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Guidance for individuals, families, and communities about
The 7 Commandments in G-d’s Moral Code for Mankind
How does one become a Noahide / Righteous Gentile
The Noahide (or Noachide) moral code of 7 Universal Commandments was given to Noah and his children after the Flood. These commandments would assure Noah and his children, the pioneers of the new human race, that humanity would never degenerate into a jungle again. These commandments prohibit (1) idolatry, (2) blasphemy, (3) homicide, (4) forbidden relations, (5) robbery, and (6) eating meat that was taken from a still-living animal (cruelty to animals), and they also include a requirement (7) for societies establish courts of justice. The details included in these commandments provide the guidelines for truly ethical behavior, and they serve as the Divine Code that is the foundation of all true morality.
We at Ask Noah International are dedicated to teaching about these commandments in the light of their sources in the Torah of Moses, along with insights on the nature of creation and the important roles of all people as individuals and community members. When we fulfill our potential within the context of this Divine covenant, the creation is spiritually elevated to reach its intended goal. This is how the world becomes a beautiful gem – a place where G-d can (and will) dwell with us in a revealed way
Remember: You can be a beacon of light to dispel the darkness in the world, by reaching out to others with acts of goodness and kindness
These 7 Goals will uplift your life and the lives of those around you
- Increasing your Knowledge of the One True G-d.
- Respecting G-d’s Holy Name.
- Respecting the Sanctity of Human Life.
- Respecting the Traditional Family.
- Respecting the Property of Other People.
- Respecting All Creatures.
- Upholding Righteousness in your Judicial System.
The 7 Noahide Commandments are G-d’s Moral Code for Mankind
G-d gave the first six commandments to Adam and Hava (Eve), the first human beings
These commandments were repeated to Noah, and a seventh commandment was added, when, after the Flood, G-d established the Covenant of the Rainbow with Noah and all of the world’s creatures. This covenant is not dependent on mankind’s observance of these Seven Laws of Noah. Rather, the Noahide Code established the context and the eventual goal for a renewed world in which this covenant could be the open and enduring expression of G-d’s love for His creation. It was G-d’s promise to all living creatures that He would never again obliterate all land-life from the world, as stated in Genesis 9:11 – “never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth
The Covenant of the Rainbow has an inner meaning as well: it was G-d’s promise that He would always accept a person’s sincere personal repentance if it was directed to Him. From that point on, G-d endowed mankind with the ability to seek and gain His forgiveness, and with this He insured that a person’s freedom to choose good includes the strength to prevail over animalistic and self-centered desires
Still, the Seven Commandments received by Noah could have been challenged at a later time by any charismatic misleader who also claimed to be a prophet, and how would a person know which course to follow? This points to the unique importance of the revelation at Mount Sinai to the Jewish people, 50 days after G-d brought them out from slavery in Egypt. At Mount Sinai, the Creator revealed Himself to a nation of at least three million of people, making them all witnesses to testify to their future children and the world. This ensured that no person in any generation could arise to seriously refute the prophecy and instruction which Moses received, which is called the Torah. Included in the Torah was the Noahide Code, to be preserved for the generations of mankind
The entire Book of Genesis, and the Book of Exodus up to and including the arrival of the Israelites at Mount Sinai, were dictated by G-d to Moses when they arrived there. There was then a first covenant made between G-d and the Israelites on that first part of the Written Torah, which included their acceptance of the Noahide Code. Thus, the Divine moral code of Seven (Universal) Commandments was renewed, after it had become neglected by the rest of the nations. That was four days before the Ten (Jewish) Commandments were spoken openly by G-d to all of the Israelites, at which point they became the Jewish people
At Mount Sinai, G-d taught the essentials of the Torah’s precepts through Moses, and this is called the Oral Torah. Included in this are the details of G-d’s directive for all Gentiles to observe their Seven Noahide Commandments. These details, as G-d specified them to Moses, are the true foundation of the universal Noahide Code. A righteous Gentile merits to receive a place in the eternal future World to Come, in the Messianic Era, through observance of these commandments. That is a Gentile’s part in the Torah of Moses, which is G-d’s “Tree of Life” (Proverbs 3:18). It all begins with recognizing the perfect Unity of the Creator
