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The Seven commandments of the Descendants of Noah
The Biblical Covenant that G-d made with Noah. (See Genesis, Chapter 9)
In the Talmud Non-Jews are referred to as Bnei Noach (since all mankind are descended from the Biblical Patriarch Noah). Mankind was commanded to keep six Mitzvot (laws) from the time of Adam and seven from the time of Noah, before Abraham and the Jewish nation were born. Although the 613 Mitzvot of the Torah superseded these Seven Mitzvot for the Jewish nation, these Mitzvot remain binding to Bnei Noach today. Therefore on Judgment Day, G-d will judge all gentiles according to these 7 laws, and not the 10 commandments (which were commanded to the House of Israel only), to see whether they merit a place in the world to come.
These are the Seven commandments that the descendants of Noah are commanded:
1. Avodah Zarah עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה
Literally: Strange work - i.e. serving an idol
Prohibition against: Idolatry (the deification or worship of any object, creature, human being, or power other than the One G-d.)
Commandment to: Believe in G-d alone
This commandment includes the belief in G-d, that He is the creator of everything and He is constantly creating everything anew. Indeed the very essence of life is to recognize and believe in the Supreme Being, the Creator of the universe, accepting His laws with awe and love. He is aware of our deeds, and His Providence is over all of creation.
2. Birchat (Kilelas) HaShem בִּרְכַּת הַשֵׁם
Literally: ‘Blessing’ the Divine Name. i.e. Cursing G-d
Prohibition against: Blasphemy
Commandment to: Respect and praise G-d
This commandment forbids cursing G-d (G-d forbid) in anyway. Trust and loyalty are crucial in life. Know that G-d is just, but humans can’t comprehend our Creator, Who is infinite. One shouldn’t extend his “freedom of speech” to the extreme of blasphemy.
3. Shefichat Damim שְׁפִיכוּת דָּמִים
Literally: Spilling blood
Prohibition against: Murder
Commandment to: Respect human life
This commandment includes prohibitions of murder, abortion, and suicide (G-d forbid). This edict protects us from the extremes of selfishness and the violent tendencies that may lie within. (Genesis 9:6)
4. Gilui Arayot גִּלּוּי עֲרָיוֹת
Literally: Exposure of nakedness
Prohibition against: Sexual transgressions (i.e. incest, adultery, homosexual acts, castration and bestiality etc)
Commandment to: Respect family values
This commandment prohibits six immoral acts: with your mother, with your fathers wife, with a friends wife, with your sister from your mother, with an animal, and sodomy. Wholesome families are a basis of healthy communities, nations and societies. Sexual transgressions lead to inner spiritual decay. (Genesis 2:24)
5. Gezel גָּזֵל
Literally: To rob, embezzle.
Prohibition against: Theft (Includes rape and abduction)
Commandment to: Respect the rights of others
This commandment prohibits stealing money, a person (kidnapping), or even stealing from your employer. Since our sustenance comes from G-d, we should seek to earn it with honesty and dignity, not through deceit.
6. Ever Min HaChai אֵבָר מִן הֶחָי
Literally: Limb of the living.
Prohibition against: Eating a limb or any meat taken from a live animal
Commandment to: Respect all creatures
This commandment prohibits cruelty to animals. Humans are given dominion over the Earth, but we are also its caretakers. Although we may make use of animals, we cannot cause them undue suffering. This law prohibits meat taken from an animal while its heart was still beating. (Genesis 9:3-4)
7. Dinim דִּינִים
Literally: Judgement, justice, and law etc.
Prohibition against: Injustice
Commandment to: Set up courts of law
The descendents of Noah are obligated to create a judicial system to enforce the other six laws. A fair and effective legal system creates a society worthy of G-d’s blessings. It brings G’d’s ideals for our personal life into a formal order for society, and completes the other six laws.
According to the Rambam in his Hilchos Melachim, the order the laws were given in is as follows:
'Six precepts were commanded to Adam: prohibitions against the worship of false gods; cursing G-d; murder; incest and adultery; theft; laws and courts of justice. To Noah, G-d added the prohibition against eating flesh from a living animal, as [Genesis 9:4] states: "Nevertheless, you may not eat flesh with its life, which is its blood." Thus, there are Seven Mitzvot.'
