This Hebrew word is usually translated “law,” but the meaning is more like “direction” or “instruction.” The Jews use the word to refer to the first five books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
They still consider it the most important part of their Bible. All five books of the Torah are referred to as the “books of Moses,” since he is the main character.
In the New Testament period, a definite difference existed between the Jewish groups known as the Sadducees and the Phraisees.
The Sadducees believe that only the five books of the Torah were sacred. The Pharisees accepted the Torah as sacred, but also accepted the Prophets (the historical books beginning with Joshua, plus the prophetic books from Isaiah to Malachi), and the Writings (the other books of the Old Testament, including Psalms, Proverbs, and Job).
