Torah

noun

To·​rah ˈtȯr-ə 

ˈtȯi-rə

1

: the body of wisdom and law contained in Jewish Scripture and other sacred literature and oral tradition

2

: the five books of Moses constituting the Pentateuch

3

: a leather or parchment scroll of the Pentateuch used in a synagogue for liturgical purposes

Examples of Torah in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The tablet came into the possession of an Israeli antiquities dealer in 1995 and then became part of the Living Torah Museum in Brooklyn. —Francesca Aton For Artnews, Robb Report, 20 Dec. 2024

Observances include all-night Torah study, special prayers, and the consumption of dairy foods. —Alexis Simmerman, Austin American-Statesman, 11 Dec. 2024

Related: Adam Schiff sworn in to U.S. Senate, reflects on ‘big senatorial shoes to fill’ The book used in Schiff’s swearing-in ceremony is the Mishneh Torah, written by the renowned Jewish philosopher and scholar Moses Maimonides. —Hanna Kang, Orange County Register, 10 Dec. 2024

Opinion Unfortunately, this approach has been buried under more recent decades of the ultra-Orthodox embracing a loophole also created at the beginning of the state; those committed to full-time Torah study could forgo compulsory military service. —Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Hebrew tōrāh

First Known Use

1547, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing Torah

• Simchas Torah
• the Torah

Kids Definition

Torah

noun

To·​rah ˈtōr-ə 

ˈtȯr-;

ˈtȯi-rə

1

: the wisdom and law contained in Jewish Scripture and other sacred writings and in oral tradition

2

: a scroll containing the first five books of the Old Testament used in a synagogue for religious services