"right, justice; in NT judicial punishment, vengeance, 2 Thess. 1:9; Jude 7; sentence of punishment, judgment, Acts 25:15; personified, the goddess of justice or vengeance, Nemesis, Paena, Acts 28:4"
Definition and meaning
right, justice; in NT judicial punishment, vengeance, 2 Thess. 1:9; Jude 7; sentence of punishment, judgment, Acts 25:15; personified, the goddess of justice or vengeance, Nemesis, Paena, Acts 28:4
In the original Greek the word is written: δίκη
Historical context
The Roman Empire provided infrastructure no previous civilization had built — roads, sea routes, a common language in Greek, and relative peace across the Mediterranean. Jewish synagogues existed in every major city, giving Paul a starting point everywhere he traveled. The early church had no buildings, no political power, no social standing — and spread faster than any movement in ancient history.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of dike (G1349) across the King James Bible.
About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him.
And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.
Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
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Common questions
Strong's G1349 (dike) is a Greek word that means: right, justice; in NT judicial punishment, vengeance, 2 Thess. 1:9; Jude 7; sentence of punishment, judgment, Acts 25:15; personified, the goddess of justice or vengeance, Nemesis, Paena, Acts 28:4 It appears 4 times in the King James Bible.
The word dike (G1349) appears 4 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G1349 is dike, a Greek word defined as: right, justice; in NT judicial punishment, vengeance, 2 Thess. 1:9; Jude 7; sentence of punishment, judgment, Acts 25:15; personified, the goddess of . James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
dike is a Greek word found in the New Testament.