תּוֹרָה (H8451) — Hebrew Lexicon

תּוֹרָה

𐤕𐤅𐤓𐤄

tôwrâh

H8451 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Instruction, teaching, or guidance; specifically, a body of instruction or law, often referring to authoritative or divinely given guidance. In particular contexts, denotes the collection of instructions delivered to Moses (the Pentateuch), but in broader use can refer to any instruction, legal code, or corpus of teaching, religious or secular.

Semantic Range

instruction, teaching, guidance, direction, law code, legal instruction, body of law, body of teaching, Mosaic law, Pentateuch, any corpus of authoritative instruction

Root / Etymology

From the root ירה (yarah), meaning 'to instruct, point out, teach, direct.' The form תּוֹרָה (tôwrâh) is a feminine noun meaning 'instruction' derived from the causative sense of the root: that which is taught or pointed out.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, תּוֹרָה (tôwrâh) fundamentally means 'instruction' or 'teaching,' emphasizing the act of guidance more than the imposition of binding statute. In early texts (e.g., Deuteronomy, Leviticus), it refers to specific instructions or collections of laws delivered to the Israelites through Moses. However, the term also appears in wisdom literature (e.g., Proverbs 1:8, 'instruction of your mother'), indicating its broad semantic reach beyond legal code to any authoritative teaching. In later usage (Second Temple period and beyond), תּוֹרָה increasingly denoted the complete collection of Mosaic instructions (the Pentateuch) and ultimately became central to Jewish identity and life—though this usage belongs to periods after the biblical era. English 'law' captures only part of the semantic field: תּוֹרָה often conveys a living tradition of instruction and guidance, not only statutory decree. Distinct from other Hebrew legal terms such as מִשְׁפָּט (judgment, legal decision) and חֹק (statute, fixed ordinance), reflecting its broader, more formative sense. In some English translations, תּוֹרָה is rendered 'law,' but this may narrow the original intent where the focus is education, training, or theological teaching.

Translation Consistency

primary "instruction" 50 occurrences

Most frequent and natural rendering in the P2 data and SILEX range; it cleanly covers the primary senses (teaching, guidance, body of teaching or law) without the narrower, legalistic feel of “law” or the slightly less formal tone of “teaching.” Using “instruction” gives a neutral, consistent term that fits references to Mosaic law, a code, or general guidance.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or תֹּרָה; from יָרָה; a precept or statute, especially the Decalogue or Pentateuch; law.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

ירה (Yorah) — to throw, cast, shoot, rain down

Root ירה to instruct, to teach, to direct, to point out

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H3138	יוֹרֶה	his early rain
H3139	יוֹרָה	Autumn-Rain
H3140	יוֹרַי	Rain-Causer
H3384	יָרָה	the shooters
H3385	יְרוּאֵל	El-Founded Place
H3400	יְרִיאֵל	and El-teaches
H3404	יְרִיָּה	Yah Instructs
H4175	מוֹרֶה	the teacher
H4176	מוֹרֶה	the Directing-One (Moreh)
H8452	תּוֹרָה	instruction of

Word Forms

36 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`H8451-06`	הַ/תּוֹרָ֥ה	hatorah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	of the law	the instruction	the instruction	48
`H8451-14`	תּוֹרַ֖ת	torat	`HNcfsc`	is the law	instruction of	instruction of	47
`H8451-13`	תוֹרָֽה	torah	`HNcfsa`	law	instruction	instruction	23
`H8451-15`	תּ֣וֹרָתֶ֔/ךָ	toratekha	`HNcfsc/Sp2ms`	Your law	your instruction	your instruction	18
`H8451-02`	בְּ/תוֹרַ֣ת	betorat	`HR/Ncfsc`	in the law	in instruction-of	in instruction-of	15
`H8451-16`	תוֹרָתִ/י֮	torati	`HNcfsc/Sp1cs`	my law	my instruction	my instruction	11
`H8451-31`	וְ/תוֹרָתְ/ךָ֖	vetoratekha	`HC/Ncfsc/Sp2ms`	and your law	and your instruction	and your instruction	7
`H8451-01`	בַּ/תּוֹרָ֡ה	batorah	`HRd/Ncfsa`	in the law	in the instruction	in the instruction	6
`H8451-29`	וְ/תוֹרָה֙	vetorah	`HC/Ncfsa`	and a law	and instruction	and instruction	5
`H8451-03`	בְּ/ת֣וֹרָתִ֔/י	betorati	`HR/Ncfsc/Sp1cs`	in my law	in my instruction	in my instruction	3
`H8451-12`	מִ/תּוֹרָתֶֽ/ךָ	mitoratekha	`HR/Ncfsc/Sp2ms`	from your law	from your instruction	from your instruction	3
`H8451-19`	תּוֹרֹתָֽי/ו	torotayv	`HNcfpc/Sp3ms`	His laws	his instructions	its instructions	3
`H8451-25`	וּ/בְ/תֹרָת֧/וֹ	uvetorato	`HC/R/Ncfsc/Sp3ms`	and in his law	and in his instruction	and in his instruction	3
`H8451-32`	וְ/תוֹרָתִ֖/י	vetorati	`HC/Ncfsc/Sp1cs`	and my law	my instruction	and my instruction	3
`H8451-20`	תורת/ו	tvrtv	`HNcfpc/Sp3ms`	laws-its	his instructions	its instruction	2
`H8451-26`	וְ/הַ/תּוֹרָ֤ה	vehatorah	`HC/Td/Ncfsa`	and the law	and the instruction	and the instruction	2
`H8451-28`	וְ/כַ/תּוֹרָ֣ה	vekhatorah	`HC/Rd/Ncfsa`	and according to the law	and according to instruction	and according to instruction	2
`H8451-30`	וְ/תוֹרַ֥ת	vetorat	`HC/Ncfsc`	and teaching	and instruction-of	and instruction-of	2
`H8451-34`	וְ/תוֹרֹתָֽ/י	vetorotay	`HC/Ncfpc/Sp1cs`	and my laws	and my instructions	and my instructions	2
`H8451-04`	בְּ/תוֹרָתֽ/וֹ	betorato	`HR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms`	his-law	in his instruction	to his instruction	1
`H8451-05`	בְּ/תֽוֹרֹתָי/ו֙	betorotayv	`HR/Ncfpc/Sp3ms`	in his laws	in his instructions	in his instructions	1
`H8451-07`	הַ/תּוֹרֹ֑ת	hatorot	`HTd/Ncfpa`	the laws	the instructions	the instructions	1
`H8451-08`	כְּ/תוֹרַ֖ת	ketorat	`HR/Ncfsc`	according to the law of	according to instruction-of	according to the instruction of	1
`H8451-09`	כְ/תוֹרָתֶֽ/ךָ	khetoratekha	`HR/Ncfsc/Sp2ms`	according to your law	according to your instruction	according to your instruction	1
`H8451-10`	לַ/תּוֹרָ֑ה	latorah	`HRd/Ncfsa`	concerning the law	to the instruction	to the instruction	1
`H8451-11`	לְ/תוֹרָ֖ה	letorah	`HR/Ncfsa`	to the law	to instruction	to instruction	1
`H8451-17`	תוֹרֹת֙	torot	`HNcfpa`	the-laws	instructions	instructions	1
`H8451-18`	תּוֹרֹתַ֤/י	torotay	`HNcfpc/Sp1cs`	my laws	my instructions	my instructions	1
`H8451-21`	וּ/לְ/תוֹרָת֖/וֹ	uletorato	`HC/R/Ncfsc/Sp3ms`	for his law	and to his instruction	and to his instruction	1
`H8451-22`	וּֽ/מִ/תּוֹרָתְ/ךָ֥	umitoratekha	`HC/R/Ncfsc/Sp2ms`	out of Your law	and from your instruction	and from your instruction	1
`H8451-23`	וּ/בַ/תּוֹרָה֙	uvatorah	`HC/Rd/Ncfsa`	and in the law	and in the instruction	and in the law	1
`H8451-24`	וּ/בְ/תוֹרָתְ/ךָ֣	uvetoratekha	`HC/R/Ncfsc/Sp2ms`	or in your law	and in your instruction	and in your instruction	1
`H8451-27`	וְ/הַ/תּוֹרֹת֒	vehatorot	`HC/Td/Ncfpa`	and the laws	and the instructions	and the instructions	1
`H8451-33`	וְ/תוֹר֣וֹת	vetorot	`HC/Ncfpc`	and laws	and instructions of	and instructions of	1
`H8451-35`	וְ/תוֹרֹתָ֥י/ו	vetorotayv	`HC/Ncfpc/Sp3ms`	and his laws	and his instructions	and his instructions	1
`H8451-36`	ו/ב/תרות/ך	vvtrvtkh	`HC/R/Ncfpc/Sp2ms`	or in your instructions	and in your instructions	and in your instructions	1

