The 7 basic Noahide Laws of Judaism that will get you into heaven

 

Orthodox rabbi:

• The Seven Noahide Laws (Sanhedrin 56–57; Maimonides, Kings 8–10) are:
  1. Do not worship idols.
  2. Do not blaspheme God.
  3. Do not murder.
  4. Do not engage in sexual immorality (e.g., adultery, certain incest prohibitions).
  5. Do not steal.
  6. Do not eat flesh taken from a living animal.
  7. Establish courts of justice.
• Our tradition teaches that “the righteous of the nations have a share in the World to Come” (Olam Ha‑Ba). According to many halachic authorities (notably Maimonides, Kings 8:11), the ideal is to keep these because they are commanded by God and made known through Moses, not only from human reason. Practically, a non‑Jew who keeps them sincerely serves God and is called “righteous among the nations.” Details (like what counts as sexual immorality or proper justice systems) have specific definitions in halacha; a competent rabbinic mentor can guide you. Conversion is not required; a gentile path of righteousness is fully valid.

Conservative rabbi:

• The Seven Laws summarize a universal moral covenant: ethical monotheism, respect for life, family integrity, property, humane treatment of creatures, and building just societies.
• Jewish sources affirm that non‑Jews who live by these principles are cherished by God and can merit a share in the World to Come. While Maimonides emphasizes accepting them as divine commands, many Conservative thinkers hold that living them out—whether grounded in revelation, conscience, or both—fulfills their purpose. The focus is less on a checklist for “admission” to heaven and more on partnering with God to create a just world. If you’re seeking practice, anchor these in daily conduct, honest work, healthy relationships, and support for fair laws.

Reform rabbi:

• Think of the Seven as a classic Jewish framing of universal ethics:
  • One God, honored in speech and life.
  • Honor life; no murder.
  • Honor relationships; no sexual exploitation or betrayal.
  • Respect others’ property; no theft.
  • Practice compassion to animals; no cruelty such as eating from a living creature.
  • Build fair courts and a just society.
• In Reform thought, “heaven” (Olam Ha‑Ba) is less a gatekept realm and more about the enduring impact of a life of righteousness. God’s embrace is wide; people of all faiths who live ethically and seek justice are counted among the righteous. Let these seven be a foundation you expand with contemporary responsibilities—human dignity, equality, care for the vulnerable, and stewardship of the planet. Your intention and your deeds are what matter most.

In addition:

Classic sources for each law:

Orthodox rabbi:

• Overview of sources: The Talmud (Sanhedrin 56a–60a) derives that Adam was commanded in six prohibitions from Genesis 2:16, and that a seventh—ever min ha-chai (limb from a living animal)—was added for Noah in Genesis 9. Maimonides codifies the list and many details in Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Melachim u’Milchamot chs. 8–10.
• The seven with classic sources:
  1. Idolatry (avodah zarah)
     • Talmud: Sanhedrin 56b (baraita listing the seven); derivations from “And the Lord God commanded…” (Genesis 2:16).
     • Midrash: Genesis Rabbah 16:6.
     • Codification: Rambam, Hilchot Melachim 9:1.
  2. Blasphemy (birkat Hashem)
     • Bible: Leviticus 24:16 (penalty for blaspheming the Name).
     • Talmud: Sanhedrin 56a–56b applies this to Bnei Noach.
     • Codification: Rambam, Hilchot Melachim 9:1, 9:3.
  3. Murder (shefichut damim)
     • Bible: Genesis 9:6 “Whoever sheds the blood of man…”
     • Talmud: Sanhedrin 57a (ben Noach liable for murder).
     • Codification: Rambam, Hilchot Melachim 9:4.
  4. Sexual immorality (giluy arayot)
     • Bible: Genesis 2:24 (marital bond as normative frame); narratives like Genesis 20 (Abimelech) assume a universal adultery norm.
     • Talmud: Sanhedrin 57a–58b details which relations bind Bnei Noach.
     • Codification: Rambam, Hilchot Melachim 9:5–8.
  5. Theft (gezel)
     • Talmud: Sanhedrin 56b (included in Adam’s six via Genesis 2:16); 57a–57b on penalties.
     • Codification: Rambam, Hilchot Melachim 9:9.
  6. Eating a limb from a living animal (ever min ha-chai)
     • Bible: Genesis 9:4 “Only flesh with its life, its blood, you shall not eat.”
     • Talmud: Sanhedrin 59a (added for Noah).
     • Codification: Rambam, Hilchot Melachim 9:10–12.
  7. Establishing courts of justice (dinim)
     • Talmud: Sanhedrin 56b derives “dinim” from Genesis 2:16 (via derashot on the words) and obligates Bnei Noach to set up courts.
     • Codification: Rambam, Hilchot Melachim 9:14.
• Notes:
  • Sanhedrin 56b: “Adam was commanded concerning six things… Noah was commanded concerning seven,” listing these items explicitly.
  • Variants: Some tannaim add prohibitions like sorcery or castration (Sanhedrin 56b–57a), but the halachic consensus is seven.
  • Rambam (Melachim 8:11; 9:1): Righteous gentiles who observe these because God commanded them through Moses “have a share in the World to Come.”

Conservative rabbi:

• Core rabbinic sources:
  • Bavli Sanhedrin 56a–60a: The foundational sugya naming and deriving the Seven. Key lines: 56b (list), 57a–59a (applications).
  • Tosefta Avodah Zarah 9:4 (parallel list and discussion).
  • Midrash Genesis Rabbah 16:6: Links “And the Lord God commanded…” (Genesis 2:16) to universal norms.
  • Biblical anchors:
    • Idolatry: Genesis 2:16 (as midrashically read); Deuteronomy and prophetic critiques (e.g., Isaiah 44) show the moral contour of avodah zarah.
    • Blasphemy: Leviticus 24:16; Job 2:9 (awareness of cursing God, even if not legal source).
    • Murder: Genesis 9:6.
    • Sexual immorality: Genesis 2:24; narratives like Genesis 20, 34 presuppose universal sexual ethics; the arayot framework is elaborated for Bnei Noach in Sanhedrin 57a–58b.
    • Theft: Sanhedrin 56b (from Genesis 2:16); Genesis 31, 44 reflect moral norms against theft universally.
    • Ever min ha-chai: Genesis 9:4; Sanhedrin 59a.
    • Courts: Sanhedrin 56b (dinim from Genesis 2:16); echoes in Genesis 18:19 (way of the Lord—tzedakah u’mishpat).
  • Codification and later halakhah: Rambam, Hilchot Melachim 9:1–14, gives the systematic halakhic presentation cited widely across movements.
• Framing:
  • These sources present a universal covenantal ethic from Eden and renewed after the Flood. Conservative scholarship often notes both the legal scaffolding (Sanhedrin, Rambam) and the Tanakh’s broader universal moral vision (e.g., Amos 1–2 judging nations for cruelty and injustice) as complementary witnesses.

Reform rabbi:

• Classic textual anchors you can read directly, with the rabbinic framing:
  • Talmud Bavli, Sanhedrin 56b: Names the Seven Noahide Laws; 57a–59a: applications and details; 59a: ever min ha-chai from Genesis 9:4.
  • Bible passages:
    • Idolatry: Read in light of Genesis 2:16 (as interpreted by the Sages) and prophetic critiques (Isaiah 44; Jeremiah 10).
    • Blasphemy: Leviticus 24:16.
    • Murder: Genesis 9:6.
    • Sexual ethics: Genesis 2:24 as the positive norm; rabbinic application in Sanhedrin 57a–58b outlines universal prohibitions.
    • Theft: Implicit from Genesis 2:16 per Sanhedrin 56b.
    • Ever min ha-chai: Genesis 9:4.
    • Courts/justice: Sanhedrin 56b (dinim); resonate with Micah 6:8 and Genesis 18:19 as classic prophetic calls to justice.
• How to use these sources:
  • Start with Sanhedrin 56b in a translation; then read Genesis 2 and 9 with those rabbinic notes in mind; finally, see Rambam, Hilchot Melachim 9 for a clean summary of obligations and their purpose.
• Citations at a glance:
  • Sanhedrin 56a–60a; Tosefta Avodah Zarah 9:4; Genesis 2:16; Genesis 9:4–6; Leviticus 24:16; Genesis 2:24; Genesis Rabbah 16:6; Rambam, Hilchot Melachim 9:1–14.