Hebrew word · H6663

צָדֵק

ulehatzdik

to justify

Simple form: 'be in the right, be just, have a just cause, be shown innocent'. It is used especially of a party who wins a legal dispute. The causative form (hitsdîq) means 'declare someone in the right, acquit'. The passive-reflexive form means 'be put right' (Dan 8:14).

Appears 41 times in 40 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

1) to be just, be righteous

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to have a just cause, be in the right

1a2) to be justified

1a3) to be just (of God)

1a4) to be just, be righteous (in conduct and character)

1b) (Niphal) to be put or made right, be justified

1c) (Piel) justify, make to appear righteous, make someone righteous

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to do or bring justice (in administering law)

1d2) to declare righteous, justify

1d3) to justify, vindicate the cause of, save

1d4) to make righteous, turn to righteousness

1e) (Hithpael) to justify oneself

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Isaiah 43:26

Range of meaning

Simple form: 'be in the right, be just, have a just cause, be shown innocent'. It is used especially of a party who wins a legal dispute. The causative form (hitsdîq) means 'declare someone in the right, acquit'. The passive-reflexive form means 'be put right' (Dan 8:14). The supplied lemma gloss 'to justify' fits the causative better than the simple form used here.

Against the English

KJV/WEB 'that thou mayest be justified' is accurate in old legal English. Modern Christian readers, though, hear the doctrine of justification: a guilty person declared righteous by grace. ESV/NASB 'proved right' and BSB 'vindicated' keep the courtroom sense.

How it drifted

After Paul and the Reformation, 'justified' became a technical term for God declaring sinners righteous through faith. The Hebrew simple form here means the opposite situation: winning because you really were in the right.

Used elsewhere in the period

Isa 43:9, in the same trial speech: the nations should 'bring their witnesses wĕyitsdāqû, that they may be proved right'. Gen 38:26: Judah says of Tamar, 'she is more in the right (tsādĕqāh) than I'. Job 9:2, 15, 20; 13:18 ('I know that I shall be in the right'); 40:8. Ps 51:4 (Heb 6) uses it of God being 'in the right' when he judges.

From the study of Isaiah 5:23

Range of meaning

The basic verb means 'to be in the right, be just'. The causative form used here (hitsdiq) means 'to declare in the right, rule in favour of, acquit'. In a few places it means 'to bring justice to' or 'vindicate' someone (Isaiah 53:11; Daniel 12:3 'turn many to righteousness'). It never means 'to give reasons for' something, as English 'justify' now often does.

Against the English

KJV and YLT keep the legal verb ('justify', 'declaring righteous'). BSB, WEB, NIV and ESV say 'acquit', which gets the courtroom sense across clearly but loses the echo of the noun 'righteousness' later in the same verse.

How it drifted

In modern English 'justify' mostly means 'defend as reasonable' ('he justified his decision'). In church usage it also brings Paul's doctrine of justification to mind. Neither is the picture here: a judge reading out a verdict.

Used elsewhere in the period

This is the standard legal formula. Deuteronomy 25:1: judges are to 'declare the righteous in the right and declare the wicked guilty' (wehitsdiqu et-hatsaddiq wehirshiʿu et-harashaʿ). Exodus 23:7: God says 'I will not acquit the guilty' (lo-atsdiq rashaʿ), straight after the ban on bribes. Proverbs 17:15: 'He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both an abomination to the LORD.' In 2 Samuel 15:4 Absalom promises to 'give justice' (wehitsdaqtiw) to anyone with a lawsuit. The Septuagint translates it with dikaioō, 'to pronounce just'.

From the study of Proverbs 17:15

Range of meaning

The root tsdq means being in the right: right in a dispute, right by a standard, loyal to what a relationship requires. In the simple stem, a person 'is in the right' (Gen 38:26, Tamar 'is more in the right than I'). The hiphil stem, used here, usually means 'to declare or treat as in the right', that is, to acquit or rule in someone's favour (Exod 23:7; Deut 25:1; 2 Sam 15:4; 1 Kgs 8:32; Isa 5:23). In a few places it can also mean 'to bring someone into the right' or 'to lead many to righteousness' (Dan 12:3; possibly Isa 53:11).

Against the English

KJV, WEB, ESV, NASB and YLT say 'justifies'. BSB, NIV and NLT say 'acquitting'. 'Acquit' gives the courtroom sense clearly. 'Justify' is correct in older English but now misleads (see drift).

