Lexical Summary
tsadeq or tsadoq: To be just, to be righteous, to justify, to declare righteous
Original Word:צָדַק
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:tsadaq
Pronunciation:tsaw-dake'
Phonetic Spelling:(tsaw-dak')
KJV: cleanse, clear self, (be, do) just(-ice, -ify, -ify self), (be turn to) righteous(-ness)
NASB:righteous, justified, justify, right, just, justifying, made your appear righteous
Word Origin:[a primitive root]
1. to be (causatively, make) right (in a moral or forensic sense)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
cleanse, clear self, be, do justice be turn to righteousness
A primitive root; to be (causatively, make) right (in a moral or forensic sense) -- cleanse, clear self, (be, do) just(-ice, -ify, -ify self), (be turn to) righteous(-ness).
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origindenominative verb from
tsedeqDefinitionto be just or righteous
NASB Translationacquit (1), acquitted (1), declare you right (1), do justice (1), give him justice (1), just (2), justified (5), justifies (1), justify (5), justifying (2), lead the to righteousness (1), made your appear righteous (2), properly restored (1), proved right (1), proved...righteous (1), right (4), righteous (9), vindicated (1), vindicates (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
[, ] ; —
Perfect3feminine singularIsaiah 38:26; 2masculine singularJob 33:12;Job 35:7; etc.;Imperfect3masculine singularJob 9:2 +;Job 4:17;Job 11:2; 3feminine pluralEzekiel 16:52 ( Co , not Berthol Toy Krae), etc; —
have a just cause, be in the right,Job 9:15,20;Job 13:18;Job 34:5; in complaintJob 33:12; with personGenesis 38:26 (J; of Tamar).
be justified, in one's pleaJob 11:2; with (man with God)Job 9:2;Job 25:4;Isaiah 45:25; by witnessesIsaiah 43:9; by acquittalPsalm 143:2;Isaiah 43:26; by condemnation of opponentJob 40:8.
be just: of God, in his government, in charging with sinPsalm 51:6; ofPsalm 19:10.
be just, righteous, in conduct and character: of menJob 10:15;Job 15:14;Job 22:3;Job 35:7, with compare,Job 4:17 (more than God; Drat God's hand, ),Ezekiel 16:52 (< Co ).
Perfect3masculine singular consecutiveDaniel 8:14the holy place shall be put right, in a right condition (MartiKau Buhl SS; Bev Dr MartiComm.be justified, its cause vindicated).
Perfect3feminine singularJeremiah 3:11;Imperfect2feminine singularEzekiel 16:51;Infinitive construct suffixJob 33:32; (Ges§ 52p)Ezekiel 16:52;Job 32:2; —justify:Job 32:2because he justified himself rather than God (compare );make to appear righteousJeremiah 3:11;Ezekiel 16:51,52 (all with compare);Job 33:32I desire to justify thee (in thy plea, compare ).
Perfect1singular suffix2 Samuel 15:4; 3masculine pluralDeuteronomy 25:1;Imperfect3masculine singularIsaiah 53:11; 1singularExodus 23:7;Job 27:5;Infinitive construct1 Kings 8:32 2Chronicles 6:23;Imperative masculine pluralPsalm 82:3;ParticipleProverbs 17:15, etc.; —
do justice, in administering law2 Samuel 15:4;Psalm 82:3.
declare righteous, justify, with accusativeDeuteronomy 25:1;1 Kings 8:32 2Chronicles 6:23;Exodus 23:7 (E)Isaiah 5:23;Proverbs 17:15;Justify accusers, by recognizing charge as justJob 27:5.
justify, vindicate the cause of, save, with accusative,Isaiah 50:8 (of God), with of objectIsaiah 53:11 (of servant of ).
make righteous, turn to righteousness,Daniel 12:3, compare AbothDaniel 5:26,27 Bev.
Imperfect1pluralGenesis 44:16 (J) howshall we justify ourselves, clear ourselves from suspicion?
