Journal: Interdisciplinary Journal on Biblical Authority
Volume: IJOBA 01:2 (Fall 2020)
Article: The Messiah In The Torah
Author: Gary R. Gromacki

IJOBA 1:2 (Fall 2020) p. 154

The Messiah In The Torah

Gary Gromacki

Professor of Bible and Theology
Calvary University

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The Torah

At the heart of the Jewish community is a synagogue. At the heart of the synagogue is the ark (Aron Ha-qodesh) and inside it there is a sefer Torah (a Torah scroll). In Judaism a Torah scroll is a treasure.1 Each Sabbath a portion of the Torah is read publicly. Every year the rabbis read through the Torah in the synagogue.2 Even in the first century the Jews read from the Torah each Sabbath. Paul wrote, “For Moses from ancient generations has in every city those who preach him, since he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath” (Acts 5:21).

The Torah is the Law of God as revealed to Moses and recorded in the first five books of the Hebrew Bible which is called the Tanak. The Tanak stands for the Torah (the Law), the Neviim (the Prophets), and Keth uvim (the Writings). English Bibles refer to the first five books of the Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy) as the Pentateuch.

The Hebrew word “Torah” (תּוֹרָ֣ה) refers to instruction, teaching or Law (Genesis 26:5; Exodus 12:49; 13:9; 16:4, 28; 18:16, 20; 24:12; Leviticus 6:2, 7, 18; 7:1, 7, 11, 37; 11:46; 12:7; 13:59; 14:2, 32, 54, 57; 15:32; 26:46; Numbers 5:29, 30; 6:1...