Occurrences in Scripture

222 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`H8451-34`	Genesis 26:5	וְ/תוֹרֹתָֽ/י	vetorotay	`HC/Ncfpc/Sp1cs`	and my laws	and my instructions	and my instructions
`H8451-13`	Exodus 12:49	תּוֹרָ֣ה	torah	`HNcfsa`	law	instruction	instruction
`H8451-14`	Exodus 13:9	תּוֹרַ֥ת	torat	`HNcfsc`	the law of	instruction of	instruction of
`H8451-03`	Exodus 16:4	בְּ/תוֹרָתִ֖/י	betorati	`HR/Ncfsc/Sp1cs`	in my law	in my instruction	in my instruction
`H8451-34`	Exodus 16:28	וְ/תוֹרֹתָֽ/י	vetorotay	`HC/Ncfpc/Sp1cs`	and My laws	and my instructions	and my instructions
`H8451-19`	Exodus 18:16	תּוֹרֹתָֽי/ו	torotayv	`HNcfpc/Sp3ms`	His laws	his instructions	his instructions
`H8451-07`	Exodus 18:20	הַ/תּוֹרֹ֑ת	hatorot	`HTd/Ncfpa`	the laws	the instructions	the instructions
`H8451-26`	Exodus 24:12	וְ/הַ/תּוֹרָה֙	vehatorah	`HC/Td/Ncfsa`	and the law	and the instruction	and the instruction
`H8451-14`	Leviticus 6:2	תּוֹרַ֖ת	torat	`HNcfsc`	law.of	instruction of	instruction of
`H8451-14`	Leviticus 6:7	תּוֹרַ֖ת	torat	`HNcfsc`	is the law	instruction of	instruction of
`H8451-14`	Leviticus 6:18	תּוֹרַ֖ת	torat	`HNcfsc`	is the law	instruction of	instruction of
`H8451-14`	Leviticus 7:1	תּוֹרַ֖ת	torat	`HNcfsc`	is the law	instruction of	instruction of
`H8451-13`	Leviticus 7:7	תּוֹרָ֥ה	torah	`HNcfsa`	law	instruction	instruction
`H8451-14`	Leviticus 7:11	תּוֹרַ֖ת	torat	`HNcfsc`	is the law	instruction of	instruction of
`H8451-06`	Leviticus 7:37	הַ/תּוֹרָ֗ה	hatorah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	is the law	the instruction	the instruction
`H8451-14`	Leviticus 11:46	תּוֹרַ֤ת	torat	`HNcfsc`	is the law	instruction of	instruction of
`H8451-14`	Leviticus 12:7	תּוֹרַת֙	torat	`HNcfsc`	law	instruction of	instruction of
`H8451-14`	Leviticus 13:59	תּוֹרַ֨ת	torat	`HNcfsc`	law	instruction of	instruction of
`H8451-14`	Leviticus 14:2	תּוֹרַ֣ת	torat	`HNcfsc`	the law	instruction of	instruction of
`H8451-14`	Leviticus 14:32	תּוֹרַ֔ת	torat	`HNcfsc`	law	instruction of	instruction of
`H8451-06`	Leviticus 14:54	הַ/תּוֹרָ֑ה	hatorah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the law	the instruction	the instruction
`H8451-14`	Leviticus 14:57	תּוֹרַ֖ת	torat	`HNcfsc`	law of	instruction of	instruction of
`H8451-14`	Leviticus 15:32	תּוֹרַ֖ת	torat	`HNcfsc`	the law of	instruction of	instruction of
`H8451-27`	Leviticus 26:46	וְ/הַ/תּוֹרֹת֒	vehatorot	`HC/Td/Ncfpa`	and the laws	and the instructions	and the instructions
`H8451-14`	Numbers 5:29	תּוֹרַ֖ת	torat	`HNcfsc`	law	instruction of	instruction of
`H8451-06`	Numbers 5:30	הַ/תּוֹרָ֖ה	hatorah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	this law	the instruction	the instruction
`H8451-14`	Numbers 6:13	תּוֹרַ֖ת	torat	`HNcfsc`	is the law	instruction of	instruction of
`H8451-14`	Numbers 6:21	תּוֹרַ֣ת	torat	`HNcfsc`	law of	instruction of	instruction of
`H8451-14`	Numbers 6:21	תּוֹרַ֥ת	torat-2	`HNcfsc`	the law of	instruction of	instruction of
`H8451-13`	Numbers 15:16	תּוֹרָ֥ה	torah	`HNcfsa`	law	instruction	instruction
`H8451-13`	Numbers 15:29	תּוֹרָ֤ה	torah	`HNcfsa`	law	instruction	instruction
`H8451-06`	Numbers 19:2	הַ/תּוֹרָ֔ה	hatorah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	of the law	the instruction	the instruction
`H8451-06`	Numbers 19:14	הַ/תּוֹרָ֔ה	hatorah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	is the law	the instruction	the instruction
`H8451-06`	Numbers 31:21	הַ/תּוֹרָ֔ה	hatorah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	of the law	the instruction	the instruction
`H8451-06`	Deuteronomy 1:5	הַ/תּוֹרָ֥ה	hatorah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	this law	the instruction	the instruction
`H8451-06`	Deuteronomy 4:8	הַ/תּוֹרָ֣ה	hatorah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the law	the instruction	the instruction
`H8451-06`	Deuteronomy 4:44	הַ/תּוֹרָ֑ה	hatorah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the law	the instruction	the instruction
`H8451-06`	Deuteronomy 17:11	הַ/תּוֹרָ֜ה	hatorah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the law	the instruction	the instruction
`H8451-06`	Deuteronomy 17:18	הַ/תּוֹרָ֤ה	hatorah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	of this law	the instruction	the instruction
`H8451-06`	Deuteronomy 17:19	הַ/תּוֹרָ֥ה	hatorah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	of the law	the instruction	the instruction
`H8451-06`	Deuteronomy 27:3	הַ/תּוֹרָ֥ה	hatorah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the law	the instruction	the instruction
`H8451-06`	Deuteronomy 27:8	הַ/תּוֹרָ֥ה	hatorah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	this law	the instruction	the instruction
`H8451-06`	Deuteronomy 27:26	הַ/תּוֹרָֽה	hatorah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	of the law	the instruction	the instruction
`H8451-06`	Deuteronomy 28:58	הַ/תּוֹרָ֣ה	hatorah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the law	the instruction	the instruction
`H8451-06`	Deuteronomy 28:61	הַ/תּוֹרָ֣ה	hatorah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	of the law	the instruction	the instruction
`H8451-06`	Deuteronomy 29:20	הַ/תּוֹרָ֖ה	hatorah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	of the law	the instruction	the instruction
`H8451-06`	Deuteronomy 29:28	הַ/תּוֹרָ֥ה	hatorah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	of the law	the instruction	the instruction
`H8451-06`	Deuteronomy 30:10	הַ/תּוֹרָ֖ה	hatorah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	of the law	the instruction	the instruction
`H8451-06`	Deuteronomy 31:9	הַ/תּוֹרָ֣ה	hatorah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the law	the instruction	the instruction
`H8451-06`	Deuteronomy 31:11	הַ/תּוֹרָ֥ה	hatorah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	law	the instruction	the instruction

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