I enjoy spending my evenings watching the news to remain updated on current issues. Every time I hear about injustice, it touches my heart since I strongly believe in doing right. Two weeks ago, I saw people protesting on the news as they called out for Justice. As a born-again Christian, this story made me reflect upon what the Bible says about injustice. One of the questions that crossed my mind was, “How many times is Justice mentioned in the Bible?
Theologians speculate that the word justice appears over 140 times in the Bible though the exact number is unknown. What the Bible makes clear is that Justice is rooted in the character of God (Deuteronomy 32:4), and as his people, we should also display Justice (Micah 6:8).
In this article, I invite you to join me as we dig deeper into the topic of Justice in the Bible. Keep reading to find out what the Bible says about Justice and much more!
What is Justice according to the Bible?
According to the Bible, Justice is believed to mean to make a right. Just behavior is believed to uphold what is morally right. This term is also associated with relationships in the Bible. Biblical scholars define it as establishing the right relationship with others. For instance, Leviticus 19:15 suggests that one should not favor the rich and judge their neighbor unfairly.
The Bible also speculates that Justice is doing what is fair. Justice in the Bible is also believed to mean punishing wrongdoing. 2nd Chronicles 19:5-7 speculates that Judges were appointed in the land to condemn the guilty. The Bible often pairs the word justice with words such as compassion, kindness, love, and acting righteously.
What does the Bible say about Justice?
The Bible suggests that Justice is rooted in the nature and character of God since it defines God as a just God (Deuteronomy 32:4). Justice is believed to be one of the foundations of his throne (Psalm 89:14). Christians believe that God sets and defines the standards of Justice.
According to the Bible, we should always do Justice to the weak and the fatherless (Psalm 82:3). This bible verse suggests that upholding the cause of people who cannot defend themselves pleases God.
The Bible suggests that the righteous find joy in where Justice is done, but this act displeases evildoers (Proverbs 21:15). This is because those who do evil do not believe in doing what is morally right.
The Bible also speculates that the Mosaic Law in the Old Testament forbade unjust measures. For instance, according to the law, it was unjust to take bribes (Exodus 23:8).
Instances where Justice appears in the Bible
In Isaiah 1:17, God’s people are encouraged to do what is right and seek Justice. They were asked to defend those who were oppressed.
Justice is also mentioned in the story of Job confronting his accusers. He said that he put on righteousness as his clothing, and Justice was his robe (Job 29:14)
In Amos 5:12, Amos threatened judgment on anyone who oppressed the innocent or deprived the poor of Justice in the courts.
Jesus also mentioned Justice in Luke 11:42 when he called out the Pharisees, focusing on religious observance and neglecting Justice and God’s love.
In Habakkuk 1:3-4, Habakkuk complained to God, claiming that his people were ignoring his demand for Justice. In this passage, he was wondering why God allowed the unjust to continue being wicked.
Psalm 11:7 suggests that since God is righteous and loves Justice, those who are upright will see him. This verse, therefore, encourages Christians to love Justice just like the Lord does.
Psalm 72:1-2 implies that God also expects the king put in charge of judging people to act justly. He instructs them to look after people who cannot defend themselves.
Because God is just, he also demands man who is created in his image to display Justice (Micah 6:8).
Zechariah 7:9 implies that those in authority were given a special responsibility to provide true judgment and show mercy and kindness.
Isaiah 30:18 suggests that the Lord is a God of Justice and that those who wait upon him are blessed.
What does it mean that Justice belongs to God?
Since the Bible suggests that Justice is one of the attributes of God, many Christians believe this phrase means that God does not give us the mandate to execute vengeance upon those who wrong us. Justice belongs to God is believed to mean that we should let him handle tough cases beyond us instead of taking vengeful action against those who wrong us.
Some biblical scholars suggest that the phrase’ Justice belongs to God’ means that God rewards the just and punishes the sinners (2nd Thessalonians 1:6-9). The Bible suggests that since God alone has the corner of Justice, we must look at him, whose work is perfect (Deuteronomy 32:4)
Where does the concept of Justice first appear in the Bible?
Biblical scholars suggest that the concept of Jesus first appears in Genesis 3. This is because after Adam and Eve sinned against God, they saw the Justice of God, who punished them for their disobedience.
God showed his Justice to Eve by telling her that she would experience pain during childbearing and Adam would rule over her. On the other hand, Adam was punished by being told that he would have to toil all the days of his life to feed himself and his family. God also punished the serpent for deceiving them by declaring that it was cursed above all livestock and would crawl on its belly all the days of its life.
As a devout Christian, I have always been passionate about the Christian faith. This inspired me to pursue a degree in Religious studies and a Masters in Theology in college. I have also been privileged to teach 4 Christian courses in a college and university. Since I am dedicated to spreading the word of God, I am actively involved in the Church. Additionally, I share his word online and cover diverse topics on the Christian faith through my platform. You can read more about me on the about us page.