Lexical Summary
torah: law, instruction, laws
Original Word:תּוֹרָה
Part of Speech:Noun Feminine
Transliteration:towrah
Pronunciation:toh-RAH
Phonetic Spelling:(to-raw')
KJV: law
NASB:law, instruction, laws, teaching, custom, instructions
Word Origin:[fromH3384 (יָרָה יָרָא - teach)]
1. a precept or statute, especially the Decalogue or Pentateuch
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
bullock, ox
Or torah {to-raw'}; fromyarah; a precept or statute, especially the Decalogue or Pentateuch -- law.
see HEBREWyarah
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
yarahDefinitiondirection, instruction, law
NASB Translationcustom (1), instruction (10), instructions (1), Law (1), law (188), laws (10), ruling (1), teaching (7), teachings (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
Deuteronomy 1:5 (possibly in first instance from
casting lots, We
G i, 470; H 394 (less confidently We
Skizzen iii, 167), SS Sm
AT Rel. Geschichte. 36 Benz
Archaeology 408 Now
Archaeology ii, 97, opposed to by Kö
Offenb. ii, 347 Baud
Priesterthum 207); — ,
Exodus 12:49 88t.; construct
Exodus 13:9 65t.; suffixes
Psalm 78:1 16t.;
Jeremiah 32:23;
Jeremiah 44:23 34t. suffixes; plural
Nehemiah 9:13;
Isaiah 24:5 2t.; suffix
Ezekiel 44:24;
Ezekiel 43:11;
Ezekiel 44:5 5t. suffixes; —
instruction:
Proverbs 1:8;Proverbs 6:20,23; of a fatherProverbs 3:1;Proverbs 4:2;Proverbs 7:2; of sagesProverbs 13:14;Proverbs 28:4 (twice in verse);Proverbs 28:7,9;Proverbs 29:18; of a poetPsalm 78:1;kind instruction (of a wise wife)Proverbs 31:26.
""Job 22:22; through his servantsIsaiah 30:9;Jeremiah 8:8; ""Isaiah 5:24; ""Isaiah 1:10; ""Isaiah 8:16,20; ""Lamentations 2:9; pluralDaniel 9:10.
a body of prophetic (or sometimes perhaps priestly)teachingIsaiah 42:21,24;Jeremiah 9:12;Jeremiah 16:11; in the heartIsaiah 51:7;Psalm 37:31;Psalm 40:9; ""Habakkuk 1:4; ""Psalm 89:31; ""Jeremiah 6:19;Jeremiah 26:4;Zechariah 7:12; ""Amos 2:4; ""Jeremiah 44:10,23; myriads of preceptsHosea 8:12.
instruction in Messianic ageIsaiah 2:3 =Micah 4:4;Isaiah 42:4;Isaiah 51:4;Jeremiah 31:33.
a body of priestly direction orinstruction relating to sacred thingsHosea 4:6;Jeremiah 2:8;Jeremiah 18:18;Ezekiel 7:26;Haggai 2:11;Malachi 2:6,7,8,9;Zephaniah 3:4;Ezekiel 22:26; "" 2Chronicles 15:3.
law (properlydirection): namely
ofspecial laws, singular of Feast ofMaƒƒothExodus 13:9 (J), sabbathExodus 16:4 (J); of direction given by priests in particular caseDeuteronomy 17:11; of statutes of priest's codeExodus 12:49 (P),Leviticus 6:2;Leviticus 6:7;Leviticus 6:18;Leviticus 7:1,7,11,37;Leviticus 11:46;Leviticus 12:7;Leviticus 13:59;Leviticus 14:2,32,54,57;Leviticus 15:32;Numbers 5:29,30;Numbers 6:13,21 (twice in verse);Numbers 15:16,29;Numbers 19:2,14;Numbers 31:21 (P);Ezekiel 43:12 (twice in verse); 2Chronicles 19:10; plurallaws, ""Exodus 18:16,20 (E; of decisions in civil cases given by Moses),Psalm 105:45; ""Exodus 16:28 (J); "" ,Genesis 26:5 (J); ""Leviticus 26:46 (H); "" ,Isaiah 24:5; "" , ,Nehemiah 9:13; the laws of the new templeEzekiel 43:11;Ezekiel 44:5,24; those laws in which men should walkJeremiah 32:23 (Kt).
