What does תּוֹרָה (tôrāh) mean in the Bible?
תּוֹרָה (torah) can name instruction, a particular ruling, priestly teaching, the law associated with Moses, or the Torah as a recognized body of Scripture. Context determines the scope.
Hebrew · H8451
תּוֹרָה
A precept or statute , especially the Decalogue or Pentateuch
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
תּוֹרָה H8451
Pronunciation tôrāh
What does תּוֹרָה (tôrāh) mean in the Bible?
תּוֹרָה (torah) can name instruction, a particular ruling, priestly teaching, the law associated with Moses, or the Torah as a recognized body of Scripture. Context determines the scope.
Reader summary
Full entry for תּוֹרָה (H8451) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H8451?
The BSB source-word alignment has 220 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include the Law (34), of the law (28), law (20), is the law (19), Your law (19).
Where does תּוֹרָה (tôrāh) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 26:5. Its strongest book concentrations include Psalms (36), Deuteronomy (22), Nehemiah (21), 2 Chronicles (17).
What This Word Actually Means
תּוֹרָה (torah) can name instruction, a particular ruling, priestly teaching, the law associated with Moses, or the Torah as a recognized body of Scripture. Context determines the scope. The noun should not be defined only from a proposed connection with the verb 'to instruct' and then made to mean whatever a teacher prefers. In Deuteronomy, torah shapes Israel's covenant life.
Psalm 119 delights in God's instruction as trustworthy guidance. Isaiah envisions instruction going out from Zion, Ezra devotes himself to studying, practicing, and teaching the Torah, and Jeremiah 31 promises God's torah written within. These passages resist two opposite reductions. Torah is not a ladder by which sinners earn God's favor, but neither is it an obsolete burden with nothing to teach.
The New Testament presents Jesus as fulfilling the Law and Prophets and teaches believers to read Israel's Scriptures through His person and work. Responsible application distinguishes Israel's covenant setting, enduring revelation of God's character and purposes, and the commands' fulfillment in Christ rather than forcing every statute directly onto the church.
How the Bible Uses It
תּוֹרָה ranges from specific instruction to the Mosaic law and Torah as Scripture. Law, wisdom, prophecy, and narrative use the noun with different scope. The passage must show whether the focus is a ruling, covenant instruction, teaching, or the recognized corpus.
- Deut.33.4
The law that Moses gave us, the possession of the assembly of Jacob.
Moses' torah is named as Israel's covenant possession. The verse locates the instruction within the assembly of Jacob rather than offering an abstract definition of all law.
- Ps.119.97
Oh, how I love Your law! All day long it is my meditation.
The psalmist loves and meditates on God's torah. Delight here is a faithful response to divine instruction, not proof that every command is easy or detached from covenant discipline.
- Isa.2.3
And many peoples will come and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways so that we may walk in His paths.” For the law will go forth from Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
In Isaiah's vision, the nations seek the Lord's teaching from Zion so they may walk in His paths. Torah is joined to divine instruction, just judgment, and peace.
- Ezra.7.10
For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, to practice it, and to teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel.
Ezra orders study, practice, and teaching together. Knowledge of torah is accountable to embodied obedience and responsible instruction.
- Hos.4.6
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you as My priests. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.
Hosea rebukes priests for rejecting knowledge and forgetting God's torah. The passage addresses failed covenant leadership and its consequences, not a license to threaten families with inherited punishment.
- Jer.31.33
“But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord. I will put My law in their minds and inscribe it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people.
The new-covenant promise places God's torah within the people and writes it on their hearts. Internalization belongs with covenant belonging, knowledge of God, and forgiveness in the surrounding paragraph.
