📖 Biblical Definition
YHWH-Tsidkenu (יְהוָה צִדְקֵנוּ) — "the LORD Our Righteousness" — is the covenant name Jeremiah gives the coming Messianic Branch: "In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS" (Jeremiah 23:6; cf. 33:16). The name is foundational to Pauline gospel doctrine: the righteousness by which the believer is justified is not his own attainment, but Christ’s own righteousness, freely imputed (Romans 1:17; 3:21-26; 5:17-19; 2 Corinthians 5:21: "that we might be made the righteousness of God in him"). The Christian wears not a robe of his own weaving but the very righteousness of the LORD. His name is our righteousness.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
The LORD Our Righteousness — the Messianic Branch.
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The compound covenant name in Jeremiah 23:6 and 33:16 declaring the coming righteous Branch (Messiah) as the source of Israel's righteousness. The name carries the Reformation gospel in the Hebrew prophets: tsedeq (righteousness) is given through union with Yahweh-Tsidkenu, not earned through law-keeping. Anticipates Paul's dikaiosynē theou — the righteousness of God reckoned to those in Christ.
📖 Key Scripture
Jeremiah 23:5-6 — "Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch... and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS."
1 Corinthians 1:30 — "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption."
2 Corinthians 5:21 — "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Co-opted by performance-religion as a name to claim while still pursuing self-righteousness; the imputation half is dropped.
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Modern moralism uses YHWH-Tsidkenu as a name to claim while still treating righteousness as something the saint achieves. Jeremiah is sharper: the righteousness is the Messiah's name — received, not earned. The Branch is righteous; we are righteous in the Branch.
Recover the imputation: tsidkenu is "our" because it has been credited to us, not because we have produced it. The Reformation reading is the Hebrew reading.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Hebrew Yahweh + tsedeq (righteousness) + 1st person plural suffix.
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['Hebrew', 'H3068', 'Yahweh', 'the covenant name']
['Hebrew', 'H6664', 'tsedeq', 'righteousness, justice']
['Hebrew', 'H6666', 'tsedaqah', 'righteousness']
Usage
"Christ is our righteousness; we are not our own."
"Read Jeremiah for the Reformation doctrine."
"The Branch's name is our credit."