Lexical Summary
Adoni-tsedeq: Adoni-zedek
Original Word:אֲדֹנִי־צֶדֶק
Part of Speech:Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration:Adoniy-Tsedeq
Pronunciation:ah-doh-nee tseh-dek
Phonetic Spelling:(ad-o''-nee-tseh'-dek)
KJV: Adonizedec
NASB:Adoni-zedek
Word Origin:[fromH113 (אָדוֹן אָדוֹן - lord) andH6664 (צֶּדֶק - righteousness)]
1. lord of justice
2. Adoni-Tsedek, a Canaanitish king
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Adonizedec
From'adown andtsedeq; lord of justice; Adoni-Tsedek, a Canaanitish king -- Adonizedec.
see HEBREW'adown
see HEBREWtsedeq
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
adon and
tsedeqDefinition"Lord of righteousness," king of Jer.
NASB TranslationAdoni-zedek (2).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
Joshua 10:1,3(
Lord of righteousness; my lord is righteous, or
my Lord is‚idiq — divine name — compare , , Phoenician etc.)
Topical Lexicon
Biblical ReferencesAdoni-zedek appears twice, both in the account of Joshua’s southern campaign:Joshua 10:1 andJoshua 10:3. He is introduced as “Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem” (Joshua 10:1).
Historical Setting
1. Timeframe: Late fifteenth or early fourteenth century B.C. (depending on the chronology adopted), during Israel’s initial entrance into Canaan under Joshua.
2. Political Landscape: Canaanite city-states were ruled by independent kings who formed coalitions to resist foreign threats. Jerusalem, though later the center of Israel’s worship, was at this stage a Jebusite stronghold.
3. Immediate Context: The stunning fall of Jericho (Joshua 6) and Ai (Joshua 8), followed by the Gibeonite treaty (Joshua 9), alarmed the southern kings. Adoni-zedek leads a five-king alliance against Gibeon in hopes of halting Israel’s advance.
Role in the Conquest Narrative
1. Instigator of Coalition Warfare – He calls together the kings of Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon (Joshua 10:3-4).
2. Catalyst for Divine Intervention – His offensive against Gibeon brings Joshua’s forces into a miraculous day-long battle: “The LORD hurled down large hailstones from the sky… and the sun stood still” (Joshua 10:11-13).
3. Object Lesson in Covenant Faithfulness – Israel defends Gibeon because of a sworn oath (Joshua 9:15), showcasing the unbreakable nature of covenant, contrasting Adoni-zedek’s treacherous aggression.
Spiritual and Theological Significance
• False Claim to Righteousness: The name can be rendered “lord of righteousness,” yet his deeds are unrighteous, illustrating how titles without obedience are meaningless (cf.Matthew 7:21).
• Contrast with Melchizedek: Another ancient king of Jerusalem bore a similar compound name, Melchizedek (“king of righteousness,”Genesis 14:18). Melchizedek blesses Abraham and points forward to the Messiah (Psalm 110:4;Hebrews 7). Adoni-zedek, by contrast, curses by warring against God’s people. This juxtaposition highlights two possible responses to God’s purposes—submission leading to blessing or rebellion leading to judgment.
• Divine War Ethics: The rout of Adoni-zedek demonstrates that Israel’s victories rest on the LORD’s power, not military superiority (Joshua 10:42). The episode reinforces the covenant promise ofExodus 23:27.
Lessons for Ministry
1. Faithfulness to Covenant Obligations – Joshua’s defense of Gibeon warns believers to honor commitments even when inconvenient.
2. God's Sovereignty Over Opposition – Leaders who oppose God’s redemptive plan ultimately serve His purposes (Acts 4:27-28).
3. Authentic Righteousness – Titles or positions do not guarantee godliness; true righteousness comes through faith and obedience (Romans 3:22).
Related Passages and Themes
• Divine warfare and miraculous intervention:Exodus 14:24-25;Judges 4:15.
• Kingship and righteousness:Psalm 72:1-2;Jeremiah 23:5-6.
• Covenant loyalty:Deuteronomy 7:9;1 Samuel 20:8.
Later Jewish and Christian Reflection
Rabbinic sources view Adoni-zedek as an archetype of Gentile resistance to Israel. Early Christian commentators (for example, Origen, Homilies on Joshua) draw typological parallels between Adoni-zedek’s overthrow and Christ’s triumph over principalities (Colossians 2:15). Modern application sees the episode as an assurance that the “king of righteousness” ultimately reigns from Zion, foreshadowed inRevelation 19:11-16.
Summary
Adoni-zedek, king of Jerusalem during the Conquest, embodies human arrogance that resists God’s advancing kingdom. His downfall underlines the certainty of divine promises, the priority of covenant faithfulness, and the ultimate victory of the true Lord of righteousness, Jesus Christ.
Forms and Transliterations
צֶ֜דֶק צדק ṣe·ḏeq ṣeḏeq Tzedek
Links
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