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:
- 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.
- 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.
- G-d — is [an injunction against] idolatry, and thus it is written, Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.
- The man — refers to homicide, and thus it is written, Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed.
- 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.
- Of every tree of the garden — but not of theft.
- Thou mayest freely eat — but not limb of a living creature.
The seven laws listed by the Talmud are
- Imperative of Legal System: - An imperative to pursue social justice, and a prohibition of any miscarriage of justice.
- Prohibition of Blasphemy: - Prohibits a curse directed at the Supreme Being.
- Prohibition of Idolatry: - Prohibits the worship of idols and planets.
- Prohibition of Homicide: - Prohibits murder and suicide.
- Prohibition of Sexual Immorality: - Prohibits adultery, incest, homosexuality, and bestiality.
- Prohibition of Theft: - Prohibits the wrongful taking of another’s goods.
- 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)



