ב"ה

The Seven Laws of Noah

G‑d placed humanity on this planet with a mandate: Work with it, protect it, leave it better than you found it.

To guide us in this cosmic mission, He gave us seven laws, all of them crucial elements to achieving a harmonious, beautiful, and meaningful life:

Embrace G‑d's Oneness
Do Not Curse Him
Guard Human Life
Respect Animal Life
Respect the Property of Others
Live a Moral Family Life
Ensure Justice

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Catching Up With Ourselves

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Big Government or Big G-d

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The Seven Noahide Laws

Torah Laws for the Non-Jew

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The Noahide Laws, Part 1

The Noahide Laws, Part 2

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Universal Responsibility: Faith, Education and Humanity

Divine Zeitgeist - The Rebbe's Appreciative Critique of Modernity

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Questions

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The Seven Noahide Laws in the News

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22 Comments

David Koberstein August 10, 2024

Who is going to enforce the Seven Noahide laws? Good luck with that! Reply

Geo. Warner Oklahoma January 11, 2024

What about Shabbos! 6 days and on the 7th is Shabbos. Can't help myself anymore. I'm going through Mishneh Torah just because... for its own sake. I can't see myself anywhere else. I was born and raised gentile (with the "golden rule"). But after 40 yrs here I am. Reply

Rabbi Mendel Adelman for chabad.org January 14, 2024

in response to Geo. Warner:

Shabbat is a special command that is a covenant between G-d and the Jewish nation. It is not one of the Noahide Laws because it is not for all of humanity. See Exodus 31 and Ezekiel 20. Reply

Jennifer Ohio January 10, 2024

Then what is a person who is decended from a Jew and a Christian? One who is then raised in a mostly Christian household. Is he then a Noahide or a Jew. Reply

Rabbi Mendel Adelman for chabad.org January 14, 2024

in response to Jennifer :

Judaism is matrilineal. So, if your mother is Jewish, you are 100% Jewish. If your father is Jewish, but your mother is not, then you are 100% not Jewish. See Why is Jewishness matrilineal Reply

Marina Hewitt Perth Western Australia January 10, 2024

Thank you Rabbi for your work. As a Gentile from a Christian background, I find it curious that having been exposed to both Protestant and Catholic dogma, the Noahide Laws were never mentioned by anyone to me before I starting subscribing to Chabad and studying Judaism online. I have a few questions if I may: (a) When were the Noahide Laws first recognised by the Rabbis? (b) In terms of other religions/cults such as Hinduism, Christianity, Jainism, Buddhism, Jehova Witness, Scientology etc, is G-d expecting them to become Noahides? and (c) if the other Nations/religions don't convert to Noahide, what is their role in Creation? Reply

Rabbi Mendel Adelman for chabad.org January 14, 2024

in response to Marina Hewitt:

1) The seven Noahide Laws are spelled out in the Talmud, based on scriptural evidence. They stretch back to Noah's time. See Sanhedrin 56a-57a.

2) That is the expectation for all of humanity.

3) Their job is to do as many good deeds as possible. G-d has a plan for each person. He does the judging. We just do the teaching and encouraging. Sometimes, a soul comes down to this world for 70 years to do one good deed to help another. Reply

Marina Perth Western Australia January 15, 2024

in response to Rabbi Mendel Adelman for chabad.org:

Dear Rabbi, thank you for your reply. What perplexes me is whether or not one has to declare oneself a Noahide (and to whom), or is it possible to be a righteous gentile without having the boxes ticked? If one knows what is good and abides by the 7 or 10 Commandments, or even beyond that, is this enough? Reply

Julie October 20, 2023

Where do the noahide fit under the 613? We follow the mitzvot that belong to us as messianic Gentiles including Shabbat, dietary laws, and moedim, but interested to know how many of the 613 commandments are under the noahide laws.

