δίκαιος, -αία, -αιον, (from δίκη right), [from Homer down], properly, the Hebrew צַדִּיק, observant of ἡ δίκη, righteous, observing divine and human laws; one who is such as he ought to be; (German rechtbeschaffen; in the earlier language, whence appropriated by Luther, gerecht in a broad sense; in Greek writings used even of physical things, as ἵππος, Xenophon, mem. 4, 4, 5; γήδιον δικαιότατον, most fertile, Xenophon, Cyril 8, 3, 38; [ἅρμα δίκαιον, ibid. 2, 2, 26]);
1. in a wide sense, upright, righteous, virtuous, keeping the commands of God;
a. universally: Matthew 1:19 (the meaning is, it was not consistent with his uprightness to expose his betrothed to public reproach); Matthew 10:41; Matthew 13:43, 49; Matthew 23:28; Matthew 25:37, 46; Luke 1:6, 17; Luke 14:14; Luke 18:9; Luke 20:20; Romans 5:7 [cf. Winer's Grammar, 117 (111)]; 1 Timothy 1:9; James 5:6, 16; 1 Peter 3:12; 1 John 3:7, [10 Lachmann]; Revelation 22:11; opposed to ἁμαρτωλοὶ καὶ ἀσεβεῖς, 1 Peter 4:18; δίκαιοι καὶ ἄδικοι, Matthew 5:45; Acts 24:15; used of O. T. characters noted for piety and probity: Matthew 13:17; [Matthew 23:29]; Hebrews 12:23; thus of Abel, Matthew 23:35; Hebrews 11:4; of Lot, 2 Peter 2:7f. (Wis. 10:4f); of those who seem to themselves to be righteous, who pride themselves on their virtues, whether real or imaginary: Matthew 9:13; Mark 2:17; Luke 5:32; Luke 15:7 (Ecclesiastes 7:17 (16)). Joined with εὐλαβής, Luke 2:25 (ἤθη ἐυλαβῆ κ. δίκαια, τὸ δίκαιον κ. ἐυλαβές, Plato, polit., p. 311 a. b.); with ἅγιος, Mark 6:20; with ἀγαθός, Luke 23:50; with φοβούμενος τὸν θεόν, Acts 10:22; ἔργα δίκαια, opposite to πονηρά, 1 John 3:12. Neuter τὸ δίκαιον, that which regard for duty demands, what is right: 2 Peter 1:13; plural Philippians 4:8; δίκαιόν ἐστι, Ephesians 6:1; Philippians 1:7; with the addition of ἐνώπιον τοῦ θεοῦ, God being judge, Acts 4:19.
b. the negative idea predominating: innocent, faultless, guiltless, (for נָקִי, Proverbs 1:11; Job 9:23, etc.); thus used of Christ in the speech of Gentiles: Matthew 27:19, 24 R G L brackets Tr brackets WH marginal reading; Luke 23:47; αἷμα δίκαιον, (Proverbs 6:17; Joel 3:19 (Joel 3:24); Jonah 1:14), Matthew 23:35; [Matthew 27:4 Tr marginal reading WH text]; ἡ ἐντολὴ ἁγία κ. δικαία (having no fellowship with sin [others besides, see the commentaries at the passage]) κ. ἀγαθή, Romans 7:12.
c. preeminently, of him whose way of thinking, feeling, and acting is wholly conformed to the will of God, and who therefore needs no rectification in heart or life; in this sense Christ alone can be called δίκαιος: Acts 7:52; Acts 22:14; 1 Peter 3:18; 1 John 2:1; ἅγιος κ. δίκαιος, Acts 3:14; among the rest of mankind it is rightly denied that one δίκαιος can be found, Romans 3:10 (Ecclesiastes 7:21 (20) ἄνθρωπος οὐκ ἔστι δίκαιος ἐν τῇ γῇ, ὃς ποιήσει ἀγαθὸν καὶ οὐχ ἁμαρτήσεται). of God: holy, Romans 3:26 (where it is to be closely rendered just or righteous, on account of the following καὶ τὸν δικαιοῦντα, and the justifier or who pronounces righteous, but the substantial meaning is holy, that quality by virtue of which he hates and punishes sin); 1 John 2:29.
d. contextually, approved of God, acceptable to God, (German gottwohlgefällig): Romans 5:19; with the addition ἐκ πίστεως, acceptable to God by faith [Winer's Grammar, 136 (129)]: Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38; δίκ. παρὰ τῷ θεῷ, Romans 2:13.
2. In a narrower sense, rendering to each his due; and that in a judicial sense, passing just judgment on others, whether expressed in words or shown by the manner of dealing with them: Titus 1:8; so of God recompensing men impartially according to their deeds, Revelation 16:5; in the same sense also in John 17:25 (who does not award the same fate to the loving and faithful disciples of Christ and to 'the world'); 1 John 1:9 (who executes the laws of his government, and therefore also the law concerning the pardon of sins); ὁ δίκαιος κριτής, of Christ, 2 Timothy 4:8; κρίσις δίκαια, John 5:30; John 7:24; 2 Thessalonians 1:5; plural, Revelation 16:7; Revelation 19:2; αἱ ὁδοὶ τ. θεοῦ δίκαια κ. ἀληθιναί, Revelation 15:3; neuter τὸ δικαίον, what is due to others, Colossians 4:1; what is agreeable to justice and law, Luke 12:57; δίκαιον namely ἐστίν, it is agreeable to justice, 2 Thessalonians 1:6; accordant with deserts, Matthew 20:4, and Matthew 20:7 Rec. [See references under the word δικαιόω, at the end; cf. ἀγαθός, at the end.]

BLB Scripture Index of Thayer's