δικαιόω
dikaioō
to justify
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe word "δικαιόω" (dikaioō) means to justify, which implies making someone right or rendering them righteous. This action can be seen as a declaration of innocence or a vindication, where one's actions or character are confirmed as upright and proper. The semantic domain of "Sin & Righteousness" indicates that justification is closely tied to the concept of morality and ethics. The frequency of its occurrence in the Bible (39 times) suggests that this concept is significant and widespread, implying its importance in matters of individual behavior, community relationships, and God's interactions with humanity. The various contexts where "δικαιόω" appears likely encompass a range of instances where someone's actions need validation or legitimation. From this analysis, we can infer that justification is an essential concept in understanding human behavior, morality, and the nature of rightness.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
39 total occurrences across the text
The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children.”
Matthew 12:37For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Luke 7:29When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they declared God to be just, having been baptized with John’s baptism.
Luke 7:35Wisdom is justified by all her children.”
Luke 10:29But he, desiring to justify himself, asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?”
Luke 16:15He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts. For that which is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.
Luke 18:14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Acts 13:39and by him everyone who believes is justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.
Acts 13:39and by him everyone who believes is justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.
Romans 2:13For it isn’t the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law will be justified
Romans 3:4May it never be! Yes, let God be found true, but every man a liar. As it is written, “that you might be justified in your words, and might prevail when you come into judgment.”
Romans 3:20Because by the works of the law, no flesh will be justified in his sight; for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.
Romans 3:24being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus;
Romans 3:26to demonstrate his righteousness at this present time; that he might himself be just, and the justifier of him who has faith in Jesus.
Romans 3:28We maintain therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.
Romans 3:30since indeed there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith, and the uncircumcised through faith.
Romans 4:2For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not toward God.
Romans 4:5But to him who doesn’t work, but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.
Romans 5:1Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ;
Romans 5:9Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we will be saved from God’s wrath through him.
Romans 6:7For he who has died has been freed from sin.
Romans 8:30Whom he predestined, those he also called. Whom he called, those he also justified. Whom he justified, those he also glorified.
Romans 8:30Whom he predestined, those he also called. Whom he called, those he also justified. Whom he justified, those he also glorified.
Romans 8:33Who could bring a charge against God’s chosen ones? It is God who justifies.
1 Corinthians 4:4For I know nothing against myself. Yet I am not justified by this, but he who judges me is the Lord.
1 Corinthians 6:11Some of you were such, but you were washed. But you were sanctified. But you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and in the Spirit of our God.
Galatians 2:16yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law, because no flesh will be justified by the works of the law.
Galatians 2:16yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law, because no flesh will be justified by the works of the law.
Galatians 2:16yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law, because no flesh will be justified by the works of the law.
Galatians 2:17But if while we sought to be justified in Christ, we ourselves also were found sinners, is Christ a servant of sin? Certainly not!
Galatians 3:8The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the Good News beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you all the nations will be blessed.”
Galatians 3:11Now that no man is justified by the law before God is evident, for, “The righteous will live by faith.”
Galatians 3:24So that the law has become our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
Galatians 5:4You are alienated from Christ, you who desire to be justified by the law. You have fallen away from grace.
1 Timothy 3:16Without controversy, the mystery of godliness is great: God was revealed in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, and received up in glory.
Titus 3:7that being justified by his grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
James 2:21Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?
James 2:24You see then that by works, a man is justified, and not only by faith.
James 2:25In the same way, wasn’t Rahab the prostitute also justified by works, in that she received the messengers and sent them out another way?