Original Word: מִצְוָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: mitsvah
Pronunciation: mits-VAH
Phonetic Spelling: (mits-vaw')
KJV: (which was) commanded(-ment), law, ordinance, precept
NASB: commandments, commandment, command, commanded, things, commands, prescribed
Word Origin: [from H6680 (צָּוָה - commanded)]

1. a command, whether human or divine (collectively, the Law)

which was commanded, law, ordinance, precept

From tsavah; a command, whether human or divine (collectively, the Law) -- (which was) commanded(-ment), law, ordinance, precept.

see HEBREW tsavah

Word Origin
from tsavah
Definition
commandment
NASB Translation
command (15), commanded (7), commandment (34), commandments (118), commands (2), obligation (1), prescribed (2), terms (1), things (4), tradition* (1), what (1).

מִצְוָה₁₈₁ noun feminine commandment; — ׳מ Proverbs 6:23 +; construct מִצְוִת Joshua 22:3 +; suffix מִצְוָ˜תְךָ Deuteronomy 26:13; Psalm 119:96; מִצְוָתוֺ Numbers 15:81; plural מִצְוֺת absolute Leviticus 26:14 +(מִצְווֺת Nehemiah 9:14); construct Nehemiah 4:2 +; suffix מִצְוֺתַי Genesis 26:5 +, etc.; — not used before D and Jeremiah; in Jeremiah only of man's commands; not Ezekiel nor Minor Prophets, except Malachi; —

1 commandment, of man: king, 1 Kings 2:43; 2 Kings 18:36 = Isaiah 36:21; 2Chronicles 8:15 14t.; אב ׳מ Jeremiah 35:14,16,18; Proverbs 6:20; אנשׁים ׳מ Isaiah 29:13; plural only Jeremiah 35:18; Proverbs 10:8; Nehemiah 10:33; המצוה, the order (title of property) Jeremiah 32:11.

2 of God:

a. singular the commandment, code of law: 2 Chronicles 8:13; Ezra 10:3; Psalm 19:9; especially of D ׳שׁמר המ Deuteronomy 8:1,25t. D; ׳עשׂח המ Deuteronomy 6:25; Deuteronomy 15:5; אשׁר צוּה ׳(ה)מ) Deuteronomy 26:13; Deuteronomy 30:11; Deuteronomy 31:5; ׳סוּר מִן המ Deuteronomy 17:20; הֵפַר ׳מ Numbers 15:31 (P); "" תּוֺרָה Exodus 24:12 (R^D) Joshua 22:5 (D) 2 Chron 14:3; 2 Chronicles 31:21; +חֻקִּים, מִשְׁמָּטִים Deuteronomy 5:28; Deuteronomy 6:1 +.

b. plural of commands of D and later codes with 2 plural (ye shall, shall not; Br^{Hex. new ed., 246 ff.}), Leviticus 4:2 5t. P, Isaiah 48:18 25t. (late; especially Psalm 119:20 t.); ׳שׁמר מ Exodus 20:6 (R) Leviticus 22:31 (H) Deuteronomy 4:2 10t. D, 1 Kings 14:8; 2 Kings 18:6 5t.; ׳עשׂה מ Leviticus 26:14 (H) + 5 t.; ׳שׁמע מ Deuteronomy 11:13 4t.; אשׁר צוּה ׳המ Leviticus 27:34 (H); ׳עבר מ Deuteronomy 26:13; 2Chronicles 24:20; ׳עזב מ 1 Kings 18:18; 2 Kings 17:16; Ezra 9:10; ׳הפר מ Ezra 9:14; in combinations, especially by Redactors and late writers; order various: (1) with חֻקִּים Exodus 15:26 (R^D) Deuteronomy 4:40; Ezra 7:11 +; ׳ח + משׁפטים Deuteronomy 26:17; 1 Kings 8:58; Nehemiah 1:7; Nehemiah 10:30; + משׁפטים, תורות Nehemiah 9:18; + תורה Nehemiah 9:14; + עדוֺת Deuteronomy 6:17; 1 Chronicles 29:19; 2Chronicles 34:31. (2) with חֻקּוֺת Leviticus 26:3 (H) Deuteronomy 6:2; Deuteronomy 10:13 + 9t.; ׳ח + משׁפטים Leviticus 26:15; Deuteronomy 8:11; Deuteronomy 11:1; Deuteronomy 30:16; 1 Kings 6:12 + תורה, משׁפטים Psalm 89:32, + משׁפטים, עֵדְוֺת 1 Kings 2:3; + תּוֺרוֺת Genesis 26:5 (R^D); +עדוֺת 2 Kings 23:3. (3) with משׁפטים Numbers 36:13 (P) 1 Chronicles 28:7; Nehemiah 9:29; Daniel 9:5; with תורות Exodus 16:28 (R), with ערות Nehemiah 9:34.

