Define

• Hebrew: tsedaqah (צְדָקָה)

  • • Right conduct, just actions, faithfulness to God’s covenant (Gen 15:6; Deut 6:25; Ps 119:142).

• Greek - dikaiosynē (**δικαιοσύνη **

  • Being in accord with God’s will and justice (Matt 5:6; Rom 6:13; Phil 1:11).
  • In the Septuagint, (Righteous) tsedeq is most commonly translated as δικαιοσύνη (dikaiosynē), which means "righteousness," "justice," or "uprightness." This Greek term captures the idea of moral integrity and adherence to divine or ethical standards. For example, in Isaiah 1:26, where tsedeq is used to describe a city of righteousness, the LXX uses dikaiosynē.
  • In the Septuagint, tsedaqah is also frequently translated as δικαιοσύνη (dikaiosynē), but in contexts where it refers to acts of charity or benevolence, it may be rendered as ἐλεημοσύνη (eleēmosynē), meaning "mercy," "compassion," or "almsgiving." For instance, in Deuteronomy 6:25, where tsedaqah refers to righteousness through obedience to God’s commands, the LXX uses dikaiosynē. However, in later Jewish tradition and some contexts (e.g., Daniel 4:27 in the LXX), tsedaqah as charitable acts is translated as eleēmosynē.

Related words

• Righteous
  • both deriving from the root צ-ד-ק (ts-d-q), which conveys the idea of righteousness, justice, or moral uprightness
  • Key Differences- Focus:
    • Righteous - Tsedeq emphasizes the quality or standard of righteousness/justice, while
    • Righteousness - tsedaqah often focuses on the practice or expression of righteousness, especially in acts of compassion or charity.
• justice/judgment (מִשְׁפָּט; κρίσις)
• faithfulness (אֱמוּנָה)
• truth (Ps 85:10–11)
• holiness (Rom 6:19) Holy
• Unrighteousness

Additional Info

• Often pictured as a path (Prov 8:20), fruit (Phil 1:11), or armor (Isa 59:17; Eph 6:14).
• Righteousness can be:
  • God’s character (Ps 119:142)
  • God’s saving acts (Isa 46:13)
  • Human conduct (Deut 6:25)
  • The result of faith (Gen 15:6; Rom 4)

Connections

• Paired with justice throughout Scripture (Gen 18:19; Ps 89:14).
• Opposed to sin, lawlessness, and uncleanness (Rom 6:19).
• The Messianic kingdom characterized by righteousness (Isa 9:7).
• Believers called to practice righteousness (1 John 3:7).****

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Observations

• Blessed are the ones who hunger and thirst for righteousness, because they will be satisfied
• Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, because theirs is the kingdom of heaven
• your righteousness must greatly surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter into the kingdom of heaven.
• take care not to practice your righteousness before people to be seen by them
• seek first his kingdom and righteousness
• when he //Holy Spirit// comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and concerning righteousness and concerning judgment
• present your members as slaves to righteousness, leading to sanctification
• But Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, did not attain to the law.}: - For ignoring the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. - For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
• you are in Christ Jesus, who became wisdom to us from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption
• what participation is there between righteousness and lawlessness // loved righteousness and hated lawlessness
• All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness
• Jesus bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we may die to sins and live to righteousness,
• But according to his promise, we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness resides
• everyone who practices righteousness has been fathered by him //Jesus//
• everyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, namely, the one who does not love his brother.}:

1 John-03
59 James-01 Yada Yada
Bronze Laver

The Bible Project -

• When Adam and Eve choose to ignore God’s instruction and eat from the tree of knowing good and evil, it’s a choice to stop relating well with God. Immediately, a seismic shift occurs in the way that they relate to each other and everything around them. Listen to Adam’s response after God asks, “Did you eat from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” Adam says, “The woman whom you gave me, she gave me some fruit from the tree and I ate it” (Gen. 3:11-12, NET).
• When God turns to Eve, she similarly deflects blame toward the serpent. Suddenly, man and woman become preoccupied with self-preservation in a way that requires the subjugation of one another and the world around them. Previously, the humans walked in right relationship with each other and their Creator; now, they hide from him and respond dishonestly to his questions. Even worse, they begin to die because right relating is essential to ongoing life.
• The "Law of Moses Torah was intended to address humanity’s destructive craving—a deadly kind of hungering and thirsting. The daily practice of Moses’ law created rhythms of right relating with God and others that undermine self-centered ways of life. When people and whole communities follow these instructions, those routinely harmed or ignored by the power-hungry—the poor and powerless, widows and orphans—can find new life through the care shown to them by their neighbors.
• Jesus calls us to push aside our craving for personal gain and become like him. He promises that our hunger for this way of life will not leave us wanting: “How good is life for those who hunger and thirst for right relationships, because they will be satisfied” (Matt. 5:6, BPT). Did you catch it? He’s saying that if we become hungry for right relating with others, we will eventually be satisfied. All of restored humanity will live in a flourishing world where no human being does harm or relates poorly to another.

