torah: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (Specialized/Religious Context)Formal, Religious, Academic
Quick answer
What does “torah” mean?
The foundational scripture of Judaism, consisting of the Five Books of Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The foundational scripture of Judaism, consisting of the Five Books of Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy).
In a broader sense, the entire body of Jewish law, teaching, and wisdom, including both the written law (the Pentateuch) and the oral tradition (the Talmud and other rabbinic literature).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal difference in core usage. Pronunciation and spelling conventions (e.g., -our/-or) do not apply as it is a transliterated proper noun.
Connotations
Strongly associated with Jewish religious practice, law, and scholarship in both varieties. Non-Jewish usage often carries a metaphoric or academic connotation.
Frequency
Frequency is tied entirely to religious, academic, or cultural discussions, not everyday conversation.
Grammar
How to Use “torah” in a Sentence
study the Torahread from the Torahadhere to the Torahinterpret the Torahthe Torah teaches/says/statesVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “torah” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A – not used as a verb.
American English
- N/A – not used as a verb.
adverb
British English
- N/A – not used as an adverb.
American English
- N/A – not used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- N/A – not standardly used as an adjective. Use 'Torah-based' or 'biblical'.
American English
- N/A – not standardly used as an adjective. Use 'Torah-true' (in specific religious contexts).
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except possibly in discussions of corporate ethics framed metaphorically.
Academic
Common in religious studies, theology, history, and literature departments.
Everyday
Rare, except among observant Jewish communities or in interfaith discussions.
Technical
Specific to Jewish theology, liturgy, and law (Halakha).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “torah”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “torah”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “torah”
- Using 'Torah' as a countable noun (e.g., 'a Torah' – acceptable only when referring to a physical scroll).
- Misspelling as 'Tora' (without the 'h').
- Pronouncing the final 'h' (it is silent).
- Using it generically for any religious text without the Jewish context.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. The Torah is the first five books of the Hebrew Bible. The Christian Old Testament includes these books but often in a different order and sometimes with textual variations, interpreted through a Christian theological lens.
Yes, metaphorically. It can refer to any authoritative guide or foundational set of principles, e.g., 'The safety manual is the Torah for all new engineers in this plant.'
Yes, it is a proper noun when referring to the Jewish scripture and should be capitalised (like Bible, Quran). In metaphorical use, capitalisation is optional but often retained.
A handwritten Torah scroll is read aloud in portions throughout the year in a public ceremony. The annual cycle of readings is completed and restarted on the holiday of Simchat Torah.
The foundational scripture of Judaism, consisting of the Five Books of Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy).
Torah is usually formal, religious, academic in register.
Torah: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtɔːrə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtɔːrə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a Torah of kindness (metaphoric)”
- “to be a living Torah (metaphoric for a pious scholar)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of TORAH as "Teaching Of Righteousness And Holiness" (an acronym).
Conceptual Metaphor
SOURCE OF LAW/GUIDANCE (e.g., 'The company handbook became their Torah for ethical conduct.'), FOUNDATION/ROOT (e.g., 'This principle is the Torah of our democratic system.')
Practice
Quiz
What does 'Torah' most specifically refer to?