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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadInternational Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Right
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rı̄t (יש×ר, yaÌ„shaÌ„r, מש×פּט, mishpaÌ„tÌ£; δικαιος, dıÌkaios, εὐθυÌÏ‚, euthuÌs): Many Hebrew words are translated “right,†with different shades of meaning. Of these the two noted are the most important: yaÌ„shaÌ„r, with the sense of being straight, direct, as “right in the sight†of Yahweh (; , etc.), in one's own eyes (), “right words†( the King James Version, yoÌ„sher), “right paths†( the King James Version); and mishpaÌ„tÌ£ “judgment†“cause†etc., a forensic term, as “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?†(). In , the Revised Version (British and American) has “justice†(, “rightâ€), etc. The word cedhekÌ£, cedhaÌ„kÌ£aÌ„h, ordinarily translated “righteousness,†are in a few cases rendered “right†(; ; ; ; ; , etc.). In the New Testament the chief word is dikaios, primarily “even,†“equal†(; , etc.); more generally the word is rendered “just†and “righteous.†Euthus, used by Septuagint for yaÌ„shaÌ„r (; ), occurs a few times (; ; ); so orthoÌ„Ìs, “straight,†“upright†().
“Right-hand†or “side†represents Hebrew yaÌ„mı̄n and kindred forms (, , ; , etc.); the Greek, in this sense, is dexioÌs (; , etc.).
Revised Version, among other changes, has “right†for the King James Version “judgment†in ; , and for “right†in the King James Version substitutes “straight†in , “skillful†in , margin “successful,†etc. In the Revised Version (British and American) reads, “the right to become children of God†for the King James Version “the power†(exousıÌa); in , “right†is omitted, with the larger part of the verse. In “rightly dividing†(orthotomeÌoÌ„) is changed to “handling aright†with margin “holding a straight course in the word of truth. Or, rightly dividing the word of truth.â€