ofcodes of law, (1) aswritten in the code of the covenant, ""Exodus 24:12 (E);Joshua 24:26 (E); probably alsoDeuteronomy 33:4, ""Deuteronomy 33:10, ""Hosea 8:1;Psalm 78:10, ""Psalm 78:5; -2the law of the Deuteronomic code, in D and Deuteronomic sections of Kings and sources of Chronicles,Deuteronomy 1:5;Deuteronomy 4:8,44;Deuteronomy 17:18;Deuteronomy 31:9,11;Deuteronomy 27:26;Deuteronomy 31:24, +Deuteronomy 17:19;Deuteronomy 27:3,8;Deuteronomy 28:58;Deuteronomy 29:28;Deuteronomy 31:12;Deuteronomy 32:46;Deuteronomy 28:61;Deuteronomy 29:20;Deuteronomy 30:10;Deuteronomy 31:26;Joshua 1:8;Joshua 8:34;2 Kings 22:8 2Chronicles 34:15;Joshua 8:34;2 Kings 23:24; soJoshua 1:7, similarlyJoshua 22:5;2 Kings 17:13,34,37;2 Kings 21:8; ()Joshua 8:31,32;Joshua 23:6;1 Kings 2:3;2 Kings 14:6 = 2Chronicles 25:4;2 Kings 23:25;2 Kings 22:11= 2Chronicles 34:19;2 Kings 10:31. It is probable that inPsalm 1:2 (twice in verse);Psalm 94:12 and some other parts of Chronicles, e.g.1 Chronicles 22:12; 2Chronicles 6:16 (=1 Kings 8:25 without ), refers to Deuteronomic code. (3) other passages of Chronicles may refer to code of D, but most of them certainly refer tothe law of the Priests' code. The same is true of Malachi, Daniel and late Psalms. The phrases are: () 2Chronicles 23:18; 30:16;Ezra 3:2;Ezra 7:6;Nehemiah 8:1;Malachi 3:22;Daniel 9:11,13; ()Ezra 7:10;Nehemiah 9:3;1 Chronicles 16:40; 2Chronicles 12:1; 17:9; 31:3,4; 34:14; 35:26;Psalm 19:8;Psalm 119:1; ()Nehemiah 8:18;Nehemiah 10:29;Nehemiah 10:30;Nehemiah 8:3;Nehemiah 8:9;Nehemiah 8:13; 2Chron 14:3; 2 Chronicles 31:21; 33:8;Ezra 10:3;Nehemiah 8:2,7,14;Nehemiah 10:35;Nehemiah 10:37;Nehemiah 12:44;Nehemiah 13:3;Psalm 119:72;Nehemiah 9:26,29,34;Daniel 9:11;Psalm 119:18;Psalm 119:29;Psalm 119:34;Psalm 119:44;Psalm 119:51;Psalm 119:53;Psalm 119:55;Psalm 119:61;Psalm 119:70;Psalm 119:77;Psalm 119:85;Psalm 119:92;Psalm 119:97;Psalm 119:109;Psalm 119:126;Psalm 119:136;Psalm 119:142;Psalm 119:150;Psalm 119:153;Psalm 119:163;Psalm 119:165;Psalm 119:174; (indefinite) "" ,Nehemiah 9:14.
custom, manner:2 Samuel 7:19the manner of man, not of God, i.e. deal with me as man with man, Thes,law for man RV, but EwGeschichte. iii. 180 reads () hast shewed megenerations of men; so We Dr. — On see further Dr onDeuteronomy 1:10;Deuteronomy 24:8;Deuteronomy 33:10 and references
Topical Lexicon
Meaning and Scopeתּוֹרָה designates divine instruction that comes from God and therefore bears His authority. While commonly rendered “law,” its semantic range embraces teaching, direction, and revelation that guides the covenant people in belief and practice. Whether addressing moral conduct, worship, or civil life, torah is always God-centered counsel that calls for response in faith and obedience.
Frequency and Distribution
Occurrences (approximately 219) are concentrated in the Pentateuch, Deuteronomy and Psalms, but the term appears in every major section of the Old Testament. Its breadth of usage confirms that God’s instruction was never limited to one era or literary genre; it is woven into narrative, legislation, poetry, prophecy, and wisdom.
