יְהֹוָה צִדְקֵנוּ

Jehovah-Tsidkenu, a symbolical epithet of the Messiah and of Jerusalem

Definition

Yᵉhôvâh tsidqênûw, meaning 'The LORD is our righteousness,' is a profound compound name for God used in Jeremiah 23:6 and 33:16. It functions as a symbolic title, primarily pointing to the coming Messiah who will perfectly embody and provide righteousness for His people. In its immediate context, it refers to a righteous 'Branch' from David's line who will reign as king (Jeremiah 23:5). The name also has a secondary application to the city of Jerusalem, which will be renamed to reflect that the LORD is the source of its righteousness and salvation (Jeremiah 33:16).

Biblical Usage

This term appears exclusively in the prophetic book of Jeremiah. It is used in two parallel prophecies concerning future restoration. In Jeremiah 23:6, it is the name given to the righteous king from David's line. In Jeremiah 33:16, the same name is prophetically given to Jerusalem itself, emphasizing that the city's identity and security will be founded on the righteousness provided by God.

Etymology

The name is a construct phrase combining the divine personal name יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068), 'the LORD,' with the noun צֶדֶק (tsedeq, H6664), meaning 'righteousness' or 'justice,' and the first-person plural pronominal suffix '-נוּ' (-ênûw), meaning 'our.' It literally translates to 'Jehovah (is) our righteousness,' declaring that righteousness is not inherent in the people but is sourced in and provided by God Himself.

Semantic Range

This name is central to the biblical theme of imputed righteousness. It foreshadows the New Testament truth that believers are declared righteous not by their own works, but through faith in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21). It emphasizes that salvation and right standing before God are gifts from God alone, fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who is our ultimate righteousness. Understanding this Hebrew name enriches the reading of Jeremiah by connecting this Old Testament hope directly to the gospel.

In the ancient Near East, a name often described the character or destiny of a person or place. For a future king to be named 'The LORD is our righteousness' was a radical declaration that his reign would be characterized by divine justice, in contrast to the corrupt kings of Jeremiah's day. Renaming Jerusalem with this title signaled a complete transformation of the city's identity from one of rebellion to one defined by God's saving righteousness.

צֶדֶק (tsedeq, H6664) — The root noun meaning 'righteousness, justice.'; צְדָקָה (tsᵉdâqâh, H6666) — Often translated 'righteousness' but with a stronger connotation of righteous acts, justice, or charity.

Word Details