A Taxonomy of the Meanings of Sedeq/ S'dâqâ

This study focuses on a taxonomy that is the classification of the meanings of Sedeq/S'dâqâ (“righteousness”) in the Old Testament (OT). The study investigates and summarizes the diverse views on the meaning of Sedeq/S'dâqâ, and the different approaches used to arrive at the various meanings. It also deals with the issue of the methodological approaches to the text in determining the meaning of these terms. The problem concerns the method of study that is appropriate to the determine the meaning of Sedeq/S'dâqâ in the text. There is no consensus among OT scholars on the methodological approach in doing word study. For a variety of methods yields a variety of interpretations of these terms, which determines their meaning and conclusions arrived on them. In this study, thirteen (13) different meanings for Sedeq/S'dâqâ that have been proposed by various scholars were discovered. This paper only summarizes the various representative positions which are held on their meaning, and indicates the different methods/approaches employed by scholars to arrive at their conclusions and definitions, without giving a comprehensive account of the total contribution made by them on this subject. There is need for further study to determine the most appropriate method for word study to be used in determining the meaning of e words such as Sedeq/S'dâqâ in the OT.