c. of special commands of God 1 Samuel 13:13; 1 Kings 13:21; 2Chronicles 29:25; Nehemiah 13:5; Malachi 2:1,4; Job 23:12.

3 commandment, singular, of code of wisdom Proverbs 19:16, "" תורה Proverbs 6:23, "" דבר Proverbs 13:13; plural of special commands Proverbs 2:1; Proverbs 3:1; Proverbs 4:4; Proverbs 7:1,2.

Overview

מִצְוָה (mitsvah) designates a divine command, mandate, or charge entrusted to Israel. Appearing about 181 times, it spans the Pentateuch, Historical Books, Wisdom Literature, and Prophets, forming a thread that binds covenant revelation to practical obedience.

Covenant Framework

From the outset God’s covenant with Abraham anticipates obedience: “because Abraham listened to My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws” (Genesis 26:5). The word reaches prominence at Sinai, where commandments become the tangible terms of relationship between a holy God and a redeemed people. Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy repeatedly place mitsvot alongside “statutes” and “judgments,” underscoring a comprehensive life-embracing obedience.

Sinai and the Ten Commandments

Exodus 20 records the foundational “Ten Words,” yet the narrative quickly links them to the wider body of commandments. After hearing the voice of God, Israel pledges, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do” (Exodus 19:8), illustrating that commandments are never abstract ideals but binding stipulations ratified by blood (Exodus 24:3-8).

Blessing and Judgment Motif

Deuteronomy crystallizes the covenant dynamic: “See, I set before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God… and the curse if you do not obey” (Deuteronomy 11:26-28). Chapter 28 expands the theme, showing that national destiny hinges on faithfulness to the commandments in every sphere—agriculture, warfare, worship, and family.

Shaping Family and Community

Commandments order domestic life: “Honor your father and your mother” (Exodus 20:12) and “You shall teach them diligently to your children” (Deuteronomy 6:7). They regulate societal justice—protecting vulnerable groups, providing truthful courts, limiting vengeance—and promote community generosity through sabbatical and Jubilee provisions.

The Heart of Obedience

Moses warns that external compliance without love is hollow: “Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear Me and keep all My commandments always” (Deuteronomy 5:29). The Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-9) fastens commandments to the heart, hands, and home, symbolizing internalization that flows into action.

Delight in the Psalms

Psalms transforms commandment keeping from obligation to joy. “The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes” (Psalm 19:8). Psalm 119 uses mitsvah twenty-two times, petitioning, “Direct me in the path of Your commandments, for there I delight” (Psalm 119:35). Commandments become a means of communion, preservation, and hope amid affliction (Psalm 119:98-102).

Wisdom Literature

Proverbs anchors moral instruction in divine command: “Keep my commands and live; guard my teaching as the apple of your eye” (Proverbs 7:2). Ecclesiastes concludes, “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13), asserting universal accountability.

Prophetic Reproof and Renewal

Prophets indict Israel for breaking commandments—idolatry (Hosea 4:2), social injustice (Amos 2:4), and formalism (Isaiah 1:10-17). Yet they promise restoration: “I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and to carefully observe My ordinances” (Ezekiel 36:27). Obedience is envisioned as Spirit-enabled, heartfelt, and national.

Post-Exilic Emphasis

Ezra and Nehemiah revive covenant obedience in the rebuilt community. “The people… bound themselves with a curse and an oath to follow the Law of God… and to obey all the mitzvot of the LORD” (Nehemiah 10:29). Public reading of the Law (Nehemiah 8) and corporate confession (Nehemiah 9) show commandments guiding reform.

