Original Word: δίκη
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: diké
Pronunciation: dee-KAY
Phonetic Spelling: (dee'-kay)
Definition: Justice, judgment, punishment, vengeance
Meaning: (a) (originally: custom, usage) right, justice, (b) process of law, judicial hearing, (c) execution of sentence, punishment, penalty, (d) justice, vengeance.

Word Origin: Derived from the Greek root δέχομαι (dechomai), meaning "to receive" or "to accept."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - H4941 (מִשְׁפָּט, mishpat) – often translated as "judgment" or "justice."

- H6666 (צְדָקָה, tsedaqah) – often translated as "righteousness" or "justice."

Usage: In the New Testament, "diké" primarily refers to the concept of justice or judgment. It can denote the administration of what is right, the execution of judgment, or the punishment that follows a judicial decision. The term is often used in contexts where divine justice or retribution is implied, reflecting God's righteous nature and His role as the ultimate judge.

Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Greek culture, "diké" was personified as a goddess representing justice and moral order. The Greeks viewed justice as a fundamental principle that maintained societal harmony. In the biblical context, "diké" aligns with the Hebrew understanding of justice as rooted in God's character, emphasizing righteousness, fairness, and the moral order established by God. The New Testament usage reflects a transition from a purely legalistic view to a more relational understanding of justice, centered on God's covenantal faithfulness and mercy.

Cognate: 1349 díkē – properly, right, especially a judicial verdict which declares someone approved or disapproved; a judgment (just finding) that regards someone (something) as "guilty" or "innocent." See 1343 (dikaiosynē).

[1349 (díkē) is used in classical Greek for a legal decision – a recompense (based on justice). In the LXX, dikē is used nine times to translate rî, the Hebrew term for "law-suit."]

Word Origin
a prim. word
Definition
right (as self-evident), justice (the principle, a decision or its execution)
NASB Translation
justice (1), penalty (1), punishment (1).

STRONGS NT 1349: δίκη

δίκη, δίκης, ἡ (allied with δεικηυμι, Curtius, § 14), from Homer down;

1. custom, usage, (cf. Schmidt, chapter 18, 4 cf. 3).

2. right, justice.

3. a suit at law.

4. a judicial hearing, judicial decision, especially a sentence of condemnation; so in Acts 25:15 (L T Tr WH καταδίκην).

5. execution of the sentence, punishment, (Wis. 18:11; 2 Macc. 8:11): δίκην ὑπέχειν, Jude 1:7; δίκην (Sophocles El. 298; Aj. 113; Euripides, Or. 7), to suffer punishment, 2 Thessalonians 1:9.

6. the goddess Justice, avenging justice: Acts 28:4, as in Greek writings often from Hesiod theog. 902 on; (of the avenging justice of God, personified, Wis. 1:8, etc.; cf. Grimm at the passage and commentary on 4 Macc., p. 318, (he cites 4 Macc. 4:13, 21; 8:13, 21; 9:9; 11:3; 12:12; 18:22; Philo adv. Flacc. § 18; Eusebius, h. e. 2, 6, 8)).

penalty, punishment

Probably from deiknuo; right (as self-evident), i.e. Justice (the principle, a decision, or its execution) -- judgment, punish, vengeance.

see GREEK deiknuo

δίκας δικη δίκη δικην δίκην δίκης dike dikē díke díkē diken dikēn díken díkēnInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts