The "Ceremonial" and "Moral" aspects of the Torah
“Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.” – Genesis 26:5
Have you ever wondered why God felt it necessary to include so many synonyms for law, to express the simple sentiment that Abraham was obedient to his requirements? Why the redundant use of “commandments” “statutes” and “laws” in one sentence, if God laid upon the Israelites the yoke of only one body of law to obey and not several? Searching through the variety of available English translations, it becomes clear that if these “synonyms” had any significance in the Hebrew – during the translation process into English they have lost all meaning:
The NIV translates it as: commands, decrees and instructions.
The ESV translates it as: charge, commandments, statutes, laws
The CSB translates it as: mandate, commands, statutes and instructions
It seems the CEV (Contemporary English Version) decided to skip the headache entirely:
“because Abraham did everything I told him to do.” – Genesis 26:5
It makes sense why the chosen English words appear random; it’s because in English they all mean the same thing and we lack the education of tradition reaching back since time immemorial to tell us how to discern the meaning, or that there is even meaning at all.
The truth is, the apparent synonyms are actually not synonyms, but represent different aspects and categories of God’s law.
The Old Testament directs us to two main categories of law within the Torah:
And this is the law (TORAH) which Moses set before the children of Israel:45 These are the testimonies, and the statutes (2706), and the judgments (4941), which Moses spake unto the children of Israel, after they came forth out of Egypt. – Deut 4:44-45
The word “Testimonies” is the English translation of the Hebrew word “Edot” which represents a balance and meeting point between the two extremes of Statutes and Judgements. However for this writing I would like to focus on the two other forms of law mentioned. “Statutes” is the English translation of the Hebrew word “Chukkot” or “Chukkim” and “Judgements” is the English translation of “Mishpat”.
CHUKKOT
The Hebrew language expresses concepts according to gender – leading to many words that can be expressed in one of two ways depending on the gender used. Chukkot can be expressed through its feminine form and is classified and found in a Concordance as Strongs 2708. The Masculine form is classified and found in a concordance as Strongs 2706.
Strongs 2708 (Feminine form) Strongs 2706 (Masculine Form). Here is a small list of Old Testament references to both forms of the word:
· This is a day you are to commemorate[Passover]; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord—a lasting ordinance (2708 - CHUKKOT). – Exodus 12:14 (KJV)
· And the LORD said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance (2708 - CHUKKOT) of the passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof...- Exodus 12:43
· Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning. 21 In the tent of meeting,outside the curtain that shields the ark of the covenant law, Aaron and his sons are to keep the lamps burning before the Lord from evening till morning. This is to be a lasting ordinance (2708) among the Israelites for the generations to come. – Exodus 27:20-21
· It shall be a perpetual statute (2708) for your generations throughout all your dwellings, that ye eat neither fat nor blood. – Leviticus 3:17
· This is the portion of the anointing of Aaron, and of the anointing of his sons, out of the offerings of the Lord made by fire, in the day when he presented them to minister unto the Lord in the priest's office;Which the Lord commanded to be given them of the children of Israel, in the day that he anointed them, by a statute (2708) for ever throughout their generations. – Leviticus 7:35-36
· And this shall be a statute (2708) for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month[Day of Atonemnent], ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you: - Leviticus 16:29
· And this shall be an everlasting statute (2708) unto you, to make an atonement for the children of Israel for all their sins once a year. And he did as the Lord commanded Moses. – Leviticus 16:34
· And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils, after whom they have gone a whoring. This shall be a statute (2708) for ever unto them throughout their generations. – Leviticus 17:7
· Ye shall keep my statutes (2708). Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee... And when ye shall come into the land, and shall have planted all manner of trees for food, then ye shall count the fruit thereof as uncircumcised: three years shall it be as uncircumcised unto you: it shall not be eaten of.24 But in the fourth year all the fruit thereof shall be holy to praise the Lord withal.25 And in the fifth year shall ye eat of the fruit thereof, that it may yield unto you the increase thereof: I am the Lord your God.26 Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times.27 Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard.28 Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the Lord. 30 Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the Lord.31 Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God.32 Therefore shall ye observe all my statutes (2708), and all my judgments, and do them: I am the Lord. – Leviticus 19:20,23-28,30-32
There are 105 occurrences of the feminine form Strongs 2708, and 126 occurrences of the Masculine form Strongs 2706 in scripture.