Messianic and Eschatological Outlook

Commandments foreshadow the righteous reign of the Davidic King. Isaiah anticipates a Servant who “magnifies the law and makes it glorious” (Isaiah 42:21). Zechariah foresees nations grasping a Jew’s garment to seek the Lord (Zechariah 8:23), implying wide embrace of God’s commandments.

Continuity into the New Testament Era

Though the Hebrew term does not appear in the Greek New Testament, the concept persists. Jesus affirms the greatest commandments (Matthew 22:37-40), fulfills the Law (Matthew 5:17), and promises Spirit-empowered obedience (John 14:15-17). The apostolic writings echo, “This is love for God: to keep His commandments” (1 John 5:3).

Ministry Significance Today

1. Preaching: Commandments reveal God’s character, convict of sin, and point to Christ’s saving work.
2. Discipleship: They form a framework for ethical training, anchoring morality in divine authority.
3. Worship: Public reading and singing of passages like Psalm 119 unite congregations around obedience.
4. Mission: They demonstrate God’s wisdom to a watching world (Deuteronomy 4:6-8).
5. Pastoral Care: Commandment promises encourage repentance and assure forgiveness through the New Covenant.

Summary

מִצְוָה is not merely regulation; it is covenant speech that creates, instructs, and sanctifies a people for God’s glory. Its trajectory moves from Sinai’s tablets to hearts indwelt by the Spirit, summoning every generation to trust, love, and obey.