Torah within the Pentateuch
1. Covenant Charter: After the Exodus, torah becomes the formal charter of Israel’s relationship with God.Exodus 24:12 records, “The LORD said to Moses, ‘Come up to Me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction’”.
2. Holiness Code: Leviticus repeatedly calls its regulations “the law of the burnt offering,” “the law of the grain offering,” etc., underscoring that sacrificial details flow from the same authority that delivered the Ten Commandments.
3. Missional Identity: Deuteronomy presents torah as the lifestyle that reveals God to surrounding nations (Deuteronomy 4:6-8). Israel’s obedience would display divine wisdom and righteousness.
Torah in the Historical Books
Leaders are measured by their relationship to torah.Joshua 1:8 commands continual meditation so “you will be prosperous and successful.” Kings are to write and read torah daily (Deuteronomy 17:18-20), a standard illustrated positively in Josiah (2 Kings 22:8-13) and negatively in the monarchy’s general decline.Ezra 7:10 epitomizes faithful ministry: “Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, to practice it, and to teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel.”
Torah in Psalms and Wisdom Literature
Psalms celebrates torah as life-giving delight rather than mere statute.Psalm 19:7 affirms, “The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul.”Psalm 119 unfolds 176 verses of praise for God’s instruction, calling it light (verse 105), treasure (verse 72), and eternal truth (verse 160).Proverbs 6:23 parallels “the commandment” with “the law” of wisdom, confirming torah’s formative role in character.
Torah in the Prophets
Prophets indict the nation for rejecting torah (Isaiah 5:24;Jeremiah 6:19;Hosea 4:6) and envision a future when “out of Zion shall go forth the law” (Isaiah 2:3).Micah 4:2 andMalachi 4:4 draw Israel back to Moses as the prophetic standard, whileJeremiah 31:33 promises a day when torah will be written on the heart, anticipating the internalization realized in the New Covenant.
Cultic and Priestly Dimensions
Torah governs worship, purity, and sacred space.Numbers 19:14 calls ritual regulations “the law,” sealing them with covenantal weight. Priests are “to teach the Israelites all the statutes that the LORD has given” (Leviticus 10:11). Thus torah safeguards holiness while providing means of atonement that prefigure the ultimate sacrifice.
Covenantal Function
Torah is inseparable from covenant. Blessings follow obedience; curses follow rebellion (Leviticus 26;Deuteronomy 28). This bilateral structure magnifies God’s faithfulness and human responsibility. The law neither originates nor sustains the covenant—grace does—but it defines covenant life.
Torah and Messianic Expectation
The law contains shadows that point forward to Messiah:
• Sacrificial system foreshadowing the Lamb of God (John 1:29).
• Prophecy of a coming Prophet like Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15-19;Acts 3:22-23).
• Promise of kingly scepter from Judah (Genesis 49:10).
Jesus affirms this trajectory: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them” (Matthew 5:17).
Torah and the New Covenant
Romans 3:31 asks, “Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Certainly not! Instead, we uphold the law.” Paul distinguishes between law as a means of justification (which it never provided) and law as a revelation of God’s righteous standards, now fulfilled and empowered by the Spirit (Romans 8:3-4).Hebrews 10:16 quotesJeremiah 31:33, confirming that torah’s final resting place is the heart transformed through Christ.
Pastoral and Discipleship Applications
1. Scripture-Centered Ministry: Like Ezra, leaders are called to study, practice, and teach torah-derived truth.
2. Holistic Obedience: Torah addresses worship, ethics, and community, urging believers to render every sphere to God.
3. Christological Reading: Seeing the law fulfilled in Jesus fosters gratitude and guards against legalism.
4. Meditation and Delight:Psalm 1 models blessing for those who “delight in the law of the LORD,” encouraging sustained engagement with all of Scripture.
Summary
Torah is God’s authoritative instruction that shapes covenant identity, reveals His character, and anticipates redemption in Christ. Far from an antiquated legal code, it remains “a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105), inviting every generation to trust, obey, and proclaim the living Word.