This one Hebrew word Chukkim, is translated the following ways (in the KJV) as found in these scriptural references listed: ordinance(s), statute(s), manners, customs
Laws under the category of “Chukkim/Chukkot” therefore include, but are not limited to the following:
Passover, the blood on the doorposts on Passover, prohibited sexual practices (sex with animals, etc.), fruit on the land shall not be eaten for three years, lamps in the Temple are to be kept burning, Afflicting ones soul on Yom Kippur, to make atonement for the sins of Israel on Yom Kippur, not to eat blood, not to mingle seed, etc.
An analysis of laws that are classified as “chukkim/Chukkot” shows that Chukkim are laws that mostly lack rational explanation. They represent God’s wishes that have no practical value or use, presumably standing as symbolic of spiritual principles, higher concepts or a foreshadowing of events – for example: the sacrificial system representing the death of the Messiah for atonement.
This matches perfectly with the Christian understanding of the “Ceremonial” aspects of the Law.
· And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Whosoever curseth his God shall bear his sin.16 And he that blasphemeth the name of the Lord, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the Lord, shall be put to death.17 And he that killeth any man shall surely be put to death.18 And he that killeth a beast shall make it good; beast for beast.19 And if a man cause a blemish in his neighbour; as he hath done, so shall it be done to him;20 Breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth: as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done to him again.21 And he that killeth a beast, he shall restore it: and he that killeth a man, he shall be put to death.22 Ye shall have one manner of law (Mishpat), as well for the stranger, as for one of your own country: for I am the Lord your God. And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a man die, and have no son, then ye shall cause his inheritance to pass unto his daughter.9 And if he have no daughter, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his brethren.10 And if he have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his father's brethren.11 And if his father have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his kinsman that is next to him of his family, and he shall possess it: and it shall be unto the children of Israel a statute of judgment (mishpat), as the Lord commanded Moses. – Numbers 27:8-11
· Then the congregation shall judge between the slayer and the revenger of blood according to these judgments (Mishpat):25 And the congregation shall deliver the slayer out of the hand of the revenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to the city of his refuge, whither he was fled: and he shall abide in it unto the death of the high priest, which was anointed with the holy oil.26 But if the slayer shall at any time come without the border of the city of his refuge, whither he was fled;27 And the revenger of blood find him without the borders of the city of his refuge, and the revenger of blood kill the slayer; he shall not be guilty of blood:28 Because he should have remained in the city of his refuge until the death of the high priest: but after the death of the high priest the slayer shall return into the land of his possession.29 So these things shall be for a statute of judgment (Mishpat) unto you throughout your generations in all your dwellings.30 Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die.31 Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death.32 And ye shall take no satisfaction for him that is fled to the city of his refuge, that he should come again to dwell in the land, until the death of the priest. – Numers 35:24-32
· Neither shall the inheritance remove from one tribe to another tribe; but every one of the tribes of the children of Israel shall keep himself to his own inheritance.10 Even as the Lord commanded Moses, so did the daughters of Zelophehad:11 For Mahlah, Tirzah, and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Noah, the daughters of Zelophehad, were married unto their fathers brothers' sons:12 And they were married into the families of the sons of Manasseh the son of Joseph, and their inheritance remained in the tribe of the family of their father.13 These are the commandments and the judgments (Mishpat), which the Lordcommanded by the hand of Moses unto the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho. – Numbers 36:9-13
There are 421 occurrences of this reference to law in the Old Testament.
This one Hebrew word Mishpat, is translated the following ways (in the KJV) as found in these scriptural references listed: ordinances, judgement(s), law.
Mishpat therefore include but are not limited to laws pertaining to:
Consequences for murder, blaspheming the name, reparations for harming another, laws for inheritance, how to handle a case of accidental man-slaughter, etc.
An analysis of this list yields the conclusion that Mishpat identifies the category of law mostly dealing with preserving order within a society. These are laws that, in contrast with Chukkim, have rational explanation and would benefit any secular society to use them.
This matches perfectly with the Christian understanding of the “Civil/Moral” aspects of the law.
Chukkim and Mishpat:
I have included a large list scripture mentioning the imperative to obey both the statutes (chukkot) and Judgments (Mishpat) although many more can be found in the Old Testament. This shows God’s emphasis on the importance of obeying both the Ceremonial AND Civil/Moral aspects of the law. God intends for Israel to honour both while residing on the Land!
Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgements, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers giveth you. – Deut 4:1
Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgements, even as the Lord my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. – Deut 4:5
And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgements so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day? – Deut 4:8
And the Lord commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgements, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go over to possess it. – Deut 4:14
And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgements which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them. – Deut 5:1
But as for thee, stand thou here by me, and I will speak unto thee all the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgements, which thou shalt teach them, that they may do them in the land which I give them to possess it. – Deut 5:31
Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgements, which the Lord your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it: - Deut 6:1
Thou shalt therefore keep the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgements, which I command thee this day, to do them.12 Wherefore it shall come to pass, if ye hearken to these judgements, and keep, and do them, that the Lord thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy which he sware unto thy fathers:13 And he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee: he will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep, in the land which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee. – Deut 7:11-13
This day the Lord thy God hath commanded thee to do these statutes (2706) and judgements: thou shalt therefore keep and do them with all thine heart, and with all thy soul. – Deuteronomy 26:16
Thou hast avouched the Lord this day to be thy God, and to walk in his ways, and to keep his statutes (2706), and his commandments, and his judgements, and to hearken unto his voice: - Deuteronomy 26:17
And as for thee, if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded thee, and shalt observe my statutes (2706) and my judgements; - 2 Chron 7:17
Ye shall do my judgements, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the Lord your God. – Leviticus 18:4
Ye shall therefore keep my statutes (2708), and my judgements: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the Lord. – Leviticus 18:5
Ye shall therefore keep my statutes (2708) and my judgements, and shall not commit any of these abominations; neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you:
27 (For all these abominations have the men of the land done, which were before you, and the land is defiled;)
28 That the land spue not you out also, when ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that were before you. – Leviticus 18:26-28
New Covenant:
Old Testament prophecy regarding the purpose of the New Covenant very clearly and definitely shows, that the New Covenant causes Israel to obey both the Chukkot (Ceremonial) and the Mishpat (Civil/Moral)!
“And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes (2708 - CHUKKOT), and you shall keep My judgments (4941 - MISHPAT), and do them” - Ezekiel 36:27
“And Twill put a new spirit within them…that they may walk in My statutes (2708 -CHUKKOT ) and keep My ordinances (4941 - MISHPAT), and do them. Then they will be My people, and I shall be their God” - Ezekiel 11:19
Jeremiah 31:33 is different in that it only mentions the law (TORAH) in general, being written in their hearts:
“But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law (Torah 8451) in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.” – Jeremiah 31:33
How does God break down his Torah? Again, The Torah is made of two main categories of law – the Mishpat and the Chukkim:
And this is the law (TORAH) which Moses set before the children of Israel:45 These are the testimonies, and the statutes (2706), and the judgments (4941), which Moses spake unto the children of Israel, after they came forth out of Egypt. – Deut 4:44-45
The Torah that will be written in the hearts of Israel in the New Covenant consists of both the Ceremonial and Civil/moral laws.