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It the Law 34× Exodus 13:9, Leviticus 14:2, Numbers 6:21, Deuteronomy 33:4
of the law 28× Numbers 19:2, Numbers 31:21, Deuteronomy 28:61, Deuteronomy 29:21
law 20× Exodus 12:49, Leviticus 7:7, Numbers 5:30, Numbers 15:16
is the law 19× Leviticus 6:9, Leviticus 6:14, Leviticus 6:25, Leviticus 7:1
Your law 19× Nehemiah 9:26, Nehemiah 9:29, Nehemiah 9:34, Psalms 40:8
in the Law 16× 1 Kings 2:3, 1 Chronicles 16:40, 2 Chronicles 23:18, 2 Chronicles 25:4
instruction 7× Deuteronomy 17:18, Deuteronomy 17:19, Job 22:22, Proverbs 31:26
laws 6× Exodus 18:16, 2 Kings 17:34, 2 Kings 17:37, Nehemiah 9:13
My law 5× Psalms 89:30, Jeremiah 9:13, Jeremiah 31:33, Ezekiel 22:26
from Your law 4× Psalms 94:12, Psalms 119:18, Psalms 119:51, Psalms 119:150
and laws 3× Exodus 18:20, Leviticus 26:46, Nehemiah 9:14
and Your law 3× Deuteronomy 33:10, Psalms 119:142, Psalms 119:174
My instruction 3× Jeremiah 6:19, Jeremiah 16:11, Jeremiah 44:10
a law 2× Psalms 78:5, Isaiah 51:4
according to the Law 2× 2 Chronicles 30:16, Ezra 10:3
His law 2× Isaiah 42:21, Isaiah 42:24
in My law 2× 2 Chronicles 6:16, Jeremiah 26:4
in Your law 2× Psalms 119:70, Jeremiah 32:23
the instruction 2× 2 Kings 10:31, Isaiah 5:24
the laws 2× 2 Chronicles 33:8, Isaiah 24:5
the teaching 2× Proverbs 1:8, Proverbs 13:14
to the Law 2× 2 Chronicles 31:4, Isaiah 8:20
[but] Your law 1× Psalms 119:163
[is] in the Law 1× Psalms 1:2
[is] the law 1× Numbers 6:21
and in the law 1× 2 Chronicles 31:21
and instructions 1× Exodus 16:28
and My laws 1× Genesis 26:5
and on His law 1× Psalms 1:2
and the Law 1× Jeremiah 8:8
and your instruction 1× Malachi 2:8
but instruction 1× Ezekiel 7:26
but Your law 1× Psalms 119:113
by His law 1× Psalms 78:10
for a ruling 1× Haggai 2:11
guard my teachings 1× Proverbs 7:2
His instruction 1× Jeremiah 44:23
His laws 1× Psalms 105:45
If Your law 1× Psalms 119:92
In His law 1× Isaiah 42:4
in His laws 1× Daniel 9:10
in matters of the law 1× Malachi 2:9
my directive 1× Proverbs 4:2
My instructions 1× Exodus 16:4
My laws 1× Ezekiel 44:24
my teaching 1× Proverbs 3:1
obey the Law 1× Nehemiah 10:28
of law 1× Deuteronomy 17:11
of My law 1× Hosea 8:12
teaching 1× Proverbs 6:20
this law 1× Nehemiah 13:3
this teaching 1× Proverbs 6:23
to my instruction 1× Psalms 78:1
to the instruction 1× Isaiah 1:10
with My law 1× Isaiah 51:7
with the law 1× Exodus 24:12
Your custom 1× 2 Samuel 7:19
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 26:5 וְתוֹרֹתָֽי׃ to and My laws Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural construct | first person common singular Exodus 12:49 תּוֹרָ֣ה to law Noun - feminine singular Exodus 13:9 תּוֹרַ֥ת to the Law Noun - feminine singular construct Exodus 16:4 בְּתוֹרָתִ֖י to My instructions Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular Exodus 16:28 וְתוֹרֹתָֽי׃ to and instructions Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural construct | first person common singular Exodus 18:16 תּוֹרֹתָֽיו׃ to laws Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singular Exodus 18:20 הַתּוֹרֹ֑ת to and laws Article | Noun - feminine plural Exodus 24:12 וְהַתּוֹרָה֙ to with the law Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine singular Leviticus 6:9 תּוֹרַ֖ת to is the law Noun - feminine singular construct Leviticus 6:14 תּוֹרַ֖ת to is the law Noun - feminine singular construct
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Genesis 26:5
Aligned rows 220
Books represented 29
Genesis 1 Exodus 7 Leviticus 16 Numbers 10 Deuteronomy 22 Joshua 9 2 Samuel 1 1 Kings 1 2 Kings 10 1 Chronicles 2 2 Chronicles 17 Ezra 4 Nehemiah 21 Job 1 Psalms 36 Proverbs 13 Isaiah 12 Jeremiah 11 Lamentations 1 Ezekiel 7 Daniel 4 Hosea 3 Amos 1 Micah 1 Habakkuk 1 Zephaniah 1 Haggai 1 Zechariah 1 Malachi 5
Source forms
תּוֹרַ֣ת 16x tō·w·raṯ Leviticus 14:2, Numbers 6:21, Joshua 8:31, Joshua 8:32
תּוֹרַ֖ת 11x tō·w·raṯ Leviticus 6:9, Leviticus 6:14, Leviticus 6:25, Leviticus 7:1
הַתּוֹרָ֥ה 9x hat·tō·w·rāh Deuteronomy 1:5, Deuteronomy 17:19, Deuteronomy 27:3, Deuteronomy 27:8
תּוֹרַ֥ת 9x tō·w·raṯ Exodus 13:9, Numbers 6:21, 2 Samuel 7:19, Ezra 7:10
בְּתוֹרַ֥ת 7x bə·ṯō·w·raṯ 2 Chronicles 23:18, 2 Chronicles 31:3, 2 Chronicles 31:4, 2 Chronicles 35:26
הַתּוֹרָ֔ה 6x hat·tō·w·rāh Numbers 19:2, Numbers 19:14, Numbers 31:21, Joshua 8:34
בְּתוֹרַ֣ת 5x bə·ṯō·w·raṯ 1 Kings 2:3, 1 Chronicles 16:40, Ezra 7:6, Nehemiah 10:29
הַתּוֹרָ֑ה 5x hat·tō·w·rāh Leviticus 14:54, Deuteronomy 4:44, 2 Kings 22:11, 2 Chronicles 34:19
Parsing patterns
Article | Noun - feminine singular 48x Leviticus 7:37, Leviticus 14:54, Numbers 5:30, Numbers 19:2
Noun - feminine singular construct 48x Exodus 13:9, Leviticus 6:9, Leviticus 6:14, Leviticus 6:25
Noun - feminine singular 23x Exodus 12:49, Leviticus 7:7, Numbers 15:16, Numbers 15:29
Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular 18x Nehemiah 9:26, Nehemiah 9:29, Nehemiah 9:34, Psalms 119:34
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct 15x 1 Kings 2:3, 2 Kings 10:31, 1 Chronicles 16:40, 2 Chronicles 23:18
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular 11x Psalms 78:1, Psalms 89:30, Proverbs 3:1, Proverbs 4:2
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular 7x Deuteronomy 33:10, Psalms 40:8, Psalms 119:29, Psalms 119:109
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular 6x 2 Chronicles 25:4, Nehemiah 8:14, Nehemiah 10:34, Nehemiah 10:36
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Use Torah to deepen knowledge of God's holiness, wisdom, justice, mercy, and covenant purposes while explaining the governing covenant context.