Forms and Transliterations
בְּת֣וֹרָתִ֔י בְּתֽוֹרַת־ בְּתֽוֹרֹתָיו֙ בְּתוֹרַ֖ת בְּתוֹרַ֣ת בְּתוֹרַ֥ת בְּתוֹרַת֙ בְּתוֹרָתִ֖י בְּתוֹרָתֽוֹ׃ בְתֽוֹרָתִי֙ בַּתּוֹרָ֑ה בַּתּוֹרָ֡ה בַּתּוֹרָֽה׃ בתורה בתורה׃ בתורת בתורת־ בתורתו׃ בתורתי בתורתיו הַ֨תּוֹרָ֔ה הַתּוֹרָ֑ה הַתּוֹרָ֔ה הַתּוֹרָ֖ה הַתּוֹרָ֗ה הַתּוֹרָ֛ה הַתּוֹרָ֜ה הַתּוֹרָ֞ה הַתּוֹרָ֣ה הַתּוֹרָ֤ה הַתּוֹרָ֥ה הַתּוֹרָ֨ה הַתּוֹרָֽה־ הַתּוֹרָֽה׃ הַתּוֹרָה֙ הַתּוֹרָה֮ הַתּוֹרֹ֑ת התורה התורה־ התורה׃ התורת וְ֝ת֥וֹרָתְךָ֗ וְ֝תֽוֹרָתְךָ֗ וְ֝תוֹרָתִ֗י וְֽתוֹרָתְךָ֥ וְהַתּוֹרָ֤ה וְהַתּוֹרָה֙ וְהַתּוֹרֹת֒ וְכַתּוֹרָ֖ה וְכַתּוֹרָ֣ה וְת֣וֹרָה וְתֽוֹרַת־ וְתוֹר֣וֹת וְתוֹרַ֥ת וְתוֹרָ֔ה וְתוֹרָ֖ה וְתוֹרָה֙ וְתוֹרָה֮ וְתוֹרָתְךָ֖ וְתוֹרָתִ֖י וְתוֹרֹתָ֥יו וְתוֹרֹתָֽי׃ וּ֝בְתוֹרָת֗וֹ וּֽבְתוֹרָת֥וֹ וּֽמִתּוֹרָתְךָ֥ וּבְתֹורָתְךָ֣ וּבְתֹרָת֧וֹ וּבַתּוֹרָה֙ וּלְתוֹרָת֖וֹ ובתורה ובתורתו ובתורתך ובתרתו והתורה והתורת וכתורה ולתורתו ומתורתך ותורה ותורות ותורת ותורת־ ותורתי ותורתי׃ ותורתיו ותורתך כְּתוֹרַ֖ת כְתוֹרָתֶֽךָ׃ כתורת כתורתך׃ לְתוֹרָ֖ה לַתּוֹרָ֑ה לתורה מִ֝תּֽוֹרָתְךָ֗ מִתּוֹרָתְךָ֥ מִתּוֹרָתֶֽךָ׃ מתורתך מתורתך׃ ת֝וֹרָ֗ה ת֭וֹרָה ת֭וֹרָתְךָ תּ֘וֹרַ֤ת תּ֣וֹרָתִ֔י תּ֣וֹרָתֶ֔ךָ תּ֭וֹרָה תֹּֽורֹתָ֑יו תֹּורֹתָיו֙ תּֽ֝וֹרָתְךָ֗ תּֽ֝וֹרָתִ֗י תּֽוֹרַת־ תּֽוֹרָתִ֑י תּֽוֹרָתִי֙ תּוֹרַ֔ת תּוֹרַ֖ת תּוֹרַ֣ת תּוֹרַ֤ת תּוֹרַ֥ת תּוֹרַ֧ת תּוֹרַ֨ת תּוֹרַת֙ תּוֹרָ֑ה תּוֹרָ֔ה תּוֹרָ֖ה תּוֹרָ֜ה תּוֹרָ֣ה תּוֹרָ֤ה תּוֹרָ֥ה תּוֹרָֽה׃ תּוֹרָֽתְךָ֙ תּוֹרָתְךָ֥ תּוֹרָתִ֑י תּוֹרָתִ֖י תּוֹרָתִ֣י תּוֹרָתֶ֑ךָ תּוֹרָתֶ֗ךָ תּוֹרָתֶֽךָ׃ תּוֹרֹתַ֤י תּוֹרֹתָֽיו׃ תֽ֝וֹרָתְךָ֗ תֽוֹרַת־ תֽוֹרָתֶ֗ךָ תוֹרָ֔ה תוֹרָֽה׃ תוֹרָה֙ תוֹרָתְךָ֥ תוֹרָתִי֮ תוֹרָתֶ֑ךָ תוֹרָתֶֽךָ׃ תוֹרֹת֙ תורה תורה׃ תורת תורת־ תורתי תורתיו תורתיו׃ תורתך תורתך׃ bat·tō·w·rāh battoRah battōwrāh bə·ṯō·w·rā·ṯî ḇə·ṯō·w·rā·ṯî bə·ṯō·w·rā·ṯōw bə·ṯō·w·raṯ bə·ṯō·w·raṯ- bə·ṯō·w·rō·ṯāw betoRat betoraTi betoraTo betoroTav bəṯōwraṯ bəṯōwraṯ- bəṯōwrāṯî ḇəṯōwrāṯî bəṯōwrāṯōw bəṯōwrōṯāw chetoraTecha hat·tō·w·rāh hat·tō·w·rāh- hat·tō·w·rōṯ hattoRah hattoRot hattōwrāh hattōwrāh- hattōwrōṯ ḵə·ṯō·w·rā·ṯe·ḵā kə·ṯō·w·raṯ ketoRat kəṯōwraṯ ḵəṯōwrāṯeḵā lat·tō·w·rāh lattoRah lattōwrāh lə·ṯō·w·rāh letoRah ləṯōwrāh mit·tō·w·rā·ṯe·ḵā mit·tō·w·rā·ṯə·ḵā mittoraTecha mittōwrāṯeḵā mittōwrāṯəḵā tō·w·rā·ṯe·ḵā tō·w·rā·ṯə·ḵā ṯō·w·rā·ṯe·ḵā ṯō·w·rā·ṯə·ḵā tō·w·rā·ṯî ṯō·w·rā·ṯî tō·w·rāh ṯō·w·rāh tō·w·raṯ tō·w·raṯ- ṯō·w·raṯ- tō·w·rō·ṯāw tō·w·rō·ṯay ṯō·w·rōṯ toRah toRat torateCha toraTi toRot toroTai toroTav tōwrāh ṯōwrāh tōwraṯ tōwraṯ- ṯōwraṯ- tōwrāṯeḵā tōwrāṯəḵā ṯōwrāṯeḵā ṯōwrāṯəḵā tōwrāṯî ṯōwrāṯî ṯōwrōṯ tōwrōṯāw tōwrōṯay ū·ḇat·tō·w·rāh ū·ḇə·ṯō·rā·ṯōw ū·ḇə·ṯō·w·rā·ṯə·ḵā ū·ḇə·ṯō·w·rā·ṯōw ū·lə·ṯō·w·rā·ṯōw ū·mit·tō·w·rā·ṯə·ḵā ūḇattōwrāh ūḇəṯōrāṯōw ūḇəṯōwrāṯəḵā ūḇəṯōwrāṯōw uletoraTo ūləṯōwrāṯōw umittorateCha ūmittōwrāṯəḵā uvattoRah uvetorateCha uvetoraTo vechattoRah vehattoRah vehattoRot vetoRah vetorat vetorateCha vetoraTi vetoRot vetoroTai vetoroTav wə·hat·tō·w·rāh wə·hat·tō·w·rōṯ wə·ḵat·tō·w·rāh wə·ṯō·w·rā·ṯə·ḵā wə·ṯō·w·rā·ṯî wə·ṯō·w·rāh wə·ṯō·w·raṯ wə·ṯō·w·raṯ- wə·ṯō·w·rō·ṯāw wə·ṯō·w·rō·ṯāy wə·ṯō·w·rō·wṯ wəhattōwrāh wəhattōwrōṯ wəḵattōwrāh wəṯōwrāh wəṯōwraṯ wəṯōwraṯ- wəṯōwrāṯəḵā wəṯōwrāṯî wəṯōwrōṯāw wəṯōwrōṯāy wəṯōwrōwṯ
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