Word Studies¶

Study Question¶

What is God's moral law? What is its basis, nature, and scope?

1. HEBREW TERMS FOR LAW¶

H8451: torah (תּוֹרָה) -- "Law"¶

Transliteration: towrah
Pronunciation: to-raw
Part of Speech: feminine noun
Root: from yarah (H3384), "to throw, cast, shoot" -- hence "direction, instruction, teaching"
Definition: A precept or statute, especially the Decalogue or Pentateuch
KJV occurrences: 244 total
Primary translations: "the law" (60x), "of the law" (28x), "law" (24x), "thy law" (20x), "in the law" (19x), "my law" (10x)
Semantic range: Encompasses the full range from individual instruction/direction to the entire body of divine revelation. The root meaning of "direction/instruction" shows the law is not arbitrary decree but God's teaching aimed at guiding His people.
Key passages for this study:
Psalm 19:7 -- "The law (torah) of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul"
Psalm 119:97 -- "O how love I thy law (torah)! it is my meditation all the day"
Jeremiah 31:33 -- "I will put my law (torah) in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts"
Isaiah 42:21 -- "The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law (torah), and make it honourable"

H4687: mitsvah (מִצְוָה) -- "Commandment"¶

Transliteration: mitsvah
Pronunciation: mits-vaw
Part of Speech: feminine noun
Root: from tsavah (H6680), "to command, charge, give orders"
Definition: A command, whether human or divine (collectively, the Law)
KJV occurrences: 190 total
Primary translations: "the commandments" (27x), "his commandments" (24x), "my commandments" (23x), "thy commandments" (20x), "the commandment" (14x)
Semantic range: Emphasizes the authoritative nature of God's law -- it is not mere suggestion but divine command. Used both for individual commands and for the body of commands collectively.
Key passages for this study:
Genesis 26:5 -- "Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments (mitsvah), my statutes, and my laws" (Pre-Sinai!)
Exodus 20:6 -- "shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments (mitsvah)"
Psalm 19:8 -- "the commandment (mitsvah) of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes"
Psalm 119:96 -- "thy commandment (mitsvah) is exceeding broad"
Ecclesiastes 12:13 -- "Fear God, and keep his commandments (mitsvah): for this is the whole duty of man"

H2706: choq (חֹק) -- "Statute"¶

Transliteration: choq
Pronunciation: khoke
Part of Speech: masculine noun
Root: from chaqaq (H2710), "to cut in, inscribe, decree"
Definition: An enactment; hence, an appointment (of time, space, quantity, labor or usage)
KJV occurrences: 134 total
Primary translations: "the statutes" (14x), "thy statutes" (14x), "statutes" (13x), "a statute" (7x), "his statutes" (7x)
Semantic range: The root "to cut in, inscribe" connects to the physical engraving of law on stone. Statutes are inscribed, permanent decrees -- not temporary adjustments.
Key passages for this study:
Psalm 119:5 -- "O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes (choq)!"
Ezekiel 36:27 -- "cause you to walk in my statutes (choq), and ye shall keep my judgments"
Psalm 148:6 -- "He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree (choq) which shall not pass"

H4941: mishpat (מִשְׁפָּט) -- "Judgment/Ordinance"¶

Transliteration: mishpat
Pronunciation: mish-pawt
Part of Speech: masculine noun
Root: from shaphat (H8199), "to judge, govern"
Definition: Properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially; abstractly, justice, including a participant's right or privilege
KJV occurrences: 448 total
Primary translations: "judgment" (69x), "my judgments" (23x), "of judgment" (21x), "judgments" (15x), "thy judgments" (15x)
Semantic range: Covers judicial decisions, case law, the principle of justice itself. When used of God's law, it emphasizes that His commands are expressions of His perfect justice.
Key passages for this study:
Psalm 19:9 -- "the judgments (mishpat) of the LORD are true and righteous altogether"
Psalm 111:7 -- "The works of his hands are verity and judgment (mishpat); all his commandments are sure"
Deuteronomy 32:4 -- "all his ways are judgment (mishpat): a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he"
Nehemiah 9:13 -- "gavest them right judgments (mishpat), and true laws, good statutes and commandments"

H676: etsba (אֶצְבַּע) -- "Finger"¶

Transliteration: etsba
Pronunciation: ets-bah
Part of Speech: feminine noun
Definition: Something to seize with, i.e. a finger; by analogy, a toe
KJV occurrences: 34 total
Primary translations: "with his finger" (9x), "his finger" (3x), "finger" (2x), "fingers" (2x)
Theological significance: The "finger of God" represents God's direct, personal action. Used only twice of writing -- both times for the Ten Commandments (Exodus 31:18; Deuteronomy 9:10). This distinguishes the Decalogue from all other legislation: it alone was directly inscribed by God Himself.
Key passages for this study:
Exodus 8:15 -- "the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger (etsba) of God" (divine power)
Exodus 31:18 -- "tables of stone, written with the finger (etsba) of God"
Deuteronomy 9:10 -- "two tables of stone written with the finger (etsba) of God"
Psalm 8:3 -- "When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers (etsba)" (divine craftsmanship)

