Hebrew Word Study – Just Justice – Tsedeq Tsedeq צדק צדק Sade Deleth Qop Sade Daleth Qop
Deuteronomy 16:20: “That which is altogether just shalt thou follow, that thou mayest live, and inherit the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.”
You know what I find interesting about this passage in the Hebrew is that the first words: “That which is altogether just” are just two words in the Hebrew “tsedeq tsedeq.” The same word is repeated twice. In Semitic languages when a word is repeated it usually indicates that the word is to be intensified or emphasize. Tsedeq means justice or being just depending on the context. This simply means that which is right, to be righteous, dutiful. So how do you emphasize doing something right or intensify rightness? Something is either right or wrong there is no in-between. Tsedeq also means to exonerate or satisfy a rightful need.
We are hearing the cry for justice so much during this time. People who have been offended, abused, victims of racism, etc. They are all crying for justice. Certain politicians have been accused of sexual harassment and the victims are demanding justice. What do they want? They want to see that person punished, resign from office, put in jail. What is it that they saying? The victim wants to see the perpetrator suffer as they suffered. They want fairness, eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth. Is that what God is talking about as a condition to inherit what God has given you?
Jesus said in Matthew 5:38-39:“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ (39) But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.” This is not a new concept. Jesus was not saying you should not defend yourself, what He is saying is do not repay evil for evil or as it says in Deuteronomy 16:20; “tsedeq tsedeq” which could be rendered as Jewish scholars render it:“just justice.” Is there a just justice and an unjust justice? Yes, definitely. I believe that is what this passage is saying in Deuteronomy 16:20 and what Jesus was saying in Matthew 5:38-39. There is indeed the need for justice and we should pursue justice but we must pursue a just justice.
Last year when a man died as a police officer was trying to apprehend him there was a nationwide outcry for justice. Riots broke out, millions of dollars in damage was done as rioters aired their frustrations. People were injured, hatred ran wild in the streets because people wanted justice, not only for the death of this one man but for many other frustrations that were building. They used violence to get the justice they wanted. That is called unjust justice. That is repaying evil for evil
Would you like Chaim Bentorah as your personal Hebrew teacher?
|
|
Do we want to inherit this land, do we want our children to inherit a land of freedom and opportunity? Do we want to continue to prosper as a nation? Then we need to take a close look at the double tsedeq in Deuteronomy 16:20. We must administer tsedeq tsedeq – just justice.
How do we do that? Well, read further as to what Jesus said in Matthew 5:43-44: “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. (44) But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” That is a really tall order. Recently, Antifa attacked a group of Christians who gathered in a park to worship God and pray. They shot paintballs at the Christians, stole personal items, threw pieces of concrete on the streets so the Christian’s cars would get flat tires. They cursed the Christian using the foulest obscene language they could think of. Due to recent legislation and mandates, the police could do nothing to interfere. They just continue to persecute these Christians without fear of any retribution.
That sure will make your blood boil. You are probably ready to grab your baseball bat and administer a little justice of your own. That is exactly what the enemy wants. He wants you to get angry, he wants you to get real mad so that you will return evil with evil. The Apostle Paul said in Romans 12:21: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
It is very easy to fall into the trap of the enemy. It is easy to hate those who are mocking these Christians, to hate their antics, to hate their hatred. You want justice for these poor Christians who suffered just because they wanted to worship God, to love Him, and pray to Him. Well, I am here to tell you that justice was served. It was served up in a way that should warm the hearts of any true believer in Jesus and His teachings. The leader of this worship group told how a number of the members of Antifa who were persecuting these Christians got on their knees and gave their hearts and lives to Jesus. That is tsedeq tsedeq, just justice. Now if that isn’t justice, then tell me a better form of justice.
Hi there! Thank you for reading this Daily Word Study. Can I ask a favor? Share this Daily Word Study with your friends on Facebook and Twitter by clicking one of the icons below.
Thanks & Blessings, it means a lot to me!
