dikaioo describes being justified, especially in relation to God, and can also describe vindicating God or wisdom or justifying oneself.

The predominant use concerns people being justified in clauses that set faith, grace, works, law, or God in the surrounding relation. Less often, the word describes God or wisdom being vindicated, or people seeking to justify themselves before others.

1. Being justified in a stated relation · dominant

   In Romans 3:24 the present passive participle describes people in a clause the APB renders "They are justified freely by his grace"; Romans 3:28 places the passive infinitive in a statement about faith apart from works of law. Galatians 2:16 repeatedly frames the passive forms with faith in Christ and works of law, while Luke 18:14 describes one man going home "justified rather than the other."

   Romans 3:24Romans 3:28Galatians 2:16Luke 18:14James 2:25Titus 3:7
2. Vindicating God or wisdom · occasional

   In Luke 7:29, the active aorist form has the people and tax collectors as those who "justified God" after hearing and being baptized. The passive forms concerning wisdom in Matthew 11:19 and Luke 7:35 occur in clauses where the APB renders wisdom "justified," and 1 Timothy 3:16 renders the passive form "vindicated" in its sequence about the one manifested in flesh.

   Luke 7:29Matthew 11:19Luke 7:351 Timothy 3:16
3. Justifying oneself before people · rare

   Luke 10:29 uses the active aorist infinitive for a man "desiring to justify himself" before asking who his neighbor is. In Luke 16:15, the present active participle addresses people who justify themselves "in the sight of men," in contrast to God knowing their hearts.

   Luke 10:29Luke 16:15

In the Anselm Project Bible: Across these verses the APB usually uses "justified" or "justify," including clauses about faith, works, law, and grace. It renders the form in 1 Timothy 3:16 as "vindicated"; These renderings indicate the verse-level presentation rather than a fixed English equivalent.