Scriptures

New Testament

Matthew

Matthew 3:15 But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it now, for in this way it //John baptizing Jesus// is right for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he permitted him.

how did this fulfill all righteousness?

Matthew 5:6 Blessed are the ones who hunger and thirst for righteousness, because they will be satisfied.
Matthew 5:10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, because theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:20 For I say to you that unless your righteousness greatly surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 6:1 “And take care not to practice your righteousness before people to be seen by them; otherwise you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Matthew 21:32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did believe him. And when you saw it, you did not even change your minds later so as to believe in him.

Luke

Luke 1:75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. //Abraham service Yah//

John

John 16:8 And when he //Holy Spirit// comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and concerning righteousness and concerning judgment:
John 16:9 concerning sin indeed, because they do not believe in Me;
John 16:10 and concerning righteousness, because I am going away to the Father and you will see me no more,
John 16:11 and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged

• WORLD (κόσμος humanity, earth, universe)

• sin transgression against the "laws" of God

• righteousness taking care to do all the commandments, statues, and keeping in the ways of God

• judgment (κρίσις decision moment, turning point) because the ruler of this world HAS BEEN judged.

Acts

Acts 13:10 and said, “O you who are full of all deceit and of all unscrupulousness, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness! Will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord!
Acts 17:31 because he has set a day on which he is going to judge the world in righteousness by the man who he has appointed, having provided proof to everyone by raising him from the dead.”
Acts 24:25 And while he was discussing about righteousness and self control and the judgment that is to come, Felix became afraid and replied, “Go away for the present, and when I have an opportunity, I will summon you.”

Romans

Romans 1:17 For the righteousness of God is revealed in it from faith to faith, just as it is written, “But the one who is righteous by faith will live.”
Romans 3:5 But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? God, who inflicts wrath, is not unjust, is he? (I am speaking according to a human perspective.)
Romans 3:21 But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, being testified about by the law and the prophets—
Romans 3:22 that is, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. For there is no distinction,
Romans 3:25 whom God made publicly available as the mercy seat through faith in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness, because of the passing over of previously committed sins,
Romans 3:26 in the forbearance of God, for the demonstration of his righteousness in the present time, so that he should be just and the one who justifies the person by faith in Jesus.
Romans 4:3 For what does the scripture say? “And Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness.”
Romans 4:5 But to the one who does not work, but who believes in the one who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited for righteousness,
Romans 4:6 just as David also speaks about the blessing of the person to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
Romans 4:9 Therefore, is this blessing for those who are circumcised, or also for those who are uncircumcised? For we say, “Faith was credited to Abraham for righteousness.”
Romans 4:11 And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness by faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he could be the father of all who believe although they are uncircumcised, so that righteousness could be credited to them,
Romans 4:13 For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants, that he would be heir of the world, was not through the law, but through the righteousness by faith.
Romans 4:22 Therefore it was credited to him for righteousness.
Romans 5:17 For if by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through the one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:21 so that just as sin reigned in death, so also grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 6:13 and do not present your members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who are alive from the dead, and your members to God as instruments of righteousness.
Romans 6:16 Do you not know that to whomever you present yourselves as slaves for obedience, you are slaves to whomever you obey, whether sin, leading to death, or obedience, leading to righteousness?
Romans 6:18 and having been set free from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness.
Romans 6:19 (I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh.) For just as you presented your members as slaves to immorality and lawlessness, leading to lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, leading to sanctification.
Romans 6:20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free with respect to righteousness.
Romans 8:10 But if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
Romans 9:30 What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness— even the righteousness that is by faith.
Romans 9:31 But Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, did not attain to the law.
Romans 10:3 For ignoring the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.
Romans 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
Romans 10:5 For Moses writes about the righteousness that is from the law: “The person who does this will live by it.”
Romans 10:6 But the righteousness from faith speaks like this: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down),
Romans 10:10 For with the heart one believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses, resulting in salvation.
Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Corinthians