How it drifted

In everyday modern English, 'justify' means giving reasons that defend an action ('he tried to justify his behaviour'). In church language it carries the whole Reformation doctrine of justification by faith. Neither is what the Hebrew participle means here: issuing a verdict of 'innocent'.

Used elsewhere in the period

Deut 25:1 is the closest match in law and the mirror image of this proverb: judges are to 'declare the righteous in the right and declare the wicked guilty' (wə-hitsdîqû et-ha-tsaddîq wə-hirshîʿû et-hā-rāshāʿ), using the same two verbs. Exod 23:7: God says 'I will not acquit the guilty' (lōʾ-ʾatsdîq rāshāʿ). Isa 5:23 condemns those 'who acquit the guilty for a bribe' (matsdîqê rāshāʿ ʿēqev shōḥad), the same participle and object as here. The Greek translation of Proverbs (the Septuagint, LXX) renders it 'whoever judges the unjust to be just' (hos dikaion krinei ton adikon), which shows the translators read it as a verdict.

Where it appears

Genesis · 2

  1. Genesis 38:26 צָֽדְקָ֣ה she is righteous

    Judah recognized the items and said, “She is more righteous than I, since I did not give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not have relations with her again.

  2. Genesis 44:16 נִּצְטַדָּ֑ק will we justify ourselves

    “What can we say to my lord?” Judah replied. “How can we plead? How can we justify ourselves? God has exposed the iniquity of your servants. We are now my lord’s slaves—both we and the one who was found with the cup.”

    Here: 'How can we show ourselves to be in the right?' This is courtroom language: to prove yourself the innocent party in a dispute. Judah gives up any claim of innocence. This reflexive form of the verb appears nowhere else in the Hebrew Bible.

Exodus · 1

  1. Exodus 23:7 אַצְדִּ֖יק I will declare righteous

    Stay far away from a false accusation. Do not kill the innocent or the just, for I will not acquit the guilty.

    Here: 'I will declare in the right' (a causative form of the verb). This is a courtroom verdict: pronouncing a party innocent or in the right. God says he will never give that verdict to the guilty.

Deuteronomy · 1

  1. Deuteronomy 25:1 וְהִצְדִּ֙יקוּ֙ and they will declare righteous

    If there is a dispute between men, they are to go to court to be judged, so that the innocent may be acquitted and the guilty condemned.

    Here: "And they declare in the right." The judges officially announce that one party's case stands. This is a verdict, a public statement of legal standing, not a change in the person's character.

2 Samuel · 1

  1. 2 Samuel 15:4 וְהִצְדַּקְתִּֽיו׃ and I will do justice him

    And he would add, “If only someone would appoint me judge in the land, then everyone with a grievance or dispute could come to me, and I would give him justice.”

1 Kings · 1

  1. 1 Kings 8:32 וּלְהַצְדִּ֣יק and to declare righteous

    then may You hear from heaven and act. May You judge Your servants, condemning the wicked man by bringing down on his own head what he has done, and justifying the righteous man by rewarding him according to his righteousness.

    Here: A causative form of 'be in the right'. In a courtroom it means to rule in someone's favour, to acquit or vindicate. It is the exact opposite of leharshiaʿ.

2 Chronicles · 1

  1. 2 Chronicles 6:23 וּלְהַצְדִּ֣יק and to vindicate

    then may You hear from heaven and act. May You judge Your servants, condemning the wicked man by bringing down on his own head what he has done, and justifying the righteous man by rewarding him according to his righteousness.

Job · 17

  1. Job 4:17 יִצְדָּ֑ק will he be righteous

    ‘Can a mortal be more righteous than God, or a man more pure than his Maker?

    Here: The simple verb tsādaq often has a legal flavour: to be in the right in a dispute, to be found innocent. Here it is a 'can' question: can a mortal be (or be declared) in the right?

  2. Job 9:2 יִּצְדַּ֖ק will he be justified

    “Yes, I know that it is so, but how can a mortal be righteous before God?

    Here: 'Be in the right', meaning to have the just case in a dispute and be found right by the judge. The next verse ('if one wished to contend', a lawsuit word) shows the courtroom sense is in front here. Job is asking how a human could win a case against God, not how a human could become morally good.

  3. Job 9:15 צָ֭דַקְתִּי I am righteous

    For even if I were right, I could not answer. I could only beg my Judge for mercy.

  4. Job 9:20 אֶ֭צְדָּק I am righteous

    Even if I were righteous, my mouth would condemn me; if I were blameless, it would declare me guilty.

