighteous: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus