verb
dikaiomō
Strong’sG1344
I make righteous, defend the cause of, justify
stem dikai-39 times in the New Testamentin 9 of 27 books24 forms occur
What it means
A plain-English reading of the word, with the lexicons it draws on — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, and Liddell-Scott-Jones — right below it, in full.
AI Summary
δικαιόω means to treat someone as righteous — either by showing or demonstrating that they are in fact righteous, or by pronouncing and treating them as righteous even where that status is being declared rather than simply observed 13. In the New Testament and Septuagint the word is regularly used both ways: showing something to be right or just, and declaring or accounting a person righteous, often connected with phrases like "by faith," "by works," or "in" someone 1. Strong's and Dodson likewise gloss it as making, showing, or regarding a person as righteous or innocent, and vindicating or clearing them, i.e. justify 24.
Outside the biblical material, the word also has a range of related uses in general Greek: to set something right or put it in proper order, to hold or claim something as one's right, to pronounce a judgment or give consent, and to have justice done to oneself as opposed to suffering wrong; it can even carry the sense of chastising or punishing someone, or passing sentence on them 3.
Sources: 1 Abbott-Smith 2 Strong's 3 LSJ 4 Dodson. Condensed by anthropic/claude-sonnet-5 on 2026-09-23 — it may still misstate what these say; check them yourself if it matters to you.
The lexicons it was drawn from, in full:
Abbott-Smith — the 1922 lexicon entry, in full
δικαιόω, -ῶ
(< δίκαιος), [in LXX chiefly for צדק pi., hi., (1) as Ez 16:51, Je 3:11 (cf. NT usage); (2) as De 25:1; Ex 23:7, Is 50:8;]
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G1344 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Saiddik-ah-yo'-o
to render (i.e. show or regard as) just or innocent
Fromfrom G1342;
King Jamesfree, justify(-ier), be righteous.
James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, 1890 — public domain. The numbers in it link to the entries here.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — the classical dictionary this word appears in
Ionic dialect imperfect ἐδικαίευν Refs 5th c.BC+future -ώσω Oracle texts cited in [same work]Refs 5th c.BC+; -ώσομαι Refs:aorist ἐδικαίωσα Refs:—passive, future -ωθήσομαιLXX: aorist ἐδικαιώθην Refs 4th c.BC+: perfect δεδικαίωμαι LXX
I set right, νόμος.. δικαιῶν τὸ βιαιότατον Refs 5th c.BC+proved, tested, Refs 4th c.BC+
II hold or deem right, claim or demand as a right, with infinitive, Refs 5th c.BC+infinitive omitted, οὕτω δ. (i.e. γενέσθαι) Refs 5th c.BC+; δίκας δ. (i.e. γενέσθαι)Refs 5th c.BC+; pronounce judgement, Refs: with infinitive, ἐδικαίωσεν ἀποδοῦναι ἡμᾶς τὸ κεφάλαιον Refs 1st c.AD+; consent, δουλεύειν Refs 5th c.BC+; οὐκ ἐδικαίου οὐδένα οἱ ἐσαγγεῖλαι he would not allow.. Refs:—passive, τὸ δικαιωθὲν ὑπό τινος that which is ordained, Refs 1st c.BC+
III do a man right or justice: hence,
III.1 chastise, punish, Refs 5th c.BC+:—passive, Refs 5th c.BC+; pass sentence on, ὑμᾶς αὐτοὺς δικαιώσεσθε Refs 5th c.BC+
III.2 passive, also, have right done one, opposed to ἀδικεῖσθαι, Refs 4th c.BC+
III.3 pronounce and treat as righteous, justify, vindicate, LXX+NTpassive Refs
H. G. Liddell, R. Scott, H. S. Jones, A Greek-English Lexicon (9th ed., 1925–1940) — digitised by the Perseus Digital Library and corrected and expanded by Tyndale House, Cambridge, via STEPBible-Data's TFLSJ table, CC BY 4.0. Covers all of Greek literature, not just the Bible.
Translated as
Every occurrence, sorted by the English it was actually given — the evidence for what the word means, not a gloss of it.
Berean Standard Bible (BSB), dedicated to the public domain — berean.bible.
Biblang forms
What the New Testament actually uses, first — the whole system this verb is built from is one click further down.
| Form and the Greek behind it | What it is | Usually | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| dikaiatōδικαιοῖ | happening now · he/she/itpresent active indicative 3rd person singular | justify | 1× |
| dikaiotōδικαιοῦται | happening now · he/she/itpresent middle or passive indicative 3rd person singular | justified | 4× |
| dikaiovōδικαιοῦσθε | happening now · yepresent middle or passive indicative 2nd person plural | justified | 1× |
| dikaiatiδικαιώσει | will happen · he/she/itfuture active indicative 3rd person singular | justify | 1× |
| dikaiisiδικαιωθήσῃ | will happen · youfuture passive indicative 2nd person singular | justified | 1× |
| dikaiitiδικαιωθήσεται | will happen · he/she/itfuture passive indicative 3rd person singular | justified | 2× |
| dikaiiliδικαιωθήσονται | will happen · theyfuture passive indicative 3rd person plural | justified | 1× |
| dikaiataἐδικαίωσεν | happened · he/she/itaorist active indicative 3rd person singular | justified | 2× |
| dikaialaἐδικαίωσαν | happened · theyaorist active indicative 3rd person plural | acknowledged the justice | 1× |
| dikaiitaἐδικαιώθη | happened · he/she/itaorist passive indicative 3rd person singular | justified | 6× |
| dikaiivaἐδικαιώθητε | happened · yeaorist passive indicative 2nd person plural | justified | 1× |
| dikaiomēδεδικαίωμαι | has happened · Iperfect middle or passive indicative 1st person singular | acquitted | 1× |
| dikaiotēδεδικαίωται | has happened · he/she/itperfect middle or passive indicative 3rd person singular | freed | 1× |
| dikaiiseiaδικαιωθῇς | happened · youaorist passive subjunctive 2nd person singular | justified | 1× |
| dikaiineiaδικαιωθῶμεν | happened · weaorist passive subjunctive 1st person plural | justified | 2× |
| dikaiorōδικαιοῦσθαι | happening now · the “to …” formpresent middle or passive infinitive | justified | 1× |
| dikaiaraδικαιῶσαι | happened · the “to …” formaorist active infinitive | justify | 1× |
| dikaiiraδικαιωθῆναι | happened · the “to …” formaorist passive infinitive | freed | 2× |
| dikaiarōntosδικαιῶν | happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative singular masculine | justifies | 1× |
| dikaiarōntonδικαιοῦντα | happening now · objectpresent active participle accusative singular masculine | justifier | 2× |
| dikaiarōntoisδικαιοῦντες | happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative plural masculine | justify | 1× |
| dikaiorōntoisδικαιούμενοι | happening now · subjectpresent middle or passive participle nominative plural masculine | justified | 1× |
| dikaiirantoisδικαιωθέντες | happened · subjectaorist passive participle nominative plural masculine | justified | 3× |
| dikaiorēntosδεδικαιωμένος | has happened · subjectperfect middle or passive participle nominative singular masculine | justified | 1× |
Every form the New Testament uses, in paradigm order. What the system can build beyond them — the whole of this verb, whether the text happens to use it or not — is in the tables below.
Every form the system can build — all 172, by mood, including the ones the New Testament never uses
Statements — indicative mood, 23 occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | was happening imperfect | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect | had happened pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | dikaiamō | dikaiame | dikaiami | dikaiama | dikaiamē | dikaiamelē |
| you 2nd person singular | dikaiasō | dikaiase | dikaiasi | dikaiasa | dikaiasē | dikaiaselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | dikaiatō1×δικαιοῖ | dikaiate | dikaiati1×δικαιώσει | dikaiata2×ἐδικαίωσεν | dikaiatē | dikaiatelē |
| we 1st person plural | dikaianō | dikaiane | dikaiani | dikaiana | dikaianē | dikaianelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | dikaiavō | dikaiave | dikaiavi | dikaiava | dikaiavē | dikaiavelē |
| they 3rd person plural | dikaialō | dikaiale | dikaiali | dikaiala1×ἐδικαίωσαν | dikaialē | dikaialelē |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | was happening imperfect | has happened perfect | had happened pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | dikaiomō | dikaiome | dikaiomē1×δεδικαίωμαι | dikaiomelē |
| you 2nd person singular | dikaiosō | dikaiose | dikaiosē | dikaioselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | dikaiotō4×δικαιοῦται | dikaiote | dikaiotē1×δεδικαίωται | dikaiotelē |
| we 1st person plural | dikaionō | dikaione | dikaionē | dikaionelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | dikaiovō1×δικαιοῦσθε | dikaiove | dikaiovē | dikaiovelē |
| they 3rd person plural | dikaiolō | dikaiole | dikaiolē | dikaiolelē |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | will happen future | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | dikaiimi | dikaiima |
| you 2nd person singular | dikaiisi1×δικαιωθήσῃ | dikaiisa |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | dikaiiti2×δικαιωθήσεται | dikaiita6×ἐδικαιώθη |
| we 1st person plural | dikaiini | dikaiina |
| ye 2nd person plural | dikaiivi | dikaiiva1×ἐδικαιώθητε |
| they 3rd person plural | dikaiili1×δικαιωθήσονται | dikaiila |
May, might — subjunctive mood, 3 occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | dikaiameiō | dikaiameia | dikaiameiē |
| you 2nd person singular | dikaiaseiō | dikaiaseia | dikaiaseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | dikaiateiō | dikaiateia | dikaiateiē |
| we 1st person plural | dikaianeiō | dikaianeia | dikaianeiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | dikaiaveiō | dikaiaveia | dikaiaveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | dikaialeiō | dikaialeia | dikaialeiē |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | dikaiomeiō | dikaiomeiē |
| you 2nd person singular | dikaioseiō | dikaioseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | dikaioteiō | dikaioteiē |
| we 1st person plural | dikaioneiō | dikaioneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | dikaioveiō | dikaioveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | dikaioleiō | dikaioleiē |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | dikaiimeia |
| you 2nd person singular | dikaiiseia1×δικαιωθῇς |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | dikaiiteia |
| we 1st person plural | dikaiineia2×δικαιωθῶμεν |
| ye 2nd person plural | dikaiiveia |
| they 3rd person plural | dikaiileia |
Commands — imperative mood, no occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | dikaiasōr | dikaiasar | dikaiasēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | dikaiatōr | dikaiatar | dikaiatēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | dikaiavōr | dikaiavar | dikaiavēr |
| they 3rd person plural | dikaialōr | dikaialar | dikaialēr |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | dikaiosōr | dikaiosēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | dikaiotōr | dikaiotēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | dikaiovōr | dikaiovēr |
| they 3rd person plural | dikaiolōr | dikaiolēr |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | dikaiisar |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | dikaiitar |
| ye 2nd person plural | dikaiivar |
| they 3rd person plural | dikaiilar |
Wishes — optative mood, no occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | dikaiamoiō | dikaiamoia |
| you 2nd person singular | dikaiasoiō | dikaiasoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | dikaiatoiō | dikaiatoia |
| we 1st person plural | dikaianoiō | dikaianoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | dikaiavoiō | dikaiavoia |
| they 3rd person plural | dikaialoiō | dikaialoia |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | dikaiomoiō |
| you 2nd person singular | dikaiosoiō |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | dikaiotoiō |
| we 1st person plural | dikaionoiō |
| ye 2nd person plural | dikaiovoiō |
| they 3rd person plural | dikaioloiō |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | dikaiimoia |
| you 2nd person singular | dikaiisoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | dikaiitoia |
| we 1st person plural | dikaiinoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | dikaiivoia |
| they 3rd person plural | dikaiiloia |
The “to …” form — infinitive, 4 occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | dikaiarō | dikaiari | dikaiara1×δικαιῶσαι | dikaiarē |
| acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice | dikaiorō1×δικαιοῦσθαι | dikaiorē | ||
| acted on passive voice | dikaiiri | dikaiira2×δικαιωθῆναι |
Used as an adjective — participle, 9 occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | dikaiarōntos4×δικαιῶν | dikaiarintos | dikaiarantos | dikaiarēntos |
| acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice | dikaiorōntos1× | dikaiorēntos1×δεδικαιωμένος | ||
| acted on passive voice | dikaiirintos | dikaiirantos3× |
Each is given in the form it takes as a subject. From there a participle carries the ordinary noun endings, in every case, number and gender — so these four columns are the whole of what the verb contributes.