- Do not use isolated statutes to control people, ignore Christ's fulfillment, or bypass the New Testament's teaching for the church.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not claim that Christians are saved by Torah observance or that every Mosaic statute transfers directly to the church.
- Do not claim that fulfillment means God's instruction, the Old Testament, or moral obedience is irrelevant.
Hebrew word. Instruction or teaching given by authority; foundational divine guidance shaping covenant community identity and practice
Source Gloss
a precept or statute , especially the Decalogue or Pentateuch
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Instruction or teaching given by authority; foundational divine guidance shaping covenant community identity and practice
a precept or statute, especially the Decalogue or Pentateuch BDB: direction Usage: law.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
instruction, law
Instruction or teaching that directs covenant life.
Instruction or law.
Instruction or teaching given by God to govern covenant life.
Instruction or law.
Instruction given by God to guide covenant life.
Instruction or teaching flowing from God’s covenant authority.
Instruction, teaching, or revealed law.
Showing 8 selected witnesses from 222 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
Why This Word Matters
The mother’s teaching is life-guidance. Wisdom is not improvised, it is received instruction that shapes conscience and direction. Hosea 8:8-14
The torah defines covenant life. Renewal begins when God’s revealed instruction is publicly proclaimed. Isaiah 2:1-5
It shows that global peace arises from submission to God’s revealed will. Isaiah 42:18-25
The nations seek not political dominance but divine instruction, highlighting that true transformation comes through God’s revealed will. Isaiah 5:24-30
Represents God’s righteous standard magnified for his glory. Isaiah 51:4-8
Rejection of the tôrāh explains the severity of judgment and highlights the seriousness of spurning divine revelation. Isaiah 8:16-22
Shows that covenant instruction shapes fearless obedience. Micah 4:1-5
Appeal to the law establishes Scripture as the decisive standard for truth. Nehemiah 8:1-8
Rejection of divine instruction marks covenant failure.
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
For the Preacher and Teacher
Torah is broader than a modern law code and more concrete than vague inspiration. It teaches Israel how to live before the God who redeemed and covenanted with them. In Psalms it becomes the object of meditation and delight. Prophets appeal to it as the standard leaders and people have neglected, and Isaiah imagines God's instruction shaping peace among the nations.
Ezra joins study, practice, and teaching, while Jeremiah promises that God will write His torah within the new-covenant people. These uses show why Christians should avoid both earning language and dismissal. The law exposes sin, reveals God's wise and holy purposes, orders Israel's covenant life, and belongs to the Scripture Jesus fulfills. Application requires careful covenant reasoning: some commands are tied to Israel's priesthood, land, and civil order, while all contribute to the canonical witness that leads to Christ and instructs His people in faithful love.
Anchor passage
Ps.119.97
Doctrinal connections
- Exodus 19-24 places covenant instruction after God's deliverance of Israel from Egypt.
- Deuteronomy 4-6 joins torah, covenant memory, love for the Lord, and teaching the next generation.
- Psalms 1 and 119 present meditation on God's instruction as a path of faithful delight and endurance.
- Isaiah 2:1-4 envisions the Lord's instruction going from Zion as He judges and teaches the nations.
- Jeremiah 31:31-34 promises torah within the heart alongside covenant knowledge and forgiveness.
- Matthew 5:17-20 and Romans 3:21-31 present fulfillment in Christ without making the Law and Prophets irrelevant.
תּוֹרָה is a feminine noun whose scope varies. It can refer to an individual instruction, priestly direction, Mosaic covenant law, or the Torah corpus. Construct phrases and governing verbs help identify the sense. A possible relationship to teaching language does not replace contextual analysis.
From Old to New Testament
Jesus says He came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets. Paul can speak of the law's witness to God's righteousness, its exposure of sin, and the believer's life under the Spirit. Christian reading therefore receives torah within the whole canon and through Christ rather than by simple abolition or direct transfer of every covenant statute.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain