The 7 Noahide Laws: Universal Morality

What Are the Seven Noahide Laws?

The 7 Noahide Laws are rules that all of us must keep, regardless of who we are or from where we come. Without these seven things, it would be impossible for humanity to live together in harmony.

Noahide Laws 1

Do not profane G‑d’s Oneness in any way.

Acknowledge that there is a single G‑d who cares about what we are doing and desires that we take care of His world.

Noahide Laws 2

Do not curse your Creator.

No matter how angry you may be, do not take it out verbally against your Creator.

Noahide Laws 3

Do not murder.

The value of human life cannot be measured. To destroy a single human life is to destroy the entire world—because, for that person, the world has ceased to exist. It follows that by sustaining a single human life, you are sustaining an entire universe.

Noahide Laws 4

Do not eat a limb of a living animal.

Respect the life of all G‑d’s creatures. As intelligent beings, we have a duty not to cause undue pain to other creatures.

Noahide Laws 5

Do not steal.

Whatever benefits you receive in this world, make sure that none of them are at the unfair expense of someone else.

Noahide Laws 6

Harness and channel the human libido.

Incest, adultery, rape and homosexual relations are forbidden.

The family unit is the foundation of human society. Sexuality is the fountain of life and so nothing is more holy than the sexual act. So, too, when abused, nothing can be more debasing and destructive to the human being.

Noahide Laws 7

Establish courts of law and ensure justice in our world.

With every small act of justice, we are restoring harmony to our world, synchronizing it with a supernal order. That is why we must keep the laws established by our government for the country’s stability and harmony.

Why Are They Called the Noahide Laws?

These are called the Noahide Laws because they are the heritage of humanity from our oldest ancestors. Since all humanity are descendants of Noah, who survived the Great Flood, all people today are Noahides.
Jewish tradition tells that six of these laws were given to the first human being, Adam. A seventh law, the prohibition against eating the limb of a living animal, was given to Noah when humankind was permitted to consume meat.

More Noahide Laws

These seven principles are general ones. Many other teachings, all intuitive to the upright human mind, branch out from these.

These include the practice of charity and acts of kindness, honoring and respecting parents, prayer to G‑d and contemplation of His wisdom and greatness.

This also means not acting recklessly towards the magnificent creation that has been entrusted to our stewardship.

Who Keeps the Noahide Laws?

Nobody needs to convert or join a particular church or temple to keep these principles and laws. But it is important to keep them because this is what the supreme G‑d wants of every one of us, and not only because they are wise and good laws.
Anyone who keeps these basic rules for that reason—regardless of race, nationality or culture—is considered a righteous person and granted eternal life upon leaving this world.
Today, there are many active groups of non-Jews called “B’nai Noach” who faithfully observe the Seven Laws of Noah.
There is an excellent book on the topic:
“The Path of the Righteous Gentile”
by Chaim Clorfene and Yakov Rogalsky
See also:
“The Real Messiah: A Jewish Response to Missionaries”by Aryeh Kaplan
And:
“The Rainbow Covenant” by Michael Dallen