Biblical Meaning of Tzedakah, Righteousness, or Justice
The Biblical Meaning of Tzedakah, Righteousness, or Justice
The Hebrew term צְדָקָה (tzedakah) appears frequently in the Hebrew Bible, conveying a rich and complex meaning that encompasses various aspects of righteousness, justice, and charity [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7].
Lexical Range and Morphology
Tzedakah is a feminine noun derived from the root צדק (tsedeq), which means "to be just" or "to be righteous" [1, 8]. The Brown-Driver-Briggs lexicon defines tzedakah as "righteousness" or "justice," highlighting its connection to the concept of tsedeq [8]. The word is used to describe a range of concepts, including justice in government, righteousness as an ethical quality, and charitable acts.
Distribution and Key Passages
Tzedakah appears 157 times in the Hebrew Bible, with significant occurrences in Deuteronomy, Isaiah, and Proverbs [8]. In Deuteronomy, tzedakah is associated with the concept of justice, as seen in Deut 25:15, which commands the use of "a perfect and just weight" [1]. In Isaiah, tzedakah is linked to the Messianic virtues of the Davidic king (Isa 9:6; 11:3-5) and the redemption of Zion (Isa 1:27) [12].
Comparative Usage and Semantic Shifts
The meaning of tzedakah evolved over time, with different connotations in various biblical contexts. In Rabbinic literature, tzedakah took on a specific meaning, referring to charity or acts of kindness [9, 10]. Abraham Ibn Ezra notes that while tzedakah is a synonym for justice in biblical Hebrew, it acquired a distinct meaning in Rabbinic usage, emphasizing the importance of charitable giving [9].
Translation History
Major English versions render tzedakah in various ways, reflecting the complexity of its meaning. The King James Version often translates it as "righteousness," while more modern translations, such as the New International Version, may use "justice" or "charity" depending on the context [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7].
Interpretive Traditions
Different interpretive traditions have understood tzedakah in distinct ways. In Jewish (Rabbinic) tradition, tzedakah is closely tied to charitable giving, as seen in the Babylonian Talmud and Midrash Rabbah [10, 11]. In contrast, Protestant and Lutheran interpretations often emphasize the connection between tzedakah and justification or righteousness, as seen in the works of Charles Hodge and Keil & Delitzsch [12, 13].
The concept of tzedakah remains a rich and multifaceted aspect of biblical thought, encompassing justice, righteousness, and charity. Its meaning continues to be explored and nuanced by scholars and theologians across various interpretive traditions.
Sources
- Brown-Driver-Briggs “[BDB H6664] tsedeq (part 1/3) — H6664. tsedeq צֶ֫דֶק noun masculineIsa 1:21 rightness, righteousness; — ׳צ Lev 19:36 87t.; צִדְקִי Isa 41:10 8t., etc.; — 1 what is right, just, normal; rightness, justness, of weights and measures, וָצֶדֶק שְׁלֵמָה אֶבֶן אֵיפָה, Deut 25:15 a perfect and a just weight, ephah; צ ׳מאֹזְנֵי; צ ׳בַּת צ, ׳הִין צ, ׳אֵיפַת צ, ׳אַבְנֵי Lev 19:36 (H) Job 31:6; Ezek 45:10; צ ׳מַעְגְּלֵי right paths Psa 23:3; צ ׳זִבְחֵי right peace-offerings Deut 33:19; Psa 4:6; Psalm 51:21. 2 righteousness, in government: a. of judges, rulers, kings, בצ ׳שׁפט Lev 19:15(H); צ ׳שׁפט Deut 1:16;”
- STEPBible TAHOT “Isa.61.10#12=L — Hebrew tagged text (TAHOT): צְדָקָ֖ה [tze.da.Kah] "righteousness"”
- STEPBible TAHOT “Isa.10.22#14=L — Hebrew tagged text (TAHOT): צְדָקָֽה\׃ [tze.da.Kah] "righteousness"”