H5703: ad (עַד) -- "Perpetuity/Forever"¶

Transliteration: ad
Pronunciation: ad
Part of Speech: masculine noun
Root: from adah, "to advance"
Definition: Properly, a (peremptory) terminus, i.e. (by implication) duration, in the sense of advance or perpetuity
KJV occurrences: 51 total
Primary translations: "for ever" (25x), "and ever" (14x), "everlasting" (2x), "eternity" (1x), "perpetually" (1x)
Theological significance: When applied to God's law, this word indicates absolute permanence without terminus. The law shares in God's own eternal nature.
Key passages for this study:
Psalm 111:3 -- "his righteousness endureth for ever (ad)"
Psalm 111:8 -- "They stand fast for ever (ad) and ever" (commandments)
Psalm 119:44 -- "So shall I keep thy law continually for ever (ad) and ever"
Isaiah 57:15 -- "the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity (ad)"

2. GREEK TERMS FOR LAW¶

G3551: nomos (νόμος) -- "Law"¶

Transliteration: nomos
Pronunciation: nom-os
Part of Speech: masculine noun
Root: from nemo, "to parcel out, distribute"
Definition: Anything established, anything received by usage, a custom, a law, a command
KJV occurrences: 169 total
Primary translations: "law" (95x), "the law" (49x), "of the law" (14x)
Semantic range: In the NT, nomos is used in multiple senses:
The moral law / Ten Commandments (Rom 7:7,12,14,22; 13:8-10; Jas 2:10-12)
The Pentateuch / books of Moses (Luk 24:44; Jhn 1:45)
The entire OT Scripture (Jhn 10:34; 15:25)
Principles or systems (Rom 3:27 "law of faith"; Rom 7:21,23; 8:2)
The ceremonial/civil regulations (Heb 7:5,16,28; 10:1)
Critical distinction for this study: Context determines which sense of "nomos" is intended. When Paul says "the law is holy, just, good, spiritual" (Rom 7:12,14), he speaks of the moral law. When Hebrews speaks of the law as a "shadow" (10:1), it speaks of ceremonial observances.
Key passages:
Romans 7:12 -- "the law (nomos) is holy"
Romans 7:14 -- "the law (nomos) is spiritual"
Romans 7:22 -- "I delight in the law (nomos) of God after the inward man"
Romans 3:31 -- "we establish the law (nomos)"
Matthew 5:17-18 -- "Think not that I am come to destroy the law (nomos)"
James 1:25 -- "the perfect law (nomos) of liberty"
James 2:12 -- "the law (nomos) of liberty"

G1785: entole (ἐντολή) -- "Commandment"¶

Transliteration: entole
Pronunciation: en-tol-ay
Part of Speech: feminine noun
Root: from entellomai, "to command, charge"
Definition: Injunction, i.e. an authoritative prescription
KJV occurrences: 43 total
Primary translations: "commandment" (23x), "commandments" (12x), "precept" (2x)
Semantic range: Used of both divine and human commands. In the NT, frequently used specifically for the commandments of God in the moral/ethical sense.
Critical end-time usage:
Revelation 12:17 -- "which keep the commandments (entole) of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ"
Revelation 14:12 -- "they that keep the commandments (entole) of God, and the faith of Jesus"
Revelation 22:14 -- "they that do his commandments (entole)"
1 John 5:3 -- "this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments (entole)"

3. GREEK TERMS FOR LAW ATTRIBUTES¶

G40: hagios (ἅγιος) -- "Holy"¶

Transliteration: hagios
Pronunciation: hag-ee-os
Part of Speech: adjective
Root: from hagos, "an awful/sacred thing"
Definition: Sacred (physically, pure; morally, blameless; ceremonially, consecrated)
KJV occurrences: 219 total
Primary translations: "holy" (51x), "saints" (47x), "Holy" (37x)
Key use: Romans 7:12 -- "the law is holy (hagios), and the commandment holy (hagios), and just, and good"
Significance: The same word used for God's holiness (Revelation 4:8 "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty") is used for the law. The law is holy because it proceeds from a holy God and reflects His holy character.

G4152: pneumatikos (πνευματικός) -- "Spiritual"¶

Transliteration: pneumatikos
Pronunciation: pnyoo-mat-ik-os
Part of Speech: adjective
Root: from pneuma, "spirit"
Definition: Non-carnal, i.e. ethereal (as opposed to gross), or (divinely) spiritual
KJV occurrences: 26 total
Primary translations: "spiritual" (13x), "spiritual things" (3x), "is spiritual" (3x)
Key use: Romans 7:14 -- "we know that the law is spiritual (pneumatikos): but I am carnal, sold under sin"
Significance: The law is not merely an external code but a spiritual reality. It addresses the inner person (cf. the 10th commandment against coveting, which is entirely internal). The contrast in Romans 7:14 is between the spiritual nature of the law and the carnal/fleshly nature of fallen humanity.

