Is there a difference in concept between a command and a directive? Perhaps to us English speaking person there is, albeit quite subtle. We often use the words interchangeably; after all, how much difference is there in commanding your children to be inside the home prior to sunset, or directing them of the same.
But inside the word directive, is direct – which we also recognize within direction. Now direction, and command, have a wider gap in meaning to us than does directive and command.
Everyone is familiar with the word command; we often see the word commandment used quite often; especially we are most familiar with its use to translate the Hebrew word mits'vah into English - but it really does not wholly convey the underlying concrete meaning of mits'vah.
The word command implies words of force or power as a General commands his troops. The word mits'vah is better understood in English as a directive. To grasp better the picture painted by this word it is helpful to look at a related word, “tsiyon” – its concrete meaning being that of a desert or a landmark.
The Ancient Hebrews were a nomadic people who wandered the deserts searching for pastures to feed and care for their flocks.
Nomads were quite accustomed to using the various rivers, mountains, rock outcroppings, stars, etc as landmarks to give them their direction. The verb form of mits'vah is tsavah meaning to direct one on a journey. The mits'vah of the Bible were not commands, or rules and regulations, to the Hebrew (as we might understand that today). The Hebrew understanding of mits’vah went much deeper - and often more personal.
They were directives - or landmarks that one looked for guidance in order that one should not veer from the path provided; turning neither to the right, or to the left (Deuteronomy 5:32, 28:14, Joshua 1:7, Proverbs 4:27, Isaiah 30:21).
Interestingly, the word “tsiyon” meaning landmark is also the word translated as Zion, the mountain of God but, not just a mountain, it is the very landmark.
But inside the word directive, is direct – which we also recognize within direction. Now direction, and command, have a wider gap in meaning to us than does directive and command.
Everyone is familiar with the word command; we often see the word commandment used quite often; especially we are most familiar with its use to translate the Hebrew word mits'vah into English - but it really does not wholly convey the underlying concrete meaning of mits'vah.
The word command implies words of force or power as a General commands his troops. The word mits'vah is better understood in English as a directive. To grasp better the picture painted by this word it is helpful to look at a related word, “tsiyon” – its concrete meaning being that of a desert or a landmark.
The Ancient Hebrews were a nomadic people who wandered the deserts searching for pastures to feed and care for their flocks.
Nomads were quite accustomed to using the various rivers, mountains, rock outcroppings, stars, etc as landmarks to give them their direction. The verb form of mits'vah is tsavah meaning to direct one on a journey. The mits'vah of the Bible were not commands, or rules and regulations, to the Hebrew (as we might understand that today). The Hebrew understanding of mits’vah went much deeper - and often more personal.
They were directives - or landmarks that one looked for guidance in order that one should not veer from the path provided; turning neither to the right, or to the left (Deuteronomy 5:32, 28:14, Joshua 1:7, Proverbs 4:27, Isaiah 30:21).
Interestingly, the word “tsiyon” meaning landmark is also the word translated as Zion, the mountain of God but, not just a mountain, it is the very landmark.
