What is
Torah? - Torah is NOT Law
The
Hebrew word תורה (torah, Strong's #8451) 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 תורה
(Y.R.H, Strong's #8451), 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 n 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 the 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 may require 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
Assembly of Yahweh, Cascade