Justice and Judgment

Both the words for Justice and Judgment are used in this verse.

Genesis 18:19  For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

It’s curious that the Biblical source of most of our common talk today about Justice actually refers to the second word Judgment. But very few people today want or talk about Judgment, seems too harsh, they just want Justice.

If you examine the KJV text usage and a modern Bible like the ESV….you see why Justice is so popular…

Justice

KJV 28 Verses Found, 28 Matches

ESV 131 Verses Found, 135 Matches

Judgment

KJV 285 Verses Found, 294 Matches

ESV 163 Verses Found, 170 Matches

In fact the ESV has this first verse:

Genesis 18:19  For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.”

Completely leaving out the original primary meaning of Judgment.

The only use of the Hebrew word in the KJV as Justice is found in another verse that again used both words. But here they are reversed.

Job 36:17  But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on thee.

BTW, if you read the context of both these verse, you find a revelation about God’s Judgment, which as I mentioned above isn’t a popular topic today.

In Job, another Hebrew word is used for Judgment…H1779   (Brown-Driver-Briggs) דּוּן / דּין dı̂yn / dûn BDB Definition: 1) judgment 1a) judgment 1b) cause, plea 1c) condemnation, judgment 1d) dispute, legal suit, strife 1e) government

Part of Speech: noun masculine A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: from H1777

That word is used only 20 times…Total KJV Occurrences: 20

judgment, 9 Est 1:13, Job 19:29, Job 35:14, Job 36:17 (2), Pro 20:8 (2), Pro 31:5, Isa 10:2

Just looking at the Genesis, Hebrew root word we see…

H4941   (Brown-Driver-Briggs)

משׁפּט

mishpâṭ

BDB Definition:

1) judgment, justice, ordinance

1a) judgment

1a1) act of deciding a case

1a2) place, court, seat of judgment

1a3) process, procedure, litigation (before judges)

1a4) case, cause (presented for judgment)

1a5) sentence, decision (of judgment)

1a6) execution (of judgment)

1a7) time (of judgment)

1b) justice, right, rectitude (attributes of God or man)

1c) ordinance

1d) decision (in law)

1e) right, privilege, due (legal)

1f) proper, fitting, measure, fitness, custom, manner, plan

Part of Speech: noun masculine

A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: from H8199

H4941   (Brown-Driver-Briggs)

משׁפּט

mishpâṭ

BDB Definition:

1) judgment, justice, ordinance

1a) judgment

1a1) act of deciding a case

1a2) place, court, seat of judgment

1a3) process, procedure, litigation (before judges)

1a4) case, cause (presented for judgment)

1a5) sentence, decision (of judgment)

1a6) execution (of judgment)

1a7) time (of judgment)

1b) justice, right, rectitude (attributes of God or man)

1c) ordinance

1d) decision (in law)

1e) right, privilege, due (legal)

1f) proper, fitting, measure, fitness, custom, manner, plan

Part of Speech: noun masculine

A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: from H8199

The primary words from the first usage in the Bible are below.

Genesis 18:19

(Greek NT TR+)

(Hebrew OT+)  כי H3588  ידעתיו H3045  למען H4616  אשׁר H834  יצוה H6680  את H853  בניו H1121  ואת H853  ביתו H1004  אחריו H310  ושׁמרו H8104  דרך H1870  יהוה H3068  לעשׂות H6213  צדקה H6666  ומשׁפט H4941  למען H4616  הביא H935  יהוה H3068  על H5921  אברהם H85  את H853  אשׁר H834  דבר H1696  עליו׃ H5921

(KJV+)  For H3588  I know H3045  him, that H4616 H834  he will command H6680  ( H853 ) his children H1121  and his household H1004  after H310  him, and they shall keep H8104  the way H1870  of the LORD, H3068  to do H6213  justice H6666  and judgment; H4941  that H4616  the LORD H3068  may bring H935  upon H5921  Abraham H85  ( H853 ) that which H834  he hath spoken H1696  of H5921  him.

(KJV)  For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

(ESV)  For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.

