Shivim

Sheva mitzvot Bnei Noach

The 7 Noahide Laws

A study tree of the seven laws given to the children of Noah. Each law opens its sources, concrete cases, and a contrast card: what binds a Jew, what binds a Ben Noach, and why.

Law of the day

גזל · Gezel — theft

Do not take what is not yours: property, wages, deceit, exploitation.

The sugya of the 7 laws

The classic dossier: Sanhedrin 56a–59b, then Rambam Melakhim 8–10. Each step opens a study chat — not a verdict.

  1. Sanhédrin 56a

    The list of the seven laws, and how the Gemara enumerates them.

  2. Sanhédrin 56b

    The derasha of “va-yetzav” (Bereshit 2:16): where each law is derived from.

  3. Sanhédrin 57a–57b

    Murder, theft, and the frame of dinim for Bnei Noach.

  4. Sanhédrin 58a–58b

    The arayot of Bnei Noach — what is universal, what is not.

  5. Sanhédrin 59a–59b

    Ever min ha-chai, and the discussion of “extra” mitzvot.

  6. Rambam, Melakhim 8:10–11

    Accepting the 7 laws and the ger toshav according to the Rambam.

  7. Rambam, Melakhim 9

    The detail of each law: prohibitions, penalties, differences.

  8. Rambam, Melakhim 10

    What a Ben Noach may study, and how dinim apply.

  9. Tossefta Avoda Zara 8:4–8

    A parallel tannaitic list, useful to compare with the Bavli.

Read the parasha through the 7 laws

Pick a sefer, then a parasha: we highlight the laws it most naturally illuminates.

Sefer

The seven laws

  5. Do not take what is not yours: property, wages, deceit, exploitation.

    Sources

    Sanhedrin 56a–57a; Rambam, Melakhim 9:9.

    Gemara

    • Sanhédrin 56a

      Gezel is on the list: taking what is not yours.

    • Sanhédrin 57a

      The Gemara widens it to withheld wages and deceit.

    Rambam

    • Rambam, Melakhim 9:9

      The Rambam formulates the Noahide ban on theft, including fraud.

    Other sources

    • Berechit 2:16

      The derasha also reads theft in “va-yetzav” — hence its place among the seven.

    Concrete cases

    • Stealing an object, money, or a trade secret.
    • Withholding wages or rigging a measure.
    • Deceiving a client or partner on the essence of a contract.

    Jew · Ben Noach · Why

    For a Jew

    Gezel, geneivah, onaah, ribit, and the whole of Choshen Mishpat.

    For a Ben Noach

    The prohibition of theft is universal, including fraud. Jewish ribit details do not transfer as-is.

    Why this difference

    Property and a kept word hold a society together — hence their place among the 7 laws.