The Role of Judaism in Scripture

What is Judaism?

Judaism is the religious and cultural tradition rooted in the covenantal relationship between God and the Jewish people, established through Abraham and formalized at Mount Sinai with Moses.

This tradition begins with Genesis 17:7-8, where God promises to be the God of Abraham and his descendants, requiring them to walk in His ways and keep His covenant. In Exodus 19:4-6, God calls Israel to be His treasured possession and a kingdom of priests, emphasizing their unique role as a holy nation. The Torah, comprising the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, serves as the foundational text, encapsulating divine law, history, and teachings.

Core to Judaism is unwavering monotheism - the belief in one, indivisible God - and the hope for a Messiah who will bring redemption. These principles, alongside the covenantal framework, shape Jewish identity and practice, bridging ancient promises to ongoing spiritual life.

The Covenantal Foundations of Judaism

The Abrahamic and Mosaic covenants establish the theological framework through which Jewish identity, practice, and eschatological hope are understood.

Genesis 12:1-3 inaugurates the Abrahamic covenant, where God promises to make Abraham the father of a great nation and bless all peoples through his offspring, binding divine fidelity to a chosen lineage. Deuteronomy 7:6-11 expands the Mosaic covenant, declaring Israel a 'treasured people' and emphasizing obedience to God’s commandments as both a privilege and obligation. These covenants frame Judaism as a relationship of mutual commitment: God’s promises are conditional upon Israel’s faithfulness to His law. Together, they define Jewish self-understanding as a people uniquely called to embody holiness through covenantal living.

The Abrahamic covenant roots Jewish identity in divine election and ancestral continuity, while the Mosaic covenant institutionalizes it through law and communal responsibility. In salvation history, these covenants position Israel as a conduit of God’s blessing to the world, as seen in Genesis 12:3’s promise to bless those who bless Abraham’s descendants.

By linking divine grace to human response, these covenants set the stage for Judaism’s enduring tension between divine sovereignty and human agency. Their stipulations, as outlined in Deuteronomy 7:9-11, underscore that God’s steadfast love is tied to obedience, shaping a vision of salvation history where ethical fidelity to covenantal terms is central. This foundation will later intersect with messianic hope, as the covenants’ promises outlive Israel’s historical failures and point toward ultimate redemption.

The Role of Torah in Jewish Life

The Torah serves as the foundational text of Judaism, shaping both spiritual obligations and communal identity through its divine commandments and ethical teachings.

At its core, the Torah functions as divine instruction, with Exodus 20:1-17 - the Ten Commandments - articulating central principles such as worship of one God, Sabbath observance, and moral conduct. Deuteronomy 6:4-9 further emphasizes the Torah’s role as a covenantal commitment, commanding Jews to internalize its teachings and pass them to future generations. These texts anchor Judaism’s theological and ethical framework, guiding daily life and collective memory.

The Torah is lived out through meticulous observance of mitzvot (commandments), which structure rituals like Shabbat, kosher dietary laws, and festival celebrations. Deuteronomy 6:4-9 underscores the obligation to teach these laws to children, embedding them in family and communal life. Exodus 20:1-17’s prohibitions against idolatry and coveting establish a moral order, while its command to honor parents and keep the Sabbath reflect holistic sanctification of time and relationships. Together, these practices transform abstract theology into tangible, embodied faith.

As both a worship guide and communal bond, the Torah unites Jews across generations and geographies, ensuring continuity of identity. Its enduring significance lies in its adaptability, as rabbinic interpretation and halakhah (Jewish law) apply ancient principles to evolving contexts, preparing readers for the next exploration of Judaism’s legal traditions.

How to Read Judaisms Correctly

Reading Jewish texts requires attention to covenantal frameworks, historical context, and the interplay of law and narrative to grasp their theological and ethical intent.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9 exemplifies this approach: its command to love God with all one’s being is a covenantal obligation rooted in Israel’s identity as God’s chosen people, rather than a moral exhortation. Understanding such passages demands recognizing how law (the Shema’s imperative) and narrative (God’s redemptive acts) shape Jewish devotion. This holistic method avoids isolating verses from their covenantal and communal purpose.

A common pitfall is reading Jewish texts through an abstract or universalizing lens, neglecting their particular historical and legal contexts. Covenantal language, such as in Deuteronomy 7:6-11, reflects a reciprocal relationship between God’s promises and Israel’s obedience, not static dogma. By situating texts within their narrative arc and covenantal structure, readers can better appreciate Judaism’s dynamic balance between divine sovereignty and human responsibility, preparing for deeper exploration of its legal traditions.

Going Deeper

To deepen your understanding of Judaism, it is essential to engage directly with its foundational texts, such as the Torah and Talmud.

The Torah, particularly the Pentateuch, provides the legal and narrative basis for Jewish practice, while the Talmud offers rabbinic interpretations that have shaped communal life for centuries. For further study, scholars like Rabbi Jonathan Sacks or works such as 'The Jewish Study Bible' offer accessible insights, reminding readers to approach this ancient tradition with respect and openness.