Deborah and Barak sing about “God’s righteousness,” and in the context of Judges 5, “righteousness” clearly means God’s mighty acts of salvation. This is one of many places in the Old Testament that helps make sense of Paul’s thesis statement in Romans 1:16–17. Let’s take a look at the language of “God’s righteousness” in Deborah and Barak’s song and a couple other places in the Old Testament.

God’s Righteousness in Judges

Judges narrates a dark era of Israel’s history, one marked by persistent cycles of widespread rebellion and turning away from God. When Israel turns away from God, they expose themselves to oppression by the surrounding nations. Repeatedly, Yahweh hears their cries for help in oppression and delivers them. Again and again, God raises up judges to perform miniature exodus events to save his people.

In chapter 5, after another mini exodus, Deborah and Barak sing a song of deliverance, one similar to Moses’s song in Exodus 15. In the lyrics, Deborah and Barak mention how songs of Yahweh’s salvation resound throughout the land. Notice the language:

Tell of it, you who ride on white donkeys, you who sit on rich carpets and you who walk by the way. To the sound of musicians at the watering places, there they repeat the righteousness (plural: צִדְקוֹת) of Yahweh, the righteousness (plural: צִדְקֹת) of his villagers in Israel. (Judges 5:11)

I simply want to point out that the language used is a plural form of the word righteousness. The concept referred to is God’s good and right acts of judgment and salvation.

Notice how the Old Greek translation renders the key word. You’ll see below that this is the same language Paul uses in Romans 1:16–17:

Let the sound of the musicians ring out in the middle of those who rejoice. There, they put forth the righteousness (δικαιοσύνη) of the Lord. The righteous (δίκαιοι) are strengthened in Israel. Then the people of Israel went down to their cities. (LXX Judges 5:11)

God’s Righteousness in Other Old Testament Passages

The same language is used in other Old Testament passages. “God’s righteousness” is a way of talking about his mighty acts of salvation, his “saving justice.”

My mouth will tell of your righteousness (צִדְקָתֶךָ / τὴν δικαιοσύνην σου), of your salvation, every day … (Psalm 71:15).

The poetry sets the language in parallel — righteousness and salvation — because in these passages the concepts are parallel, too.

Yahweh has made known his salvation. Before the eyes of the nations he has revealed his righteousness (צִדְקָתוֹ / τὴν δικαιοσύνην αὐτοῦ). (Psalm 98:2)

Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the land beneath. For the heavens are dispersed like smoke; the land will wear out like clothes and those who it just the same. My salvation will be forever, and my righteousness (וְצִדְקָתִי / ἡ δὲ δικαιοσύνη μου) will not be undone. Listen to me, you who know righteousness (צֶדֶך / κρίσιν), people who have my Torah in their heart. Don’t fear the mockery of men, and don’t be undone by their threats. For like clothes the moth will consume them. The worm will eat them like wool, but my righteousness (וְצִדְקָתִי / ἡ δὲ δικαιοσύνη μου) will be forever and my salvation to all generations. (Isaiah 51:6–8)

Conclusion re: Romans 1:16–17

The language used to talk about “righteousness” in Scripture is multivalent; it doesn’t always refer to the exact same concept. But I think Judges 5 and the passages listed above do clarify Paul’s meaning in Romans 1:16–17.

I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God for salvation to every one who believes, to the Jew first and then to the Greek. For the righteousness (δικαιοσύνη) of God is revealed from faith leading to faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:16–17)

Paul spends most of Romans unpacking the gospel because the gospel reveals God’s saving justice, his righteousness, which always includes both salvation and judgment. He roots his message to the Romans in a thorough unpacking of God’s single plan of salvation for all people, Jews and Gentiles.

God’s salvation story, which climaxes in the advent of the Messiah Jesus, is what Paul means here when he says God’s righteousness is revealed in the good news about Jesus.