Rabbinic Discussions on the matter of Chukkim and Mishpat:
"This is the chukka (law) of the Torah" – the Satan and the nations ridicule the Jewish people, saying, "What is the meaning of this mitzva? What sense does it make?" Therefore, the Torah defines it as a chukka: "It is an absolute decree from Me, and you have no right to challenge it."
(Rashi, 19:2)
Mishpatim are the commandments with a clear explanation and value evident in the world (i.e., prohibiting theft, honoring parents). Chukkim are the commandments with explanations that are less clear, about which the Sages state, "It is a decree that I have made for you; you must not challenge it," such as the prohibition against eating meat and milk together… and the commandment of para adumma.
(Hilkhot Me'ila 8:8)
The Torah (Vayikra 19:37) states: "You shall keep all My chukkot and all My mishpatim and perform them." The Sages (Sifra, Kedoshim 3) point out that we find that the verse equates "keeping" and "performing" for both the chukkim and the mishpatim. "Performing" is obvious: it means doing the chukkim. "Keeping" means caring about [the chukkim] and not perceiving them as less important than the mishpatim. - ibid
How terribly did King David suffer from people who denigrated the chukkim! The more that they struggled with him, wielding the kind of spurious arguments that are only made by those with the limited intelligence of the human mind, the more he would strengthen his bond with the Torah, as it states (Tehillim 119:69), "The malicious have smeared me with a lie; yet I will keep your precepts whole-heartedly." - ibid
Although all the chukkim in the Torah are pure decrees, as we have explained… it is proper to contemplate them and assign them explanations as much as possible. The early sages said that King Shelomo understood the explanations of most of the chukkim in the Torah.
(Hilkhot Temura 4:13)
Our Rabbis taught: "You shall keep my judgments" (Vayikra 18:4) – matters that had they not been written should have been written: idolatry, illicit sexual relations, murder, theft, and blasphemy; "and you shall keep my statutes [chukkim]" - matters that Satan argues against [and the nations of the world argue against], such as: eating pig, wearing garments made of a mixture of wool and linen, chalitza, a leper's purification, and the sent-away goat. You might say they are meaningless acts. Therefore the verse states: "I am the Lord" ... I am the Lord who enacted them, you have no right to criticize them. (Yoma 67b)
For we observe God's statutes and teachings as statutes without reasons, the Torah being the decree of the King, may His name be blessed. Even if a person observes the entire Torah and all the commandments as he is required, if in his heart he does so for some particular reason, it is not received by God with favor. (Derashot ha-Chatam Sofer, Klausenberg, 1889, I, p. 19b)).
New Testament:
Since the Septuagint was made mid 3rd Century BC, the Greek Septuagint established the standard for translating Hebrew to Greek during the time of Jesus:
The Greek equivalent for Statutes (2706,2708) is Dikaiomata (G1345) The Greek equivalent for Judgements (4941) is Krima (G2917)
English/Hebrew:
Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes (2708), and my laws.- Genesis 26:5
Greek:
ypikousen avraam o patir sou tis emis fonis kai efylaxen ta prostagmata mou kai tas entolas mou kai ta dikaiomata (statutes) mou kai ta nomima (laws) mou – Genesis 26:5
English:
Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes (2708) and unto the judgments (4941), which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you. – Deut 4:1
Greek:
Kai nyn israil akoue ton dikaiomaton (statutes) kai krimaton (judgements) osa ego didasko ymas simeron poiein ina zite kai polyp lasiasthite kai eiselthontes klironomisite tin in in kyrios o theos ton pateron ymon didosin ymin - Deut 4:1
And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances (dikaioma 1345) of the Lord blameless. – Luke 1:6
Considering what Paul writes of the Chukkot (in Greek Dikaimoa) it’s clear that Paul did not assume a stance of wanting to denigrate the Ceremonial aspects of the law, but promoted it:
Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness (dikaimoa 1345) of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? – Romans 2:26
That the righteousness (dikaioma) of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. – Romans 8:
Have you ever wondered why God felt it necessary to include so many synonyms for law, to express the simple sentiment that Abraham was obedient to his requirements? Why the redundant use of “commandments” “statutes” and “laws” in one sentence, if God laid upon the Israelites the yoke of only one body of law to obey and not several? Searching through the variety of available English translations, it becomes clear that if these “synonyms” had any significance in the Hebrew – during the translation process into English they have lost all meaning:
The NIV translates it as: commands, decrees and instructions.