Five of the Noahide Commandments are explicitly found in different verses in the Book of Genesis. One is found in Leviticus. The remaining one (and in fact all them) can be inferred from a single verse in Genesis. [1]
1. Do Not Worship a False Deity
Genesis 2:16 states: “And L-rd G-d commanded to the man, saying…” This Divine command to Adam implies that only the One True G-d, the Creator of the spiritual and physical realms, should be obeyed and honored as the Deity, and the greatest honor is to serve and worship Him. Thus, one should serve and worship only the One True G-d, and not any idol. [1]
2. Do Not Curse G-d’s Name
Leviticus 24:10-17 relates the incident of a Jew who violated the injunction of Exodus 22:27 and blasphemed in anger. Moreover, Leviticus 24:15 in Hebrew states: “ish ish (‘any man’) who curses his G-d shall bear his sin.” Why the double expression of “ish ish” (which literally means “a man, a man”)? It means to include all mankind, both Jews and Gentiles. This teaches that it is prohibited for Gentiles as well to curse G-d’s Name (G-d forbid!). [2]
3. Do Not Commit Murder or Injury
The edict against murder, and the punishment for this transgression, is stated in Genesis 9:5-6: “…of man for his brother, I [G-d] will demand the soul of man. Whoever sheds the blood of man, among man, his blood shall be shed; for in the image of G-d He made man
4. Do Not Have Forbidden Sexual Relations
Five of the six types of intercourse relations that are forbidden by G-d to Gentiles are covered in Genesis 2:24: “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and cling to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” This verse explicitly forbids relations of a man with (1) his mother, with a woman who has ever been his father’s domestic partner or certified wife, with a woman who is currently a domestic partner or certified wife of another man, with another male, or with an animal. A Gentile is also forbidden to have relations with his maternal sister, which is learned from Gen. 20:12: “Moreover, she is indeed my sister, my father’s daughter, though not my mother’s daughter; and she became my wife.” (Note that Abraham said this to appease Abimelech. It was actually only figuratively true in his case, since Sarah was the daughter of Abraham’s brother. So they had the same paternal grandfather, and the children of one’s children are like one’s own children.)
It also was universally accepted that father-daughter relations would be included, as evidenced by the disgrace of Lot after he had relations with his two daughters, following G-d’s destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 19:29-36, and Rashi’s explanation of Gen. 20:1). In addition to the abomination to G-d of relations of a male with a male, relations of a female with a female are likewise an abomination to G-d, which is learned from the fact that they are both included in the subjects of the verse Lev. 18:3, which speaks against the immoral practices of the ancient Egyptians and Canaanites, and which Lev.18:30 refers to as “abominable traditions.” The Midrash (Sifra) specifically names these abominations: “A man would marry a man, a woman would marry a woman, and a woman would be married to two men
5. Do Not Commit Theft
The prohibition of theft is contained within the permission which G-d granted to Adam and Hava (Eve) in Genesis 2:16 to eat from the trees of the garden. This implies that if the permission had not been granted, they would have been forbidden to do so, because the property did not belong to them. This applied specifically to the fruit of the Tree of “Knowledge of Good and Evil” which was forbidden for them to take, under penalty of death (Genesis 2:17). This Noahide commandment was cited explicitly by Abraham in Genesis 21:25
6. Don’t Eat Meat that was Taken from a Live Animal
Adam and Hava (Eve) were not given permission to kill animals for food, and this remained in effect until after the Flood. G-d permitted the eating of meat for the first time to Noah and his family after they left the Ark, which is why G-d at that time added the seventh commandment, which prohibits the eating of meat that was severed from a living animal (even if it was stunned and insensitive). This commandment given to Noah is recorded in Genesis 9:4: “But meat, with its soul [which is in] its blood you shall not eat
7. Establish Laws and Courts of Justice
