The Theology of Justice in the Prophets: Hermeneutics and Social Justice in Biblical Studies

Abstract

Global concerns about inequality, systemic injustice, and social fragmentation have renewed interest in the Old Testament prophets and their ethical concepts of mishpat and tsedaqah. Existing studies employ lexical-theological, socio-rhetorical, liberationist, and public-theological approaches, yet remain fragmented and lack an integrative framework. This study addresses the gap through a Systematic Literature Review following PRISMA 2020, analyzing ten peer-reviewed studies published between 2000 and 2025 alongside foundational monographs on justice theology. Findings indicate that mishpat–tsedaqah constitutes a multidimensional paradigm: covenantal in its foundation in God’s character; relational and restorative in promoting communal repair; structural in criticizing unjust economic, political, and legal systems; and protective in prioritizing vulnerable communities. African and Latin American interpretations further demonstrate its relevance to corruption, inequality, state violence, and public suffering. The study therefore proposes an interdisciplinary Prophetic Public Theology model integrating covenantal, relational, structural, legal, human-rights, and contextual dimensions. By connecting ancient prophetic ethics with contemporary legal and cultural concerns, the model clarifies how justice can guide institutional critique, communal restoration, and public responsibility across diverse social contexts today.