righteousness

Everyday

1. Being morally good, honest and fair; doing what is right. tree →
2. (church, Bible) Being right with God; Christians believe that people are made righteous by God's grace through faith. tree →
3. (sometimes) Being too sure you are better than others (see «self-righteousness»). tree →

In the lessons

In Bible and church lessons it is a key word: «Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness» (Matthew 5). In ethics lessons it means acting with justice and fairness. In stories a hero fights for righteousness. Phrases: «paths of righteousness», «self-righteousness».

Examples

• The psalm says, «He guides me in paths of righteousness.» tree →
• The judge was known for her righteousness and fairness. tree →
• Christians believe righteousness comes as a gift from God. tree →
• Martin Luther King spoke of justice and righteousness flowing like a river. tree →
• The knight fought for truth and righteousness. tree →
• His self-righteousness annoyed everyone. tree →
• And after his father died he ascended the throne, and ruled the kingdom with righteousness and equity. tree →

Note

Uncountable. Adjective: «righteous». Spelling trap: righ-teous-ness (the «t» sounds like «ch»: «RYE-chus-ness»). «Self-righteous» is negative: acting as if you are morally better than others.

In Jewish tradition

In the Torah it means being just and doing what God commands. It can also mean a person is counted as right in God's eyes.

Interpretation. Tradition reads Abraham's faith as counted for him as righteousness. The word tzedakah has the same root and is the Hebrew word for giving to the poor.

Examples

• And he believed in the LORD; and He counted it to him for righteousness. (Torah GEN.15.6, JPS 1917) tree →
• And it shall be righteousness unto us, if we observe to do all this commandment before the LORD our God, as He hath commanded us.' (Torah DEU.6.25, JPS 1917) tree →
• Know therefore that it is not for thy righteousness that the LORD thy God giveth thee this good land to possess it; for thou art a stiffnecked people. (Torah DEU.9.6, JPS 1917) tree →
• Thou hast commanded Thy testimonies in righteousness and exceeding faithfulness. (Writings PSA.119.138, JPS 1917) tree →
• Treasures of wickedness profit nothing; but righteousness delivereth from death. (Writings PRO.10.2, JPS 1917) tree →
• Hearken unto Me, ye stout-hearted, that are far from righteousness: (Prophets ISA.46.12, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Uncountable. Adjective: «righteous». Spelling trap: righ-teous-ness (the «t» sounds like «ch»: «RYE-chus-ness»). «Self-righteous» is negative: acting as if you are morally better than others.