The meaning of Torah and Sin

(This is a short article that complements the previous article. It shows us that the opposite of Torah is sin)

The word torah is derived from the word yarah which means according to the: ‘Analytical Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon’ (In the form yeereh hreyyi)))) 1) To throw, cast, to shoot as an arrow. 2) To cast, lay a foundation. 3) To sprinkle, to water. In the form horah hr@wOh – 1) To throw, cast, to shoot as arrows; 2) To put forth, as a finger, to point out, show; 3) To teach, instruct; with the acc. of the thing.)

 And according to the Strong’s Concordance: (A primitive root; properly to flow as water (that is, to rain); transitively to lay or throw (especially an arrow, that is, to shoot); figuratively to point out (as if by aiming the finger), to teach: (+) archer, cast, direct, inform, instruct, lay, shew, shoot, teach (-er, -ing), through.)

**           An interesting observation is the first 2 time that the word Torah is mentioned in the scriptures. First in Gen 26:5 “...because Avraham obeyed My voice and guarded My Charge: My commands, My laws, and My Torot¹ Footnote: ¹Torot - plural of Torah.”

            The second is Ex 12:49 “There is one Torah for the native-born and for the stranger who sojourns among you.”

So we can safely deduce that the word Torah means “to shoot straight as an arrow, in other words to hit the mark.”

Let’s look at the meaning of the word chatat ‘Sin’.          

The word is derived from chata  af2j2

According to the ‘Analytical Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon’:-

in the form yecheta af2jeyE : 1) To miss a scope or aim. 2) To miss ones step, i.e. to stumble, fall. 3) to sin.

And according to the Strong’s Concordance: an offence (sometimes habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or expiation; also (concretely) an offender: - punishment (of sin), purifying (-fication for sin), sin (-ner, offering).

So we can see that to sin means to miss the mark and to do Torah means to hit the mark.

To do Torah OR to do chatat?

That is the question.