How every form is built — the slots that make them
dikai is this word in every one of its forms. The slots after it make all the rest.
same in every form varies — every value shown
Words built on the same stem
Other words sharing the exact same stem — not merely related in meaning.
Where it appears
Every verse the word appears in, filed under the form it takes there.
39 occurrences, every one of them listed
dikaiatō“justify”happening now · he/she/itpresent active indicative 3rd person singular1×
Galatians 3:8… de tas grafas hoti ek pistiau dikaiatō teim ethneim tos theos proeuangelizeta to …The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and foretold …
dikaiotō“justified”happening now · he/she/itpresent middle or passive indicative 3rd person singular4×
Acts 13:39en houto pantos tos pisteuarōntos dikaiotō.Through Him everyone who believes is justified from everything from which you could …
Galatians 2:16oidarēntois de hoti ouk dikaiotō anthrōpos ek ergeiu nomou ean mē …know that a man is not justified by works of the law, but …
Galatians 3:11hoti de en nomo oudenos dikaiotō para to theo dēlem, hoti Tos …… is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because …
James 2:24horavō hoti ek ergeiu dikaiotō anthrōpos kai ouk ek pistiau monem.… you can see, a man is justified by his deeds and not by …
dikaiovō“justified”happening now · yepresent middle or passive indicative 2nd person plural1×
Galatians 5:4katargiva apo Christou hotinois en nomo dikaiovō, tau charitau ekpiptava.You who are trying to be justified by the law have been severed …
dikaiati“justify”will happen · he/she/itfuture active indicative 3rd person singular1×
Romans 3:30eiper henos tos theos, hos dikaiati peritoman ek pistiau kai akrobustian dia …… is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the …
dikaiisi“justified”will happen · youfuture passive indicative 2nd person singular1×
Matthew 12:37“justified”ek gar toiu logoiu su dikaiisi, kai ek toiu logoiu su katadikazisi.For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
dikaiiti“justified”will happen · he/she/itfuture passive indicative 3rd person singular2×
Romans 3:20dioti ek ergeiu nomou ouk dikaiiti pantas sarkas enōpion autou, dia gar …Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of …
Galatians 2:16… nomou, hoti ek ergeiu nomou ouk dikaiiti pantas sarkas.… the law no one will be justified.
dikaiili“justified”will happen · theyfuture passive indicative 3rd person plural1×
Romans 2:13“justified”… to theo, alla tois poiētois nomou dikaiili.… righteous before God, but it is the doers of the law who will …
dikaiata“justified”happened · he/she/itaorist active indicative 3rd person singular2×
Romans 8:30… kalata; kai hoin kalata, houtoin kai dikaiata; hoin de dikaiata, houtoin kai doxazata.… called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.
Romans 8:30… kalata, houtoin kai dikaiata; hoin de dikaiata, houtoin kai doxazata.… called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.
dikaiala“acknowledged the justice”happened · theyaorist active indicative 3rd person plural1×
Luke 7:29“acknowledged the justice”… tos laos akouarantos kai tois telōnois dikaiala ton theon, baptizirantois tem baptismem Iōannou;All the people who heard this, even the tax collectors, acknowledged God’s justice. For they had received the baptism of John.
dikaiita“justified”happened · he/she/itaorist passive indicative 3rd person singular6×
Matthew 11:19… oinopotos, telōnoiu filos kai hamartōloiu. kai dikaiita tas sofias apo teiu ergeiu autau.… collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is vindicated by her actions.”
