Printed fromMyCheder.com
ב"ה
Channels Short Insights The “What Is” of Judaism

What Are the Seven Noahide Laws?

Autoplay Next

What Are the Seven Noahide Laws?

Judaism does not expect everyone to become Jewish. Here’s what Judaism means to non-Jews.
Topics: Seven Noahide Laws
Seven Noahide Laws
Hershey Sufrin leads the creative team at Sufrin.tv, intertwining his expertise in animation with a unique perspective shaped by his journey into observant Judaism. His design is guided by a commitment to integrate Judaism's ancient wisdom and modern communication. Hershey lives in Chicago with his wife and children, all of whom share a creative spirit.
More from Hershey Sufrin
© Copyright, all rights reserved. The content on this page is provided by our content partner, Chabad.org. If you enjoyed this article, we encourage you to distribute it further, provided that you comply with Chabad.org's copyright policy.

More in this section

You may also be interested in...
The Seven Step Plan for World Peace
An overview of the Seven Noahide Laws
Watch (1:30:02) 2 Comments
Seven Laws for a Beautiful Planet
The Noahide Tradition
66 Comments
The Discovery of Planet Earth
On the seven universal laws of life
63 Comments
The 7 Noahide Laws
491 Comments

Join the Discussion

Sort By:
34 Comments
Posting Guidelines
Danny Nassimi London December 9, 2025

There is a question. If you would ask people on a high street, 'Do you know what the Noahide laws are?' Less than 1% would know the answer. So how do these laws apply to non Jews, if they never heard about them? Reply

Mori Goldlist Toronto Canada December 9, 2025
in response to Danny Nassimi:

Have you every known all the words of a song but can't recall it's title... or the original lyricist ? Reply

Michael December 10, 2025
in response to Danny Nassimi:

If one would have asked people before 1687, "what are the laws of motion?", "what is the law of universal gravitation?", or "what is infinitesimal calculus as applied and developed in Principa?", then probably less than 1% of the world population would have known the answers to these questions. How would these physical and mathematical concepts have applied to people who were ignorant of the mechanics and the calculus developed by Newton? Just as the three laws of motion, the law of universal gravitation, and the limit in calculus (the modern version of infinitesimals) are all objective laws that apply to objects of the world regardless of the knowledge of these laws by the objects, the Noahide Code is also an objective law that applies to people regardless of the knowledge of this code by the people. The only limitation involves liability: if the community is ignorant of the code and people cannot learn the code, then individuals are not liable for violating non-logical commandments. Reply

Danny Nassimi London December 10, 2025
in response to Mori Goldlist:

But what is the halacha? I assume a law is only legally binding if you published it. Otherwise they should rather be called the Noahide Principles, isn't it? Reply

Michael December 11, 2025
in response to Danny Nassimi:

I interpret your proposition as "a law is legally binding [only] if [a central government] published it". The rejection of Natural Law, "universal moral rules of obligation known by reason alone", stems from the de facto atheist Thomas Hobbes: "Covenants without the sword are but words, and [they cannot] secure a man ..." The Jews in The Book of Judges contradict Hobbes: "The Jews functioned without a central government [no king] for this entire era, with but two breakdowns in society: Micha’s graven image and Gibeah’s concubine". Immanuel Kant refuted Hobbes when he published his categorical imperative: “Act only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law". In other words, a central government is not necessary for the legality of moral propositions. If your proposition is if a central government publishes a law, then the law is legally binding, then the negation of the antecedent does not require the negation of the consequent. Reply

Mori Goldlist Toronto Canada December 11, 2025
in response to Danny Nassimi:

So who told Cain that it was illegal to murder his brother Abel ??? Reply

Mori Goldlist Toronto Canada November 29, 2025

Thank you for recognizing the difference between murder and kill. Murder is taking the life someone innocent. Killing is saving your own by doing away with someone that is guilty or of p certain guilty intent. Reply

Rae Vandenberg Canada November 28, 2025

These are generally workable laws of behaviour except for rule #1. Are Christians worshipping other gods? Are Hindus? Law #1 assumes a worldview which is pretty Jewish. Reply

Michael November 30, 2025
in response to Rae Vandenberg:

The Sages taught us that HaShem is one. Moreover, He has no body. Because He has no body, He can never experience the limitations of the body: death or resurrection. If there were multiple instances of HaShem, then there must be multiple bodies or forms of HaShem because we distinguish "similar but distinct entities coexisting on the same level" by the "limitations that are associated with body and form." However, Rome proclaims that HaShem is three and one simultaneously and has a body. The Roman system contradicts not only Jewish Law but also logic. Aristotle articulates the law of non-contradiction in Metaphysics: "It is impossible to hold ... the same thing to be and not to be" (Metaphysics IV 3 1005b24 cf.1005b29-30). As applied to HaShem, "it is impossible to hold ... [that HaShem is one and not one, i.e. three]." Therefore, two independent sources (Jewish Law and Aristotle) weaken this central axiom of the Roman system. Thus, the answer to the first question is yes. Reply

Roger Gloux Canada November 26, 2025

What does the word "Jew" mean and where does it come from?

From what I can gather, there were 13 Tribes. Which of the "13 Tribes" are the people referred to as "Jews"? Reply

Bert November 26, 2025
in response to Roger Gloux:

I asked that question last night as I saw something that said it came from when Israel and Judah divided and it said Jew came from Judah. I posed the question to someone but I haven’t got an answer yet. Reply

Eliezer Zalmanov for Chabad.org November 26, 2025
in response to Roger Gloux:

Although the term Jew technically only applies to members of the tribe of Judah, it has become to refer to any person from any tribe. Please see chabad.org/640221 for an explanation of how this came to be. Reply

Bert November 28, 2025
in response to Eliezer Zalmanov:

Thank you for answering this! I
as I was curious myself. Reply

Denise Washington State November 26, 2025

Good, but what about the 10 Commandments which are universal? Reply

JM November 26, 2025
in response to Denise:

The 10 Commandments aren't universal. Only the 7 Noahide Laws are universal. The rest are for Jews. Reply

Leigh Gold November 26, 2025

The Jews are the Chosen people. God Bless Israel. Reply

Stephen Spiegel Houston November 26, 2025
in response to Leigh Gold:

Amazingly misunderstood phrase. Your interpretation? Reply

Mori Goldlist Toronto Canada November 30, 2025
in response to Leigh Gold:

Every people are Chosen people. Jews were chosen to show the world how to live under the laws of HaShem and to thrive under that observance. Reply

Bert November 25, 2025

Thsnks for posting! But we do need to take care of the earth. Reply

Andrej Sibinovic Australia November 25, 2025

I think the concept of Noahide Law is OK, but as with many other laws in the Bible, it's time limiting.

One day, when God removes the sin (let's say in million years time), there will be no sin on earth. No reason for sacrifices. No reason for death, because death was introduced as a punishment for sin. No sin. No death.

The only commands will be "Love God and Love your neighbor like yourself".

a. Love God:
"4. Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God; the Lord is one.
5. And you shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your means." Deuteronomy 6:4,5

b. Love neighbor:
"18. You shall neither take revenge from nor bear a grudge against the members of your people; you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord." Leviticus 6:5

So, the world would be much a better place if both, Jews and Gentiles, love God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and love their neighbors like themselves. Reply

Mori Goldlist Toronto Canada November 29, 2025
in response to Andrej Sibinovic:

Do not do unto others that which you would not done to you. Everything else are Bubbe Mynses (grandmother stories). Reply

A few points Nachalat Har Chabad, Eretz Yisroel November 25, 2025

BH.

1. Murder sounds so scary and far from us. But a nice kind-looking doctor or nurse in a white coat that "puts an end to his suffering" of an old sick man has murdered according to these Divine laws.

2. The thing about the animals is mainly a prohibition from eating an animal thats limb was removed while it was still alive.

3. The seven laws is actually the name for an actual way-of-life that a Non Jew is taught to live, given by God to Moses in the Torah. There are also many sub-laws. In fact, the Talmud (Sanhedrin) states that there are 30 commandments that non jews are supposed to keep. For example Non Jews are commanded to build families and inhabit the land. It is still called the Seven Laws because that is the name of this way of life which is based off these seven principals.

