HOME | ARTICLES | BIBLES | LINKS | ~ the HeReTiC ~

A look at the various Hebrew words used helps highlight some of the differences

Vine’s Expository Dictionary

  • “Commandments” (mitzvah):
    This is the general Hebrew term for “commandment” and usually refers to the comprehensive list of laws or body of laws given by the Lord in the Books of Moses. This is also the Hebrew term often used when the Lord spoke directly in the Old Testament.
  • “Statutes” (choq):
    This word means “statute, prescription, rule, law, regulation” and can refer to laws of nature (Job 28:26; Jeremiah 5:22; 31:35–36) or what is allocated, rationed, or apportioned to someone (Genesis 47:22; Exodus 29:28).
  • “Rules” (mishpat):
    A judicial verdict or formal decree. In the Law of Moses, some of the legal types of rules would fall under this category.
  • “Statutes/Commands” (chuqqah):
    Chuqqah has a more specific meaning than choq. It refers to a particular law related to a festival or ritual, such as Passover (Exodus 12:14), the Days of Unleavened Bread (Exodus 12:17), or the Feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:41).

All four of these Hebrew words are used throughout the writings of Moses to refer to commands from YAHWEH to be obeyed by His people. Distinctions are sometimes made regarding one word from the other, yet the overall principle is one of obedience to all that YAHWEH commands, whether it’s a general command, a prescribed law, a legal verdict, or a religious festival or ritual.

Srong's Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries.

  • Law/Torah = H8451 = תּוֹרָה
    torah (435d); from H3384; direction, instruction, law:
    — custom (1), instruction (10), instructions (1), Law (1), law (188), laws (10), ruling (1), teaching (7), teachings (1).
  • Commandments = H4687 = מִצְוָה
    mitsvâh
    mits-vaw'
    From H6680;
    a command, whether human or divine (collectively the Law):
    — (which was) commanded (-ment), law, ordinance, precept.
    Total KJV occurrences: 181
  • Commandments = G1785 = ו̓םפןכח́
    entolē; from G1781;
    an injunction, order, command:
    — command (2), commanded *(1), commandment (38), commandments (23), instructions (1), orders (1), requirement (1).
  • Ordinance = H2706 = חֹק
    chôq
    khoke
    From H2710;
    an enactment; hence an appointment (of time, space, quantity, labor or usage):
    — appointed, bound, commandment, convenient, custom, decree (-d), due, law, measure, X necessary, ordinance (-nary), portion, set time, statute, task.
  • Statutes = H2708 = חֻקָּה
    chuqqah (349d); fem. of H2706;
    something prescribed, an enactment, statute:
    — appointed (1), customs (5), due (1), fixed order (1), fixed patterns (1), ordinance (5), ordinances (1), statute (25), statutes (62), statutory (2).
  • Judgements = H4941 = מִשְׁפָּט
    mishpat (1048b); from H8199; judgment:
    — arrangements (1), case (5), case *(1), cause (7), charge (1), claim (1), court (2), crimes (1), custom (11), customs (2), decide (1), decision (2), decisions (1), deserving (1), destruction (1), due (1), injustice *(2), judge (1), judged (1), judgment (62), judgments (40), just (4), justice (118), justly (3), kind (1), manner (3), matters of justice (1), mode of life (1), order (1), ordinance (29), ordinances (79), plan (1), plans (1), practice (1), procedure (4), properly (2), regulation (1), right (8 ), rightful place (1), rights (2), rule (1), sentence (2), sentenced (1), standard (1), trial (1), unjustly *(1), verdict (1), way prescribed (2), what is right (2), worthy (1).

Nelson's NKJV Study Bible, page 1003.

  • 1) law -
    the first five books of the Old Testament; the Torah; the Pentateuch (Psalm 119:44)
  • 2) testimonies -
    ordinances; God's standard of conduct according to the Ten Commandments (Psalm 119:2)
  • 3) way -
    the pattern of life required by God's law (Psalm 119:30)
  • 4) precepts -
    injunction; requirement; commandment (Psalm 119:69)
  • 5) statutes -
    things inscribed; enacted laws (Psalm 119:8)
  • 6) commandments -
    a distinct, authoritative order (Psalm 119:166)
  • 7) judgments -
    a binding law; judicial decision (Psalm 119:7)
  • 8 ) word -
    a general term for God's revelation (Psalm 119:11)


Smith Dictionary
Law

  • Law. The word is properly used, in Scripture as elsewhere, to express a definite commandment laid down by any recognized authority; but when the word is used with the article, and without any words of limitation, it refers to the expressed will to God, and in nine cases out of ten, to the Mosaic law, or to the Pentateuch of which it forms the chief portion. The Hebrew word, torah (law) lays more stress on its moral authority, as teaching the truth and guiding in the right way; the Greek nomos (law), on its constraining power as imposed and enforced by a recognized authority. The sense of the word, however, extends its scope and assumes a more abstracts character in the writings of St. Paul.
  • Nomos, when used by him with the article, still refers in general to the law of Moses; but when used without the article, so as to embrace any manifestation of "law," it includes all powers which act on the will of man by compulsion, or by the pressure of external motives, whether their commands be or be not expressed in definite forms. The occasional use of the word "law" (as in Rom 3:27, "law of faith") to denote an internal principle of action does not really mitigate against the general rule. It should also be noticed that the title "the Law" is occasionally used loosely to refer to the whole of the Old Testament, as in Joh 10:34 referring to Psa 82:6 in Joh 15:25 referring to Psa 35:19 and in 1Co 14:21 referring to Isa 28:11-12.

Easton Dictionary
Law
A rule of action.

  • (1.) The Law of Nature is the will of God as to human conduct, founded on the moral difference of things, and discoverable by natural light (Rom 1:20; Rom 2:14, Rom 2:15). This law binds all men at all times. It is generally designated by the term conscience, or the capacity of being influenced by the moral relations of things.
  • (2.) The Ceremonial Law prescribes under the Old Testament the rites and ceremonies of worship. This law was obligatory only till Christ, of whom these rites were typical, had finished his work (Heb 7:9, Heb 7:11; Heb 10:1; Eph 2:16). It was fulfilled rather than abrogated by the gospel.
  • (3.) The Judicial Law, the law which directed the civil policy of the Hebrew nation.
  • (4.) The Moral Law is the revealed will of God as to human conduct, binding on all men to the end of time. It was promulgated at Sinai. It is perfect (Psa 19:7), perpetual (Mat 5:17, Mat 5:18), holy (Rom 7:12), good, spiritual (Rom 7:14), and exceeding broad (Psa 119:96). Although binding on all, we are not under it as a covenant of works (Gal 3:17).
  • (5.) Positive Laws are precepts founded only on the will of God. They are right because God commands them.
  • (6.) Moral positive laws are commanded by God because they are right.


Return to top

<º///><

Exodus 24:12 And YAHWEH said to Moses, Come up to Me to the mountain, and be there. And I will give to you the tablets of stone, and the Torah, and the commandments which I have written, to teach them.

 

Zorion Cave ~ Fanatical HeReTiC ~