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• Mosaic Law
  Mosaic Law

  noun

  the ancient law of the Hebrews, ascribed to Moses.
• Mosaic law
  Mosaic law

  noun

  Old Testament the laws of the Hebrews ascribed to Moses and contained in the Pentateuch

Mosaic Law

American  

noun

1. the ancient law of the Hebrews, ascribed to Moses.

2. the part of the Scripture containing this law; the Pentateuch.

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Mosaic law British  

/ məʊˈzeɪɪk /

noun

1. Old Testament the laws of the Hebrews ascribed to Moses and contained in the Pentateuch

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Mosaic law Cultural  

1. The law that, according to the Old Testament, God gave to the Israelites through Moses. The Mosaic law begins with the Ten Commandments and includes the many rules of religious observance given in the first five books of the Old Testament. In Judaism, these books are called the Torah, or “the Law.”

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Etymology

Origin of Mosaic Law

First recorded in 1695–1705

Example Sentences

We cannot return to Mosaic law, but there’s evident wisdom here: People’s futures should not be foreclosed forever because of past injustice.

From Salon • Apr. 12, 2025

Christian reconstructionism, Tabachnick explained, is "about bringing government in all areas of life under biblical law, a continuation of the Mosaic law in the Old Testament, with some exceptions."

From Salon • Oct. 31, 2021

Different Christian traditions take different approaches to Mosaic law, but in general they view it as the “Old Covenant,” superseded by the arrival of Jesus.

From Slate • May 15, 2017

The idea that the Bible and Mosaic law provided foundations for American law has taken root in Christian teaching about American history.

From New York Times • Feb. 11, 2010

In the Mosaic law, proclaimed over thirty centuries ago, the Israelites were forbidden to eat food that contained blood, for the reason that "the life of the flesh is in the blood."

From A Treatise on Physiology and Hygiene For Educational Institutions and General Readers by Hutchison, Joseph Chrisman