Strong's g1347
Understanding δικαίωσις (dikaiósis) Strong's G1347: The Divine Justification that Transforms Sinners into Saints
Pronunciation Guide: dee-kai-OH-sis (δικαίωσις)
Basic Definition
Key Information
δικαίωσις
Strong’s Entry
g1347
Strong’s G1347: δικαίωσις (dikaiósis) refers to the divine act of justification, whereby God declares a sinner righteous on the basis of faith in the Messiah. It is the legal and transformative act of being made right with God. This word emphasizes both the process and result of being justified, focusing on the divine verdict that changes a person’s standing before God from condemned to righteous.
Etymology and Morphology
- Part of Speech: Feminine noun
- Root Word: δικαιόω (dikaioó, G1344) – to justify, declare righteous
- Language Origin: Koine Greek
- Word Family: Derived from δίκαιος (dikaios, G1342) – righteous, just
- Primary Usage: Found in doctrinal and theological sections, specifically in Paul’s epistle to the Romans
- Frequency: Rare – appears only twice in the New Testament
δικαίωσις Morphology:
- δικαίωσις (nominative singular) – justification
- δικαιώσεως (genitive singular) – of justification
- δικαιώσει (dative singular) – in/with/by justification
- δικαίωσιν (accusative singular) – justification (direct object)
Origin & History
The term δικαίωσις (dikaiósis) belongs to a significant word group in Greek centered around the concept of righteousness (δικαιοσύνη, dikaiosunē) and justice. While relatively uncommon in classical Greek literature, it gained theological significance through its usage in the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures. In classical Greek, the related verb form δικαιόω (dikaioó) typically referred to rendering justice or vindicating someone in court proceedings.
In the Septuagint, this word family took on deeper theological meaning in translating Hebrew concepts of righteousness, particularly צֶדֶק (tsedeq) and צְדָקָה (tsedaqah). Philo of Alexandria, the Jewish philosopher, used related terms to describe how God declares someone righteous according to His divine standards. The concept developed further theological depth in the writings of the early Church Fathers like Clement of Rome and Justin Martyr, who emphasized justification as God’s gracious act toward humanity through the Messiah’s sacrifice.
Expanded Definitions & Translation Options
- Legal Declaration: The formal act of God declaring a sinner righteous, a judicial verdict of acquittal
- Status Change: The resultant state of being made right with God, moving from condemnation to acceptance
- Vindication: The demonstration of God’s righteousness in justifying sinners who have faith in the Messiah
- Restoration: The process by which a person is brought back into proper relationship with God
δικαίωσις Translation Options:
- Justification – Captures the legal declaration aspect, emphasizing God’s judicial verdict (most common translation)
- Acquittal – Highlights the removal of guilt and the pronouncement of “not guilty”
- Vindication – Emphasizes the demonstration of righteousness and the proving of one’s standing
- Right-making – A more dynamic equivalent that emphasizes the transformative nature of the process
- Righteousness-declaration – A compound translation that captures both the declarative and status aspects
Biblical Usage
In the New Testament, δικαίωσις appears only twice, both instances in Paul’s letter to the Romans, yet its theological significance far outweighs its frequency. In Romans 4:25, it appears in the context of explaining how Yeshua’s death and resurrection provide the basis for our justification. In Romans 5:18, it contrasts with condemnation, showing the universal scope and life-giving nature of Christ’s work. These two appearances anchor a central concept in Pauline theology—that God declares sinners righteous not based on works of the Law but through faith in the Messiah.
Although δικαίωσις itself appears infrequently, the related verb δικαιόω (to justify) and the noun δικαιοσύνη (righteousness) appear throughout the New Testament, especially in Romans and Galatians, forming the backbone of Paul’s soteriological framework. The concept is intimately connected to God’s covenant faithfulness and the fulfillment of His redemptive promises to Israel through the Messiah.
- “Who was delivered up because of our trespasses, and was raised because of our justification [δικαίωσιν].” Romans 4:25
- “So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification [δικαίωσιν] of life to all men.” Romans 5:18
Cultural Insights
In the ancient Jewish legal system, a person was considered righteous when they were in the right regarding a particular case or covenant relationship. Unlike modern Western judicial systems that focus primarily on punishment for wrongdoing, the Hebrew concept of justice (mishpat) included the positive restoration of right relationships. When a judge “justified” someone in ancient Israel, he was not merely declaring them “not guilty” but was restoring them to proper covenant standing in the community.
This background illuminates Paul’s use of δικαίωσις. For Jewish audiences familiar with covenant theology, justification wasn’t merely a private transaction between an individual and God but had community implications—it meant being declared a true member of God’s covenant people. The Hebrew concept of צְדָקָה (tsedaqah), which underlies this Greek term, carries connotations not just of legal standing but of covenant faithfulness and right relationship with both God and community. This helps explain why Paul connects justification so intimately with both faith and community inclusion in his letters.
