The term “the law of Moses” is referred to 22 times in the Bible.  What is the law of Moses?  Is it all the laws which God gave to Moses, or the first five books of the Bible?  By looking at each of these verses in turn we will gain some insight by what is meant by the law of Moses.

3 references are direct quotes from the law of Moses

Jos 8:31  as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the Book of the Law of Moses: “an altar of whole stones over which no man has wielded an iron tool.” And they offered on it burnt offerings to the LORD, and sacrificed peace offerings.

This is a quote from Exodus 20:24-25 and Deuteronomy 27:5-6. 

2Ki 14:6  But the children of the murderers he did not execute, according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, in which the LORD commanded, saying, “Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor shall children be put to death for their fathers; but a person shall be put to death for his own sin.”

This is a quote from Deuteronomy 24:16. 

1Co 9:9  For it is written in the law of Moses, “YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE AN OX WHILE IT TREADS OUT THE GRAIN.” Is it oxen God is concerned about?

This is a quote from Deuteronomy 25:4.

11 References provide information about teachings contained in the law of Moses

2Ch 23:18  Also Jehoiada appointed the oversight of the house of the LORD to the hand of the priests, the Levites, whom David had assigned in the house of the LORD, to offer the burnt offerings of the LORD, as it is written in the Law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, as it was established by David.

Ezr 3:2  Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and his brethren, arose and built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God.

The law of Moses contains instructions on burnt offerings.  These are found throughout Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.  (Genesis records Noah and Abraham offering burnt offerings, but there are no instructions.) 

2Ch 30:16  They stood in their place according to their custom, according to the Law of Moses the man of God; the priests sprinkled the blood received from the hand of the Levites.

The law of Moses contains instructions on sprinkling blood.  These are found in Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers.

Jos 23:6  Therefore be very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, lest you turn aside from it to the right hand or to the left,

The law of Moses contained instructions on what to keep and to do.

1Ki 2:3  And keep the charge of the LORD your God: to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His judgments, and His testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn;

The law of Moses contained information about God’s ways, statutes, commandments, judgments, and testimonies.

Dan 9:11  Yes, all Israel has transgressed Your law, and has departed so as not to obey Your voice; therefore the curse and the oath written in the Law of Moses the servant of God have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against Him.

Dan 9:13  “As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come upon us; yet we have not made our prayer before the LORD our God, that we might turn from our iniquities and understand Your truth.

The law of Moses contained curses for disobedience.  These are found in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28.

Luk 2:22  Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord

The law of Moses contained information about purification.  These are found in Leviticus 12:2-6.

Joh 7:23  If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the law of Moses should not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath?

Act 15:5  But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”

The law of Moses contained information about circumcision.  It is found in Leviticus 12:2-3 as a law for newborn male babies.  It is also found in Exodus 12:43-44, 48 which states servants and foreigners were required to be circumcised if they wanted to partake of Passover.  (Circumcision was introduced before Moses was even born when God made a covenant with Abraham in Genesis chapter 17.  However, it was incorporated as part of the law of Moses.)

Heb 10:28  Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

The law of Moses contained information about witnesses.  It is found in Deuteronomy 17:6-7; 19:15 which state that two or three witnesses are required – not just one.

5 References are general in nature

Jos 8:32  And there, in the presence of the children of Israel, he wrote on the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he had written.

This would have taken many stones!

2Ki 23:25  Now before him there was no king like him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses; nor after him did any arise like him.

This is in reference to king Josiah of Judah.

Ezr 7:6  this Ezra came up from Babylon; and he was a skilled scribe in the Law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given. The king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.

Ezra was a skilled scribe in the law of Moses, which indicates that it is substantial rather than just a few paragraphs.

Neh 8:1  Now all the people gathered together as one man in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate; and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded Israel.

The law of Moses was written in a book, or more likely scrolls.

Act 28:23  So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening.

This is in reference to the apostle Paul.

1 Reference in regard to justification

Act 13:39  and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.

Justification (being made right before God) is through faith in Christ Jesus, not through the law of Moses.  See “What is Justification?” for more information.

From what we have covered so far it is clear that the law of Moses is found throughout the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.  The next two references give more clarity.

2 References in regard to what it is

Mal 4:4  “Remember the Law of Moses, My servant, Which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel, With the statutes and judgments.

This verse tells us that the law of Moses is all the statutes and judgments which God gave to Moses in mount Horeb.  These 600-plus laws are found in various sections of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.  There are, however, portions of these books which cover things other than law.

Luk 24:44  Then He [Jesus] said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.”

This verse indicates that the law of Moses can also be broader than just the laws God gave to Moses.  For example, Genesis 3:15 is a prophecy that Jesus would defeat the devil, which Jesus fulfilled.

Gen 3:15  And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”

The indication here is that the law of Moses can refer to the first five books of the Bible, also known as the Torah (Hebrew for “law”).

Conclusion

Strictly speaking, the Law of Moses refers to all the statutes and judgments which God gave to Moses in mount Horeb.

A broader meaning of the Law of Moses is the first five books of the Bible.