צדק
Tzadaqah is the Hebrew word for ‘righteousness’ meaning ‘to be justified, to be loyal, honest, lawful.’ ‘Righteousness’ is found 130 times in the Hebrew Scriptures. Righteousness can simply mean ‘acting rightly before the lawgiver’ in truth and mercy. Melchizedek in Hebrew is Melech Tzadek meaning ‘King of Righteousness.’
“One the one hand, the relationships among people and of a man to his God can be described as sadaq, supposing the parties are faithful to each other’s expectations. It is a relational word…. The word ‘righteousness’ embodies all that God expects of His people. One judges, deals, sacrifices, and speaks righteously; and one learns, teaches, and pursues after righteousness” (Vines Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words).
“He believed in Adonai, and he credited it to him as righteousness” (Genesis 15:6).
“It will be righteousness for us if we are careful to obey all these mitzvot before ADONAI our God, just as he ordered us to do” (Deuteronomy 6:25).
“I will restore your judges as at first and your advisers as at the beginning. After that, you will be called the City of Righteousness, Faithful City” (Isaiah 1:26).
“But those who can discern will shine like the brightness of heaven’s dome, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever” (Daniel 12:3).
Hebrew Word Pictures
צ Tzade – A Fishhook means ‘pull toward.’
ד Dalet – A Door means ‘pathway.’
ק Kof – Back of the Head means ‘what is behind.’
ה Hey – A Window means ‘reveal’ or ‘behold.’
The Hebrew Word Picture for tzadakah: pulling toward what is behind the pathway, revealed.
In Greek ‘righteousness’ is dikaiosune and means ‘whatever conforms to the revealed will of God,’ or ‘whatever has been appointed by God to be acknowledged and obeyed by man.’
““How blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness! for they will be filled” (Matthew 5:6).
“For it is by the power of the Spirit, who works in us because we trust and are faithful, that we confidently expect our hope of attaining righteousness to be fulfilled” (Galatians 5:5).
©2011 Tentstake Ministries Publishing, all rights reserved. No copying or reproducing of this article without crediting the author or Tentstake Ministries Publishing.