1 Corinthians 1:30 But from him you are in Christ Jesus, who became wisdom to us from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption,
2 Corinthians 3:9 For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, by much more will the ministry of righteousness overflow with glory.
2 Corinthians 5:21 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin on our behalf, in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him.
2 Corinthians 6:7 in the word of truth, in the power of God, with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and left hand,
2 Corinthians 6:14 Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers, for what participation is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?
2 Corinthians 9:9 Just as it is written, “He scattered widely, he gave to the poor; his righteousness remains forever.”
2 Corinthians 9:10 Now the one who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will provide and multiply your seed, and will cause the harvest of your righteousness to grow,
2 Corinthians 11:15 Therefore it is not a great thing if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.

Galatians

Galatians 2:21 I do not declare invalid the grace of God, for if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died to no purpose.

if righteousness is THROUGH the law OF CIRCUMCISION - then Jesus died for no purpose? Galatians 3:21 ...

Galatians 3:6 Just as Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness,
Galatians 3:21 Therefore is the law opposed to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given that was able to give life, certainly righteousness would have been from the law //OF CIRCUMCISION // .
Galatians 5:5 For through the Spirit by faith we eagerly await the hope of righteousness.

Ephesians

Ephesians 4:24 and put on the new man (in accordance with God), who is created in righteousness and holiness from the truth.
Ephesians 5:9 (for the fruit of the light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth),
Ephesians 6:14 Stand therefore, girding your waist with truth, and putting on the breastplate of righteousness, //Isaiah 59 :17//

Philippians

Philippians 1:11 having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.
Philippians 3:6 according to zeal persecuting the church, according to the righteousness in the law //law OF Circumcision ?// being blameless.
Philippians 3:9 and may be found in him, not having my righteousness which is from the law, but which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith,

Timothy

1 Timothy 6:11 But you, O man of God, flee from these things, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patient endurance, gentleness.
2 Timothy 2:22 But flee from youthful desires, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, in company with those who call upon the Lord from a pure heart.
2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness,
2 Timothy 4:8 Finally, the crown of righteousness is reserved for me, that the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but also to all who have loved his appearing.

Titus

Titus 3:5 he saved us, not by deeds of righteousness that we have done, but because of his mercy, through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit,

Hebrews

Hebrews 1:9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; because of this God, your God, has anointed you with the olive oil of joy more than your companions.
Hebrews 5:13 For everyone who partakes of milk is unacquainted with the message of righteousness, because he is an infant.
Hebrews 7:2 to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth of everything— in the first place, his name is translated “king of righteousness,” and then also “king of Salem,” that is, “king of peace”;
Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, having been warned about things not yet seen, out of reverence constructed an ark for the deliverance of his family, by which he pronounced sentence on the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
Hebrews 12:11 Now all discipline seems for the moment not to be joyful but painful, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness for those who are trained by it.

James

James 1:20 for human anger does not accomplish the righteousness of God.
James 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend.
James 3:18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace among those who make peace.

Peter

1 Peter 2:24 who himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we may die to sins and live to righteousness, by whose wounds you were healed.
1 Peter 3:14 But even if you might suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not be afraid of their intimidation or be disturbed,
2 Peter 1:1 Simeon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained a faith equal in value to ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 2:5 and did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a proclaimer of righteousness, and seven others when he brought a flood on the world of the ungodly,
2 Peter 2:21 For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than having known it, to turn back from the holy commandment that had been delivered to them.
2 Peter 3:13 But according to his promise, we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness resides.

John

1 John 2:29 If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness has been fathered by him.
1 John 3:7 Little children, let no one deceive you: the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as that one is righteous.
1 John 3:10 By this the children of God and the children of the devil are evident: everyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, namely, the one who does not love his brother.

Revelation

Revelation 22:11 The one who does evil, let him do evil still, and the defiled, let him be defiled still, and the righteous, let him practice righteousness still, and the holy, let him be holy still.”