What is torah english translation?

The Torah is the first five books of the Hebrew Bible (also called the Pentateuch), and its name is most accurately translated as "Teaching" or "Instruction" — derived from the Hebrew root י-ר-ה (yod-resh-heh), meaning to direct, guide, or instruct. It is commonly (but less precisely) translated as "Law," reflecting its Greek translation Nomos (νόμος) via the Septuagint. The five books are Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.

Key Takeaways

Torah most accurately means "Teaching" or "Instruction," not simply "Law."
The five books are known in Hebrew as Bereishit, Shemot, Vayikra, Bamidbar, and Devarim.
The word Torah comes from the Hebrew root י-ר-ה meaning to direct or guide.
"Law" is a common but imprecise translation, coming through Greek and Latin traditions.
Torah can also refer more broadly to all of Jewish teaching, including the Oral Torah (Torah She'be'al Peh).

The Word "Torah" — Meaning and Etymology

Root and Literal Meaning

The word Torah (תּוֹרָה) derives from the Hebrew root י-ר-ה (yarah), which means:

To shoot or direct (as an arrow)
To guide or point the way
To teach or instruct

Therefore, Torah literally means "guidance," "instruction," or "teaching" — it is God's directed instruction to the Jewish people on how to live.

Why "Law" Is Inaccurate

The translation "Law" entered common usage through:

The Greek Septuagint (~3rd century BCE), which translated Torah as Nomos (νόμος) — "law"
The Latin Vulgate, which used Lex — also meaning "law"
This carried into English Christian Bibles as "The Law"

While Torah does contain legal material (halacha), it also includes narrative, poetry, prophecy, and moral instruction — making "Law" far too narrow a translation.

The Five Books of the Torah

| Hebrew Name | Meaning | English Name | |---|---|---| | Bereishit (בְּרֵאשִׁית) | "In the Beginning" | Genesis | | Shemot (שְׁמוֹת) | "Names" | Exodus | | Vayikra (וַיִּקְרָא) | "And He Called" | Leviticus | | Bamidbar (בְּמִדְבַּר) | "In the Wilderness" | Numbers | | Devarim (דְּבָרִים) | "Words/Things" | Deuteronomy |

The Hebrew names come from the first significant word of each book. The English names come from the Greek Septuagint and describe the book's content.

Broader Meanings of "Torah"

The word Torah is used in Jewish tradition in several expanding senses:

Torah she'bichtav (תּוֹרָה שֶׁבִּכְתָב) — the Written Torah: the five books of Moses
Torah she'be'al peh (תּוֹרָה שֶׁבְּעַל פֶּה) — the Oral Torah: Mishnah, Talmud, and rabbinic tradition
Torah broadly — all of Jewish wisdom and religious teaching
Sometimes used to refer to the entire Tanakh (Hebrew Bible)

The Talmud [Shabbat 31a] famously records that Hillel summarized the entire Torah in one principle: "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor — that is the whole Torah; the rest is commentary. Go and learn."

Popular English Translations of the Torah

Several respected English translations exist:

JPS Tanakh (Jewish Publication Society) — the standard scholarly Jewish translation
The Living Torah by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan — highly readable with extensive notes
The Koren Jerusalem Bible — elegant modern English
ArtScroll Stone Edition Chumash — traditional Orthodox translation with commentary
Everett Fox's "The Five Books of Moses" — attempts to capture the Hebrew literary style

For personal guidance on Torah study or translation questions, consult your local rabbi or posek.