Greek · G1342 · unreviewed

δίκαιος

Just

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δίκαιος G1342

Pronunciation díkaios

What does δίκαιος (díkaios) mean in the Bible?

δίκαιος (díkaios) is a Greek word meaning "just". δίκαιος, -α, -ον (δίκη), [in LXX chiefly for צַדִּיק (for rendering of צַדִּיק in sense of correct, see Deiss. Identifies Jesus as the holy and vindicated Messiah. This term runs through the canonical themes of Holiness, Justice, Messiah.

Full entry for δίκαιος (G1342) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

just

Extended definition

Conformity to God's standard of right rather than human standards; righteousness as measured against divine justice.

(δίκη), [in LXX chiefly for צַדִּיק (for rendering of צַדִּיק in sense of correct, see Deiss., BS, 115 f.); sometimes for נָקִי as Pro.1:11, al. ;] in early Gk. writers

aof persons, observant of δίκη, custom, rule, right, righteous in performing duties to gods and men ;

bof things, righteous, in accordance with right. In NT

1righteous, chiefly in the broad sense, as above, of the person or thing corresponding to the Divine standard of right

aof persons: of God, Rom.3:26, 1Jn.2:29 Jn 3:7; of Christ, Act.3:14 7:52 22:14, 1Pe.3:18, 1Jn.2:1; of men, Mat.1:19 (Abbott, Essays, 75 f.) Mat.10:41 13:17, 43 13:49, Luk.1:6, 17, Rom.5:7, 1Ti.1:9, Jas.5:6, 1Pe.3:12, 1Jn.3:7, Rev.22:11, al.; δ. καὶ εὐλαβής, Luk.2:25; ἅγιος, Mrk.6:20; ἀγαθός, Luk.23:50; φοβούμενος τ. θεόν, Act.10:22; opposite to ἀμαρτωλοὶ καὶ ἀσεβεῖς, 1Pe.4:18; ἄδικοι, Mat.5:45, Act.24:15; δ. ἐκ πίστεως, Rom.1:17, Gal.3:11, Heb.10:38" (LXX) ; δ. παρὰ τ. θεῷ, Rom.2:13

bof things: ἔργα δ., opposite to πονηρὰ, 1Jn.3:12; ἐντολή, Rom.7:12; metaphorically, αἷμα, Mat.23:35; τὸ δ., Luk.12:57; δ. ἐστιν, Act.4:19, Eph.6:1, Php.1:7; ὅ, Mat.20:4; ὅσα, Php.4:8

2In narrower sense

aof persons, as in later cl. writers, just, rendering to each his due: Tit.1:8, 1Jn.1:9; δ. κριτής, 2Ti.4:8

bof things: τὸ δ., Col.4:1; δ., sc. ἐστιν, 2Th.1:6; κρίσις δ., Jhn.5:30; ὁδοί, Rev.15:3

Synonymsἀγαθός (which see), καλός, χρηστός (Cremer, 183, 690).

Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith

Why This Word Matters

Identifies Jesus as the holy and vindicated Messiah. 1 John 2:1-2

Jesus is identified as the ultimate innocent sufferer and Messiah. Acts 22:6-16

Indicates that forgiveness does not compromise divine justice but is consistent with God’s righteous character. Acts 7:35-53

Christ’s advocacy is effective because He is perfectly righteous. His standing before the Father is grounded in His sinless obedience.

Grammatical Forms

How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.