G-d commanded Noah regarding the trial and punishment of a murderer, as it says in Genesis 9:6, “Whoever sheds the blood of man, among man, his blood shall be shed…” This refers to a Noahide commandment to judge and penalize a murderer. This is explained as follows by the Talmudic Sages: “Whoever sheds the blood of man” (referring to the murderer), “among man” (i.e., he is to be prosecuted in a court by a man who is qualified to testify as a witness), “his blood shall be shed” (if convicted, he is liable to capital punishment by the court). The Noahide Code specifies that Gentile societies are obligated to abide by justice through establishing a system of righteous courts of law
https://asknoah.org/essay/timeline-7-noahide-laws-at-sinai
Timeline of G-d’s re-affirming the Noahide Commandments at Mount Sinai
At Mount Sinai, G-d commanded the 7 Noahide Laws through Moses, with specific details as part of the eternal Torah
As G-d decided for reasons known to Him, some of the verses in the Torah that refer to these events are not placed in chronological order. Here they are presented according to the order of what took place
1st day / Ex. 19:1-2. The Israelite nation encamped at Mount Sinai, on the 45th day after G-d led them out in their exodus from slavery in Egypt
2nd day / Ex. 19:3-8. Moses ascended to the top of Mt. Sinai to receive instructions from G-d, and then he descended. The Israelites agreed that they would obediently enter into the Jewish covenant, when they said, “Everything that G-d has spoken we shall do”
3rd day / Ex. 19:8 (starting from “Moses brought back the words of the people to G-d”) to Ex. 19:9 (up to … “and they will believe in you [Moses], also forever”). Moses then ascended Mt. Sinai again, reported to G-d, received His next instructions, and then descended
4th day / Ex. 19:9 (starting from “Moses told the words of the people to G-d”) to Ex. 19:14, and then the continuation skips to Ex. 24:1-4 (through “Moses wrote all the words of G-d”). Moses ascended Mt. Sinai again to receive instructions from G-d, and descended to tell the people all the Divine laws that had been commanded up until that time
Writing the Book of Genesis including the Noahide Commandments
Note that the recounting and recording of the Seven Noahide Commandments by Moses took place at Mount Sinai on this day, two days before G-d spoke openly to the entire Jewish nation. In Ex. 24:3, it says “Moses came and told the people all the words of G-d and all the laws…” Here, “all the laws” refers to the Seven Noahide Commandments and a few of the Jewish Commandments, all of which the Israelites had already been commanded before they arrived at Mt. Sinai. (Moses told these commandments to the Israelites at Marah, after they crossed through the sea – see Exodus 15:25.)
In Ex. 24:4, “Moses wrote all the words of G-d” means that at that time, he wrote down the Book of Genesis – that contains the verses which inform us of the earlier Covenant of the Rainbow and the Noahide Commandments – and the Book of Exodus up to that point. Thus, G-d commanded upon the Jewish people that based upon the revelation at Mount Sinai, they would have the responsibility for preserving and publicizing the Noahide Commandments and all their details, which are for all the nations of the world for all generations.
For the explanation of how Moses presented this Book of the Covenant to the Israelites, see our web page on “The 7 Noahide Laws in the Book of the Covenant”
5th day / Ex. 24:4 (from “He [Moses] arose early in the morning…”) to Ex. 24:11. This is the day that Moses built an altar, and read to the people the “Book of the Covenant” (the Book of Genesis, including the Seven Noahide Commandments, and the part of Exodus up to that point)
6th day / Ex. 19:16-20:18, and Ex. 24:12-15. G-d openly spoke 10 of the 613 Jewish Commandments to the people. Moses then ascended Mount Sinai, to learn additional Jewish Commandments from G-d for 40 days and 40 nights. (Many of these Jewish commandments are recorded in Ex. 20:19 to Ex. 23:22.)
Footnotes
[1] Tractate Sanhedrin, ch. 7, explains how the 7 Noahide Commandments are encoded within the Hebrew text of Genesis 2:16: “And L-rd G-d commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat.’ ”
[2] Tractate Sanhedrin, p. 56a
https://asknoah.org/essay/noahide-holidays
National holidays that are connected with idolatry should, of course, not be celebrated by Noahides. However, it is definitely permissible for Noahides to participate in days that are set aside by their nation for remembering to praise and give thanks to the One True G-d, such as a Thanksgiving Day and their National Day of Prayer, and to strengthen logically incumbent precepts, such as honoring parents on Mothers Day and Fathers Day, or national days for doing acts of charity. Also, celebrating secular activities and commemorating historical events, even if they involve a festive meal, are permissible for Noahides [for example, the Independence Day of your own country, such as July 4th in the US].