Topical Lexicon
Meaning and Range of Useצָדַק expresses the act or declaration of being righteous, proving right, or causing to be right. It can describe (1) God’s own perfect rectitude, (2) His judicial verdict that declares a person or cause righteous, or (3) human efforts—legitimate or illegitimate—to secure a verdict of innocence. The verb appears in legal proceedings, covenant affirmations, prophetic promises, wisdom maxims, and personal laments, revealing a multifaceted biblical theology of justification and vindication.
Legal and Forensic Setting
The earliest clear occurrences are set in court-like contexts.Deuteronomy 25:1 instructs Israel’s judges “to justify the righteous and condemn the wicked,” establishing a paradigm for just jurisprudence. Solomon prays that the heavenly Judge will “condemn the wicked … and justify the righteous by giving him according to his righteousness” (1 Kings 8:32;2 Chronicles 6:23).Exodus 23:7 warns magistrates not to pervert justice, for the LORD Himself says, “I will not justify the wicked.”
These passages provide the Old Testament foundation for the later Pauline exposition that God is “just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Romans 3:26), demonstrating that divine justification never ignores sin but satisfies justice.
Covenant and Redemptive Promise
Prophetic literature elevates the term from earthly courts to eschatological hope:
•Isaiah 45:25: “In the LORD all the descendants of Israel will be justified and will glory.”
•Isaiah 50:8: “He who vindicates Me is near.”
•Isaiah 53:11: “My righteous Servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities.”
Here צָדַק anchors the promise that God will bring His covenant people into right standing through the vicarious suffering of the Servant—anticipating the gospel revelation of Christ’s atoning work.
Personal and Ethical Dimension
Job wrestles with the tension between self-defense and reverence for God: “Though I were righteous, my own mouth would condemn me” (Job 9:20). InPsalm 51:4 David confesses sin so that God “may be justified when You judge,” acknowledging that divine vindication stands even when it exposes human guilt.
Proverbs 17:15 declares, “He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous—both are detestable to the LORD,” warning against moral relativism.Proverbs 18:17 observes, “The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him,” reminding believers that perceived righteousness must withstand scrutiny.
Warnings against False Justification
Isaiah 5:23 condemns leaders “who justify the wicked for a bribe,” andMicah 6:11 exposes commercial deceit: “Shall I count pure those with dishonest scales?”Jeremiah 3:11 records God’s startling verdict that “faithless Israel has proved herself more righteous than treacherous Judah,” illustrating that outward religiosity without repentance invites indictment rather than vindication.
Messianic and Eschatological Significance
Daniel 12:3 promises that “those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever,” linking ministry that directs sinners to God’s justifying grace with eternal reward.Isaiah 53:11 locates ultimate justification in the suffering Servant, preparing the way for the New Testament doctrine that believers are “justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24).
Pastoral and Ministry Implications
1. Assurance of Salvation: Believers may rest in the divine declaration of righteousness secured by Christ, echoing Isaiah’s promise that the LORD Himself vindicates His people.
2. Preaching and Evangelism: Proclaiming God’s readiness to justify the repentant frames the gospel call;Isaiah 45:22-25 provides both invitation and certainty of acceptance.
3. Counseling and Discipleship: The misuse of צָדַק—self-justification—remains a pastoral concern. Job’s struggle cautions against defending oneself at God’s expense, while Proverbs exhorts transparent integrity.
4. Social Justice: The judicial contexts urge the church to pursue fair verdicts and protect the innocent, mirroring the character of the righteous Judge.
Representative Occurrences
•Genesis 38:26 – Judah admits, “She is more righteous than I.”
•Exodus 23:7 – God will not acquit the guilty.
•Deuteronomy 25:1 – Judges must justify the innocent.
•1 Kings 8:32 – Solomon prays for divine vindication.
•Job 9:2; 32:2 – The dilemma of justifying oneself before God.
•Psalm 51:4 – Divine righteousness upheld in judgment.
•Proverbs 17:15 – Abomination of justifying the wicked.
•Isaiah 45:25; 50:8; 53:11 – Promise of national and messianic justification.
•Jeremiah 3:11 – Comparative indictment of Judah.
•Daniel 12:3 – Reward for leading many to righteousness.