Nominative · Singular · Masculine Matt 1:19 · Luke 2:25 · Luke 23:47 · Luke 23:50 · Acts 10:22 · Rom 1:17 · Rom 3:10 · Gal 3:11 · 2 Tim 4:8 · Heb 10:38 · Heb 11:4 · 1 Pet 3:18 · 1 Pet 4:18 · 2 Pet 2:8 · 1 John 1:9 · 1 John 2:29 20×

Nominative · Plural · Masculine Matt 13:17 · Matt 13:43 · Matt 23:28 · Matt 25:37 · Matt 25:46 · Luke 1:6 · Luke 18:9 · Rom 2:13 · Rom 5:19 9×

Nominative · Singular · Neuter Matt 20:4 · Matt 23:35 · Acts 4:19 · Eph 6:1 · Phil 1:7 · 2 Thess 1:6 6×

Nominative · Plural · Feminine Rev 15:3 · Rev 16:7 · Rev 19:2 3×

Nominative · Singular · Feminine John 5:30 · Rom 7:12 2×

Nominative · Plural · Neuter Phil 4:8 · 1 John 3:12 2×

Genitive · Singular · Masculine Matt 10:41 · Matt 23:35 · Acts 7:52 · Rom 5:7 · Jas 5:16 6×

Genitive · Plural · Masculine Matt 13:49 · Matt 23:29 · Luke 1:17 · Luke 14:14 · Acts 24:15 · Heb 12:23 6×

Genitive · Singular · Feminine 2 Thess 1:5 1×

Dative · Singular · Masculine Matt 27:19 · 1 Tim 1:9 2×

Canonical Themes

Holiness JusticeMessiah

Biblical Occurrences

Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.

New Testament Witnesses

1 John 2:1-2 Righteous díkaios

Morally upright and fully aligned with God’s law and character.

Acts 22:6-16 Righteous One díkaios

The just or righteous one.

Acts 7:35-53 Righteous One díkaios Genitive · Singular · Masculine

The just or innocent one.

Additional Occurrences

1-john Just díkaios

righteous, aligned with justice

Luke 1:5–25 δίκαιοι díkaios

Righteous, just

Luke 23:44–49 δίκαιος díkaios

Righteous, just

Luke 5:27–32 δικαίους díkaios

Righteous

Appears In

Compound and idiomatic lexemes in which this word is a constituent. Follow a link to study the phrase and its other participating words.

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

Acts 22 — Paul’s Defense: Christ Appears, Sends, and Preserves His Witness Acts 24 — Paul Before Felix: Resurrection Hope, Clear Conscience, and Coming Judgment Acts 3 — The Risen Christ Heals and Calls Israel to Repentance Acts 7 — Stephen Testifies to Israel’s Resistance and Christ’s Glory Colossians 4 — Prayer, Wise Witness, Faithful Service, and Gospel Fellowship John 17 — The Son’s High Priestly Prayer: Glory, Preservation, Sanctification, Unity, Mission, and Love John 7 — The Feast, the Divided Crowd, and the Living Water of Jesus Luke 18 — Persistent Faith, Humble Mercy, and the King on the Road to Jerusalem Luke 23 — The Innocent King Condemned, Crucified with Transgressors, and Buried in Hope Mark 2 — The Son of Man Has Authority: Forgiveness, Fellowship, and Lordship Mark 6 — Rejected Prophet, Sending Lord, Wilderness Shepherd, and Divine Son on the Sea Matthew 1 — The Genealogy and Birth of Jesus the Messiah Matthew 10 — The Mission of the Twelve, Costly Witness, and Allegiance to Christ Matthew 13 — The Kingdom in Parables: Hearing, Hiddenness, Growth, Worth, and Judgment Matthew 20 — The First-Last Kingdom, the Ransom-Giving Son of Man, and Mercy for the Blind Matthew 23 — Woes upon Hypocritical Leadership and the Lament over Jerusalem Matthew 25 — Readiness, Stewardship, and the Final Judgment of the Son of Man Matthew 27 — Jesus Condemned, Crucified, Dead, Buried, and Guarded Matthew 9 — Authority to Forgive, Mercy for Sinners, and Compassion for the Harvest Philippians 4 — Rejoicing, Peace, Contentment, and Gospel Partnership in Christ Romans 3 — All Under Sin and the Righteousness of God Revealed Through Faith in Christ Romans 7 — Released from the Law, Exposed by the Law, and Crying Out for Deliverance

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources

MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain

Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0

Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

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