Theological Significance
The concept of δικαίωσις stands at the heart of the gospel message, revealing God’s perfect balance of justice and mercy. It addresses the fundamental human problem: how can a righteous God declare unrighteous sinners to be righteous without compromising His own justice? The Messiah’s substitutionary atonement provides the answer—God’s justice is satisfied through Yeshua’s sacrifice, allowing His mercy to flow freely to those who believe.
This doctrine reveals the character of God as both “just and the justifier” (Romans 3:26). Unlike human legal systems that must choose between justice and mercy, God’s wisdom found a way to express both perfectly through the cross. Justification demonstrates God’s love by providing a way for restoration that doesn’t compromise His holiness. It shows His omnipotence by transforming the legal status of sinners not through arbitrary declaration but through the costly sacrifice of His Son.
Moreover, δικαίωσις connects to the larger biblical narrative of redemption—it fulfills the promises made to Abraham that through his seed all nations would be blessed. It demonstrates God’s covenant faithfulness to Israel while extending salvation to Gentiles, revealing a divine plan that transcends ethnic and cultural boundaries while remaining true to His ancient promises.
Personal Application
Understanding δικαίωσις (justification) transforms how we view both our standing before God and our daily walk with Him. When we grasp that our righteousness is not based on our performance but on Yeshua’s perfect work received by faith, we find freedom from both self-righteousness and self-condemnation. We no longer need to prove our worth or earn God’s favor—we already stand completely justified in His sight.
This truth should revolutionize our approach to spiritual growth. Rather than striving to become righteous through our efforts, we live from the position of having already been declared righteous. Our obedience becomes not an attempt to gain God’s approval but a response of gratitude to the One who has already fully accepted us. When we fail, we don’t fear rejection but return confidently to the Father whose verdict over us remains unchanged. This security in God’s justification produces genuine transformation—we become what we already are in His eyes, growing in righteousness because we have been declared righteous.
Related Words
- δικαιοσύνη (dikaiosunē) – righteousness, justice; the quality of being right or just in character or actions. While δικαίωσις focuses on the act of justification, dikaiosunē refers to the resultant state or quality of righteousness itself. See G1343
- δικαιόω (dikaioó) – to justify, declare righteous; the verb form from which δικαίωσις derives. This focuses on the action of justifying rather than the result or state of justification. See G1344
- δίκαιος (dikaios) – righteous, just, upright; describes a person who is in right standing before God or who acts righteously. While δικαίωσις is the process, dikaios is the characteristic of one who has experienced that process. See G1342
- δικαίωμα (dikaiōma) – righteous deed, ordinance, regulation; refers either to a righteous act that leads to justification or the result of being justified. It’s more concrete than δικαίωσις, often pointing to specific actions or requirements. See G1345
- καταλλαγή (katallagē) – reconciliation; closely related conceptually to δικαίωσις but focuses on the restoration of relationship rather than legal standing, though the two concepts work together in salvation. See G2643
Did you Know?
- The concept of δικαίωσις in Romans connects directly to the Jewish Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). Just as the High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies to make atonement for Israel’s sins, resulting in their justification before God, Yeshua as our Great High Priest entered the heavenly sanctuary once for all, securing eternal justification for those who trust in Him. This parallel would have been powerful for Jewish believers struggling to understand how faith in Yeshua fulfilled rather than abandoned their ancestral traditions.
- While δικαίωσις appears only twice in the New Testament, the concept it represents shaped Western legal thought for centuries. The principle that someone can be declared legally righteous based on the actions of a substitute influenced the development of representative justice systems throughout Europe and beyond. When legal scholars speak of “imputed righteousness” in legal theory, they’re drawing on concepts that Paul articulated through terms like δικαίωσις.
- Modern Greek still uses the word δικαίωση (dikaiosi) in legal contexts, though it has shifted somewhat to mean “vindication” or “validation.” When a Greek court “justifies” someone today, it means they’ve been proven right or their claims have been validated. This semantic shift illustrates how language evolves while still preserving connections to original meanings, much as Paul adapted Greek legal terminology to express profound theological truths.
Remember This
δικαίωσις represents God’s magnificent paradox—that through the Messiah’s sacrifice, the Judge of all the earth can declare guilty sinners perfectly righteous while maintaining His perfect justice, transforming our legal status in a moment and our character for eternity.
Note: While this entry strives for accuracy, readers engaged in critical research should verify citations and keyword occurrences in their Bible translation of choice. For Biblical citations, the F.O.G Bible project recommends Logos Bible software.
Strong's g1347
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