Today I’m excited to welcome back to My Messy Desk my MilSpouse Sister, Anji Budzinski!
The English word “Precept” \ˈprē-ˌsept\ originated from a Latin word, praeceptum, which meant to accept before, as in receiving knowledge that thereafter guides behavior. Praeceptum is derived from prae- + capere “to take”.
A number of Hebrew and Greek words of the Holy Scriptures are translated as “precept” or “precepts”:
- the Hebrew word tsav \tsawv\ [צָו], means a formal order, command or admonition
- the Hebrew word mitzvah \mits-vaw\ [מִצְוָה], means a commandment; a word perhaps best known to English speakers from the Jewish bar-mitzvah - “an initiation ceremony marking the 13th birthday of a Jewish boy and signifying the beginning of religious responsibility” (TheWordWeb Dictionary by Princeton University)
- the Hebrew word piqqud \ pik-kood\ [פִּקּוּדֵי], means to appoint, or to mandate
- the Greek word entalma \ en’-tal-mah\ [ἔνταλμα], means commandment, precept, statute; properly, appointed, i.e. A mandate (of God; plural only, collectively, for the Law)
Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines Precept as:
- A rule that says how people should behave.
- A command or principle intended especially as a general rule of action.
- An order issued by legally constituted authority to a subordinate official.
- Something advisory and not obligatory communicated typically through teaching.
The tradition that 613 commandments is the number of mitzvot (Hebrew for precepts, commandments commanded by God) in the Torah (Hebrew for instruction, teachings), began in the 3rd century CE, when Rabbi Simlai mentioned it in a sermon that is recorded in Talmud Makkot (Hebrew for lashes. It is a book in the Mishnah and Talmud. It primarily deals with laws of Jewish courts and the punishments they may administer).
Rabbi Simlai was a Talmudic sage who lived in Palestine in the 3rd century. He was a student of Rabbi Judah II, the grandson of Judah I (a key leader of the Jewish community during the Roman occupation of Judea from 63 BCE- 280 CE. According to the Talmud, he was of the Davidic line, the royal line of King David), the author of the Mishnah (first major work of Rabbinic literature from the Jewish oral traditions known as the “Oral Torah”).
These principles of Biblical law are sometimes called connections or commandments (mitzvot) and referred to collectively as the “Law of Moses“
There are 613 commandments (mitzvot), or precepts, in the Old Testament and 1050 commands in the New Testament. The 613 OT precepts were more of a man-made tradition rather than the actual number of commandments sent down by YHWH (Yahweh). You can see them sprinkled throughout the OT in places such as Gen 26:2-5; Ex 15:25-27; Ex 16; Ex 20:6; Lev 22, 26, 27; Num 15, 36; Deut 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31. There are more, but you get the picture: God was very adamant about people following all His teachings and commandments.
There are 248 positive Mitzvot/Commandments/Precepts (Do’s) having to do with the Relationship to God, Torah, Temple and the Priests, Sacrifices, Vows, Ritual Purity, Donations to the Temple, Sabbatical Year, Animals for Consumption, Festivals, Community, Idolotry, War, Social, Family, Judicial, Slaves, and Torts.
There are 365 negative Mitzvot/Commandments/Precepts (Don’ts) having to do with: Idolatry and related practices, Prohibitions resulting from Historical Events, Blasphemy, Temple, Sacrifices, Priests, Dietary Laws, Nazirites, Agriculture, Loans, Business, the treatment of Slaves, Justice, Incest and other forbidden relationships, and The Monarchy.
King David was judged righteous in the sight of the Lord because, despite his human shortcomings, never became unfaithful to the precepts of the Lord (1 Kings 15:5 NIV).
The understanding of God’s precepts grows with understanding of God’s Word. “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little.” (Isaiah 28:10 KJV)
May Psalm 119 be the cry of our hearts!
“How blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord.
How blessed are those who observe His testimonies, who seek Him with all their heart.
They also do no unrighteousness; They walk in His ways. You have ordained Your precepts, that we should keep them diligently. Oh that my ways may be established to keep Your statutes! Then I shall not be ashamed when I look upon all Your commandments. I shall give thanks to You with uprightness of heart, when I learn Your righteous judgments. I shall keep Your statutes; Do not forsake me utterly!” (Psalm 119:1-8 NIV)
Anji Budzynski and her husband Brian, a Navy Senior Chief, live in Virginia and look forward to retiring this year after 25 years of service. They recently helped propel their 22 year old daughter, Natasha, into self-sustaining adulthood. They enjoy growing and steering their strapping 17 year old son, Chris, and feisty 4 year old daughter, Miss B, through childhood.
You can find more from Anji at her website, A Life of Gratefulness, as well as on Facebook and Twitter.
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