Hebrew word · Strong's H6663

צָדַק

tsâdaq · tsaw-dak' · verb · “to be just, justify”

In a sentence

Tsadaq means to be just or to justify — to be in the right, or to declare in the right. It is the Old Testament root behind the New Testament’s great word “justification.”

Tsadaq is the verb behind tsedeq (righteousness) — to be just or to declare just. The Old Testament uses it both for being righteous and, judicially, for declaring someone righteous in a courtroom.

Paul’s Greek dikaioō (to justify) translates this Hebrew sense. God’s great surprise in the gospel is that he can “justify” the sinful — declare them just — on the basis of Christ, without compromising his own justice.

Strong's reference

Definition: to be (causatively, make) right (in a moral or forensic sense)

KJV usage: cleanse, clear self, (be, do) just(-ice, -ify, -ify self), (be turn to) righteous(-ness).

Reference gloss from Strong's Concordance (1890, public domain).

Key verses BSB · Public Domain (CC0)

Genesis 15:6 “Abram believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Isaiah 53:11 “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.” Romans 4:5 “However, to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.”

Original BibleDawn word study. Original-language data and the public-domain Strong's (1890) gloss are referenced; see sources.