………….we need to define the phrase, 'the law' so that we all are on the same page. Without a uniform definition of the this term 'the law', there can be no useful debate on this subject………please give me your opinion…………Do you agree that we need definitive definitions in order to commence any discussion on 'the law'?
Why yes we do need to define the word(s) that are used for describing the law. I dived into Psalm 119 (my favorite section of scripture) and seen that the 119th Psalm uses 8 words to describe God’s inscribed revelation to us: It uses the verses:
law, word, judgments, testimonies, commandments, statutes, precepts, and again it is defined with the term of
word, this term has a different definition than the earlier mentioned term of
word.
Law as from Psalm 119:1,97 (
torah, used 25 times): “Its parent verb means ‘teach’ or ‘direct’; therefore coming from God it means both ‘law’ and ‘revelation.’ It can be used of a single command or of a whole body of law.”
Ancient Hebraic Pictographs define the word used in our translations as
Throw/Rain A throwing of the finger to show a direction to walk or live. The throwing of an arrow. The throwing down of water in rain.
Throw/
Rain/Teach: To point the way one is to walk in life, teach, shoot, archer, cast, teacher, rain, laid, direct, inform, instruct, show, shooter, through watered
Teaching: The direction one is to take in life. fear, afraid, terrible, dreadful, reverence, fearful
Word as from Psalm 119:9 (
dabar, used 24 times): The idea is of the spoken word, God’s revealed word to man. “Proceeding from his mouth and revealed by him to us.”
Which ancient Hebrew defines as
Speak/Word/Continue: A continuation of segments, which fill the whole.
Word: A chain of words blended together to form sentences.
Word: [Hebrew and Aramaic] word, speech, say, speaking, byword, matter, speak, talking
Speak/Ear A chain of words blended together to form sentences.
Speak: [Hebrew and Aramaic] speak, utter, say
Speak /
Word Chain or words to form a sentence. Also a sickness as a break in the chain of the body.
Speak: [Hebrew and Aramaic] say, speak, answer, command, tell, call, promise
Branch: The conglomeration of branches of the tree. bough, branch
Firstfruits: In the sense of a great filling, fullness
Example of the word
Judgments is found in Psalm 119:7 (
mispatim, used 23 times): “From shaphat, to judge, determine, regulate, order, and discern, because they judge concerning our words and works; show the rules by which they should be regulated; and cause us to discern what is right and wrong, and decide accordingly.”
Pictograph definitions of this word is
Judge: To rule over cases of dispute or wrong doing. [Hebrew and Aramaic] judge, plead, avenge, condemn, execute, judgment, defend, deliver, magistrate
judgment: judgment, manner, right, cause, ordinance, lawful, order, worthy, fashion, custom, discretion, law, measure, sentence
Sheriff: [Aramaic only] sheriff
Verse Psalm 119:2 uses the word
Testimonies (
edut/edot, used 23 times): This word is related to the word for witness. To obey His testimonies “signifies loyalty to the terms of the covenant made between the Lord and Israel.”
Going into the ancient Hebrew pictographs this word is defined as
Witness: It is written as a picture of the eye, and a picture of the door. Combined these mean "see the door". As coming to a tent a tent of meeting and entering in. A place, time or event that is repeated again and again.
Witness: An event or persons testimony recounting another event or person.
Witness/Again: A repetition of time either definite or indefinite. [Hebrew and Aramaic]
Until: A determinate period of time.
The word
Commandments as used in Psalm 119:6 (
miswah/miswot, used 22 times): “This word emphasizes the straight authority of what is said . . . the right to give orders.”
Pictographs basically mirrors our understanding of this word from strongs
Command: command, charge, commandment, appoint, bade, order, commander.
Command: commandment, precept, law, ordinance
The word
Statutes as from Psalm 119:5,8 (
huqqim, used 21 times): The noun is derived from the root verb “engrave” or “inscribe”; the idea is of the written word of God and the authority of His written word. “Declaring his authority and power of giving us laws.”
Hebraic Pictograph says of this word statutes
Inscribe/ Custom: The pictograph is a picture of a wall representing a separation, and a picture of the sun at the horizon representing the idea of "coming together". Combined these mean "separation and coming together". A custom brings a people separated together.
Inscribe /
Custom: The appointment of a specific time, function or duty. A custom as something that is appointed.
Inscribe: To write a decree or custom (lawgiver, governor, decree, grave, portray, law, printed, set, note, appoint)
Precepts from Psalm 119:15 for example (
piqqudim, used 21 times): “This is a word drawn from the sphere of an officer or overseer, and man who is responsible to look closely into a situation and take action. . . . So the word points to the particular instructions of the Lord, as of one who cares about detail.”
Hebraic Pictograph
Oversee/Overseer/ Oversight: The role of the overseer is to watch over, direct, command, chastise, review and count those in his charge for the purpose of producing work.
Oversee: To closely inspect.
Count: As an overseeing of numbers. number, visit, punish, appoint, commit, miss, set, charge, governor, lack, oversight, officer, count, empty, ruler, overseer, judgement
Overseer: One who carefully watches over. officer, overseer, governor, charge
Ward: The area inspected by an overseer.
Statute: The orders and commands of the overseer. precept, commandment, statute
Oversight: A careful watching over.
Number: As counted. visitation, office, charge, oversight, officer, ordering, account, custody, number
Number/Appointment: Also an appointed place. number, commandment, appointed
Deposit: The produce of the work that is watched over. delivered, store
Word is the second term used as found for example in Psalm 119:11 (
imrah, used 19 times): Similar in meaning to
dabar, yet a different term. “The ‘word’ may denote anything God has spoken, commanded, or promised.”
Pictograph from ancient times
Order/Word An arrangement or placement of something creating order.
Speak: A careful arrangement of words or commands. speak, say, talk, promise, tell, commune, pronounce, utter, command.
Word: An arrangement of words.
Thing: As something that is arranged. In Hebrew thought words contain substance just as physical objects do.
Plague: The re-ordering of a population, word, thing, matter, act, chronicle, saying, commandment, pestilence, plague, murrain.
Wilderness: A place of order, a sanctuary.
Manner: The order which something is performed.
