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