Torah

Torah is the Hebrew word for "law" or "instruction" and refers most precisely to the first five books of the Old Testament — Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy — known in the Catholic tradition as the Pentateuch (CCC 702). More broadly, Torah denotes the entire body of divine instruction God revealed to Israel through Moses.

The Torah and the Covenant

The giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai stands at the center of the Old Covenant. The Catechism teaches that God revealed the divine name (Yahweh) and the law to Moses, by which he sealed the covenant with his people Israel (CCC 62, 204). The Torah was not a burden imposed on Israel but a gift — the charter of their relationship with God as his chosen people.

The Torah and Christ

Catholics understand the Torah as preparation for, and fulfilled in, Jesus Christ. As St. Paul writes, the Law was a "tutor" leading to Christ (Galatians 3:24). The Catechism is explicit: Moses, as lawgiver, was a type of Christ, the lawgiver of the New Law (CCC 204). Jesus did not abolish the Torah but brought it to its fullness — summarizing it in the commandment of love of God and neighbor (CCC 1970, 2055).

Torah and Catholic Scripture

The five books of the Torah — the Pentateuch — are among the forty-six books of the Old Testament accepted by the Catholic Church as Sacred Scripture (CCC 120). They are read and prayed in the liturgy as the living Word of God, whose promises find their fulfillment in the New Covenant.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Torah the same as the Ten Commandments? The Ten Commandments (Decalogue) are part of the Torah — specifically found in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5 — but Torah refers to the full body of law and narrative in the first five books, not the Decalogue alone (CCC 2056).