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# righteousness

noun (righteousness; uncountable)

«righteousness» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Being morally good, honest and fair; doing what is right. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/righteousness/#m1)
2. (church, Bible) Being right with God; Christians believe that people are made righteous by God's grace through faith. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/righteousness/#m2)
3. (sometimes) Being too sure you are better than others (see «self-righteousness»). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/righteousness/#m3)

### In the lessons

In Bible and church lessons it is a key word: «Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness» (Matthew 5). In ethics lessons it means acting with justice and fairness. In stories a hero fights for righteousness. Phrases: «paths of righteousness», «self-righteousness».

### Examples

- The psalm says, «He guides me in paths of righteousness.» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/righteousness/#x1)
- The judge was known for her righteousness and fairness. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/righteousness/#x2)
- Christians believe righteousness comes as a gift from God. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/righteousness/#x3)
- Martin Luther King spoke of justice and righteousness flowing like a river. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/righteousness/#x4)
- The knight fought for truth and righteousness. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/righteousness/#x5)
- His self-righteousness annoyed everyone. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/righteousness/#x6)
- And after his father died he ascended the throne, and ruled the kingdom with righteousness and equity. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/righteousness/#x7)

### Note

Uncountable. Adjective: «righteous». Spelling trap: righ-teous-ness (the «t» sounds like «ch»: «RYE-chus-ness»). «Self-righteous» is negative: acting as if you are morally better than others.

## In Jewish tradition

In the Torah it means being just and doing what God commands. It can also mean a person is counted as right in God's eyes.

**Interpretation.** Tradition reads Abraham's faith as counted for him as righteousness. The word tzedakah has the same root and is the Hebrew word for giving to the poor.

### Examples

- And he believed in the LORD; and He counted it to him for righteousness. (Torah GEN.15.6, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/righteousness/#x1)
- And it shall be righteousness unto us, if we observe to do all this commandment before the LORD our God, as He hath commanded us.' (Torah DEU.6.25, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/righteousness/#x2)
- Know therefore that it is not for thy righteousness that the LORD thy God giveth thee this good land to possess it; for thou art a stiffnecked people. (Torah DEU.9.6, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/righteousness/#x3)
- Thou hast commanded Thy testimonies in righteousness and exceeding faithfulness. (Writings PSA.119.138, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/righteousness/#x4)
- Treasures of wickedness profit nothing; but righteousness delivereth from death. (Writings PRO.10.2, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/righteousness/#x5)
- Hearken unto Me, ye stout-hearted, that are far from righteousness: (Prophets ISA.46.12, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/righteousness/#x6)

### Note

Uncountable. Adjective: «righteous». Spelling trap: righ-teous-ness (the «t» sounds like «ch»: «RYE-chus-ness»). «Self-righteous» is negative: acting as if you are morally better than others.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «righteousness» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/righteousness/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«righteousness» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/righteousness.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «righteousness» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/righteousness/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«righteousness» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/righteousness.html) on Mova free.