- STEPBible TAHOT “Isa.45.23#05=L — Hebrew tagged text (TAHOT): צְדָקָ֛ה [tze.da.Kah] "righteousness"”
- STEPBible TAHOT “Job.37.23#08=L — Hebrew tagged text (TAHOT): צְ֝דָקָ֗ה [tze.da.Kah] "righteousness"”
- STEPBible TAHOT “Isa.56.1#07=L — Hebrew tagged text (TAHOT): צְדָקָ֑ה [tze.da.Kah] "righteousness"”
- STEPBible TAHOT “Pro.21.21#02=L — Hebrew tagged text (TAHOT): צְדָקָ֣ה [tze.da.Kah] "righteousness"”
- Brown-Driver-Briggs “[BDB H6666] tsedaqah (part 1/3) — H6666. tsedaqah צְדָקָה157 noun feminine righteousness; — absolute ׳צ Gen 15:6+81 t.; construct צִדְקַת Deut 33:21+5 t.; suffix צִדְקָתִי Gen 30:33 +, etc.; plural צְדָקוֺת Isa 33:15+3t.; construct צִדְקוֺת Judg 5:11+; suffix צִדְקֹתֶיךָ Dan 9:16, etc.; — 1 righteousness, in government: a. of judge, ruler, king: || משׁפט Isa 5:7; 9:6; Amos 5:7; 6:12; וצ ׳משׁפט 2Sam 8:15, עשׂה David executed justice and righteousness = 1Chr 18:14, compare 1Kin 10:9 2Chr 9:8; Jer 22:3, 15; 33:15; Ezek 45:9; ׳בּצ כִּסֵּא יִכּוֺן Prov 16:12, compare Isa 54:14; הצ ׳מַעֲשֵׂה השׂ, ׳עֲבֹדַ”
- Sefaria (Jewish (Rationalist)) “Abraham Ibn Ezra on Genesis 15:6: RIGHTEOUSNESS. Compare, And it shall be righteousness unto us (Deut. 6:25). Tzedakah (righteousness) is a synonym for justice. 8 God considered Abraham’s action as just and right. However, in Rabbinic literature tzedakah has a different meaning. 9 There it has the meaning of charity.”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 57b.8: He raises the objection and he resolves it: Abraham commanded his sons to carry out justice, whereas his household, the women in his family, he commanded to give charity; the Hebrew word for righteousness [ tzedek ] can also mean charity [ tzedaka ].”
- Midrash Rabbah (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Midrash Rabbah, Kohelet Rabbah 7:14:1: “On a day of good fortune, enjoy, and on a day of misfortune, see: God made this as well as that; consequently, man cannot find out anything about it” (Ecclesiastes 7:14). “On a day of good fortune, enjoy” – if a good day befalls you, act upon it immediately. 110 Thank God with a thanksgiving offering or a thanksgiving banquet. “And on a day of misfortune, see” – see how to repent and be spared from the punishment of Gehenna. Rabbi Yudan [said] in the name of Rabbi Elazar: Three matters nullify evil decrees: Prayer, charity [ tzedaka ], and repentance, an”
- Isaiah (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on Isaiah 1:27: Isa 1:27 presents it in a brief and concise form: "Sion will be redeemed through judgment, and her returning ones through righteousness." Mishpat and tzedâkâh are used elsewhere for divine gifts (Isa 33:5; Isa 28:6), for such conduct as is pleasing to God (Isa 1:21; Isa 32:16), and for royal Messianic virtues (Isa 9:6; Isa 11:3-5; Isa 16:5; Isa 32:1). Here, however, where we are helped by the context, they are to be interpreted according to such parallel passages as Isa 4:4; Isa 5:16; Isa 28:17, as signifying God's right and righteousness in their primarily j”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 23: § 6. Proof of the Doctrine. That the Protestant doctrine as above stated is the doctrine of the word of God appears from the following considerations: — 1. The word δικαιόω , as has been shown, means to declare δίκαιος . No one can be truthfully pronounced δίκαιος to whom δικαιοσύνη cannot rightfully be ascribed. The sinner ( ex vi verbi ) has no righteousness of his own. God, therefore, imputes to him a righteousness which is not his own. The righteousness thus imputed is declared to be the righteousness of God, of Christ, the righteousn”