Luke 7:35kai dikaiita tas sofias apo panteiu teiu tekneiu …But wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”
Romans 4:2ei gar Abraam ek ergeiu dikaiita, echatō kauchēmem; alla ouk pros theon,If Abraham was indeed justified by works, he had something to …
1 Timothy 3:16… eusebeiau mustēriem; Hos fanerita en sarka, dikaiita en pneume, horita angeloi, kērussita en …… He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by …
James 2:21… tos patros nu ouk ek ergeiu dikaiita, anaferarantos Isaak ton huion autou epi …Was not our father Abraham justified by what he did when he …
James 2:25… Raab tas pornas ouk ek ergeiu dikaiita, hupodecherantas toin angeloin kai hetera hoda …… was not even Rahab the prostitute justified by her actions when she welcomed …
dikaiiva“justified”happened · yeaorist passive indicative 2nd person plural1×
1 Corinthians 6:11… ave; alla apoloueva, alla hagiaziva, alla dikaiiva en te onome tou kuriou Iēsu …… washed, you were sanctified, you were justified, in the name of the Lord …
dikaiomē“acquitted”has happened · Iperfect middle or passive indicative 1st person singular1×
1 Corinthians 4:4“acquitted”… miauto sunoidamē, alla ouk en houte dikaiomē, tos de anakrinarōntos min kurios atō.… is clear, but that does not vindicate me. It is the Lord who judges me.
dikaiotē“freed”has happened · he/she/itperfect middle or passive indicative 3rd person singular1×
Romans 6:7tos gar apothnēskarantos dikaiotē apo tau hamartau.… anyone who has died has been freed from sin.
dikaiiseia“justified”happened · youaorist passive subjunctive 2nd person singular1×
Romans 3:4“justified”… anthrōpos pseustos, kathōs grafotē; Hopōs an dikaiiseia en toi logoi su kai nikasi …… and every man a liar. As it is written: “So that You may be proved right when You speak and victorious when …
dikaiineia“justified”happened · weaorist passive subjunctive 1st person plural2×
Galatians 2:16… nis eis Christon Iēsun pisteuana, hina dikaiineia ek pistiau Christou kai ouk ek …… Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not …
Galatians 3:24… genatē eis Christon, hina ek pistiau dikaiineia;… to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
dikaiorō“justified”happening now · the “to …” formpresent middle or passive infinitive1×
Romans 3:28logizonō gar dikaiorō pistia anthrōpon chōris ergeiu nomou.… we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of …
dikaiara“justify”happened · the “to …” formaorist active infinitive1×
Luke 10:29Tos de thelarōntos dikaiara heauton legata pros ton Iēsun; Kai …But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who …
dikaiira“freed”happened · the “to …” formaorist passive infinitive2×
Acts 13:38“freed”… heiu ouk duniva en nomo Mōusou dikaiiraTherefore let it be known to you, brothers, that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.
Galatians 2:17ei de zētarōntois dikaiira en Christo heuriskina kai autois hamartōlois, …… if, while we seek to be justified in Christ, we ourselves are found …
dikaiarōntos“justifies”happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative singular masculine1×
Romans 8:33… enkalati kata eklektoiu theou? theos tos dikaiarōntos;… God’s elect? It is God who justifies.
dikaiarōnton“justifier”happening now · objectpresent active participle accusative singular masculine2×
Romans 3:26“justifier”… eis tem arō auton dikaion kai dikaiarōnton ton ek pistiau Iēsu.He did this to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and to justify the one who has faith in Jesus.
Romans 4:5… mē ergazorōnto, pisteuarōnto de epi ton dikaiarōnton ton asebon, logizotō tas pistias autou …… work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited …
dikaiarōntois“justify”happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative plural masculine1×
Luke 16:15kai legata autoi; Vis avō tois dikaiarōntois heautoin enōpion toiu anthrōpoiu, tos de …… them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves before men, but God knows …
dikaiorōntois“justified”happening now · subjectpresent middle or passive participle nominative plural masculine1×
Romans 3:24dikaiorōntois dōreōs ta autou charita dia tau …and are justified freely by His grace through the …
dikaiirantois“justified”happened · subjectaorist passive participle nominative plural masculine3×
Romans 5:1Dikaiirantois oun ek pistiau eirēnan echanō pros …Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with …
Romans 5:9polle oun mallon dikaiirantois nun en te haime autou sōzini …Therefore, since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more …
Titus 3:7hina dikaiirantois ta ekeinou charita klēronomois genineia kata …so that, having been justified by His grace, we would become …
dikaiorēntos“justified”has happened · subjectperfect middle or passive participle nominative singular masculine1×
Luke 18:14legamō vi, katabainata houtos dikaiorēntos eis ton oikon autou para ekeinon; …… rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will …