תּוֹרָה (to.rah)
to.rah
custom
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun torah, appearing only once in the Bible at 2 Samuel 21:10, carries the specific sense of a human custom or established manner of doing things. While this word is famously known as the translation for the Torah (the Law) in Jewish tradition, its root meaning here is narrower and more secular. It refers to a prevailing practice or social norm rather than divine commandment.
In this singular occurrence, the text describes the custom observed by the Gibeonites. The word highlights how societal expectations and traditional behaviors function as binding forces within a community. It reminds readers that not all "law" in Scripture originates from God; some laws are simply the accumulated weight of human tradition and habit.
This usage provides an important contrast to the divine Torah. By using the same word for both, the biblical authors show that while human customs can be powerful and influential, they stand apart from the instruction given by God. The rarity of this specific secular usage underscores how the term evolved to become exclusively associated with sacred teaching in later Jewish thought.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word torah is most often associated with divine instruction, yet its root meaning encompasses any established custom or manner of doing things. In this rare instance, it points to a human practice rather than a heavenly command. This distinction helps us see that not every rule we follow comes directly from God; some are simply the accumulated weight of tradition and social habit.
Understanding this nuance invites us to examine our own lives. We must discern which practices align with God’s character and which are merely inherited norms. By recognizing the difference between divine law and human custom, we gain freedom to evaluate traditions critically. This awareness allows us to hold fast to what is good while releasing what is merely conventional.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [is] [the] manner of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תּוֹרַ֥ת1×
Key Verses
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II Samuel 7:19
This was yet a small thing in your eyes, Lord Yahweh, but you have spoken also of your servant’s house for a great while to come; and this among men, Lord Yahweh!
This verse uses the term to describe a human custom or established manner of behavior, highlighting the secular root meaning of the word in contrast to its later sacred usage.