# good, goodness #

## Definition: ##

The word "good" has different meanings depending on the context. Many languages will use different words to translate these different meanings.

* In general, something is good if it fits with God's character, purposes, and will.
* Something that is "good" could be pleasing, excellent, helpful, suitable, profitable, or morally right.
* Land that is "good" could be called "fertile" or "productive."
* A "good" crop could be a "plentiful" crop.
* A person can be "good" at what they do if they are skillful at their task or profession, as in, the expression, "a good farmer."
* In the Bible, the general meaning of "good" is often contrasted with "evil."
* The term "goodness" usually refers to being morally good or righteous in thoughts and actions.
* The goodness of God refers to how he blesses people by giving them good and beneficial things. It also can refer to his moral perfection.

## Translation Suggestions: ##

* The general term for "good" in the target language should be used wherever this general meaning is accurate and natural, especially in contexts where it is contrasted to evil.
* Depending on the context, other ways to translate this term could include "kind" or "excellent" or "pleasing to God" or "righteous" or "morally upright" or "profitable."
* "Good land" could be translated as "fertile land" or "productive land"; a "good crop" could be translated as a "plentiful harvest" or "large amount of crops."
* The phrase "do good to" means to do something that benefits others and could be translated as "be kind to" or "help" or "benefit" someone.
* To "do good on the Sabbath" means to "do things that help others on the Sabbath."
* Depending on the context, ways to translate the term "goodness" could include "blessing" or "kindness" or "moral perfection" or "righteousness" or "purity."

(See also: [evil](../kt/evil.md), [holy](../kt/holy.md), [profit](../other/profit.md), [righteous](../kt/righteous.md))

## Bible References: ##

* [Galatians 05:22-24](en/tn/gal/help/05/22)
* [Genesis 01:11-13](en/tn/gen/help/01/11)
* [Genesis 02:9-10](en/tn/gen/help/02/09)
* [Genesis 02:15-17](en/tn/gen/help/02/15)
* [James 03:13-14](en/tn/jas/help/03/13)
* [Romans 02:3-4](en/tn/rom/help/02/03)

## Examples from the Bible stories: ##

* __[01:04](en/tn/obs/help/01/04)__ God saw that what he had created was __good__.
* __[01:11](en/tn/obs/help/01/11)__ God planted…the tree of the knowledge of __good__  and evil."
* __[01:12](en/tn/obs/help/01/12)__ Then God said, "It is not __good__  for man to be alone."
* __[02:04](en/tn/obs/help/02/04)__"God just knows that as soon as you eat it, you will be like God and will understand __good__  and evil like he does."
* __[08:12](en/tn/obs/help/08/12)__"You tried to do evil when you sold me as a slave, but God used the evil for __good__!"
* __[14:15](en/tn/obs/help/14/15)__ Joshua was a __good__  leader because he tTable of Contentsrusted and obeyed God.
* __[18:13](en/tn/obs/help/18/13)__ Some of these kings were __good__  men who ruled justly and worshiped God.
* __[28:01](en/tn/obs/help/28/01)__"__Good__  teacher, what must I do to have eternal life?" Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me '__good__?' There is only one who is __good__, and that is God."