There are many books and lots of information in English of how to properly live your life according to the seven laws Reply

Bert November 26, 2025
in response to A few points:

Regarding animals, it reflects a persons’ heart. A righteous man regards the life of his beast. If it’s too hot for him, it’s probably too hot for his beast. Then we aren’t to harm animals. It’s a reflection of the heart.
Which ever notice most of G-D’s’ chosen seemed to be meek, humble, even empathetic. Like Moses, the English says he was the meekest man of all the earth. But he was outraged and seemed to lost control when a taskmaster treated a servant evilly.
We’re supposed to take care of the earth as well. Reply

David November 23, 2025

Very nice, but it would be helpful to point out areas where these laws are particularly relevant in today's society.
When discussing murder, it's nice to talk about saying hi, but the real application is the prohibition against abortion. The same for the other laws. Reply

JM November 25, 2025
in response to David:

Jewish law allows abortion in specific situations. Even in the Torah there are instances of it. It's never taken lightly, but it is allowed. Reply

Mori Goldlist Toronto Canada November 30, 2025
in response to David:

David, search the Biblical differences between Murder and Killing. Abortion as Murder is strictly forbidden. Abortion as Killing is allowed.

We need to understand the vast differences between MURDER and KILLING !! Reply

Haim Israel November 27, 2025
in response to JM:

Torah allows abortion ONLY when its the fetus poses a threat to the mothers life. See Shulchan Aruch (code of Jewish law,) Choshen Mishpat 425. Reply

Jm November 28, 2025
in response to Haim:

Yes. There are also other opinions that allow it if the fetus is severely deformed, has Taysachs, etc. or will have a life of being an invalid wracked with pain and suffering. The point I was making - and said - is that abortion is allowed in Judaism, in Torah law, in specific situations. I was answering someone who didn't seem to know that.Judaism is compassionate yet at the same time has good common sense. Reply

John Riggs New Bern, NC November 23, 2025

Beautiful primer on the Noahide laws. Thank you and Baruch Hashem from NC, USA. Reply

Lazer Danzinger Vaughan November 22, 2025

wonderful! Reply

Adam Adrian November 22, 2025

The 7 are pretty baseline morality though ( is anyone surprised to see the command not to steal?). They also don’t provide much for the individual spiritual needs of most people as Rabbi Dr. Yakov Nagen writes “ these mitzvot do not aim to fill the profound need to find and worship God throughout our lives. They are a prerequisite for human living, and should not be mistaken for a full-blown religion.“ Because of this I think non-Jews should be encouraged to embrace Christianity or Islam Reply

Rabbi Grossman Manchester November 25, 2025
in response to Adam Adrian:

I couldn't disagree more with Dr. Nagen. See Miamonadies laws of kings chapter 11 at the end about those two religions that you mentioned.
The Rebbe encouraged us to teach Non-Jews tanya's second section which explains God's unity and oneness. Which, the Rebbe said, is part of the seven laws - belief in God Almighty.
If Tanya doesnt provide for ones spiritual needs, what does? Reply

Michael November 26, 2025
in response to Adam Adrian:

The Noahide Code, which is "of or relating to sacred matters" or "concerned with religious values", is by definition equipped to deliver the "spiritual needs of most people". The holy Shechinah alights upon me every morning when I study the sacred Laws of Noah; because I am immersed in "sacred matters", all my spiritual needs are completely satisfied. My "need to find and worship [G-d]" in my life is completely satisfied with the Noahide Code because I am connected to my spiritual ancestors: like Prophet Abraham, I was once held captive by idolatry, but, like Prophet Abraham, I engaged in critical thinking that unshackled my enslaved mind to idolatry and delivered my soul unto the Holy One! My spirit is profoundly uplifted by the revelation that the anointed one of the Most High is a warrior prince who in his youth slew giants — instead of a 34-year-old man who is beat to death by his enemies. "Because of this, I think [that] non-Jews should be encouraged to embrace" the Noahide Code. Reply

7laws August 25, 2025

someone needs to send them to every city, every leader, every school, all over the world. they aren't being publicized enough. every news channel. every news site. every gov Reply