What is
Torah? - Torah is NOT Law
The Hebrew word תורה (torah) is usually translated
into the English word ‘Law’. Because of this translation there is a great
misunderstanding of what ‘Torah’ truly is. ‘TORAH IS NOT
LAW’. When we use the word ‘law’ we assume a certain meaning and concept of
the word that is not present in the Hebrew Scriptures.
Let us start by looking at the Etymology of the Hebrew word Torah so
that we may better understand its true definition. The word Torah comes
from the Hebrew root word ירה (Y.R.H,) a verb which means ‘to flow or throw
something’.
This can be a flowing of an arrow from an archer's bow, or the flowing of a
finger to point out a direction. Nouns are derived from the verb by making one
or two changes to the verb root. For instance, when the י (the letter yud) is replaced by a ו (the letter vav) and a מ (the letter mem) is added to the front
of the word, the noun מורה (moreh,
Strong's #4175) is formed and means ‘one who does the flowing’.
This can be an archer who flows an arrow, or a teacher
who flows his finger to point out way the student is to go in the walk of life.
Another noun is formed the same way except that a ת (the letter tav) is placed at
the front of the word instead of a מ (the letter mem) and we have the
word Torah. Torah is ‘what is flowed by the Moreh’. This can be the arrow from the archer or the
teachings and instructions from the teacher.
A Hebraic definition of Torah is ‘a set of Instructions, from
a father to his children, violation of these instructions are disciplined in
order to foster obedience and train his children’. Notice how the word Torah is
translated in the New International Version translation in the following
passages.
‘Listen, my son, to your father's instruction and do not forsake your
mother's teaching [Torah].’ (Proverbs 1:8)
‘My son, do not forget my teaching [Torah], but keep my commands in your
heart’. (Proverbs 3:1)
The purpose of a parents Torah is to teach and bring the
children to maturity. If the Torah is violated out of
disrespect or defiant disobedience, the child is punished. If the child desires
to follow the instructions out of a loving obedience but falls short of the
expectations, the child is commended for the effort and counseled on how to
perform the instructions better the next time.
Unlike Torah, law is a set of rules from a government and binding
on a community. Violation of the rules will bring punishment. With this type of
law, there is no room for teaching, either the law was broken with the penalty
of punishment or it was not broken. God, as our heavenly Father, gives his
children his Torah in the same manner as parents give
their Torah to their children, not in the manner as a
government does to its citizens.
‘Blessed is the man you discipline, O LORD, the man you teach from your
Torah’ (Psalms 94:12)
Jeff A. Benner http://ahlb.ancient-hebrew.org
https://www.ancient-hebrew.org/studies-words/what-is-torah.htm
Presented by
Assembly of Yahweh (https://aoycascade.com)