Righteousness is one of those biblical words that can mean a lot of things to a lot of people. Often righteousness is defined more by the traditions of the churches or religious movement we are a part of (e.g., don’t lie, steal, commit adultery, drink alcohol, dance, play cards, smoke, etc.) than by what the Word of Elohim actually teaches. Have you wondered what the word righteousness really means?
In this study, we have attempted to look up nearly all 297 references in Scripture to righteousness, then list the main scriptures that capture the quintessential meaning of righteousness and then categorize them topically. By this means, we hope to let the Bible itself define righteousness instead of men’s traditions and religious philosophies.
It behooves us to know what righteousness is, since Yeshua declared that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled, and that those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake will inherit the kingdom of heaven (Matt 5:6 and 10). Additionally, he commands us to “seek first the kingdom of Elohim and his righteousness” (Matt 6:33). Elsewhere the Scriptures tell us that “the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of Elohim” (1 Cor 6:9). Yeshua also taught that it was necessary for the righteousness of his disciples (and us) to exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees (Matt 5:20). What did he mean by this? And finally, in Revelation 19:7–9 the bride of Yeshua is described as wearing “fine linen, clean and bright” garments which is “the righteous acts of the saints” (NKJV). Notice it doesn’t say “righteous beliefs,” but righteous acts.” What are the righteous acts of the saints?
The Etymology of the Word Righteousness
Let’s first define the word righteousness.
It is the Hebrew word tsedawkaw (Strong’s H6666 and is derived from H6663; TWOT 1879b) and means “justice, truthfulness, ethically right” or “morally straight.” The KJV translates tsedawkaw as follows: righteousness (128 times), justice (15 times), right (9 times), righteous acts (3 times), moderately (1 time), righteously (1 time).
Tsedawkaw derives from tsadak (a primitive root; Strong’s H6663) meaning “to be just, be righteous, to have a just cause, to be in the right, to be righteous in conduct and character, to be put or made right or justified, to make someone righteous, to do or bring Continue reading
