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The Torah: Unpacking Its Meaning and Significance

The Hebrew word תּוֹרָה (Torah) can be translated as "teaching" or "instruction." While it is often translated as "law," this rendering can sometimes be limiting or misleading, as it does not fully capture the word's broader meaning and context.

Etymology and Meaning of Torah

  • The word תּוֹרָה comes from the Hebrew root י-ר-ה (Y-R-H), which means "to teach," "to instruct," or "to guide."

  • A related word is מוֹרֶה (moreh), meaning "teacher" or "instructor."

Thus, the Torah is more than just a set of legal codes or commandments (mitzvot); it was for the Ancient Israelites a comprehensive guide for life, offering teaching, guidance, and divine instruction for living in covenant relationship with God.

Different Translations of Torah

Depending on the context, Torah can be translated as:

  1. Teaching – Emphasizing its role in guiding believers in God’s ways.

  2. Instruction – Highlighting the practical wisdom and ethical guidelines it provides.

  3. Law – Referring to the legal and covenantal aspects, particularly the commandments given at Mount Sinai.

For example:

  • Deuteronomy 6:1:
    "This is the Torah, the statutes and the ordinances, which the LORD your God commanded to teach you."
    Here, Torah could be understood as "instruction."

  • Proverbs 1:8:
    "Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and do not forsake your mother's teaching (תּוֹרָה)."

    While this is translated as “law” in the KJV, in this context, "teaching" would perhaps be a more fitting translation.

Many Christians are beginning to appreciate the translation of Torah as "teaching" or "instruction," seeing it not merely as a legalistic system but as a revelation of God's character and guidance for Ancient Israel living in relationship with Him. For example, in the New Testament, Jesus often teaches from the Torah, emphasizing its deeper meaning and purpose.

Matthew 5:17: Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. (KJV)
Here, Torah is understood as the foundational teaching that Jesus came to live, fulfill and illuminate.

Jesus also took the moral aspects of the Law and in a way made it more challenging, by applying the laws to the heart and the inward man, instead of just case law.

Jesus’ interpretation of the commandment "Thou shalt not" (e.g., "You shall not murder" or "You shall not commit adultery") goes beyond mere external obedience to focus on the heart's intent. In the Sermon on the Mount, He teaches:

  • "You have heard it said… but I say to you" (Matthew 5:21-22, 27-28), emphasizing that sin begins in the heart—anger equates to murder, and lust to adultery.

The Torah teaches that humanity is inherently sinful by revealing God’s holy standard and humanity's inability to fully meet it. From the very beginning, the Torah highlights human failure—Adam and Eve’s disobedience introduces sin into the world (Genesis 3), and this pattern continues throughout the narratives of Noah, Abraham, and Israel. The commandments, while good and righteous, expose humanity's sinful nature by showing how far short we fall from God's perfection.

Paul emphasizes this in Galatians 3:24, where he writes, "Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith." The Greek word for “tutor” (paidagogos) refers to a guardian or trainer who leads a child toward maturity. In this sense, the Torah acts as a guide, showing humanity its need for a Savior.

Paul further explains in Romans 7:7 that the law reveals sin: "I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law." The Torah, then, is essential in convicting people of their sinfulness and pointing them to the grace found in Jesus Christ, who is the fulfillment of the law and offers salvation through faith.

Paul explains in Romans 10:4, " For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth." (KJV) Through His perfect life, death, and resurrection, Jesus satisfied the law’s justice and established a new covenant of grace. Galatians 3:25 states, "But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster." While the moral principles of the Torah still guide us, we are justified by faith, not by works of the law, and live under the law of Christ’s love.

"Teaching" is a valid and often more comprehensive translation of Torah than simply "law." It reflects the richness of the word as God's loving instruction, meant to guide His people into wisdom, righteousness, and covenantal relationship with Him.

In Christianity, the Torah, while originating from the Jewish tradition, holds significant theological and spiritual importance:

Foundation of Scripture: The Torah is part of the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible) in Christian Bibles, providing the foundational narrative of creation, the law, the history of Israel, and the prophets' messages. Christians view these texts as divinely inspired and authoritative.

Fulfillment through Christ: Christians believe that Jesus Christ came not to abolish the Law (Torah) but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17). This perspective suggests that the moral and ethical teachings of the Torah are upheld through Jesus's life, teachings, death, and resurrection, which introduce the new covenant. The ceremonial and ritualistic aspects, however, are seen as fulfilled or superseded by Christ's sacrifice. The books of Galatians and Romans provide much information on the role of the Torah in God’s plan.

Moral and Ethical Guidance: The ethical commandments found in the Torah, such as the Ten Commandments, are considered by Christians to be a moral guide for living a righteous life. These principles are echoed in the teachings of Jesus, particularly in the Sermon on the Mount, where he expands upon these laws with deeper ethical interpretations.

Typology and Prophecy: Many Christians interpret the Torah through a typological lens, seeing events, figures, and laws in the Torah as prefiguring or symbolizing aspects of Christ's life and ministry. For instance, the Passover lamb is seen as a type of Christ, the sacrificial Lamb of God.

Role in Christian Life: While the Torah's legal prescriptions are not generally observed in the same way in Christianity, especially outside of Messianic Jewish communities, its stories and laws are studied for spiritual edification, moral instruction, and as a testament to God's relationship with humanity.

Diverse Interpretations: Within Christianity, there exists a wide spectrum of how the Torah is understood and applied. From those who see it strictly through the lens of its fulfillment in Christ to others who might engage with it more directly for its historical and moral content, the Torah remains a cornerstone of Christian theology, albeit interpreted through a Christological framework.

In summary, for Christians, the Torah is revered as part of God's revelation, essential for understanding the history of salvation, the character of God, and the ethical framework that underpins Christian living. It's seen through the light of the New Testament, where Christ is viewed as the fulfillment of the Law, offering a new way to understand and live out the Torah's teachings.

When John wrote that Jesus was the Word and the Word was God. He was saying that Jesus was God, but also that he was the living Torah, the perfect example for mankind, the living, breathing Teaching of God.