Across its forty-one appearances, צָדַק unfolds the consistent biblical testimony: God is righteous, demands righteousness, exposes false claims of righteousness, and graciously grants true righteousness through His redemptive provision—ultimately fulfilled in the Messiah.
Forms and Transliterations
אֶ֭צְדָּק אֶצְדָּֽק׃ אַצְדִּ֖יק אַצְדִּ֪יק אצדיק אצדק אצדק׃ בְּצַדֶּקְתֵּ֖ךְ בצדקתך הַצְדִּֽיקוּ׃ הצדיקו׃ וְ֭צָדַקְתִּי וְהִצְדִּ֙יקוּ֙ וְהִצְדַּקְתִּֽיו׃ וְיִצְדָּ֔קוּ וְנִצְדַּ֖ק וַתְּצַדְּקִי֙ וּלְהַצְדִּ֣יק וּמַצְדִּיקֵי֙ והצדיקו והצדקתיו׃ ויצדקו ולהצדיק ומצדיקי ונצדק וצדקתי ותצדקי יִ֝צְדַּ֗ק יִּצְדַּ֖ק יִּצְדַּ֣ק יִצְדְּק֥וּ יִצְדַּ֖ק יִצְדָּ֑ק יִצְדָּֽק׃ יַצְדִּ֥יק יצדיק יצדק יצדק׃ יצדקו מַצְדִּ֣יק מַצְדִּיקִ֔י מַצְדִּיקֵ֥י מצדיק מצדיקי נִּצְטַדָּ֑ק נצטדק צִדְּקָ֥ה צַדְּק֥וֹ צַדְּקֶֽךָּ׃ צָ֭דַקְתִּי צָ֭דַקְתָּ צָֽדְק֥וּ צָֽדְקָ֣ה צָדַ֑קְתִּי צָדַ֣קְתָּ צדקה צדקו צדקך׃ צדקת צדקתי תִּצְדַּ֣קְנָה תִּצְדַּ֥ק תִּצְדָּֽק׃ תִצְדָּ֑ק תצדק תצדק׃ תצדקנה ’aṣ·dîq ’aṣdîq ’eṣ·dāq ’eṣdāq atzDik bə·ṣad·deq·têḵ bəṣaddeqtêḵ betzaddekTech etzDak Etzdok haṣ·dî·qū haṣdîqū hatzDiku maṣ·dî·qê maṣ·dî·qî maṣ·dîq maṣdîq maṣdîqê maṣdîqî matzDik matzdiKei matzdiKi niṣ·ṭad·dāq niṣṭaddāq nitztadDak ṣā·ḏaq·tā ṣā·ḏaq·tî ṣā·ḏə·qāh ṣā·ḏə·qū ṣad·də·qe·kā ṣad·də·qōw ṣāḏaqtā ṣāḏaqtî ṣaddəqekā ṣaddəqōw ṣāḏəqāh ṣāḏəqū ṣid·də·qāh ṣiddəqāh tiṣ·daq tiṣ·dāq ṯiṣ·dāq tiṣ·daq·nāh tiṣdaq tiṣdāq ṯiṣdāq tiṣdaqnāh titzDak titzDaknah tzaDakta Tzadakti tzaddeKeka tzaddeKo tzadeKah tzadeKu tziddeKah ū·lə·haṣ·dîq ū·maṣ·dî·qê ūləhaṣdîq ulehatzDik ūmaṣdîqê umatzdiKei vattetzaddeKi vehitzdakTiv vehitzDiku venitzDak Vetzadakti veyitzDaku wat·tə·ṣad·də·qî wattəṣaddəqî wə·hiṣ·daq·tîw wə·hiṣ·dî·qū wə·niṣ·daq wə·ṣā·ḏaq·tî wə·yiṣ·dā·qū wəhiṣdaqtîw wəhiṣdîqū wəniṣdaq wəṣāḏaqtî wəyiṣdāqū yaṣ·dîq yaṣdîq yatzDik yiṣ·daq yiṣ·dāq yiṣ·də·qū yiṣdaq yiṣdāq yiṣdəqū yitzDak yitzdeKu
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