WG: Righteousness (δικ- word family)¶

Overview¶

The δικ- (dik-) word family in the NT forms a tightly integrated concept cluster covering the full range of righteousness: the root concept of right/justice (dikē), the quality (dikaiosynē), the person (dikaios), the divine action of declaring righteous (dikaioō), the concrete requirement or righteous act (dikaiōma), the resulting state (dikaiōsis), and righteous conduct (dikaiōs). Together these 7+ words appear 234 times across the NT.

Word Group Members¶

Strong's	Word	Transliteration	POS	Occurrences	Role in Concept	Library Entry
G1349	δίκη	dikē	noun-f	4	The root concept (right, justice, penalty)	G1349-dike
G1342	δίκαιος	dikaios	adj	81	The person (righteous one, just)	G1342-dikaios
G1343	δικαιοσύνη	dikaiosynē	noun-f	92	The quality (righteousness)	G1343-dikaiosyne
G1344	δικαιόω	dikaioō	verb	40	The divine action (to justify, declare righteous)	TODO(need G1344 study)
G1345	δικαίωμα	dikaiōma	noun-n	10	The concrete expression (ordinance, righteous act, decree)	G1345
G1346	δικαίως	dikaiōs	adv	5	The manner (righteously, justly)	G1346-dikaios
G1347	δικαίωσις	dikaiōsis	noun-f	2	The result (justification, acquittal)	G1347
G1341	δικαιοκρισία	dikaiokrisia	noun-f	1	The judgment (righteous judgment)	G1341-dikaiokrisia

Relationships¶

Shared Root¶

All words derive from δίκη (dikē, G1349) — right, justice. The -αιος/-αιο- stem produces the adjective and its derivatives; the -αίωμα suffix denotes the concrete result or product of the action.

Co-occurrence (appear in same verses)¶

Word A	Word B	Shared Verses	Typical Context
δίκαιος (G1342)	δικαιόω (G1344)	4x	"the just shall live by faith" / "justified" (Rom 2:13, 3:26, Gal 3:11, Rev 22:11)
δίκαιος (G1342)	δικαιοσύνη (G1343)	3x	righteous person + righteousness quality (Rom 1:17, 3:26, 2 Tim 4:8)
δικαιοσύνη (G1343)	δικαιόω (G1344)	2x	"justified" + "righteousness" (Rom 3:26, 4:5)
δίκαιος (G1342)	δικαίωμα (G1345)	1x	righteous walking in ordinances (Luke 1:6)
δικαίωμα (G1345)	δικαίωσις (G1347)	1x	righteous act → justification (Rom 5:18)

Key Convergence: Romans 3:26¶

Romans 3:26 is the only verse where three family members co-occur (dikaios + dikaiosynē + dikaioō): "that he might be just [dikaios], and the justifier [dikaioō] of him which believeth in Jesus" — with "righteousness" [dikaiosynē] in the preceding verse.

Roles in the Concept¶

Root / Foundation: δίκη (dikē) — the underlying concept of right, justice
Quality / State: δικαιοσύνη (dikaiosynē) — abstract righteousness, the attribute
Person: δίκαιος (dikaios) — the righteous person or just standard
Action: δικαιόω (dikaioō) — God's act of declaring/making righteous
Concrete Expression: δικαίωμα (dikaiōma) — the ordinance, righteous act, or judicial decree
Result: δικαίωσις (dikaiōsis) — the achieved state of justification
Manner: δικαίως (dikaiōs) — living in accordance with righteousness
Evaluation: δικαιοκρισία (dikaiokrisia) — righteous judgment

Key Passages Where Multiple Group Words Appear Together¶

Romans 3:21-26 — dikaiosynē + dikaioō + dikaios: God's righteousness revealed, justifying through faith, being himself just and justifier
Romans 5:16-19 — dikaiōma + dikaiōsis + dikaios: one righteous act → justification → many made righteous
Luke 1:6 — dikaios + dikaiōma: Zechariah and Elizabeth, "righteous... walking in all the ordinances"
Revelation 22:11 — dikaios + dikaioō: "he that is righteous, let him be righteous still"