(which was) commanded(-ment), law, ordinance, precept

Dictionary of Biblical Words:

The divine role of life for man in the flesh, or fallen man, as is seen in the frequent, “Thou shalt not.” Outwardly, in the letter, they were kept by many blamelessly (Phil. 3:66Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. (Philippians 3:6); Luke 1:6,6And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. (Luke 1:6) &c.) In the spirit none could keep them (Rom. 7:7,7What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. (Romans 7:7) &c. 8:7; 4:15. Gal. 3:10, 11,10For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. 11But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. (Galatians 3:10‑11) &c.); “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart,” and Thou shalt not covet,’ being alone sufficient to convict every one. The law, therefore, because of the weakness of the flesh, failed in leading man to God; it only condemned him to death for breaking it (Gen. 3:1010And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. (Genesis 3:10)). The Christian has paid this righteous penalty in the death of Christ, and now is free, in the power of a new nature, born of God, to fulfill the law (Rom. 7:6; 8:46But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. (Romans 7:6)
4That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:4)), not in the oldness of the letter, but in the newness of spirit, no longer as a means of life, but because we have life (see LAW). These Ten Commandments were written on two tables, the first four or five (man’s duty to God) on the one, and the remainder (man’s duty to his neighbor) on: the other. The tables are thus summarized by the Lord (Mark 12:29-3129And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: 30And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. 31And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. (Mark 12:29‑31)). The first tables were brokers in spirit by the people, and literally by Moses, as soon as given, the second set were hidden in the ark.

Concise Bible Dictionary:

The subject of “law” is not restricted in scripture to the law given by Moses. God gave a commandment (or law) to Adam, which made Adam’s subsequent sin to be transgression. Where there is no law there is no transgression (Rom. 4:1515Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. (Romans 4:15)), though there may be sin, as there was from Adam to Moses: “until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed [or put to account] when there is no law” (Rom. 5:1313(For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. (Romans 5:13)). This doubtless signifies that specific acts were not put to account as a question of God’s governmental dealings, when there was no law forbidding them. Men sinned, and death reigned, though they “had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression” (Rom. 5:1414Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. (Romans 5:14)), for no definite law had been given to them. The nations that had not the law were however a law unto themselves, having some sense of good and evil, and their conscience bore witness accordingly. It is not a true definition of sin, to say that it is “the transgression of the law,” as in the AV of 1 John 3:44Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. (1 John 3:4). The passage should read “Sin is lawlessness:” that is, man doing his own will, defiant of restraint, and regardless of his Creator and of his neighbor.
“Law” may be considered as a principle in contrast to “grace,” in which sense it occurs in the New Testament, the word “law” being often without the article (though the law of Moses may at times be alluded to in the same way). In this sense it raises the question of what man is for God, and hence involves works. “The doers of [the] law shall be justified” (Rom. 2:1313(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. (Romans 2:13)); but if, on the other hand, salvation be “by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace” (Rom. 11:66And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. (Romans 11:6)). The conclusion is that “by the deeds of [the] law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight.” None can be saved on that principle. In opposition to it “the righteousness of God without [the] law is manifested.” The believer is “justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 3:20-2420Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 21But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: (Romans 3:20‑24)). “Law” as a principle stands also in scripture in contrast to “faith.” “The just shall live by faith: and the law is not of faith; but the man that doeth them shall live in them” (Gal. 3:1111But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. (Galatians 3:11)).
The word “law” is also used for a fixed and unvarying principle, such as “a law of nature”; thus we read of the “law of faith,” “law of sin,” “law of righteousness,” “law of the Spirit of life,” (compare Rom. 7:2121I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. (Romans 7:21)).
The term “law” is occasionally used in the New Testament as a designation of other parts of the Old Testament besides the Pentateuch. The Lord said, “Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?” when the quotation was from the Psalm. John 10:34: similarly 1 Corinthians 14:2121In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. (1 Corinthians 14:21).
The LAW OF LIBERTY, (James 1:2525But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. (James 1:25); James 2:1212So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. (James 2:12)), implies that, the nature being congruous, the things enjoined, instead of being a burden, are a pleasure. Doing the commandments of the Lord is the fruit of the divine nature: they are therefore both law and liberty.

Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew Words:

Number:
4687 (find all occurrences in KJV Bible)
Transliteration:
mitsvah
Phonic:
mits-vaw’
Meaning:
from 6680; a command, whether human or divine (collectively, the Law)
KJV Usage:
(which was) commanded(-ment), law, ordinance, precept