Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  5000 Humanity  »  5200 Human civilisation  »  5359 justice  »  5361 justice, human

God created the world in justice, and expects that his creatures will deal fairly and justly with one another as a result. Sin brings injustice into the world, by disrupting the justice established by God at creation. As a result, human justice often falls short of God's standards.

God shows his concern for human justice

By commanding it

Isaiah 56:1; Micah 6:8 See also Exodus 23:1-9; Deuteronomy 24:17; Psalm 82:3; Proverbs 21:3; Hosea 12:6; Romans 13:7

By commending its maintenance

Psalm 106:3 See also Genesis 20:5-6; 1 Kings 3:11-12,28; Job 1:8; Psalm 37:37; Psalm 112:5

By condemning its neglect

Malachi 3:5 See also Deuteronomy 27:19; Job 31:13-14; Isaiah 3:14,15; Isaiah 10:1; Jeremiah 7:5-8,14 destruction follows ignored warnings; Ezekiel 22:29-31

Justice in relationships within the family

Parents and children

Exodus 20:12 pp Deuteronomy 5:16 See also Matthew 15:4; Ephesians 6:1-3; Colossians 3:20-21; 1 Timothy 3:4

Brothers and sisters

Genesis 4:9-10

Husband and wife

Malachi 2:14; 1 Corinthians 7:4-5; Colossians 3:18-19

Justice in the community

Proverbs 29:7; James 1:27 See also Job 29:16; Psalm 82:3; Proverbs 29:14; Proverbs 31:8-9; Isaiah 1:17; Jeremiah 22:16

Justice in the business world

Colossians 4:1 See also Leviticus 19:35-36; Deuteronomy 25:15; Ephesians 6:9; James 5:1-4

Justice in courts of law

Exodus 23:6-8 See also Leviticus 19:15; Deuteronomy 1:16; Deuteronomy 16:18-20; Deuteronomy 17:6; Deuteronomy 25:1-3; Deuteronomy 27:25; 2 Chronicles 19:5-7; Proverbs 12:17

Partiality condemned:

Proverbs 18:5; Proverbs 24:23-25; Proverbs 28:21 Proverbs 18:17; John 18:23; Acts 23:3

Justice in rulers and governments

Proverbs 8:15 See also 1 Kings 10:9; 1 Chronicles 18:14; Proverbs 16:12-13; Proverbs 29:26-27; Proverbs 31:8-9; Jeremiah 22:13-16 judgment against the son of King Josiah; Ezekiel 45:9; Romans 13:1-4; 1 Peter 2:13-14,17

Justice in the community of faith

Amos 5:21-24; Luke 11:42 See also Isaiah 58:6-7; Hosea 6:6; Hosea 12:6; Matthew 23:23; 1 Corinthians 6:1-8; James 2:1-4,12-13

Justice in a believer's life

Micah 6:8 See also Proverbs 21:3; Philippians 4:8; Titus 2:12; 1 Peter 3:16

See also

5347  injustice
5375  law
5404  masters
5446  poverty
5482  punishment
5520  servants
5680  family
5743  widows
6172  guilt
7733  leaders
8275  honesty
8790  oppression