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צַדִּיק

𐤑𐤃𐤉𐤒

tsaddîyq

H6662 adjective

SILEX Entry

Root צדק to be just, to be righteous, to be right

Definition

A person who behaves in accordance with moral, ethical, or legal norms—upright, just, or righteous. Most often describes an individual whose actions are in harmony with established codes (social, cultic, or legal), but can also refer to one acquitted in a judicial context. In poetic and wisdom literature, it denotes those who seek or embody ideal moral conduct, often contrasted with the wicked (רָשָׁע).

Semantic Range

one who is just, righteous person, morally upright individual, one acquitted in court, one whose actions comply with legal or covenantal norms, ethically blameless, judge or authority acting in fairness

Root / Etymology

Root: צדק. The verb צָדַק (tsādaq) means 'to be just, to be righteous, to be in the right.' The adjective צַדִּיק (tsaddîyq) derives as an active or attributive form, signifying 'one who is right/just' or 'justified.' The noun form refers to a person characterized by meeting the criteria established by covenant law, societal norms, or divine judgment.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Throughout the Hebrew Bible, צַדִּיק is a key term for describing individuals or groups whose behavior aligns with ethical or legal standards. In earlier legal and narrative contexts (e.g., Deuteronomy, Samuel-Kings), it may apply to one acquitted in court or vindicated by God. In Psalms, Proverbs, and prophetic writings, the term becomes a broader ethical designation, often forming a binary with רָשָׁע ('wicked'), present in wisdom and didactic contexts. Differences from related terms: while ישר (yāshār, 'upright') emphasizes straightness or integrity, צַדִּיק focuses on justice, especially in legal or relational matters. The standard translation as 'righteous' can sometimes obscure the social and judicial nuances of the word. The later equation of צַדִּיק with the English 'saint' or 'Jew' (in some translations) is anachronistic and not present in early biblical usage. During post-exilic and later periods, the term was given greater theological significance in Second Temple literature and rabbinic usage, but in biblical texts, its meaning centers on ethical and judicial rightness within the Israelite social and legal order.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from צָדַק; just; just, lawful, righteous (man).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

צדק (ṣ-d-q) — to be just, to be righteous, to be in the right

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H139 אֲדֹנִי־צֶדֶק righteousness
H3087 יְהוֹצָדָק and Yahweh-has-made-righteous
H3136 יוֹצָדָק Yah Is Righteous
H6659 צָדוֹק to Righteous-one
H6663 צָדַק I will declare right

Word Forms

10 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6662-07 צַדִּ֛יק tsadiq HAamsa righteous righteous man 110
H6662-08 צַדִּיקִ֖ם tsadiqim HAampa of the righteous righteous ones 50
H6662-04 לַ/צַּדִּ֔יק latsadiq HRd/Aamsa to-the-righteous to the righteous one 15
H6662-09 וְ/צַדִּיק֙ vetsadiq HC/Aamsa and righteous and a just man 10
H6662-01 הַ/צַּדִּ֔יק hatsadiq HTd/Aamsa the righteous the just one 8
H6662-02 הַ/צַּדִּיקִ֖ם hatsadiqim HTd/Aampa the righteous the righteous ones 6
H6662-10 וְ/צַדִּקִים֙ vetsadiqim HC/Aampa but-the-righteous and righteous ones 4
H6662-05 לְ֝/צַדִּ֗יק letsadiq HR/Aamsa a righteous man to a righteous man 1
H6662-03 כַ/צַּדִּ֖יק khatsadiq HRd/Aamsa like the righteous a just one 1
H6662-06 מִ/צַּדִּ֗יק mitsadiq HR/Aamsa from the righteous from a righteous man 1

Occurrences in Scripture

206 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6662-07 Genesis 6:9 צַדִּ֛יק tsadiq HAamsa righteous righteous man
H6662-07 Genesis 7:1 צַדִּ֥יק tsadiq HAamsa righteous righteous man
H6662-07 Genesis 18:23 צַדִּ֖יק tsadiq HAamsa the righteous righteous man
H6662-08 Genesis 18:24 צַדִּיקִ֖ם tsadiqim HAampa righteous righteous ones
H6662-02 Genesis 18:24 הַ/צַּדִּיקִ֖ם hatsadiqim HTd/Aampa the righteous the righteous ones
H6662-07 Genesis 18:25 צַדִּיק֙ tsadiq HAamsa righteous righteous man
H6662-03 Genesis 18:25 כַ/צַּדִּ֖יק khatsadiq HRd/Aamsa like the righteous a just one
H6662-08 Genesis 18:26 צַדִּיקִ֖ם tsadiqim HAampa righteous righteous ones
H6662-02 Genesis 18:28 הַ/צַּדִּיקִם֙ hatsadiqim HTd/Aampa the righteous the righteous ones
H6662-07 Genesis 20:4 צַדִּ֖יק tsadiq HAamsa righteous righteous man
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