Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Karl Randolph" <kwrandolph AT email.com>]

Yigal:

>From a linguistic viewpoint, TWRH comes from the root of YRH which has the 
>basic meaning of throwing out and the objects to be thrown out include 
>ideas, histories, laws, also solid objects such as lots, or with the help of 
>a mechanical help sending out projectiles with force and distance (bow and 
>arrows).

Torah is more than just commands [ MCWH ] or statutes [ XQ ] but often used 
as a synonym for them.

Yes, later books mention the Torah written by Moses, such as Joshua 22:5, 2 
Kings 21:8, 2 Chronicles 25:4, 33:8 and Nehemiah 8:14, 9:14.

Now add traditions over many years and you get the present confusion.

Karl W. Randolph.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Yigal Levin" <leviny1 AT mail.biu.ac.il>

> Here's an interesting topic for discussion: Just what does the word "Torah"
> mean. Below are two recent posts by two Jewish women, Marianne and
> Shoshanna. Both, I would assume, have immense reverence for "the Torah", but
> they use the word in different ways. Notice that Marianne capitalizes the
> word "Law". Shoshanna does not, even though Marianne claims that the Torah
> is holy "beyond" the Law, and Shoshanna says that it's holy because of the
> law (or at least, that the law is part of its holiness).
> 
> SO, what does the noun "torah" mean. Does in mean "law"? If so, what's the
> difference between "torah", "xoq", "micwah" etc.
> 
> Is "teaching" a better translation? Or "instruction".
> 
> Obviously, one, narrow, meaning, is "Pentateuch", the five books of Moses.
> Does any "later" biblical book use the word with this meaning?
> 
> In Judaism, "Torah" can mean:
> a. The law (or Law) given by Moses.
> b. The book(s) in which that law was written (traditionally by Moses) - the
> Pentateuch.
> c. The whole concept of all the Law(s) given to Moses, including the Oral
> Law.
> d. The entire body of Jewish learning, including the whole Tanakh, the
> Talmuds, and the whole body of rabbinic literature. In a Jewish setting,
> "learning Torah" is likely to mean studying the Talmud and its rabbinic
> commentaries that the Bible.
> e. All of Jewish thought, custom and ritual.
> 
> In many ways, this is similar to the way "Gospel" is used in Christianity
> (though with a different meaning):
> a. The "Good News" brought by Jesus.
> b. The specific NT books that tell the story of Jesus.
> c. The message of Christianity, as set out in the NT and in other writings.
> d. The entire Christian way of thought, "evangelism" (e.g. "Gospel Music").
> 
> Any thoughts?
> 
> Yigal
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