The ESV translates it as: charge, commandments, statutes, laws
The CSB translates it as: mandate, commands, statutes and instructions
It seems the CEV (Contemporary English Version) decided to skip the headache entirely:
“because Abraham did everything I told him to do.” – Genesis 26:5
It makes sense why the chosen English words appear random; it’s because in English they all mean the same thing and we lack the education of tradition reaching back since time immemorial to tell us how to discern the meaning, or that there is even meaning at all.
The truth is, the apparent synonyms are actually not synonyms, but represent different aspects and categories of God’s law.
The Old Testament directs us to two main categories of law within the Torah:
And this is the law (TORAH) which Moses set before the children of Israel:45 These are the testimonies, and the statutes (2706), and the judgments (4941), which Moses spake unto the children of Israel, after they came forth out of Egypt. – Deut 4:44-45
The word “Testimonies” is the English translation of the Hebrew word “Edot” which represents a balance and meeting point between the two extremes of Statutes and Judgements. However for this writing I would like to focus on the two other forms of law mentioned. “Statutes” is the English translation of the Hebrew word “Chukkot” or “Chukkim” and “Judgements” is the English translation of “Mishpat”.
CHUKKOT
The Hebrew language expresses concepts according to gender – leading to many words that can be expressed in one of two ways depending on the gender used. Chukkot can be expressed through its feminine form and is classified and found in a Concordance as Strongs 2708. The Masculine form is classified and found in a concordance as Strongs 2706.
Strongs 2708 (Feminine form) Strongs 2706 (Masculine Form). Here is a small list of Old Testament references to both forms of the word:
· This is a day you are to commemorate[Passover]; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord—a lasting ordinance (2708 - CHUKKOT). – Exodus 12:14 (KJV)
· And the LORD said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance (2708 - CHUKKOT) of the passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof...- Exodus 12:43
· Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning. 21 In the tent of meeting,outside the curtain that shields the ark of the covenant law, Aaron and his sons are to keep the lamps burning before the Lord from evening till morning. This is to be a lasting ordinance (2708) among the Israelites for the generations to come. – Exodus 27:20-21
· It shall be a perpetual statute (2708) for your generations throughout all your dwellings, that ye eat neither fat nor blood. – Leviticus 3:17
· This is the portion of the anointing of Aaron, and of the anointing of his sons, out of the offerings of the Lord made by fire, in the day when he presented them to minister unto the Lord in the priest's office;Which the Lord commanded to be given them of the children of Israel, in the day that he anointed them, by a statute (2708) for ever throughout their generations. – Leviticus 7:35-36
· And this shall be a statute (2708) for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month[Day of Atonemnent], ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you: - Leviticus 16:29
· And this shall be an everlasting statute (2708) unto you, to make an atonement for the children of Israel for all their sins once a year. And he did as the Lord commanded Moses. – Leviticus 16:34
· And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils, after whom they have gone a whoring. This shall be a statute (2708) for ever unto them throughout their generations. – Leviticus 17:7
· Ye shall keep my statutes (2708). Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee... And when ye shall come into the land, and shall have planted all manner of trees for food, then ye shall count the fruit thereof as uncircumcised: three years shall it be as uncircumcised unto you: it shall not be eaten of.24 But in the fourth year all the fruit thereof shall be holy to praise the Lord withal.25 And in the fifth year shall ye eat of the fruit thereof, that it may yield unto you the increase thereof: I am the Lord your God.26 Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times.27 Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard.28 Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the Lord. 30 Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the Lord.31 Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God.32 Therefore shall ye observe all my statutes (2708), and all my judgments, and do them: I am the Lord. – Leviticus 19:20,23-28,30-32
There are 105 occurrences of the feminine form Strongs 2708, and 126 occurrences of the Masculine form Strongs 2706 in scripture.
This one Hebrew word Chukkim, is translated the following ways (in the KJV) as found in these scriptural references listed: ordinance(s), statute(s), manners, customs
Laws under the category of “Chukkim/Chukkot” therefore include, but are not limited to the following:
Passover, the blood on the doorposts on Passover, prohibited sexual practices (sex with animals, etc.), fruit on the land shall not be eaten for three years, lamps in the Temple are to be kept burning, Afflicting ones soul on Yom Kippur, to make atonement for the sins of Israel on Yom Kippur, not to eat blood, not to mingle seed, etc.
An analysis of laws that are classified as “chukkim/Chukkot” shows that Chukkim are laws that mostly lack rational explanation. They represent God’s wishes that have no practical value or use, presumably standing as symbolic of spiritual principles, higher concepts or a foreshadowing of events – for example: the sacrificial system representing the death of the Messiah for atonement.
This matches perfectly with the Christian understanding of the “Ceremonial” aspects of the Law.
Mishpat (4941)
· And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Whosoever curseth his God shall bear his sin.16 And he that blasphemeth the name of the Lord, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the Lord, shall be put to death.17 And he that killeth any man shall surely be put to death.18 And he that killeth a beast shall make it good; beast for beast.19 And if a man cause a blemish in his neighbour; as he hath done, so shall it be done to him;20 Breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth: as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done to him again.21 And he that killeth a beast, he shall restore it: and he that killeth a man, he shall be put to death.22 Ye shall have one manner of law (Mishpat), as well for the stranger, as for one of your own country: for I am the Lord your God. And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a man die, and have no son, then ye shall cause his inheritance to pass unto his daughter.9 And if he have no daughter, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his brethren.10 And if he have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his father's brethren.11 And if his father have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his kinsman that is next to him of his family, and he shall possess it: and it shall be unto the children of Israel a statute of judgment (mishpat), as the Lord commanded Moses. – Numbers 27:8-11
· Then the congregation shall judge between the slayer and the revenger of blood according to these judgments (Mishpat):25 And the congregation shall deliver the slayer out of the hand of the revenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to the city of his refuge, whither he was fled: and he shall abide in it unto the death of the high priest, which was anointed with the holy oil.26 But if the slayer shall at any time come without the border of the city of his refuge, whither he was fled;27 And the revenger of blood find him without the borders of the city of his refuge, and the revenger of blood kill the slayer; he shall not be guilty of blood:28 Because he should have remained in the city of his refuge until the death of the high priest: but after the death of the high priest the slayer shall return into the land of his possession.29 So these things shall be for a statute of judgment (Mishpat) unto you throughout your generations in all your dwellings.30 Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die.31 Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death.32 And ye shall take no satisfaction for him that is fled to the city of his refuge, that he should come again to dwell in the land, until the death of the priest. – Numers 35:24-32
· Neither shall the inheritance remove from one tribe to another tribe; but every one of the tribes of the children of Israel shall keep himself to his own inheritance.10 Even as the Lord commanded Moses, so did the daughters of Zelophehad:11 For Mahlah, Tirzah, and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Noah, the daughters of Zelophehad, were married unto their fathers brothers' sons:12 And they were married into the families of the sons of Manasseh the son of Joseph, and their inheritance remained in the tribe of the family of their father.13 These are the commandments and the judgments (Mishpat), which the Lordcommanded by the hand of Moses unto the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho. – Numbers 36:9-13
There are 421 occurrences of this reference to law in the Old Testament.
This one Hebrew word Mishpat, is translated the following ways (in the KJV) as found in these scriptural references listed: ordinances, judgement(s), law.
Mishpat therefore include but are not limited to laws pertaining to:
Consequences for murder, blaspheming the name, reparations for harming another, laws for inheritance, how to handle a case of accidental man-slaughter, etc.
An analysis of this list yields the conclusion that Mishpat identifies the category of law mostly dealing with preserving order within a society. These are laws that, in contrast with Chukkim, have rational explanation and would benefit any secular society to use them.
This matches perfectly with the Christian understanding of the “Civil/Moral” aspects of the law.
Chukkim and Mishpat:
I have included a large list scripture mentioning the imperative to obey both the statutes (chukkot) and Judgments (Mishpat) although many more can be found in the Old Testament. This shows God’s emphasis on the importance of obeying both the Ceremonial AND Civil/Moral aspects of the law. God intends for Israel to honour both while residing on the Land!
Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgements, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers giveth you. – Deut 4:1
Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgements, even as the Lord my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. – Deut 4:5
And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgements so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day? – Deut 4:8
And the Lord commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgements, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go over to possess it. – Deut 4:14
And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgements which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them. – Deut 5:1
But as for thee, stand thou here by me, and I will speak unto thee all the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgements, which thou shalt teach them, that they may do them in the land which I give them to possess it. – Deut 5:31
Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgements, which the Lord your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it: - Deut 6:1
Thou shalt therefore keep the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgements, which I command thee this day, to do them.12 Wherefore it shall come to pass, if ye hearken to these judgements, and keep, and do them, that the Lord thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy which he sware unto thy fathers:13 And he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee: he will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep, in the land which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee. – Deut 7:11-13
This day the Lord thy God hath commanded thee to do these statutes (2706) and judgements: thou shalt therefore keep and do them with all thine heart, and with all thy soul. – Deuteronomy 26:16
Thou hast avouched the Lord this day to be thy God, and to walk in his ways, and to keep his statutes (2706), and his commandments, and his judgements, and to hearken unto his voice: - Deuteronomy 26:17
And as for thee, if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded thee, and shalt observe my statutes (2706) and my judgements; - 2 Chron 7:17
Ye shall do my judgements, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the Lord your God. – Leviticus 18:4
Ye shall therefore keep my statutes (2708), and my judgements: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the Lord. – Leviticus 18:5
Ye shall therefore keep my statutes (2708) and my judgements, and shall not commit any of these abominations; neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you:
27 (For all these abominations have the men of the land done, which were before you, and the land is defiled;)
28 That the land spue not you out also, when ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that were before you. – Leviticus 18:26-28
New Covenant:
Old Testament prophecy regarding the purpose of the New Covenant very clearly and definitely shows, that the New Covenant causes Israel to obey both the Chukkot (Ceremonial) and the Mishpat (Civil/Moral)!
“And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes (2708 - CHUKKOT), and you shall keep My judgments (4941 - MISHPAT), and do them” - Ezekiel 36:27
“And Twill put a new spirit within them…that they may walk in My statutes (2708 -CHUKKOT ) and keep My ordinances (4941 - MISHPAT), and do them. Then they will be My people, and I shall be their God” - Ezekiel 11:19
Jeremiah 31:33 is different in that it only mentions the law (TORAH) in general, being written in their hearts:
“But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law (Torah 8451) in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.” – Jeremiah 31:33
How does God break down his Torah? Again, The Torah is made of two main categories of law – the Mishpat and the Chukkim:
And this is the law (TORAH) which Moses set before the children of Israel:45 These are the testimonies, and the statutes (2706), and the judgments (4941), which Moses spake unto the children of Israel, after they came forth out of Egypt. – Deut 4:44-45
The Torah that will be written in the hearts of Israel in the New Covenant consists of both the Ceremonial and Civil/moral laws.