H4941   (KJC)

משׁפּט

mishpâṭ

Total KJV Occurrences: 417

judgment, 189

Gen 18:19, Exo 21:31, Exo 23:6, Exo 28:15, Exo 28:29-30 (3), Lev 19:15, Lev 19:35, Num 27:11, Num 27:21, Num 35:12, Num 35:29, Deu 16:17-19 (5), Deu 17:8-9 (2), Deu 17:11, Deu 24:17, Deu 25:1, Deu 27:19, Deu 32:4, Deu 32:41, Jos 20:6, Jdg 4:5, 1Sa 8:3, 2Sa 8:15, 2Sa 15:2, 2Sa 15:6, 1Ki 3:11, 1Ki 3:28 (2), 1Ki 7:7, 1Ki 10:9, 1Ki 20:40, 2Ki 25:6, 1Ch 18:14, 2Ch 9:8, 2Ch 19:6, 2Ch 19:8, Job 8:3, Job 9:19, Job 9:32, Job 14:3, Job 19:7, Job 22:4, Job 27:2, Job 29:14, Job 32:9, Job 34:4-5 (2), Job 34:12, Job 37:23 (2), Job 40:8, Psa 9:5-7 (3), Psa 9:16, Psa 25:9, Psa 33:5, Psa 35:23, Psa 37:6, Psa 37:28, Psa 37:30, Psa 72:2, Psa 76:9, Psa 94:14-15 (2), Psa 97:2, Psa 99:4 (2), Psa 101:1, Psa 103:6, Psa 106:3, Psa 111:7, Psa 119:84, Psa 119:121, Psa 119:149, Psa 122:5, Psa 143:2, Psa 146:7, Psa 149:9, Pro 1:3, Pro 2:8-9 (2), Pro 8:20, Pro 13:23, Pro 16:10, Pro 17:23, Pro 18:5, Pro 19:28, Pro 21:3, Pro 21:7, Pro 21:15, Pro 24:23, Pro 28:5, Pro 29:4, Pro 29:26, Ecc 3:16, Ecc 5:8, Ecc 8:5-6 (2), Ecc 11:9, Ecc 12:14, Isa 1:17, Isa 1:21, Isa 1:27, Isa 3:14, Isa 4:4, Isa 5:7, Isa 5:16, Isa 9:7, Isa 28:5-6 (3), Isa 30:17-18 (2), Isa 32:1, Isa 32:16, Isa 34:5 (2), Isa 40:14, Isa 40:27, Isa 42:1 (2), Isa 51:3-4 (4), Isa 53:8, Isa 54:17, Isa 56:1, Isa 59:8-9 (2), Isa 59:11, Isa 59:14-15 (2), Isa 61:8, Jer 4:2, Jer 5:1, Jer 7:4-5 (3), Jer 8:7, Jer 10:24 (2), Jer 21:12, Jer 22:3, Jer 22:15, Jer 23:5, Jer 33:15, Jer 39:5, Jer 48:21, Jer 48:47, Jer 49:12, Jer 52:9 (2), Eze 18:8, Eze 23:24, Eze 34:16, Eze 39:21, Eze 45:9, Hos 2:19, Hos 5:1, Hos 5:11, Hos 10:4, Amo 5:6-7 (2), Amo 5:15, Amo 5:24, Amo 6:12, Mic 3:1, Mic 7:8-9 (3), Hab 1:4 (2), Hab 1:7, Hab 1:12, Zep 2:3, Zep 3:5, Zec 7:9, Mal 2:16-17 (2), Mal 3:5

judgments, 108

Exo 21:1, Lev 18:3-5 (3), Lev 18:26, Lev 19:37, Lev 20:22, Lev 25:18, Lev 26:15, Lev 26:43, Lev 26:46, Num 35:24, Num 36:13, Deu 4:1, Deu 4:5, Deu 4:8, Deu 4:14, Deu 4:45, Deu 5:1, Deu 5:31, Deu 6:1, Deu 6:20, Deu 7:11-12 (2), Deu 8:11, Deu 11:1, Deu 11:32, Deu 12:1, Deu 26:16-17 (2), Deu 30:16, Deu 33:10, Deu 33:21, 2Sa 22:23, 1Ki 2:3, 1Ki 6:12, 1Ki 8:58, 1Ki 9:4, 1Ki 11:33, 1Ch 16:12, 1Ch 16:14, 1Ch 22:13, 1Ch 28:7, 2Ch 7:17, 2Ch 19:10, Ezr 7:10, Neh 1:7, Neh 9:13, Neh 10:29 (2), Psa 10:5, Psa 18:22, Psa 19:9, Psa 36:6, Psa 48:11, Psa 72:1, Psa 89:30, Psa 97:8, Psa 105:5, Psa 105:7, Ps 119 (18), Psa 147:20 (2), Isa 26:8-9 (2), Jer 1:16, Jer 12:1, Eze 5:6-8 (5), Eze 11:12, Eze 18:9, Eze 18:17, Eze 20:11, Eze 20:13, Eze 20:16, Eze 20:18-19 (2), Eze 20:21, Eze 20:24-25 (2), Eze 23:24, Eze 36:27, Eze 44:24 (2), Hos 6:5 (2), Zep 3:15, Mal 4:4

manner, 36

Gen 40:13, Lev 5:9-10 (2), Lev 9:16, Lev 24:22, Num 9:14, Num 15:16, Num 15:24, Num 29:6, Num 29:18, Num 29:21, Num 29:24, Num 29:27, Num 29:30, Num 29:33, Num 29:37, Jos 6:15, Jdg 18:7, 1Sa 8:9, 1Sa 8:11, 1Sa 10:25, 1Ki 18:28, 2Ki 1:7, 2Ki 11:14, 2Ki 17:26-27 (3), 2Ki 17:33, 2Ki 17:40, 1Ch 24:19, 2Ch 4:20, 2Ch 30:16, Jer 30:18 (2), Eze 23:45 (2)

right, 18

Gen 18:25, Deu 21:17, Job 34:6, Job 34:17, Job 35:2, Job 36:6, Psa 9:4, Psa 140:12, Pro 12:5, Pro 16:8, Isa 10:2, Isa 32:7, Jer 5:28, Jer 17:11, Jer 32:7-8 (2), Lam 3:35, Eze 21:27

cause, 12

Num 27:5, 2Sa 15:4, 1Ki 8:45, 1Ki 8:49, 1Ki 8:59 (2), 2Ch 6:35, 2Ch 6:39, Job 13:18, Job 23:4, Job 31:13, Lam 3:59

lawful, 7

Eze 18:5, Eze 18:19, Eze 18:21, Eze 18:27, Eze 33:14, Eze 33:16, Eze 33:19

ordinances, 6

2Ki 17:34, 2Ki 17:37, 2Ch 33:8, Psa 119:91, Isa 58:2, Eze 11:20

order, 5

Jdg 13:12, 1Ch 6:32, 1Ch 15:13, 1Ch 23:31, 2Ch 8:14

ordinance, 5

Jos 24:25 (2), 1Sa 30:25, 2Ch 35:13, Isa 58:2

custom, 2

1Sa 2:13, Ezr 3:4

discretion, 2

Psa 112:4-5 (2), Isa 28:26

fashion, 2

Exo 26:30, 1Ki 6:38

law, 2

Lev 24:22, Psa 81:4

manners, 2

2Ki 17:34, Eze 11:12

measure, 2

Jer 30:11, Jer 46:28

sentence, 2

Psa 17:2, Jer 4:12

adversary, 1

Isa 50:8

ceremonies, 1

Num 9:3

charge, 1

1Ki 4:28

crimes, 1

Eze 7:23

deserts, 1

Eze 7:27

determination, 1

Zep 3:8

disposing, 1

Pro 16:33

due, 1

Deu 18:3

fashions, 1

Eze 42:11

form, 1

2Ch 4:7

judged, 1

Eze 16:38

just, 1

Pro 16:11

justice, 1

Job 36:17

justly, 1

Mic 6:8

usest, 1

Psa 119:132

wrong, 1

Jer 22:13

wrongfully, 1

Eze 22:29

H4941   (Strong)

מִשְׁפָּט

mishpâṭ

mish-pawt’

From H8199; properly a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (particularly) divine law, individual or collectively), including the act, the place, the suit, the crime, and the penalty; abstractly justice, including a particular right, or privilege (statutory or customary), or even a style: –  + adversary, ceremony, charge, X crime, custom, desert, determination, discretion, disposing, due, fashion, form, to be judged, judgment, just (-ice, -ly), (manner of) law (-ful), manner, measure, (due) order, ordinance, right, sentence, usest, X worthy, + wrong.

