Journal: Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society
Volume: JETS 65:4 (Dec 2022)
Article: Righteousness And Gender, Federal Headship And Corporate Solidarity In Jeremiah 23:5–6 And 33:15–16
Author: Jeffrey J. Niehaus

JETS 65:3 (September 2022) p. 651

Righteousness And Gender, Federal Headship And Corporate Solidarity In Jeremiah 23:5–6 And 33:15–16

Jeffrey J. Niehaus*

^* Jeffrey J. Niehaus is Senior Professor of Old Testament at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, 130 Essex Street, South Hamilton, MA 01982. He may be contacted at [email protected].

Abstract: The article addresses two interpretive issues in Jeremiah’s parallel prophecies: the dyad of federal headship/corporate solidarity and the different nuances of the masculine and feminine forms of the Hebrew “righteousness” (צדק and צדקה). The issues have gone virtually unnoticed in Jeremiah scholarship, especially in the English-speaking world. Comparative illustrations of the first issue are given from Isaiah and from the annals of Tiglath-pileser I. Exposition of both issues appears in a concluding analysis of both prophecies. Discussion of imputed righteousness/justification also applies but is subordinate to the two issues advanced by the present study.

Key words: federal headship, corporate solidarity, literary dyad, fluidity of transition, righteousness, righteousness as conformity to God’s Being and doing, aseity, Christ as head of the Church, Messiah, Immanuel, the Lord our righteousness, justification, imputed righteousness

“Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch [צדיק צמח], and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness [משפט וצדקה] in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness [צדק]’” (Jer 23:5–6, ESV).1

Jeremiah’s prophecy in 23:5–6 and its parallel in 33:15–16 are well known, but their interpretation has neglected two issues that this article hopes to address. The first is sometimes called “federal headship and corporate solidarity.” The second is the meaning of the righteousness terms in the prophecy: “righteous” (צדיק), “righteousness” (צדק), and “righteousness” (צדקה; here in the expression, “justice and righteousness,” משפט...