To be (causatively, make ) right (in a moral or forensic sense)
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צָדַק (tsadaq) is a verb for being right, being shown or declared right, vindicating, or justifying. Genesis 38:26 has Judah acknowledge that Tamar is more in the right than he is, while Job repeatedly asks how a human can be right before God.
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Full entry for צָדַק (H6663) · Open the biblical lexicon
צָדַק (tsadaq) is a verb for being right, being shown or declared right, vindicating, or justifying. Genesis 38:26 has Judah acknowledge that Tamar is more in the right than he is, while Job repeatedly asks how a human can be right before God.
The BSB source-word alignment has 41 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include and justifying (2), appear righteous (2), you are righteous (2), acquit (1), Acquitting (1).
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 38:26. Its strongest book concentrations include Job (17), Isaiah (6), Psalms (4), Ezekiel (3).
צָדַק (tsadaq) is a verb for being right, being shown or declared right, vindicating, or justifying. Genesis 38:26 has Judah acknowledge that Tamar is more in the right than he is, while Job repeatedly asks how a human can be right before God. The verb's form and setting determine whether a subject possesses a right claim, receives a verdict, or declares another party right.
Courtroom texts make the judicial force explicit. Deuteronomy 25:1 directs judges to declare the righteous party right and condemn the wicked, First Kings 8:32 asks God to vindicate the righteous according to that person's righteousness, and Proverbs 17:15 condemns justifying the wicked alongside condemning the righteous. A just verdict corresponds to truth; justification language cannot be used to deny evidence or call evil good.
The verb also enters theological confession and servant hope. Psalm 51:4 says God is shown right in speaking and pure in judgment, Psalm 143:2 denies that any living person is righteous before God in judgment, Isaiah 45:25 locates Israel's justification and boasting in the Lord, and Isaiah 53:11 says the righteous servant will justify many while bearing their iniquities. These passages contribute to later justification theology, but H6663 alone does not settle every Pauline question or erase the texts' ethical and judicial dimensions.
Tsadaq is a relational and often forensic verb. It can describe being in the right, receiving vindication, issuing a correct verdict, or causing others to be accounted right. Truthful judgment is the thread that connects its varied stems.
Judah acknowledges that Tamar is more in the right because he failed to give her to Shelah.
Judges must decide a dispute by declaring the right party right and the wrong party wrong.
Solomon asks God to hear disputed oaths, condemn the wicked, and vindicate the righteous.
Job asks how a human being can be right before God within his struggle over divine justice.
David's confession affirms that God is right in speaking and pure in judging.
Declaring a wicked person right and condemning a righteous person are both called abominations.
Israel's offspring are declared right and boast in the Lord within a universal summons to turn and be saved.
The righteous servant causes many to be accounted right while bearing their iniquities.
The supplicant asks God not to enter judgment because no living person is right before him.
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders ItA compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
Hebrew word. Judicial vindication and moral rightness merge: to be declared innocent or to establish justice through forensic acquittal.
Judicial vindication and moral rightness merge: to be declared innocent or to establish justice through forensic acquittal.
to be (causatively, make) right (in a moral or forensic sense) BDB: be just Usage: cleanse, clear self, (be, do) just(-ice, -ify, -ify self), (be turn to) righteous(-ness).
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 41 lexical occurrence verses.
צָדַק is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Expresses covenant vindication through the Lord. Isaiah 45:20-25
Frames the Servant’s ultimate acquittal by God. Isaiah 50:4-9
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
Tsadaq makes justification a truth-governed act rather than a slogan. Judah must acknowledge Tamar's stronger claim. Deuteronomy and Proverbs require courts to align verdicts with evidence and condemn reversing good and evil. Job and Psalm 143 strip away self-justifying confidence before God, while Psalm 51 confesses that God is right in judgment. Isaiah directs hope toward the Lord and the righteous servant.
Teaching can trace these connections into New Testament justification, but it should preserve the Hebrew texts' judicial and ethical force. A declaration of right must never become permission to conceal harm, dismiss evidence, or treat a religiously favored person as beyond accountability. Divine grace justifies sinners; it does not rename ongoing abuse righteousness or eliminate repentance and repair.
Deut.25.1
H6663 changes force across stems and constructions. Be right, be vindicated, declare right, and justify are related but not interchangeable without identifying subject, object, standard, and verdict setting.
Paul and other New Testament writers develop justification through Christ, faith, grace, resurrection, and final judgment. Those arguments echo the forensic field but must not be reduced to the gloss of H6663 or imported wholesale into every occurrence.
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