    Here: Simple active 'I am in the right', the courtroom sense: the party whose case is just. It picks up Job's question in 9:2, 'How can a man be in the right (yiṣdaq) with God?' It describes the state of being innocent in the case; it does not mean 'I declare myself righteous.'

  5. Job 10:15 וְ֭צָדַקְתִּי and I have been righteous

    If I am guilty, woe to me! And even if I am righteous, I cannot lift my head. I am full of shame and aware of my affliction.

    Here: 'And if I am in the right', meaning innocent in the case, the party who should win. It is the legal opposite of rāšaʿ. Job is saying that even a favourable verdict would change nothing.

  6. Job 11:2 יִצְדָּֽק׃ will he be acquitted

    “Should this stream of words go unanswered and such a speaker be vindicated?

  7. Job 13:18 אֶצְדָּֽק׃ I am in [the] right

    See now, I have prepared my case; I know that I will be vindicated.

  8. Job 15:14 יִ֝צְדַּ֗ק he will be righteous

    What is man, that he should be pure, or one born of woman, that he should be righteous?

    Here: To be in the right, to have a just case, to be vindicated. Eliphaz is answering Job's own words in 13:18, "I know that I will be in the right" (ʾetsdaq), which use the same verb.

  9. Job 22:3 תִצְדָּ֑ק you are righteous

    Does it delight the Almighty that you are righteous? Does He profit if your ways are blameless?

  10. Job 25:4 יִּצְדַּ֣ק will he be righteous

    How then can a man be just before God? How can one born of woman be pure?

    Here: In the simple active form this means 'to be in the right'. In a dispute it means to have the stronger case and be cleared. The verb is about standing, not about being made righteous by someone else. Job used this same verb in 13:18: 'I know that I will be in the right.'

  11. Job 27:5 אַצְדִּ֪יק I will declare right

    I will never say that you are right; I will maintain my integrity until I die.

    Here: Courtroom language: to pronounce a party 'in the right' in a dispute. Job refuses to concede the friends' case, which would mean admitting guilt he does not have.

  12. Job 32:2 צַדְּק֥וֹ justified he

    This kindled the anger of Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram. He burned with anger against Job for justifying himself rather than God,

  13. Job 33:12 צָדַ֣קְתָּ you are in [the] right

    Behold, you are not right in this matter. I will answer you, for God is greater than man.

  14. Job 33:32 צַדְּקֶֽךָּ׃ to justify you

    But if you have something to say, answer me; speak up, for I would like to vindicate you.

  15. Job 34:5 צָדַ֑קְתִּי I am righteous

    For Job has declared, ‘I am righteous, yet God has deprived me of justice.

    Here: A verb that describes a state: 'I am in the right.' It is courtroom language. Job is saying his case is just and he does not deserve what has happened to him. He is not claiming to be sinless.

  16. Job 35:7 צָ֭דַקְתָּ you have been righteous

    If you are righteous, what do you give Him, or what does He receive from your hand?

  17. Job 40:8 תִּצְדָּֽק׃ you may be justified

    Would you really annul My justice? Would you condemn Me to justify yourself?

    Here: 'You may be in the right.' In court this means winning the case or being found innocent. It does not mean being morally perfect. It answers Job's own question, 'How can a man be in the right with God?' (9:2), and his claim, 'I know I will be vindicated' (13:18).

Psalms · 4

  1. Psalm 19:9 צָֽדְק֥וּ they are righteous

    The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever; the judgments of the LORD are true, being altogether righteous.

    Here: 'They are in the right': a verb describing a state, not the causative 'to justify'. Every ruling matches what is just and would stand up in any court.

  2. Psalm 51:4 תִּצְדַּ֥ק you may be just

    Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You may be proved right when You speak and blameless when You judge.

    Here: 'You are in the right'. This is courtroom language: the party whose case is correct, the one in the right. It does not mean 'declared righteous' in the later doctrinal sense. God is shown to be right in what he has said against the speaker.

  3. Psalm 82:3 הַצְדִּֽיקוּ׃ vindicate

    Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; uphold the rights of the afflicted and oppressed.

    Here: A plural command, 'declare them in the right!' This is a courtroom verb: rule that their claim is valid and give them what is legally theirs. Placed last, it matches 'judge' at the start of the verse and frames the four groups between the two commands.

  4. Psalm 143:2 יִצְדַּ֖ק he is righteous

    Do not bring Your servant into judgment, for no one alive is righteous before You.

