IT SHALL BE OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS, DEUTERONOMY 6:25: A SUGGESTED TRANSLATION

Abstract

The term righteousness in Christian tradition has always been understood as bearing a moral nuance. At time this Christian thinking influences the understanding the term in certain contexts where the nuance could be different. This article explores the meaning of the term righteousness in Deuteronomy 6:25. The study attempts to undertake a contextual study of the term righteousness as used in Deuteronomy 6:24-25. The cluster of verbs used in Deut 6:24-25 reveal a word field within which the phrase “our righteousness” is situated, which is a context of the blessing of life, especially physical life. The parallel between the term sedaqah (righteousness) and tob (good) in the phrases “it shall be our righteousness” and “it shall be good to us” is pivotal for understanding the usage of the term righteousness in this passage. This relationship reveals that these two terms, righteousness and good, mirror each other. The clause “it shall be good to us” in 6:24 is a used in connection with the clause “to preserve your life.” The term good in this passage refers to the preservation of physical life. Because these two terms, righteousness and good are employed in the context of preservation of the physical life, it can be deduced that the term righteousness points to the blessings of physical life. Lexically, sedaqah conveys the nuance to justify, vindicate, deliver and prosper. Though the term righteousness may have a moral connotation, in this context it is not used in connection words that could suggest a moral aspect. Therefore, translating sedaqah as prosperity is congruent to the thoughts expressed in the rest of Deuteronomy 6.