The Seven Noahide Laws

The Seven Noahide Laws, or, Laws of Noah

In Hebrew: “Sheva Mitzvot Bnei Noach”

Excerpted from this WikiNoah page.  Go there for more in-depth study.


The very first time in the Bible that the verb tsavah (צָוָה, “to command”) appears is in the verse “And the L-rd G-d commanded the man saying, of every tree of the garden you may freely eat” (Genesis 2:16). Rabbinic tradition understands this first commandment to Adam HaRishon as including the entire Noahide Law:

  1. And [He] commanded, refers to legal system, and thus it is written, For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment.
  2. The L-rd — is [a prohibition against] blasphemy, and thus it is written, and he that blasphemeth the name of the Lord, he shall surely be put to death.
  3. G-d — is [an injunction against] idolatry, and thus it is written, Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.
  4. The man — refers to homicide, and thus it is written, Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed.
  5. Saying — refers to sexual immorality, and thus it is written, They say, If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and became another man’s.
  6. Of every tree of the garden — but not of theft.
  7. Thou mayest freely eat — but not limb of a living creature.

The seven laws listed by the Talmud are

  1. Imperative of Legal System: - An imperative to pursue social justice, and a prohibition of any miscarriage of justice.
  2. Prohibition of Blasphemy: - Prohibits a curse directed at the Supreme Being.
  3. Prohibition of Idolatry: - Prohibits the worship of idols and planets.
  4. Prohibition of Homicide: - Prohibits murder and suicide.
  5. Prohibition of Sexual Immorality: - Prohibits adultery, incest, homosexuality, and bestiality.
  6. Prohibition of Theft: - Prohibits the wrongful taking of another’s goods.
  7. Prohibition of Limb of a Living Creature: - Prohibits the eating of animal parts which were severed from a living animal (traditionally interpreted as a prohibition of cruelty towards animals)

Maimonides list them in this order (the order most commonly used)

  1. Prohibition of Idolatry
  2. Prohibition of Blasphemy
  3. Prohibition of Homicide
  4. Prohibition of Sexual Immorality
  5. Prohibition of Theft
  6. Prohibition of Limb of a Living Creature
  7. Imperative of Legal System
October 28th, 2008 | Email This Page Email This Page | Print

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