ἔνδικος (endikos)
endikos
just
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective endikos describes something that is just or righteous, literally meaning "according to right." It derives from the preposition en ("in") and dikē ("right" or "justice"), pointing to a standard of fairness that aligns with what is due. In the New Testament, this word appears only twice, carrying a weighty theological sense rather than a casual one.
In Romans 3:8, Paul uses it to describe the false accusation that believers should do evil so that good may result, calling such reasoning "wicked" or unjust in its logic. Hebrews 2:2 employs it to affirm that the law delivered by angels was a just and binding command. The term underscores the objective validity of moral standards, whether in rejecting twisted arguments or upholding divine law.
Its rarity in Scripture highlights its precision. Translators often render it as "unjust" in negative contexts (Romans 3:8) or simply "just" in positive ones (Hebrews 2:2), depending on the sentence structure. This flexibility shows that endikos is not about personal virtue alone, but about alignment with a righteous standard.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word endikos reminds us that God’s moral order is not arbitrary but firmly grounded in what is right. When we encounter situations where fairness seems absent, this term offers comfort by affirming that divine justice remains intact. It assures us that wrongdoing does not go unnoticed and that truth ultimately prevails over deception.
In our daily lives, this concept encourages integrity. Just as the law was given with serious consequences for disobedience, we are called to live with awareness of God’s standards. This perspective helps us reject twisted reasoning that suggests evil can produce good, recognizing instead that true righteousness aligns with God’s character.
Ultimately, endikos points to a reliable foundation for faith. Whether facing injustice or striving for personal honesty, we can trust that God’s judgments are fair. This assurance invites us to rest in the certainty that what is right will prevail, offering hope and stability in an uncertain world.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- just1×
- a just1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἔνδικόν1×
- ἔνδικον1×
Key Verses
-
Romans 3:8
Why not (as we are slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say), “Let’s do evil, that good may come?” Those who say so are justly condemned.
Paul uses this term to condemn the twisted logic that suggests doing evil to produce good, showing that such reasoning is fundamentally unjust.
-
Hebrews 2:2
For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty,
The author highlights that disobedience to the angelic law received a just penalty, establishing the seriousness and validity of divine commands.