Total KJV occurrences: 421

Btw…the word used for Justice in the KJV is mostly translated righteousness.

H6666   (Brown-Driver-Briggs)

צדקה

tsedâqâh

BDB Definition:

1) justice, righteousness

1a) righteousness (in government)

1a1) of judge, ruler, king

1a2) of law

1a3) of Davidic king Messiah

1b) righteousness (of God’s attribute)

1c) righteousness (in a case or cause)

1d) righteousness, truthfulness

1e) righteousness (as ethically right)

1f) righteousness (as vindicated), justification, salvation

1f1) of God

1f2) prosperity (of people)

1g) righteous acts

Part of Speech: noun feminine

A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: from H6663

H6666   (KJC)

צדקה

tsedâqâh

Total KJV Occurrences: 157

righteousness, 124

Gen 15:6, Gen 30:33, Deu 6:25, Deu 9:4-6 (3), Deu 24:13, 1Sa 26:23, 2Sa 22:21, 2Sa 22:25, 1Ki 3:6, 1Ki 8:32, 2Ch 6:23, Job 27:6, Job 33:26, Psa 5:8 (2), Psa 11:7, Psa 22:31, Psa 24:5, Psa 31:1, Psa 36:5-6 (2), Psa 40:10 (2), Psa 51:14, Psa 69:27, Psa 71:2, Psa 71:15-16 (2), Psa 71:19, Psa 71:24, Psa 72:1, Psa 72:3, Psa 88:12, Psa 89:16, Psa 98:2, Psa 99:4, Psa 103:6, Psa 103:17, Psa 106:3, Psa 106:31, Psa 112:3 (2), Psa 112:9, Psa 119:40, Psa 119:142, Psa 143:1, Psa 145:7, Pro 8:18, Pro 8:20, Pro 10:2, Pro 11:4-6 (3), Pro 11:18-19 (2), Pro 12:28, Pro 13:6, Pro 14:34, Pro 15:9, Pro 16:8, Pro 16:12, Pro 16:31, Pro 21:21 (2), Isa 1:27, Isa 5:7, Isa 5:16, Isa 5:23, Isa 10:22, Isa 28:17, Isa 32:16-17 (3), Isa 33:5, Isa 45:8, Isa 45:23-24 (2), Isa 46:12-13 (2), Isa 48:1, Isa 48:18, Isa 51:6, Isa 51:8, Isa 54:14, Isa 54:17, Isa 56:1, Isa 57:12, Isa 58:2, Isa 60:16-17 (3), Isa 61:10-11 (2), Jer 4:1-2 (2), Jer 9:24, Jer 22:3, Jer 33:15 (2), Jer 51:10, Eze 3:20, Eze 14:14, Eze 18:20 (2), Eze 18:22, Eze 18:24 (2), Eze 18:26, Eze 33:12-13 (2), Eze 33:18, Dan 9:7, Dan 9:16, Hos 10:12, Amo 5:7, Amo 5:24, Amo 6:12, Mic 6:5, Mic 7:9, Zec 8:8, Mal 3:3, Mal 4:2

justice, 15

Gen 18:19, Deu 33:21, 2Sa 8:15, 1Ki 10:9, 1Ch 18:14, 2Ch 9:8, Job 37:23, Pro 21:3, Isa 9:7, Isa 56:1, Isa 59:9, Jer 22:14-15 (2), Jer 23:5, Eze 45:9

right, 9

2Sa 19:28, Neh 2:20, Eze 18:5, Eze 18:19, Eze 18:21, Eze 18:27, Eze 33:14, Eze 33:16, Eze 33:19

righteous, 3

Jdg 5:11 (2), 1Sa 12:7

righteousnesses, 3

Isa 64:6, Eze 33:13, Dan 9:18

moderately, 1

Joe 2:23

righteously, 1

Isa 33:15

righteousness’, 1

Psa 143:11

H6666   (Strong)

צְדָקָה

tsedâqâh

tsed-aw-kaw’

From H6663; rightness (abstractly), subjectively (rectitude), objectively (justice), morally (virtue) or figuratively (prosperity): – justice, moderately, right (-eous) (act, -ly, -ness).

Total KJV occurrences: 157