The following is an excerpt from Mr. Benner’s book, A Cultural and Linguistic Excavation of the Bible.

The Hebrew word תורה (torah, Strong’s #H8451) 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, though there are laws in torah. When we use the word “law,” we are assuming a meaning and concept that is not present in the Hebrew Scriptures.

Let us start by looking at the etymology of the Hebrew word torah to better understand its true definition. The word torah comes from the Hebrew root word ירה (Y.R.H, Strong’s #H3384), a verb that 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. A noun derivative of this root is the noun מורה (moreh, Strong’s #H4175) 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 in which the student is to go in the walk of life. Another noun derivative of the root ירה (Y.R.H) is our 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 is met with the parent’s discipline to foster obedience and train his children.” Notice how the word torah is translated in the NIV 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, NIV)

“My son, do not forget my teaching [torah], but keep my commands in your heart.” (Proverbs 3:1, NIV)

The purpose of a parent’s torah is to teach and bring the children to maturity. The child is disciplined if torah is violated out of disrespect or defiance. However, if the child desires to follow the instructions out of 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 is binding on a community. Violation of the rules requires punishment. With this type of law, there is no room for teaching. Either the law was broken, requiring the penalty of punishment, or it was not broken and no punishment ensues. As our heavenly Father, God gives his children his torah in the same manner parents give their torah to their children, not in the way a government enforces the law on its citizens:

“Happy is the warrior who you correct Yah, and from your teachings you teach.” (Psalms 94:12, RMT)