G1345: dikaioma (δικαίωμα) -- "Righteous Requirement"¶

Transliteration: dikaioma
Pronunciation: dik-ah-yo-mah
Part of Speech: neuter noun
Root: from dikaioo, "to justify, declare righteous"
Definition: An equitable deed; by implication, a statute or decision
KJV occurrences: 10 total
Primary translations: "ordinances" (3x), "righteousness" (3x), "judgment" (1x), "justification" (1x)
KEY use for this study: Romans 8:4 -- "That the righteousness (dikaioma) of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit"
Significance: This word shows the law has a "righteous requirement" that God intends to be fulfilled in believers through the Spirit. The new covenant does not abolish the law's righteous standard but provides the power (the Spirit) to meet it.

G5046: teleios (τέλειος) -- "Perfect"¶

Transliteration: teleios
Pronunciation: tel-i-os
Part of Speech: adjective
Root: from telos, "end, goal, completion"
Definition: Complete (in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character)
KJV occurrences: 12 total (19 in BLB count)
Primary translations: "perfect" (6x), "of full age" (1x)
Key uses:
James 1:25 -- "whoso looketh into the perfect (teleios) law of liberty" -- the moral law is characterized as "perfect"
Matthew 5:48 -- "Be ye therefore perfect (teleios), even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect (teleios)" -- God's standard of moral completeness
Significance: The law is called "perfect" (teleios) because it is complete, lacking nothing. It is the full expression of God's moral will. The Hebrew equivalent in Psalm 19:7 is tamiym (H8549), meaning "complete, whole, entire, without blemish."

4. KEY DISTINCTION: MORAL LAW (nomos/entole) vs. CEREMONIAL ORDINANCES (dogma)¶

G1378: dogma (δόγμα) -- "Decree/Ordinance"¶

Transliteration: dogma
Pronunciation: dog-mah
Part of Speech: neuter noun
Root: from dokeo, "to think, seem"
Definition: A law (civil, ceremonial or ecclesiastical); a decree, ordinance
KJV occurrences: 5 total
Uses in the NT:
Luke 2:1 -- "a decree (dogma) from Caesar Augustus" (civil decree)
Acts 16:4 -- "the decrees (dogma) that were ordained of the apostles" (ecclesiastical)
Acts 17:7 -- "the decrees (dogma) of Caesar" (civil)
Ephesians 2:15 -- "the law of commandments contained in ordinances (dogma)" -- ABOLISHED
Colossians 2:14 -- "the handwriting of ordinances (dogma) that was against us" -- NAILED TO CROSS
Critical significance: The word used for what was abolished at the cross is dogma -- decrees/ordinances -- NOT nomos (law) or entole (commandment). Paul uses a specific, different Greek word for what was removed. The "handwriting of ordinances" (cheirographon tois dogmasin) refers to the record of debt/penalty and the ceremonial regulations, NOT the Ten Commandments.

G3037: lithos (λίθος) -- "Stone"¶

Transliteration: lithos
Pronunciation: lee-thos
Part of Speech: masculine noun
Definition: A stone (literally or figuratively)
KJV occurrences: 53 total
Key use for this study: 2 Corinthians 3:3,7 -- "not in tables of stone (lithos), but in fleshy tables of the heart" / "written and engraven in stones (lithos)"
Significance: The transition described in 2 Corinthians 3 is not from law to no-law, but from law-on-stone to law-on-hearts (fulfilling Jeremiah 31:33). The medium changes; the content remains.

5. WORD FAMILY CONNECTIONS¶

The Torah Word Cluster (OT)¶

Strong's	Hebrew	Translation	Focus
H8451	torah	law, instruction	the content taught
H4687	mitsvah	commandment	the authority
H2706	choq	statute/decree	the permanence
H4941	mishpat	judgment	the justice
H5715	eduth	testimony	the witness
H6490	piqqud	precept	the oversight

The Nomos/Entole Cluster (NT)¶

Strong's	Greek	Translation	Focus
G3551	nomos	law	the standard
G1785	entole	commandment	the authority
G1345	dikaioma	righteous req.	the moral content
G1378	dogma	decree/ordinance	the regulations

Critical observation: When the NT speaks of what endures, it uses nomos and entole. When it speaks of what was abolished, it uses dogma. This lexical distinction is essential for understanding the "temporary" passages in section F of 02-verses.md.

6. ATTRIBUTE SUMMARY TABLE¶

Attribute	Reference	Hebrew/Greek Term	God's Character
Holy	Rom 7:12	hagios (G40)	God is holy (Lev 19:2; 1 Pet 1:16)
Just	Rom 7:12	dikaios (G1342)	God is just (Deu 32:4)
Good	Rom 7:12,16	agathos (G18)	God is good (Psa 119:68)
Spiritual	Rom 7:14	pneumatikos (G4152)	God is Spirit (Jhn 4:24)
Perfect	Psa 19:7; Jas 1:25	tamiym (H8549) / teleios (G5046)	God is perfect (Mat 5:48)
Eternal	Psa 111:7-8	ad (H5703), olam (H5769)	God is eternal (Isa 57:15)
True	Psa 119:142,151	emeth (H571)	God is truth (Jhn 14:6)
Pure	Psa 19:8	bar (H1249)	God is pure (1 Jhn 3:3)
Right	Psa 19:8	yashar (H3477)	God is righteous (Psa 119:137)