'These matters remained the same throughout the world until Abraham. When Abraham came, he was commanded regarding circumcision in addition to these. He also ordained the morning prayers. Isaac separated tithes and ordained an additional prayer service in the afternoon. Jacob was commanded the prohibition against eating the sciatic nerve. He also ordained the evening prayers. In Egypt, Amram was commanded regarding other mitzvot. Ultimately, Moses came and the Torah was completed by him.'
The Seven Noachide laws are general commandments with many details. Transgressing any one of them incurs the death penalty. Apart from a few exceptions, the death sentence for a Ben Noach is Sayif, death by the sword / decapitation, the least painful of the four modes of executing criminals in Torah Law (see the Rambam's Hilchos Melachim 9:14). The many formalities of procedure essential when the accused is an Israelite need not be observed in the case of the Noachite. The latter may be convicted on the testimony of one witness, even on that of relatives, but not on that of a woman. He need have had no warning from the witnesses; and a single judge may pass sentence on him (Sanhedrin 57a, b; Rambam, Hilchos Melakim 9:14).
The Rambam in Hilchos Melachim 8:11, writes that all Bnei Noach who accept upon themselves the Seven Mitzvos and are careful to keep them and are precise in their observance are termed 'Chasidei Umos ha'Olam' ('the Pious Ones of the Nations') מֵחֲסִידֵי אֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם and they merit a share in the World to Come. However, they must keep these Mitzvos specifically because HaShem (G-d) commanded them in the Torah through Moshe Rabeinu (Moses our teacher). If they keep and perform these Mitzvos (laws) out of intellectual conviction and as logical guidelines for the survival of the world, they are not a resident alien (Ger Toshav), nor of the Pious among the Gentiles (Chasidei Umot HaOlam), but rather, of their wise men.
When a Ben Noach fulfills a Mitzvah of the Torah that is not prohibited to him, he receives the reward of an 'Eino Metzuveh v'Oseh' - 'one who performs a Mitzvah in which he was not commanded.' This reward is less than the reward of one who performs Mitzvos in which he was commanded (Gemara Bava Kama 38a, Kidushin 31a).
In essence, the Seven Noahide Laws establish a stable, humane and just society, which accomplishes G-d’s command of inhabiting the world. Observing these Laws helps everyone accomplish his or her true purpose: to make a dwelling place for God in this world.
Besides these seven major Mitzvos, Chazal (the Jewish Sages) received a tradition that there are other Mitzvos and prohibitions that are incumbent upon Bnei Noach. The Beraisa in Sanhedrin 56b, notes certain Tana'im (early Rabbis) who rule that other prohibitions are incumbent upon Bnei Noach. These prohibitions are:
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Hebrew Transliteration
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English Translation
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Talmud
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7b
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Dam Min ha'Chai
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not to eat blood that is taken from an animal when it is alive
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Rabbi Chananyah ben Gamliel said: Also not to partake of the blood drawn from a living animal
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4b
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Sirus
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not to perform castration/emasculation
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Rabbi Chidka said, they are also forbidden to castrate
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1b
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Kishuf
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witchcraft
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Rabbi Shimon said, also Kishuf (witchcraft /sorcery) is forbidden to them.
Rabbi Yossi said, everything in the Parshah of Kishuf is forbidden to them (Deut. / Devarim 18:10-11)
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4c
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Harba'as Behemah
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mating different species of animals
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Rabbi Eliezer added Kilayim (forbidden mixture) in plants and animals. They are permitted to wear Sha'atnez - garments of mixed fabrics [of wool and linen] and sow diverse seeds together; they are forbidden only to hybridize heterogeneous animals and graft trees of different kinds.
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4d
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Harkavas ha'Ilan
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grafting trees
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The Amora'im (later Rabbis) add two more prohibitions:
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6b
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Not to Keep Shabbos, that is, choosing a day of the week on which to refrain from work (Sanhedrin 58b).
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5b
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Not to Learn Torah other than the portions that deal with the seven major Mitzvos above (San. 59a).
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N.B. - Please note that some of these additional laws should be treated as a list of recommendations and not as the actual accepted Halacha. For further explanation of this you should consult your Local Orthodox Rabbi or the new Shulchan Aruch for Bnei Noach: ‘The Divine Code’.
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