law of moses
LowReligious, formal, historical, academic
Definition
Meaning
The body of religious law and commandments given by God to Moses, primarily recorded in the Hebrew Bible (the Torah/Pentateuch), governing the religious, moral, and social life of ancient Israel.
A term used to refer to the Mosaic covenant or system of laws; often used in religious contexts to denote divine law or a foundational legal-moral code, particularly in Judeo-Christian theology.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term almost exclusively refers to the specific, historically-situated body of laws in the Torah. It is not used for general legal principles outside of religious discourse, except in metaphorical allusion. It's a proper noun phrase and is often capitalized.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or grammatical differences; usage is identical in both variants. Capitalization conventions ('Law of Moses' vs 'law of Moses') may vary slightly by publisher/style guide but are not region-specific.
Connotations
Same religious/historical connotations in both regions.
Frequency
Frequency is similarly low and specialized in both regions, confined to religious, academic, or historical contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
the Law of Mosesunder the Law of Mosesaccording to the Law of MosesVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “under the law (of Moses)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in religious studies, theology, history, and biblical scholarship.
Everyday
Rarely used outside of religious discussion.
Technical
Specific term in theology and biblical exegesis.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The community sought to fulfil the Law of Moses in their daily rituals.
- They were taught to obey the Law of Moses.
American English
- The preacher explained how Jesus fulfilled the Law of Moses.
- They strive to keep the Law of Moses.
adverb
British English
- The temple was run Mosaicly, according to the ancient code.
American English
- They lived Mosaicly, observing all the commandments.
adjective
British English
- Mosaic law provisions were central to their identity.
- He gave a lecture on Mosaic legal traditions.
American English
- Mosaic law principles are studied in seminary.
- It was a Mosaic law requirement.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The Law of Moses is in the Bible.
- Moses received the law from God.
- According to the Law of Moses, some foods were not allowed.
- The festival is based on the Law of Moses.
- The apostle Paul wrote extensively about the relationship between faith and the Law of Moses.
- Scholars debate the historical development of the legal codes within the Law of Moses.
- The theological tension between grace and the strictures of the Mosaic Law forms a central theme in the New Testament epistles.
- Critical scholarship often distinguishes between the Priestly, Deuteronomic, and Covenant codes within the corpus of the Law of Moses.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
MOSES: M = Mandates, O = Ordinances, S = Statutes, E = Edicts, S = Scriptures.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE LAW IS A BURDEN / THE LAW IS A GUIDE / THE LAW IS A FOUNDATION / THE LAW IS A COVENANT CONTRACT.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as 'закон Моисея' without the definite article context—'the Law of Moses' is a singular entity. Do not confuse with 'закон Моисеев' which can sound archaic. The concept is specific, not a general 'законодательство'.
Common Mistakes
- Using lowercase ('law of moses') in formal writing. Using it as a count noun (*'a law of Moses'). Confusing it with the 'Ten Commandments' (which are a subset).
Practice
Quiz
In which set of books is the Law of Moses primarily found?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The Ten Commandments are a central, foundational part of the Law of Moses, but the Law of Moses encompasses hundreds of other commandments covering civil, ritual, and moral life.
Observant Jews follow Halakha (Jewish law), which is rooted in the written Law of Moses (Torah) as interpreted and expanded by rabbinic tradition. Not all laws (e.g., temple sacrifices) are practicable today.
It is used historically to refer to the Old Covenant law. Christian theology typically holds that followers of Christ are not under the binding authority of the Mosaic Law as a means of salvation, though its moral principles are often upheld.
In formal religious and academic writing, it is standard to capitalize it as a proper noun ('the Law of Moses'). In less formal contexts, especially when used generically (e.g., 'mosaic law'), lowercase is sometimes used.