The Law is Perfect

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jan 5, 1882

The Law is Perfect.

A FRIEND in the East sends us an article cut from some paper, written by some man in California, in which are comments on our statement that the law of God is declared to be a perfect law, in Ps. 19:7. The writer says:—

“There is one word in the marginal reading of this text which completely spoils this kind of reasoning. According to that, it is ‘the doctrine of the Lord is perfect,’ having reference to God’s word in general, or, as a whole.”

In regard to marginal readings we will state a fact which every intelligent Bible reader knows, but which the writer of the above probably does not know: When the translators had a rendering before them which they considered more literal than that selected for the version, they put it in the margin and marked it “Heb.” for “Hebrew.” When the version was literal, but they considered that another word would make the sense more evident, or improve the reading, they placed the other in the margin and marked it, “or.” Examples of both are found in Ps. 19.

The word “law” is translated from five different Hebrew words in the Old Testament.

1. Dath. This, as a Hebrew word, is used twenty-two times; translated law, nine times; decree, nine times; commandment, twice; commissions, once, and manner, once. It is also used twelve times as a Chaldaic word, rendered law, nine times; decree, three times.

2. Hok. This word is used 228 times; rendered mostly statutes, and ordinances; law, four times; commandment, once.

3. Mitzvah. This word occurs 180 times. It is the usual word for commandment, and is so rendered 174 times; precepts, four times; ordinances, once; and law, once.

4. Mishpat. This is the usual word for judgments, and is mostly so rendered; but it is quite variously translated, as ordinances, cause, right, measure, sentence, determination, manner, etc.; law once, and manner of law, once; is lawful, five times.

5. Torah. This may be considered the Hebrew word for “law.” It occurs 219 times. It is rendered manner, once, with the marginal reading—“Heb. law.” In every other instance it is translated law, namely, 218 times. This is the word used in Ps. 19:7, and is there correctly rendered “law.”

By this synopsis it will be seen that our critic has not a particle of reason for his statement. The translators made a literal rendering, but, probably, they had but a vague idea of the use of the law in the work of converting the soul. So they put, “or doctrine,” in the margin. “By the law is the knowledge of sin.” Only where the law is, guilt is imputed. Convict on is only by the law, and without conviction there is no genuine conversion. The text states an important truth, far too little considered in this age of superficial conversions and worldly religion. Only a superficial reader of the Bible would make the statement above quoted; a student could not fall into such an error.