righteous
tsad.diq describes persons, God, and judgments or laws as upright, just, and set over against wrongdoing.
The term most often marks people whose conduct or standing is set against the wicked, including those who do justice, suffer wrong, or are distinguished from sinners. It also occurs in judicial settings where such a person is to be vindicated rather than condemned, and it describes God and laws or judgments as just.
Senses in use
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Upright people contrasted with the wicked · dominant
The masculine singular and plural forms commonly identify people distinguished from the wicked or from sinful conduct. In Genesis 18:25 the APB renders the clause about not putting “the righteous to death with the wicked,” while Ezekiel 18:9 describes the man who keeps God's rules and does what is faithful.
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A person to be vindicated in judgment · common
In legal and judgment clauses, the adjective marks the party whom judges are to justify or vindicate rather than treat as guilty. In Deuteronomy 25:1 the APB renders the judges as to “justify the righteous and condemn the wicked”; 1 Kings 8:32 likewise places this person opposite the wicked person declared guilty.
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Just character of God, laws, or a ruler · occasional
The adjective also characterizes God, a ruler, and legal norms rather than an individual suffering or facing judgment. In Deuteronomy 32:4 the APB renders God as “righteous and upright,” and Deuteronomy 4:8 describes statutes and judgments as “so righteous”; 2 Samuel 23:3 applies it to a ruler over people.
In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB commonly presents the adjective with “righteous,” especially in contrasts with “wicked,” and sometimes uses “in the right” for God in Exodus 9:27. In judicial clauses it also uses wording such as “justify” and “vindicating”; Those renderings show the clauses' presentation rather than a fixed English equivalent.