Thank you! Praying for Israel! HaShem bless and keep her! Reply

David Florence Az May 31, 2023

Would the noahide help a Christian? Many of whom have done there best to adhere to the laws even though they've broken the first? Reply

Robin February 6, 2023

Where are these 7 laws spoken to Mankind by God? I see no specific commands to Noah as you write them in a list. Reply

A. K. February 12, 2023

in response to Robin:

Genesis 9:6 - legal order
Genesis 2:16 - idolatry
Leviticus 24:15 - blasphemy
Genesis 2:17 - theft
Genesis 2:24; Genesis 20:13; Genesis 19:29-36; Leviticus 18:3; Leviticus18:30 - forbidden relationships
Genesis 9:5-6 - murder
Genesis 9:4 - dealing with animals

Six commandments were given to Adam and one additional commandment to Noah. Reply

Robin May 23, 2023

in response to Robin:

Genesis 9:6 - legal order- is about shedding blood, not order. Just that we all are part of the Creators plan.
Genesis 2:16 - idolatry - is not correct reference
Leviticus 24:15 - blasphemy - is not correct reference
Genesis 2:17 - theft - that is a stretch to relate it to theft instead of disobedience
Genesis 2:24; Genesis 20:13; Genesis 19:29-36; Leviticus 18:3; Leviticus18:30 - forbidden relationships - good family values needed for healthy relationships.
Genesis 9:5-6 - murder - But killing is permitted under law and at times of war. Deuteronomy 20 seems a forgotten chapter in our modern times. And those who do follow the commands of Deuteronomy 20 with added laws of deception and the need to humiliate others instead have only now been handed the skills of nuclear destruction by the people who gave up on God. Genesis 9:4 - dealing with animals - unconditional love and respect for all Creation is a universal law of Heavenly values. Reply

Robin May 23, 2023

in response to A. K.:

Thank you. Reply

A. K. January 18, 2023

Judaism does not engage in missionary work among non-Jews. How do Orthodox rabbis want to bring the 7 Noahide Laws to the attention of non-Jews? And to what extent does this encounter resistance from Christians in particular, who wrongly believe that the entire Torah is also intended for them and not just for Jews? Reply

anonymous November 29, 2022

My rabbi said there are many more than 7 laws they have to follow. Can you post a list of All the laws they are obligated to follow? Reply

Dovid Olensky North Miami Beach January 12, 2023

in response to anonymous:

Your Rabbi may be referring to the fact that the 7 Laws are general Commandments, each containing many parts and details. The parts and details correspond to 66 Commandments of the 613 that Jews are commanded.

According to some Torah authorities, there are an additional 3 Laws, even though the Children of Noah were not commanded to do them. Hence, there are only 7.

These additional 3 Laws are based on the fact that non-Jews have traditionally taken upon themselves to fulfill these 3 Commandments.
They are:
1) Giving charity
2) Honoring and respecting your parents
3) Praying to G-d Reply

Dovid Olensky North Miami Beach January 12, 2023

in response to anonymous:

See: The Seven Laws of Noah by Aaron Lichtenstein or The Path of the Righteous Gentile, An Introduction to the Seven Laws of the Children of Noah by Chaim Clorfene and Yakov Rogalsky Reply

anonymous November 4, 2022

hi Rabbi. Would it be accurate to assume that gentiles are also obligated and expected by Hashem to dress according to the same modesty standards that jews follow too? Reply

Simcha Bart November 6, 2022

in response to anonymous:

Though they should be modest - see below, yet, I cannot say that it has to be the "same modesty standards that Jews follow".
The Rebbe explains:
"Rabbi Yochanan said: ‘Had the Torah not been given, we would have learnt modesty from a cat, [and not to commit] theft from an ant.’ ” Rashi comments, “He [G-d] imbued them [the animals of the land and the birds of the sky] with wisdom in order to teach us.”
...what difference does it make what would have occurred “had the Torah not been given”? ...this is relevant... in terms of the obligations of Gentiles. For certain matters, although they are not included in the Noahide Code, an obligation exists to derive them from “the animals of the land..." From a talk Shavuot 5747 (1987). Reply

anonymous November 8, 2022

in response to Simcha Bart:

Are they obligated to also dress with the same dress standards that jews follow though Reply

anonymous May 22, 2023

in response to anonymous:

I think they should have to observe the modesty standards too. Reply

The Seven Laws of Noah

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