בְּ֝מִצְוֹתָ֗יו בְּמִצְוַ֖ת בְּמִצְוַ֣ת בְּמִצְוַ֥ת בְּמִצְוֹתֶ֗יךָ בְמִצְוֹתֶ֣יךָ במצות במצותיו במצותיך הַמִּצְוָ֔ה הַמִּצְוָ֖ה הַמִּצְוָ֗ה הַמִּצְוָ֛ה הַמִּצְוָ֜ה הַמִּצְוָ֣ה הַמִּצְוָ֥ה הַמִּצְוָ֨ה הַמִּצְוֹ֖ת הַמִּצְוֹ֗ת הַמִּצְוֹ֞ת המצוה המצות וְהַמִּצְוָ֔ה וְהַמִּצְוָֽה׃ וְהַמִּצְוָה֙ וְכַמִּצְוָ֗ה וּ֝מִצְוֹתַ֗י וּֽמִצְוֹתֶ֥יךָ וּבְמִצְוֹתָ֖יו וּבַמִּצְוָ֔ה וּכְמִצְוַ֥ת וּמִצְו֤וֹת וּמִצְוֹ֖ת וּמִצְוֹתַ֔י וּמִצְוֹתָ֖יו וּמִצְוֹתָ֛יו וּמִצְוֹתָ֥יו וּמִצְוֹתָיו֮ ובמצוה ובמצותיו והמצוה והמצוה׃ וכמצוה וכמצות ומצוות ומצות ומצותי ומצותיו ומצותיך כְּמִצְוַ֖ת כְּמִצְוַ֣ת כְּמִצְוַ֤ת כְּמִצְוַ֥ת כְמִצְוַת־ כמצות כמצות־ לְמִצְוָה֮ לְמִצְוֹתֶ֙יךָ֙ לְמִצְוֹתֶ֣יךָ לְמִצְוֹתָ֑י לְמִצְוֹתָ֔יו למצוה למצותי למצותיו למצותיך מִ֝צְוָ֗ה מִ֝צְוֹתֶ֗יךָ מִ֭צְוָה מִ֭צְוֹתֶיךָ מִמִּצְוֹ֧ת מִמִּצְוֹתֶ֖יךָ מִמִּצְוֹתֶ֖ךָ מִמִּצְוֹתֶֽיךָ׃ מִצְוַ֖ת מִצְוַ֞ת מִצְוַ֣ת מִצְוַ֥ת מִצְוַ֨ת מִצְוַת֙ מִצְוָ֔ה מִצְוָת֖וֹ מִצְוָתְךָ֖ מִצְוָתְךָ֣ מִצְוֹ֑ת מִצְוֹ֔ת מִצְוֹ֖ת מִצְוֹ֣ת מִצְוֹ֣ת ׀ מִצְוֹ֤ת מִצְוֹ֥ת מִצְוֹ֧ת מִצְוֹת֙ מִצְוֹת֩ מִצְוֹתֶ֑יךָ מִצְוֹתֶ֑ךָ מִצְוֹתֶ֔יךָ מִצְוֹתֶ֣יךָ מִצְוֹתֶ֥יךָ מִצְוֹתֶֽיךָ׃ מִצְוֹתַ֔י מִצְוֹתַ֖י מִצְוֹתַ֜י מִצְוֹתַ֣י מִצְוֹתַ֥י מִצְוֹתָ֑י מִצְוֹתָ֔יו מִצְוֹתָ֖יו מִצְוֹתָ֗יו מִצְוֹתָ֜יו מִצְוֹתָ֣יו מִצְוֹתָ֤יו מִצְוֹתָ֥יו מִצְוֹתָֽי׃ מִצְוֹתָֽיו׃ מִצְוֹתָו֙ מִצְוֹתָיו֙ מִצְוֹת־ ממצות ממצותיך ממצותיך׃ ממצותך מצוה מצות מצות־ מצותו מצותי מצותי׃ מצותיו מצותיו׃ מצותיך מצותיך׃ מצותך bə·miṣ·waṯ bə·miṣ·wō·ṯāw bə·miṣ·wō·ṯe·ḵā ḇə·miṣ·wō·ṯe·ḵā bəmiṣwaṯ bəmiṣwōṯāw bəmiṣwōṯeḵā ḇəmiṣwōṯeḵā bemitzVat bemitzvoTav bemitzvoTeicha chemitzvat ham·miṣ·wāh ham·miṣ·wōṯ hammiṣwāh hammiṣwōṯ hammitzVah hammitzVot kə·miṣ·waṯ ḵə·miṣ·waṯ- kəmiṣwaṯ ḵəmiṣwaṯ- kemitzVat lə·miṣ·wāh lə·miṣ·wō·ṯāw lə·miṣ·wō·ṯāy lə·miṣ·wō·ṯe·ḵā ləmiṣwāh ləmiṣwōṯāw ləmiṣwōṯāy ləmiṣwōṯeḵā lemitzVah lemitzvoTai lemitzvoTav lemitzvoTeicha mim·miṣ·wō·ṯe·ḵā mim·miṣ·wōṯ mimitzVot mimitzvoTecha mimitzvoTeicha mimmiṣwōṯ mimmiṣwōṯeḵā miṣ·wā·ṯə·ḵā miṣ·wā·ṯōw miṣ·wāh miṣ·waṯ miṣ·wō·ṯāw miṣ·wō·ṯay miṣ·wō·ṯāy miṣ·wō·ṯe·ḵā miṣ·wōṯ miṣ·wōṯ- miṣwāh miṣwaṯ miṣwāṯəḵā miṣwāṯōw miṣwōṯ miṣwōṯ- miṣwōṯāw miṣwōṯay miṣwōṯāy miṣwōṯeḵā Mitzvah mitzVat mitzvateCha mitzvaTo mitzVot mitzvoTai mitzvoTav mitzvoTecha mitzvoTeicha ū·ḇam·miṣ·wāh ū·ḇə·miṣ·wō·ṯāw ū·ḵə·miṣ·waṯ ū·miṣ·wō·ṯāw ū·miṣ·wō·ṯay ū·miṣ·wō·ṯe·ḵā ū·miṣ·wō·wṯ ū·miṣ·wōṯ ūḇammiṣwāh ūḇəmiṣwōṯāw uchemitzVat ūḵəmiṣwaṯ ūmiṣwōṯ ūmiṣwōṯāw ūmiṣwōṯay ūmiṣwōṯeḵā ūmiṣwōwṯ umitzVot umitzvoTai umitzvoTav umitzvoTeicha uvammitzVah uvemitzvoTav vechammitzVah vehammitzVah vemitzvoTeicha wə·ham·miṣ·wāh wə·ḵam·miṣ·wāh wəhammiṣwāh wəḵammiṣwāhInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts