The word “Torah” has multiple meanings. Throughout much of Chumash, it refers to various statutes or laws, whereas in Sefer Devarim, and at various points throughout Tanakh, the plain reading of the text appears to refer to large portions of Sefer Devarim written by Moshe.
The Tanakh itself does not deal directly with the question of who wrote the Five Books of the Torah, nor does it describe the way in which they were written and conveyed to the Jewish people. These issues will be explored by reviewing the relevant verses in Tanakh and the various approaches among Chazal and the medieval commentators concerning the creation of the Torah and its transmission to the Jewish nation.
The term "Torah,” and even "Sefer Torah,” appears many times in Tanakh, but in most cases the plain meaning of the text is not referring to the Five Books of the Torah. The word "Torah" actually has multiple meanings in Tanakh, and only in some instances does the word refer to a written text.
The term "Torah,” and even "Sefer Torah,” appears many times in Tanakh, but in most cases the plain meaning of the text is not referring to the Five Books of the Torah. The word "Torah" actually has multiple meanings in Tanakh, and only in some instances does the word refer to a written text.
It appears for the first time in Shemot and its meaning throughout this Sefer, as well as in Vayikra and Bamidbar, is a law, or collection of laws, on a specific subject. In other instances, the word “Torah” is a synonym for commandments, statutes and judgments.
By contrast, in Sefer Devarim, the word "Torah" refers to a text which, on the one hand, is clearly extensive, but on the other is more closely defined and limited than the way in which we use the term today. A review of the appearances of the word shows that the corpus referred to as "Torah" is, in fact, Moshe's main speech in Sefer Devarim. It is only in Sefer Devarim that we find, for the first time, any mention that the "Torah" was also committed to writing in a book. The conclusion to be drawn here is that the book which the Torah records Moshe as having written did not include all Five Books, but rather only the central portions of Sefer Devarim. Additionally, at various points throughout Tanakh where the word “Torah” is mentioned, the plain reading of the text appears to refer to large portions of Sefer Devarim written by Moshe.
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Edited by the HaTanakh Site team