just

Everyday

1. Just means exactly: «just right», «just 2 metres». tree →
2. Just means only: «just 3 dollars», «just one more». tree →
3. Just means a very short time ago: «he has just left». tree →
4. Just means barely: «just in time», «just enough». tree →
5. Just (adjective) means fair and right: «a just king». tree →
6. (casual) «Just» softens or fills: «I just think…», «just saying»; «just kidding» means I was joking. tree →
7. (casual, rough) «Just» makes an order sharper: «just shut up», «just do it», «just split 'em». tree →
8. (formal) «Merely», «precisely», «solely» and «equitable» (fair) are stiff words for just. tree →

In the lessons

In school maths: a small word that marks «only» or «exactly», or a change that has just happened; «just enough» means nothing left over. In everyday life: «just a minute», «just kidding», «I was just going to...». In stories: a just ruler is fair to everyone. In casual talk: «just saying», «jk» (just kidding). In the exam voice: «precisely 2 metres», «a mere 3 dollars», «an equitable distribution». Phrases: «just in time», «just enough», «just now», «just about», «just like», «just in case».

Examples

• She has just 3 dollars left. tree →
• He just bought 5 pens. tree →
• There is just enough cake for 8 children. tree →
• It is just 2 metres long. tree →
• We got to the station just in time. tree →
• The porridge was just right. tree →
• Wait just a minute, please. tree →
• The judge was wise and just. tree →
• just kidding, i've got 4 not 2 lol (casual) tree →
• Sod it, just split 'em, 3 each. (rough) tree →
• Just do your homework and stop moaning. (rough) tree →
• The cake is divided equitably among 8 children such that precisely no portion remains; determine the original number of slices given 3 per child. (formal exam) tree →
• The girls arrived just in time. tree →

Note

«Just» goes before the main verb: «I have just finished». «Justice» is the noun of the fair sense. Maths: «just enough» means no leftover (exact division). «Just» = «only» does not change the number. Trap: do not read «just» as a sign to add or subtract. Trap: «just kidding» means the number before it was not real — use the corrected one. Formal «merely» = just (only); «precisely» = just (exactly); «equitable» = just (fair).

In Jewish tradition

In the Torah "just" mostly means fair and honest, as in just weights and balances. In Job it also means being in the right, or righteous, before God.

Interpretation. Tradition teaches honest scales and measures as a basic law. Cheating in business is seen as a serious sin against God. Job's friends ask whether any human can be righteous before God, a question the book explores.

Examples

• The Rock, His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice; a God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and right is He. (Torah DEU.32.4, JPS 1917) tree →
• Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have: I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt. (Torah LEV.19.36, JPS 1917) tree →
• A perfect and just weight shalt thou have; a perfect and just measure shalt thou have; that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. (Torah DEU.25.15, JPS 1917) tree →
• 'Shall mortal man be just before God? (Writings JOB.4.17, JPS 1917) tree →
• How then can man be just with God? (Writings JOB.25.4, JPS 1917) tree →
• And wilt thou condemn Him that is just and mighty — (Writings JOB.34.17, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

«Just» goes before the main verb: «I have just finished». «Justice» is the noun of the fair sense. Maths: «just enough» means no leftover (exact division). «Just» = «only» does not change the number. Trap: do not read «just» as a sign to add or subtract. Trap: «just kidding» means the number before it was not real — use the corrected one. Formal «merely» = just (only); «precisely» = just (exactly); «equitable» = just (fair).