    Here: The verb's simple form, with an open-ended future/potential sense: 'will be (can be) in the right'. In a courtroom it means to come out in the right, to win the case. No human being would win a case against God.

Proverbs · 1

  1. Proverbs 17:15 מַצְדִּ֣יק [one who] justifies

    Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous—both are detestable to the LORD.

    Here: A participle of the verb in its 'declaring' form: the person who pronounces someone 'in the right'. It describes a role or habit, the one who gives the verdict, not someone who makes another person morally good.

Isaiah · 6

  1. Isaiah 5:23 מַצְדִּיקֵ֥י [those who] justify

    who acquit the guilty for a bribe and deprive the innocent of justice.

    Here: A causative participle, 'those who declare in the right'. It is courtroom language for handing down a verdict of 'innocent'. It is not about making anyone good. It carries on the 'Woe to…' that opens verse 22, so the drinking 'heroes' and these judges are the same men.

  2. Isaiah 43:9 וְיִצְדָּ֔קוּ so they may be justified

    All the nations gather together and the peoples assemble. Who among them can declare this, and proclaim to us the former things? Let them present their witnesses to vindicate them, so that others may hear and say, “It is true.”

    Here: In a court setting this means to win the case and be shown to be in the right. It has nothing to do with moral goodness or with being forgiven. The idea is that if their witnesses hold up, they win.

  3. Isaiah 43:26 תִּצְדָּֽק׃ you may be justified

    Remind Me, let us argue the matter together. State your case, so that you may be vindicated.

    Here: The simple active form, which means 'be in the right' or 'come out the innocent party in a dispute'. It does not mean 'be pardoned'. Israel would 'be justified' only if its own record proved it right, and verse 27 shows that it cannot.

  4. Isaiah 45:25 יִצְדְּק֥וּ they will be justified

    In the LORD all descendants of Israel will be justified and will exult.

    Here: A simple active (qal) verb, future-facing: "they will be in the right" or "they will be shown to be in the right." In this courtroom scene it means Israel wins its case. Its God turns out to be the true God, and their trust in him is publicly proved right.

  5. Isaiah 50:8 מַצְדִּיקִ֔י [the one who] justifies me

    The One who vindicates Me is near. Who will dare to contend with Me? Let us confront each other! Who has a case against Me? Let him approach Me!

    Here: A participle with "me": "the one who declares me in the right." This is courtroom language. It means the official ruling that a party is innocent, or has the just claim. The one in view is the Lord GOD of verses 7 and 9.

  6. Isaiah 53:11 יַצְדִּ֥יק he will justify

    After the anguish of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities.

    Here: This causative form of "be in the right" is used in court for acquitting someone, declaring them in the right (Deut 25:1). It can also mean bringing people into righteousness (Dan 12:3). Here the servant is its subject, which is remarkable.

Jeremiah · 1

  1. Jeremiah 3:11 צִדְּקָ֥ה she has made appear righteous

    And the LORD said to me, “Faithless Israel has shown herself more righteous than unfaithful Judah.

Ezekiel · 3

  1. Ezekiel 16:51 וַתְּצַדְּקִי֙ and you have made appear righteous

    Furthermore, Samaria did not commit half the sins you did. You have multiplied your abominations beyond theirs, and all the abominations you have committed have made your sisters appear righteous.

  2. Ezekiel 16:52 תִּצְדַּ֣קְנָה בְּצַדֶּקְתֵּ֖ךְ they are righteous, because have made appear righteous you

    So now you must bear your disgrace, since you have brought justification for your sisters. For they appear more righteous than you, because your sins were more vile than theirs. So you too must bear your shame and disgrace, since you have made your sisters appear righteous.

    Here: 'They are in the right.' This is the language of a verdict between two parties, and the next word makes it a comparison. It says nothing of their being good in themselves.

Daniel · 2

  1. Daniel 8:14 וְנִצְדַּ֖ק and it will be put right

    He said to me, “It will take 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be properly restored.”

    Here: A passive form of the verb “to be in the right”, found only here in the Bible. The sanctuary will be put back in its right condition and shown to be in the right after being trampled. The word is about restoring what is right and lawful, not about washing.

  2. Daniel 12:3 וּמַצְדִּיקֵי֙ and [those who] turn to righteousness

    Then the wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever.

    Here: A participle of the 'causing' form of 'be righteous': those who bring others into the right, so that they stand right with God and his covenant. It echoes Isaiah 53:11, where God's servant 'will make the many righteous'. This is the same group as the maskilim, now described by what they did for others.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.