Rabbinic Discussions on the matter of Chukkim and Mishpat:
"This is the chukka (law) of the Torah" – the Satan and the nations ridicule the Jewish people, saying, "What is the meaning of this mitzva? What sense does it make?" Therefore, the Torah defines it as a chukka: "It is an absolute decree from Me, and you have no right to challenge it."
(Rashi, 19:2)
Mishpatim are the commandments with a clear explanation and value evident in the world (i.e., prohibiting theft, honoring parents). Chukkim are the commandments with explanations that are less clear, about which the Sages state, "It is a decree that I have made for you; you must not challenge it," such as the prohibition against eating meat and milk together… and the commandment of para adumma.
(Hilkhot Me'ila 8:8)
The Torah (Vayikra 19:37) states: "You shall keep all My chukkot and all My mishpatim and perform them." The Sages (Sifra, Kedoshim 3) point out that we find that the verse equates "keeping" and "performing" for both the chukkim and the mishpatim. "Performing" is obvious: it means doing the chukkim. "Keeping" means caring about [the chukkim] and not perceiving them as less important than the mishpatim. - ibid
How terribly did King David suffer from people who denigrated the chukkim! The more that they struggled with him, wielding the kind of spurious arguments that are only made by those with the limited intelligence of the human mind, the more he would strengthen his bond with the Torah, as it states (Tehillim 119:69), "The malicious have smeared me with a lie; yet I will keep your precepts whole-heartedly." - ibid
Although all the chukkim in the Torah are pure decrees, as we have explained… it is proper to contemplate them and assign them explanations as much as possible. The early sages said that King Shelomo understood the explanations of most of the chukkim in the Torah.
(Hilkhot Temura 4:13)
Our Rabbis taught: "You shall keep my judgments" (Vayikra 18:4) – matters that had they not been written should have been written: idolatry, illicit sexual relations, murder, theft, and blasphemy; "and you shall keep my statutes [chukkim]" - matters that Satan argues against [and the nations of the world argue against], such as: eating pig, wearing garments made of a mixture of wool and linen, chalitza, a leper's purification, and the sent-away goat. You might say they are meaningless acts. Therefore the verse states: "I am the Lord" ... I am the Lord who enacted them, you have no right to criticize them. (Yoma 67b)
For we observe God's statutes and teachings as statutes without reasons, the Torah being the decree of the King, may His name be blessed. Even if a person observes the entire Torah and all the commandments as he is required, if in his heart he does so for some particular reason, it is not received by God with favor. (Derashot ha-Chatam Sofer, Klausenberg, 1889, I, p. 19b)).
New Testament:
Since the Septuagint was made mid 3rd Century BC, the Greek Septuagint established the standard for translating Hebrew to Greek during the time of Jesus:
The Greek equivalent for Statutes (2706,2708) is Dikaiomata (G1345) The Greek equivalent for Judgements (4941) is Krima (G2917)
English/Hebrew:
Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes (2708), and my laws.- Genesis 26:5
Greek:
ypikousen avraam o patir sou tis emis fonis kai efylaxen ta prostagmata mou kai tas entolas mou kai ta dikaiomata (statutes) mou kai ta nomima (laws) mou – Genesis 26:5
English:
Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes (2708) and unto the judgments (4941), which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you. – Deut 4:1
Greek:
Kai nyn israil akoue ton dikaiomaton (statutes) kai krimaton (judgements) osa ego didasko ymas simeron poiein ina zite kai polyp lasiasthite kai eiselthontes klironomisite tin in in kyrios o theos ton pateron ymon didosin ymin - Deut 4:1
Uses of “Dikaioma” the Greek equivalent of Statutes/Chukkot in the New Testament:
And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances (dikaioma 1345) of the Lord blameless. – Luke 1:6
Considering what Paul writes of the Chukkot (in Greek Dikaimoa) it’s clear that Paul did not assume a stance of wanting to denigrate the Ceremonial aspects of the law, but promoted it:
Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness (dikaimoa 1345) of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? – Romans 2:26
That the righteousness (dikaioma) of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. – Romans 8:
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