Just
Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament [1]
JUST and ‘righteous’ in Authorized Version represent the same word, δίκαιος, which, however, has usually the wider meaning of ‘righteous, observing Divine and human laws, one who is such as he ought to be, prop. the Heb. צִדִּיק’ (Grimm-Thayer), and comprehends duty both to God and to man. The Vulgate had no word available except justus , which strictly, means ‘what is according to jus , the rights of man,’ hence ‘just’ in many places in Authorized Version. In the Gospels it is used of Joseph ( Matthew 1:19), Simeon ( Luke 2:25), John the Baptist ( Mark 6:20), Joseph of Arimathaea ( Luke 23:50), and Christ ( Matthew 27:19; Matthew 27:24). In Acts 3:14; Acts 7:52; Acts 22:14 (cf. 1 Peter 3:18, and possibly James 5:6) ‘the Just One’ is a Messianic name corresponding to the prophecies of the Righteous Servant of Jehovah ( Isaiah 53:11; cf. Isaiah 11:3 f., Jeremiah 23:5); its use ‘affords in itself a marvellous proof of the impression made by the human life of Jesus upon those who knew Him best, or who, at all events, like St. Stephen, had ample opportunities of learning’ ( Expos. Gr. Test .). In nearly every case Revised Version NT 1881, OT 1885 uniformly gives ‘righteous,’ exceptions being Matthew 5:45 (‘rain on the just and the unjust’), Luke 1:17 (‘wisdom of the just’) Luke 14:14 (‘resurrection of the just’). In Luke 2:25 ‘just’ might perhaps have been retained with advantage to bring out the difference in the same verse between δίκαιος and, εὐλαβής, which latter means ‘reverencing God, devout’ (‘δίκαιος, justus , in officiis; εὐλαβὴς, Vulgate timoratus , in habitu animae erga Deum’—Bengel).
For full discussion of δίκαιος see art. Righteous.
W. H. Dundas.
King James Dictionary [2]
JUST, a. L. justus. The primary sense is probably straight or close, from the sense of setting, erecting, or extending.
1. Regular orderly due suitable.
When all
The war shall stand ranged in its just array.
2. Exactly proportioned proper.
Pleaseth your lordship
To meet his grace,just distance 'tween our armies?
3. Full complete to the common standard.
He was a comely personage, a little above just stature.
4. Full true a sense allied to the preceding, or the same.
--So that once the skirmish was like to have come to a just battle.
5. In a moral sense, upright honest having principles of rectitude or conforming exactly to the laws, and to principles of rectitude in social conduct equitable in the distribution of justice as a just judge. 6. In an evangelical sense, righteous religious influenced by a regard to the laws of God or living in exact conformity to the divine will.
There is not a just man on earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not. Ecclesiastes 7
7. Conformed to rules of justice doing equal justice.
Just balances, just weights, a just ephah and a just him shall ye have. Leviticus 19
8. Conformed to truth exact proper accurate as just thoughts just expressions just images or representations a just description a just inference. 9. True founded in truth and fact as a just charge or accusation. 10. Innocent blameless without guilt.
How should man be just with God? Job 9
11. Equitable due merited as a just recompense or reward.
--Whose damnation is just. Romans 3
12. True to promises faithful as just to one's word or engagements. 13. Impartial allowing what is due giving fair representation of character, merit or demerit.
Webster's Dictionary [3]
(1): ( adv.) Precisely; exactly; - in place, time, or degree; neither more nor less than is stated.
(2): ( a.) Rendering or disposed to render to each one his due; equitable; fair; impartial; as, just judge.
(3): ( a.) Conforming or conformable to rectitude or justice; not doing wrong to any; violating no right or obligation; upright; righteous; honest; true; - said both of persons and things.
(4): ( adv.) Barely; merely; scarcely; only; by a very small space or time; as, he just missed the train; just too late.
(5): ( v. i.) To joust.
(6): ( n.) A joust.
(7): ( a.) Not transgressing the requirement of truth and propriety; conformed to the truth of things, to reason, or to a proper standard; exact; normal; reasonable; regular; due; as, a just statement; a just inference.
(8): ( adv.) Closely; nearly; almost.
