δῐκαι-οσύνη G1343
Righteousness — moral uprightness, covenant faithfulness, and the right standing before God that defines the just life
Dikaiosyne is among the most theologically dense words in the New Testament. In Matthew it describes the higher standard Jesus demands of his followers ('unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees,' Matt 5:20) and the object of spiritual hunger ('blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,' Matt 5:6). Paul transforms it into a central soteriological concept: the righteousness of God revealed apart from the law, received through faith in Christ (Rom 1:17; 3:21-22; Phil 3:9). James, by contrast, ties righteousness to works of mercy (Jas 2:23; 3:18). Spanish 'justicia,' French 'justice,' and German 'Gerechtigkeit' all cover both moral rectitude and judicial vindication, mirroring the word's double register.
Senses
1. [split] — Righteousness in its full biblical range: moral uprightness conforming to God's standards, covenant faithfulness, and — especially in Paul — the saving action by which God declares sinners just through faith in Christ (Rom 3:21-22; Phil 3:9). In the Sermon on the Mount it describes the ethical life God requires and rewards (Matt 5:6, 10, 20; 6:1). In Pauline theology it becomes the pivotal concept linking divine character, human justification, and ethical transformation. Spanish 'justicia,' French 'justice,' and German 'Gerechtigkeit' encompass both the judicial and moral dimensions, reflecting the same breadth as the Greek. 0×
AR["البِرِّ", "الْبِرِّ", "بِرًّا", "بِرٍّ", "بِرَّ", "بِرَّكُم", "بِرَّهُ", "بِرُّ", "بِرُّكُمْ", "بِرِّهِ"]·ben["ধার্মিকতা", "ধার্মিকতা।", "ধার্মিকতায়", "ধার্মিকতার", "ধার্মিকতার,", "ধার্মিকতার;"]·DE["Gerechtigkeit"]·EN["of-righteousness", "righteousness"]·FR["justice"]·heb["צְדָקָה", "צִדְקַתְכֶם", "צִדְקָה", "צֶדֶק"]·HI["धार्मिकता", "धार्मिकता-के", "धार्मिकता-को", "धार्मिकताकी"]·ID["Kebenaran", "keadilan,", "kebenaran", "kebenaran."]·IT["giustizia"]·jav["kaadilan", "kabeneran", "kabeneran,", "kabeneran.", "kaleresan", "kaleresan,"]·KO["의", "의-로", "의-를", "의로", "의로움-의", "의로움의", "의에"]·PT["da-justiça", "de-justiça,", "justiça", "justiça,"]·RU["праведности", "праведности,", "праведность"]·ES["de-justicia", "justicia"]·SW["haki", "haki,", "hamkumwamini"]·TR["adaletle", "doğruluk", "doğrulukluk", "doğruluktaki", "doğruluğa", "doğruluğu", "doğruluğun", "doğruluğunu", "doğruluğunun", "doğruluğunuz", "doğruluğunuzu"]·urd["راستبازی", "راستبازی-کو", "راستبازی-کی", "راستبازی-کے"]
Matt 3:15, Matt 5:6, Matt 5:10, Matt 5:20, Matt 6:1, Matt 6:33, Matt 21:32, Luke 1:75, John 16:8, John 16:10, Acts 10:35, Acts 13:10 (+38 more)
1. moral righteousness, ethical uprightness — Split from sense 65648. Criteria: The righteous behavior God requires and rewards; conformity to divine moral standards; ethical life (Matt 5:6, 10, 20; 6:1; Phil 1:11) 47×
AR["البِرِّ", "الْبِرِّ", "بِرًّا", "بِرٌّ", "بِرٍّ", "بِرَّكُم", "بِرَّهُ", "بِرُّكُمْ", "بِرُّهُ", "لِلْبِرِّ"]·ben["ধার্মিকতা", "ধার্মিকতা,", "ধার্মিকতা।", "ধার্মিকতায়", "ধার্মিকতার", "ধার্মিকতার,", "ধার্মিকতার-প্রতি", "ধার্মিকতার;"]·DE["Gerechtigkeit"]·EN["of-righteousness", "righteousness", "to-righteousness"]·FR["justice"]·heb["לַצְּדָקָה", "צְדָקָה", "צִדְקַתְכֶם", "צִדְקָה", "צֶדֶק"]·HI["धार्मिकता", "धार्मिकता-के", "धार्मिकता-को", "धार्मिकता-से", "धार्मिकताकी"]·ID["keadilan,", "kebenaran", "kebenaran,", "kebenaran.", "kebenaran?"]·IT["giustizia"]·jav["kaadilan", "kaadilan.", "kaadilan?", "kabeneran", "kabeneran,", "kabeneran.", "kaleresan", "kaleresan,"]·KO["의", "의-로", "의-를", "의-의", "의가", "의로움-의", "의로움의", "의에", "의와", "의의"]·PT["da-justiça", "de-justiça", "de-justiça,", "justiça", "justiça,", "tem-justiça"]·RU["-мир", "-праведность", "праведности", "праведности,", "праведность"]·ES["a-justicia", "de-justicia", "justicia"]·SW["haki", "haki,", "hamkumwamini", "kwa-haki", "za-haki"]·TR["doğruluk", "doğrulukluk", "doğruluktaki", "doğruluktan", "doğruluğa", "doğruluğu", "doğruluğun", "doğruluğunu", "doğruluğunuz", "doğruluğunuzu", "sağdan-"]·urd["راستبازی", "راستبازی-سے۔", "راستبازی-کو", "راستبازی-کی", "راستبازی-کے", "راستبازی-کے۔", "راستبازی؟"]
