תּוֹרָה
Torah
Teaching, instruction, law
One of the biggest mistranslations in the Bible is the word 'law.' When your English Bible says 'the Law of Moses' or 'the Law of the LORD,' the Hebrew word is Torah (תּוֹרָה) — and it doesn't mean 'law' at all. Torah comes from the root 'yarah,' meaning 'to throw, to direct, to teach.' Torah is instruction, guidance, direction — like a parent teaching a child which way to walk. Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible, is a 176-verse love poem to God's Torah. David doesn't say 'Oh how I love your law' with dread — he says it with delight. When you stop reading Torah as 'law' and start reading it as 'loving instruction,' the entire Old Testament transforms before your eyes.
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
Etymology & Root Letters
Torah comes from the root י-ר-ה (yod-resh-he), meaning 'to throw, cast, direct, teach.' Torah is not cold legislation — it's God's loving instruction, like a parent teaching a child which direction to walk.
How Torah Is Used in Scripture
Torah appears 219 times in the Hebrew Bible. While it specifically refers to the five books of Moses (Genesis-Deuteronomy), it broadly means any divine instruction or teaching. Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible, is an extended love poem to God's Torah.
Cultural & Modern Context
The Torah scroll is the most sacred object in a synagogue, housed in the Ark (Aron Kodesh). When the Torah is read publicly, the congregation stands. 'Simchat Torah' celebrates completing the annual reading cycle.
How to Use Torah in Prayer
Approach God's Word as Torah — loving instruction from a good Father, not burdensome rules from a distant judge. Ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate Scripture and show you the path of life.
People Also Ask About Torah
Does Torah mean 'law' in Hebrew?
No — this is one of the most common mistranslations in the Bible. Torah comes from the root 'yarah' (to throw/direct/teach), meaning 'instruction, teaching, guidance.' Translating Torah as 'law' gives it a cold, legalistic feel that's foreign to the Hebrew. In Hebrew thought, Torah is God's loving instruction — a parent showing a child the path of life. Psalm 119 celebrates Torah with joy, not dread.
What are the five books of the Torah?
The Torah (also called the Pentateuch or Five Books of Moses) consists of: (1) Bereshit (Genesis) — 'In the Beginning,' (2) Shemot (Exodus) — 'Names,' (3) Vayikra (Leviticus) — 'And He Called,' (4) Bamidbar (Numbers) — 'In the Wilderness,' and (5) Devarim (Deuteronomy) — 'Words.' Note that the Hebrew names are taken from the first significant word of each book, not from their content summary.
Related Hebrew Words
Learn a New Hebrew Word Every Day
Join 12,000+ Christians discovering the depth of Scripture through Biblical Hebrew.
Subscribe Free