A Precept (from the Latin præcipere, to teach) is a commandment, instruction, or order intended as an authoritative rule of action.

Religion

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In religion, precepts are usually commands respecting moral conduct.

The term is encountered frequently the Jewish, Christian Scriptures; e.g.:

Thou hast commanded thy precepts to be kept diligently. O that my ways may be steadfast in keeping thy statutes! (Psalm 119(118):4-5, RSV).

The term given in the RSV as "precepts" corresponds with the reading in the Hebrew Bible. The LXX/Septuagint (Samuel Bagster edition) has Greek entolas, which, too, may be rendered with precepts.

Roman Catholic Canon law, which is based on Roman Law, makes a distinction between precept and law in Canon 49:

A singular precept is a decree by which an obligation is directly and lawfully imposed on a specific person or persons to do or to omit something, especially in order to urge the observance of a law.

In Buddhism, the fundamental code of ethics is known as the Five Precepts.

Secular law

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In secular law, a precept is a command in writing; a species of writ or process issuing from a court or other legal authority. It is now chiefly used of an order demanding payment. The Latin form praecipe (i.e. enjoin, command) is used of the note of instructions delivered by a plaintiff or his lawyer to be filed by the officer of the court, giving the names of the plaintiff and defendant.

References

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• Article entolē in Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament, H. Balz and G. Schneider (ed.), Edinburgh 1990, Vol. I, p.459-60, which also cites sources for a discussion of the term's distinction from Greek nomos/"law".
• The Code of Canon Law, 1983, in the English translation prepared by the Canon Law Society of Great Britain and Ireland ^*
• Oxford English Dictionary lists the origen of precept as from the latin roots of pre-septum. thus precept is a pre coming-together/closure)