Most people have heard of the so-called ‘Ten Commandments’, but what they don't know is that 'Ten Commandments' is a mistranslation. In the original Hebrew, ‘Aseret HaDibrot' correctly translates as ‘Ten Statements’, and it was ten statements that Moses brought down from Mount Sinai, carved on two stone tablets. According to Jewish tradition (which comes from the Divine revelation to Moses at Mount Sinai), the Torah of Moses contains 613 commandments for the Jewish people and seven commandments for everyone else. One of the commandments given to the Jewish people was to be ‘a light unto the (non-Jewish) nations’, and as part of fulfilling this task they have preserved in the Talmud the ‘Universal Code of Seven Noachide Commandments’.

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 commandments from the time of Adam and seven from the time of Noah (see Genesis, Chapter 9), before Abraham and the Jewish nation were born. Although the 613 commandments of the Torah superseded these Seven commandments for the Jewish nation, these commandments remain binding to Bnei Noach today.

Therefore on Judgment Day, G-d will judge all gentiles according to these 7 commandments, to see whether they merit a place in the world to come, and not the so-called 10 commandments (which were commanded to the House of Israel only).

These are the Seven commandments that the descendants of Noah are commanded:

1. Avodah Zarah  עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה        

Literally: Strange/foreign work/service - i.e. serving an idol or false deity.

Prohibition against: Idolatry (the deification or worship of any object, creature, human being, or power other than the One True G-d.)

Commandment to: Believe and trust in G-d alone, as the Almighty Creator and Sustainer of the World.

This commandment includes the belief in G-d, that He is the creator of everything and He is constantly creating everything anew, and guides everything by His Providence. 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.

Refer to: Exodus 20:3-4

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 and His holy Names.

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. Don’t speak against the One Who gave you speech!

Refer to: Leviticus 24:15

3. Shefichat Damim  שְׁפִיכוּת דָּמִים

Literally: Spilling blood

Prohibition against: Murder

Commandment to: Respect the sanctity of human life.

This commandment includes prohibitions of murder, abortion (except to save the mothers life), euthanasia and suicide (G-d forbid). This edict protects us from the extremes of selfishness and the violent tendencies that may lie within.

Refer to: Genesis 9:6

4. Gilui Arayot  גִּלּוּי עֲרָיוֹת

Literally: Exposure of nakedness - i.e. knowing someone in a forbidden sexual way.

Prohibition against: Sexual transgressions (i.e. incest, adultery, homosexual acts, castration and bestiality etc)

Commandment to: Respect traditional family values, because G-d defined marriage.

This commandment prohibits a gentile man from six immoral acts: with your mother, with your fathers wife, with a another mans wife, with your maternal sister, with an animal, and with another man. Wholesome families are a basis of healthy communities, nations and societies. Sexual transgressions lead to inner spiritual decay.

Refer to: Genesis 2:24

5. Gezel   גָּזֵל

Literally: To rob, steal or embezzle.

Prohibition against: Theft (Includes rape and abduction)

Commandment to: Respect the rights and property of others.

This commandment prohibits stealing money or goods, 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.

Refer to: Genesis 2:17

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 and avoid cruelty.

This commandment also 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 commandment prohibits meat taken from an animal while its heart was still beating.

Refer to: Genesis 9:3-4

7. Dinim  דִּינִים

Literally: Judgement, justice, and law etc.

Prohibition against: Injustice, Societies with no legal system and breaching Torah law.

Commandment to: Establish a Just legal system, and pursue Justice

The descendents of Noah are obligated to create a judicial system to enforce the other six commandments. 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 commandments. Justice is the foundation of world peace.

Refer to: Genesis 34:2-4.

According to the Rambam (Maimonides) in his Hilchos Melachim, the order the commandments 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 Commandments.'

'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 commandments. Ultimately, Moses came and the Torah was completed by him.'

The Seven Noachide Commandments are general commandments with many details.

The Rambam in Hilchos Melachim 8:11, writes that all Bnei Noach who accept upon themselves the Seven Commandments 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 commandments specifically because HaShem (G-d) commanded them in the Torah through Moshe Rabeinu (Moses our teacher). If they keep and perform these commandments 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 Commandments 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:

Hebrew Transliteration English Translation Talmud 7b Dam Min ha'Chai not to eat blood that is taken from an animal when it is alive Rabbi Chananyah ben Gamliel said: Also not to partake of the blood drawn from a living animal 4b Sirus not to perform castration/emasculation Rabbi Chidka said, they are also forbidden to castrate 1b Kishuf witchcraft 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) 4c Harba'as Behemah mating different species of animals 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. 4d Harkavas ha'Ilan grafting trees

The Amora'im (later Rabbis) add two more prohibitions:

6b Not to Keep Shabbat - choosing a day of the week on which to refrain from work (Sanhedrin 58b). 5b Not to Learn Torah other than the parts that deal with the seven major commandments (San. 59a).

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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