On the other hand, the permissibility for Noahides to observe any aspects of Jewish holy days, or non-Torah holiday celebrations, must be examined, for each of those observances according to its own nature. The criteria for what is permissible are explained in the chapter on “The Prohibition Against Making a New Religion or Adding a Commandment,” in the book “The Divine Code,” by Rabbi Moshe Weiner of Jerusalem (p. 66-67):
“if a Gentile abstains from weekday activities and makes a sabbath for himself, even on a weekday, he is liable [for making a new religion or adding a new commandment]. This obviously includes one who establishes a ‘holy day’ for himself that is similar to the holy days and Sabbaths of the Jews, which are religious holidays (i.e. ‘a holy assembly’ day, during which he prohibits himself from work), since this is creating for himself a new religion. Not only is taking on a sabbath day forbidden, but even the setting aside of any day for a specific religious observance or statute, such as one who establishes for himself a time to eat a special food as a precept (e.g., eating unleavened bread on Passover), or to fast on a specific day (e.g., the Jewish fast day of Yom Kippur), and the like. Even if he did not also set it aside as a sabbath or festival day (i.e., for refraining from work), this is considered as creating a festival and a religion from his own comprehension. However, if he sets up for himself a day of rest from work, not as a holiday but just as a break from work, it is permissible, for he is not establishing it as a religious precept from his own comprehension… But if a Gentile wants to eat unleavened bread or sit in a sukkah booth for his pleasure (e.g., if he likes eating unleavened bread, or sitting in a sukkah booth because of the heat of the day), he is allowed to. This is so even during the Jewish holy days, since he does not intend at all to observe the Jewish commandment, but he does the action only for his own satisfaction, and he is not establishing a festival for himself.”
Note: For Gentiles, there is no problem with simply acknowledging the special quality which G-d assigns to the Seventh Day or Jewish festival days. And there is no problem for them to do any normal activity in a nicer way, and having in mind to honor the day by doing so. Here are a few examples:
– just resting for the sake of one’s own physical rest and relaxation, or taking a day off from one’s job if permitted by the employer, or vacationing
– [as stated by Rabbi J. Immanuel Schochet o.b.m.] eating a very nice meal after sunset on Friday and/or during the day on Saturday (which can include lighting candles on the table during either of those times to beautify the meal)
– wearing nicer clothes
In general, observant Noahides can (but are not required to) commemorate those Jewish festivals that in some way relate to Gentiles and the overall spiritual missions that G-d assigns for them. There are some of the Jewish festivals that Noahides have more of a connection to, and they can honor these as special days (for example, with prayers and selected Torah reading): for example, Rosh HaShanah (the annual Day of Judgment for all people), and Sukkot (the annual time of judgment for the rainfall that each nation will receive, which is also characterized by the themes of unity and joy).
Since a Noahide is encouraged to always publicize the greatness of G-d (as exemplified by the way of Abraham, who made G-d known to all people), displaying the candles of Hanukkah to public view (without making a blessing) is one practical way of accomplishing this good deed, since they are a reminder of G-d’s miracles in the world. The practical benefit it achieves is to help in the goal of perfecting the world through revealing the sovereignty of the Al-mighty, and His active miraculous influence on world events.
But you should be aware that these days are not to be commemorated by Noahides in the same way that they are commanded to be fully observed by Jews. For instance, a Noahide should not refrain from normal activities on the Jewish holy days or Sabbath, and should not perform those Jewish commandments that are religious only, and have no practical benefit for Noahides (for example, waiving the four species of plants during the Festival of Sukkot, or fasting on Yom Kippur).
The Jewish festival days of Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah, Yom Kippur, Purim and Shavuot have little relevance to Noahides, other than as reminders of constantly-relevant general Torah principles.
By Rabbi Dr. Michael Schulman