Matt 3:15, Matt 5:6, Matt 5:10, Matt 5:20, Matt 6:1, Matt 6:33, Matt 21:32, Luke 1:75, Acts 10:35, Acts 13:10, Acts 24:25, Rom 6:13 (+35 more)
2. forensic justification, right standing before God — Split from sense 65648. Criteria: God's saving act declaring sinners righteous through faith in Christ; the imputed righteousness of justification (Rom 3:21-22; Phil 3:9; 2 Cor 5:21) 36×
AR["البِرُّ", "البِرِّ", "الْبِرِّ", "بِرًّا", "بِرٍّ", "بِرَّ", "بِرُّ", "بِرِّ", "بِرّاً"]·ben["ধার্মিকতা", "ধার্মিকতা,", "ধার্মিকতা;", "ধার্মিকতা।", "ধার্মিকতার", "ধার্মিকতার,"]·DE["Gerechtigkeit"]·EN["of-righteousness", "righteousness"]·FR["justice"]·heb["צְדָקָה", "צִדְקָה"]·HI["धार्मिकता", "धार्मिकता-की"]·ID["kebenaran", "kebenaran,", "kebenaran.", "kebenaran;"]·IT["giustizia"]·jav["[kabeneran]", "kaadilan", "kaadilan,", "kaadilan.", "kaadilan;", "kabeneran", "kabeneran,"]·KO["[의를]", "의", "의-의", "의를", "의의"]·PT["[justiça]", "de-justiça,", "justiça", "justiça,", "justiça."]·RU["-Бога", "вечную", "же", "получили", "праведности", "праведности,", "праведность"]·ES["de-justicia", "justicia"]·SW["haki", "ya-haki"]·TR["doğruluk", "doğruluklarını", "doğruluğa", "doğruluğun", "doğruluğunun"]·urd["راستبازی", "راستبازی-کی", "راستبازی۔"]
3. covenant faithfulness, God's saving action — Split from sense 65648. Criteria: God's own righteousness as his covenant-keeping faithfulness and saving intervention on behalf of his people (Rom 1:17; 3:5) 9×
AR["البِرِّ", "العَدْلِ", "بِرٍّ", "بِرَّ", "بِرُّ", "بِرِّ", "بِرِّهِ"]·ben["ধার্মিকতা", "ধার্মিকতায়", "ধার্মিকতার"]·DE["Gerechtigkeit"]·EN["righteousness"]·FR["justice"]·heb["צְדָקָה", "צִדְקַת", "צִדְקָה", "צֶדֶק"]·HI["धरमिक्तअ", "धार्मिकता"]·ID["Kebenaran", "keadilan", "kebenaran"]·IT["giustizia"]·jav["kaadilan", "kabeneran", "kabeneran,"]·KO["의", "의-의", "의로", "의로움", "의로움으로", "의를"]·PT["justiça", "justiça,"]·RU["и-", "праведности", "праведность"]·ES["justicia"]·SW["haki", "haki,"]·TR["adaletle", "doğruluk", "doğruluğun", "doğruluğunda", "doğruluğunu", "doğruluğunun"]·urd["راستبازی", "راستبازی-سے", "راستبازی-کا", "راستبازی-کو"]
Related Senses
H2896a 1. good (quality or moral) (305×)H7563 1. wicked person (259×)H7451c 1. moral evil or wickedness (234×)H5771 1. iniquity, sin, wrongdoing (222×)H6662 1. righteous person (substantive) (195×)G0266 1. sin, failure, transgression (173×)H2403b 1. sin, transgression (170×)H2617a 1. Covenant faithfulness, steadfast love (167×)H2398 1. Qal: to sin, commit sin (165×)H6666 1. righteousness, moral uprightness (145×)G5485 1. grace, divine favor (141×)H7451a 1. morally evil, wicked (129×)H2403b 2. sin-offering, sacrifice for sin (120×)G2570 1. good, right, excellent (98×)H6588 1. transgression, offense against God (88×)G0018 1. good (moral quality) (85×)H2896b 1. good, what is good (85×)H7451b 1. evil, wickedness (moral) (83×)H7451a 2. evil, harm, calamity (80×)G1342 1. righteous, upright (of persons) (70×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
δῐκαι-οσύνη, ἡ, righteousness, justice, LXX+6th c.BC+; δ. δικαστική legal justice, Refs 4th c.BC+; opposed to ἐπιείκεια, Refs __2 fulfilment of the Law, LXX+NT __II justice, the business of a judge, Refs 5th c.BC+ __III Δ., personified, Refs __IV Refs 4th c.BC+ name for four, Refs __V δικαιοσύνη· ἡ χοῖνιξ, μυστικῶς, Refs 5th c.AD+