Five of the Noahide Commandments are clearly outlined in various verses in the Book of Genesis. One is found in Leviticus. The remaining one (and indeed all of them) can be deduced from a single verse in Genesis (Sanhedrin 56a). This shows the depth and interconnectedness of the Torah, emphasizing how each commandment carries a universal message relevant to all humanity.
1. Do Not Worship False Gods
Genesis 2:16 states: “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying…” This divine command to Adam implies that only the One True God, the Creator of all realms, should be worshipped and honored. Thus, the highest form of honor is to serve and worship only the One True God and not any idols (Sanhedrin 56a). This commandment underscores the fundamental principle of monotheism, which is central to the ethical and spiritual framework of the Torah.
2. Do Not Blaspheme God’s Name
Leviticus 24:10-17 describes the incident of a Jew who violated the commandment in Exodus 22:27 and blasphemed in anger. Moreover, Leviticus 24:15 in Hebrew states: “ish ish (‘any man’) who curses his God shall bear his sin.” The double expression “ish ish” (literally meaning “a man, a man”) serves to include all humanity, both Jews and Gentiles. This teaches that Gentiles are also prohibited from cursing God’s Name (God forbid!) (Sanhedrin 56a). This universal prohibition emphasizes the sanctity of God’s Name and the respect it commands across all cultures and peoples.
3. Do Not Murder or Cause Injury
The command against murder and the punishment for this offense are stated in Genesis 9:5-6: “…of man for his brother, I [God] will demand the soul of man. Whoever sheds the blood of man, among man, his blood shall be shed; for in the image of God He made man.” This verse highlights the intrinsic value of human life and the divine image within every person, reinforcing the profound moral duty to protect life.
4. Do Not Engage in Forbidden Sexual Relations
Five of the six types of prohibited sexual relations for 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 forbids relations of a man with (1) his mother, any woman who has been his father’s partner or wife, any woman who is currently another man’s partner or wife, another male, or an animal. Additionally, a Gentile is forbidden to have relations with his maternal sister, derived from Genesis 20:12: “Moreover, she is indeed my sister, my father’s daughter, though not my mother’s daughter; and she became my wife.” (Abraham said this to appease Abimelech. Sarah was the daughter of Abraham’s brother, making her the daughter of Abraham’s paternal grandfather, and akin to his own child.)
It was also universally understood that father-daughter relations were included, as evidenced by the disgrace of Lot after relations with his daughters post-Sodom and Gomorrah’s destruction (Genesis 19:29-36, and Rashi’s explanation of Genesis 20:1). Relations of a male with a male and female with a female are also abominations to God, as learned from Leviticus 18:3 and 18:30, referring to the immoral practices of the Egyptians and Canaanites. The Midrash (Sifra) names these abominations specifically: “A man would marry a man, a woman would marry a woman, and a woman would be married to two men.” This commandment protects the sanctity and purity of family relationships, essential for a stable and moral society.
5. Do Not Steal
The prohibition of theft is implied in the permission granted to Adam and Eve in Genesis 2:16 to eat from the trees of the garden. If permission had not been granted, it would have been forbidden as the property was not theirs. This specifically applied to the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, which was forbidden under penalty of death (Genesis 2:17). This Noahide commandment is explicitly cited by Abraham in Genesis 21:25. By highlighting the need for respect for others’ property, this commandment fosters trust and fairness within communities.
6. Do Not Eat Flesh Taken from a Living Animal
Adam and Eve were not allowed to kill animals for food, and this rule stayed until after the Flood. God first permitted the consumption of meat to Noah and his family post-Ark, adding the commandment prohibiting the eating of meat from a living animal (even if stunned and insensitive). This commandment to Noah is recorded in Genesis 9:4: “But meat, with its soul [which is in] its blood you shall not eat.” This law instills a sense of compassion and respect for animal life, promoting humane treatment of all creatures.
7. Establish Laws and Courts of Justice
God commanded Noah regarding the prosecution and punishment of murderers, as stated in Genesis 9:6, “Whoever sheds the blood of man, among man, his blood shall be shed…” This commandment is to judge and penalize a murderer. The Talmudic Sages explain: “Whoever sheds the blood of man” (the murderer), “among man” (prosecuted in a court by a qualified witness), “his blood shall be shed” (liable to capital punishment if convicted). The Noahide Code obliges Gentile societies to establish a system of just courts (Sanhedrin 56a). This commandment underscores the importance of justice and the rule of law, which are foundational for a peaceful and orderly society.
At Mount Sinai, God conveyed the 7 Noahide Laws through Moses, with specific details in the eternal Torah:
God, for reasons known to Him, did not place some verses in chronological order. Here, they are presented as they occurred:
1st day
Exodus 19:1-2. The Israelites encamped at Mount Sinai, on the 45th day after God led them out of Egypt.
2nd day
Exodus 19:3-8. Moses ascended Mount Sinai to receive instructions from God, and then descended. The Israelites agreed to the Jewish covenant, saying, “Everything that God has spoken we shall do!” This commitment by the Israelites signifies the acceptance and dedication to uphold God’s commandments.
3rd day
Exodus 19:8 (starting from “Moses brought back the words of the people to God”) to Exodus 19:9 (up to “…and they will believe in you [Moses], also forever”). Moses then ascended Mount Sinai again, reported to God, received further instructions, and descended.
4th day
Exodus 19:9 (starting from “Moses told the words of the people to God”) to Exodus 19:14, continuing in Exodus 24:1-4 (through “Moses wrote all the words of God”). Moses ascended Mount Sinai to receive more instructions and descended to tell the people all the divine laws commanded thus far. This day marks the comprehensive communication of the divine laws to the people.
Recording the Noahide Commandments.
The recounting and recording of the Seven Noahide Commandments by Moses occurred at Mount Sinai two days before God spoke to the entire Jewish nation. In Exodus 24:3, “Moses came and told the people all the words of God and all the laws…” Here, “all the laws” refers to the Seven Noahide Commandments and a few Jewish Commandments already commanded before Sinai. (Moses told these to the Israelites at Marah, after crossing the sea – see Exodus 15:25.)
In Exodus 24:4, “Moses wrote all the words of God” means he wrote Genesis, which includes the Covenant of the Rainbow and Noahide Commandments, and Exodus up to that point. God commanded the Jewish people, based on the revelation at Sinai, to preserve and publicize the Noahide Commandments for all nations and generations. This highlights the universal relevance and timeless nature of these commandments.
5th day
Exodus 24:4 (from “He [Moses] arose early in the morning…”) to Exodus 24:11. Moses built an altar and read the “Book of the Covenant” (Genesis, including the Seven Noahide Commandments, and Exodus up to that point) to the people. This public reading reaffirmed the covenant and the shared commitment to God’s laws.
6th day
Exodus 19:16-20:18, and Exodus 24:12-15. God openly spoke 10 of the 613 Jewish Commandments to the people. Moses then ascended Mount Sinai for 40 days and nights to learn additional Jewish Commandments from God. (Many of these are recorded in Exodus 20:19 to Exodus 23:22.) This period was crucial for receiving the comprehensive body of Torah law that would guide the Israelites and, through them, all of humanity.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Tractate Sanhedrin, chapter 7, provides an in-depth explanation of how the 7 Noahide Commandments are encoded within the Hebrew text of Genesis 2:16: “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, ‘Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat.’” This demonstrates the intricate manner in which the Torah embeds universal laws within its narrative.
[2] Tractate Sanhedrin, p. 56a, further clarifies these commandments and their applications, emphasizing their binding nature on all of humanity, not just the Jewish people. The Talmudic discourse sheds light on the ethical and moral foundations that these commandments provide for a just and compassionate society.
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