I am convinced that all of the social nonsense in the world today is specifically to get people to react negatively, and put a feather in the devils hat! Most people don’t know how to react. What did Jesus say to the Father? Forgive them for they don’t know what they do.
Jesus knew that his battle was not against the Romans, or the Jewish leaders. It was against Satan and his band of fallen angels. Most people don’t think like that at all. What does their reaction in unforgiveness and anger do for them? It puts them at odds with God until they repent. Most have no idea that they have anything to repent of.I
It is a very dangerous time that we live in.
Very well said, a straight perspective on true justice. It is interesting to me that God Himself acted in His version of justice in having His own innocent Son suffer and pay the price of our sin, fulfilling “justice.” Yet, we followers of Him often fall into the emotional trap of the enemy in basing “justice” on simply satisfying our feelings and our version of things.
God Himself suffered in fulfilling His own version of justice, yet we have the hardest time “loving our enemies” as our perspective of our own suffering. I applaud and appreciate your examples of the “unjust justice” recently in the police officer case, and I SO APPRECIATE YOUR HEART in seeking and sharing the heart of God with us.
THANK YOU.
You made reference to “ a man which I am assuming was George Floyd & the injustice that his family & othe ppl of color have suffered,pursue a just justice.
“
Last year when a man died as a police officer was trying to apprehend him there was a nationwide outcry for justice. Riots broke out, millions of dollars in damage was done as rioters aired their frustrations. People were injured, hatred ran wild in the streets because people wanted justice, not only for the death of this one man but for many other frustrations that were building. They used violence to get the justice they wanted. That is called unjust justice. That is repaying evil for evil” but you fail to give examples of the justice that accured from this demonstration of injustice done to this person & how we as Christians were praying for the safety for the ppl in the city, praying for the just law enforcements, praying for the judge, the attorneys, praying for calm and peace after witnessing the injustice mirder of a black man. You had the opportunity in your writing to do justice from both prospectives but you failed to do what was right from the prospective of justice and following Christ’s examples. This shows me where your heart is in expressing injustice and it can not be hide. Justice is love and it can not be hidden. My church members black and white were praying and others all over the world were praying not rioting or looting but praying that justice would be served and for peace. And God answered our prayers. Praise God we serve a just God who sees & knows our hearts cry.
Gwen, the point Chaim is making is the same point Jesus made in Matthew. You get justice through just, not unjust means. The riots were an attempt to get justice through unjust means is the point, period.
Hi, Gwen:
I can’t say that you can use Chaim’s article to show “where someone’s heart is”; only the Lord knows that. However, remember this is a commentary mostly on the meaning of a Hebrew word – not a commentary on justice itself, nor of Chaim’s character.
Praise God for the actions people took that did draw the Lord’s heart to hear our cry – but I doubt if He would be pleased that we single out one man to point “where his heart is”. We do not know him, only that he is trying to bring us closer to the Hebrew language…
We err when we end up judging one another from our own view – let God, Chaim’s creator and maker, know fully who he is, and, if your accusation is true, then let us pray for him. But, to be honest, I do not think we can take the leap of thinking we know another mans heart from our own limited canon.
Thank you!
Thank you Dear One
I certainly feel pain for those Christians . A very wise monk once said that your enemy may hate you because he thinks that you hate him .
Recently a young man was sentenced to death because he went into a church full of People and killed some of them . This may sound terrible but he may be beaten to death in prison if he isn’t kept in solitary confinement .
Believe me life isn’t fair . People protest abortion . Many women wouldn’t even think of having an abortion . My heart goes out to the 13 mothers that lost their sons and daughters in the suicide bombing . These young Marines were trying to save lives but their lives were cut short at about the average age of 20 .
When the wolf howls the sheep look to the shepherd for protection . This is why I say look to our Shepherd Jesus and read all of Isaiah 58 because the wolf IS howling !
Hazak , hazak v’nitchazak . Be strong ,be strong and let us be strengthened .
Well said!
A wonderful example, thank you so much!