Tsaddiq – righteous/generous person. – tsedaqah, justice/din. Cf. B’resheet 18:19 where “justice” is tsedaqah.
See 1 Corinthians: Interpreted by Early Christian Commentators. The Church’s Bible. Grand Rapids, Mich: W.B. Eerdmans Pub. Co, 2005. p. xiii
Tsadiqim
Tsadiqim – pl Tsaddiq
Seven categories of “Saints.” This must undoubtedly connect with the characteristics of the “Seven men.”
Following this example, we can see what it took to be a Tsaddiq in the first century. Thus, we conclude that Hakham Ya’aqob (the Apostle James) as a Tsaddiq accepted the mitzvoth, and the Halakhic decisions of the Bate Din. His belief that his brother Yeshua was Messiah did not in any way hinder or impede halakhic practice. He believed in keeping “all of the Torah” (2:10). Furthermore, he saw the Torah as a means of being “free.” We might as free from what? Hakham Shaul (Apostle Paul the Sage) – answers this question in his Igeret to the Romans.
Thus, the activities of the Tsaddiq relate to a person who incessantly walks in the ruach or walks by the guidance of the ruach. Here “ruach” is associated with the Divine Presence. Thus the Tsaddiq walks incessantly in the Divine Presence. He will not do anything that would cause the Divine Presence to depart. And any mission requested by the Divine Presence will not be refused.
All activities related to the Tsaddiq produce the fruits of the ruach which is true spirituality, drawing us closer and closer to G-d, i.e. the Divine Presence. Therefore the footsteps of the Tsaddiq is titled “walking in the spirit.”