Overview of the 613 Commandments
The 613 commandments, known as mitzvot in Hebrew, are derived from the first five books of the Bible, also called the Pentateuch. These commandments guide Jewish life and spirituality.
Categories of Commandments
The commandments are generally divided into three categories:
Category ; Description
¹ Laws ; Specific legal and ethical guidelines
² Testimonies ; Commandments that serve as reminders
³ Decrees ; Rituals and practices
Breakdown of Commandments
The 613 commandments can be further categorized into:
🟢 Positive Commandments (248): These are commands that instruct what one should do (e.g., to love God, to observe the Sabbath).
⚫ Negative Commandments (365): These are prohibitions that instruct what one should not do (e.g., not to steal, not to bear false witness).
Significance of the Commandments
The commandments are seen as a way to live in a relationship with God. They encompass moral, ethical, and ritual aspects of life. The essence of these commandments is often summarized by the phrase "the righteous will live by faith," highlighting the importance of faith in following these laws.
Connection to the Tallit
The Jewish prayer shawl, or tallit, is traditionally associated with the 613 commandments. The knotted fringes (tzitzit) on the tallit symbolize these commandments, serving as a physical reminder of the laws.
These commandments form a foundational aspect of Jewish identity and practice, influencing both religious observance and ethical behavior.
A List of the 613 Mitzvot (Commandments)
Below is a list of the 613 mitzvot
(commandments). It is based primarily on the list compiled by Rambam in the Mishneh Torah, but I have consulted other sources as well. As I said in the page on halakhah, Rambam's list is probably the most widely accepted list, but it is not the only one. The order is my own, as are the explanations of how some rules are derived from some biblical passages.
For each mitzvah, I have provided a citation to the biblical passage or passages from which it is derived, based primarily on Rambam. For commandments that can be observed today, I have also provided citations to the Chafetz Chayim's Concise Book of Mitzvot (CCA refers to affirmative commandments; CCN refers to negative commandments; CCI refers to commandments that only apply in Israel). Commandments that cannot be observed today primarily relate to the Temple, its sacrifices and services (because the Temple does not exist) and criminal procedures (because the theocratic state of Israel does not exist).
=G-d
1. To know that G-d exists (Ex. 20:2; Deut. 5:6)(CCA1). See What Do Jews Believe?.
2. Not to entertain the idea that there is any god but the Eternal (Ex. 20:3) (CCN8). See What Do Jews Believe?.
3. Not to blaspheme (Ex. 22:27; in Christian texts, Ex. 22:28), the penalty for which is death (Lev. 24:16) (negative).
4. To hallow G-d's name (Lev. 22:32) (CCA5). See The Name of G-d.
5. Not to profane G-d's name (Lev.22:32) (CCN155). See The Name of G-d.
6. To know that G-d is One, a complete Unity (Deut. 6:4) (CCA2). See What Do Jews Believe?.
7. To love G-d (Deut. 6:5) (CCA3). See What Do Jews Believe?.
8. To fear Him reverently (Deut. 6:13;10:20) (CCA4).
9. Not to put the word of G-d to the test (Deut. 6:16) (negative).
10. To imitate His good and upright ways (Deut. 28:9) (CCA6).
= Torah
11. To honor the old and the wise (Lev. 19:32) (CCA17).
12. To learn Torah and to teach it (Deut. 6:7) (CCA14). See Torah.
13. To cleave to those who know Him (Deut. 10:20) (the Talmud states that cleaving to scholars is equivalent to cleaving to Him) (CCA16).
14. Not to add to the commandments of the Torah, whether in the Written Law or in its interpretation received by tradition (Deut. 13:1) (CCN159). See Torah.
15. Not to take away from the commandments of the Torah (Deut. 13:1) (CCN160). See Torah.
16. That every person shall write a scroll of the Torah for himself (Deut.31:19) (CCA15). See Torah.
= Signs and Symbols
17. To circumcise the male offspring (Gen 17·12· Lev 12:3) (CCA4Z See Brit Milah: Circumcision:
18. To put tzitzit on the corners of clothing (Num. 15:38) (CCA10). See Tzitzit and Tallit.
19. To bind tefillin on the head (Deut. 6:8) (CCA9). See Tefillin.
20. To bind tefillin on the arm (Deut. 6:8) (CCA8). See Tefillin.
21. To affix the mezuzah to the doorposts and gates of your house (Deut. 6:9) (CCA12). See Mezuzah.
= Prayer and Blessings
22. To pray to G-d (Ex. 23:25; Deut. 6:13) (according to the Talmud, the word "serve" in these verses refers to prayer) (CCA7). See Prayers and Blessings; Jewish Liturgy.
23. To read the Shema in the morning and at night (Deut. 6:7) (CCA11). See Shema, Jewish Liturgy.
24. To recite grace after meals (Deut. 8:10) (CCA13). See Birkat Ha-Mazon: Grace After Meals
25. Not to lay down a stone for worship (Lev. 26:1) (CCN161).
= Love and Brotherhood
26. To love all human beings who are of the covenant (Lev. 19:18) (CCA60). See Love and Brotherhood.
27. Not to stand by idly when a human life is in danger (Lev. 19:16) (CCN82). See Love and Brotherhood.
28. Not to wrong any one in speech (Lev. 25:17) (CCN48). See Speech and Lashon Ha-Ra.
29. Not to carry tales (Lev. 19:16) (CCN77). See Speech and Lashon Ha-Ra.
30. Not to cherish hatred in one's heart (Lev. 19:17) (CCN78). See Love and Brotherhood.
31. Not to take revenge (Lev. 19:18) (CCN80) 32. Not to bear a grudge (Lev. 19:18) (CCN81). 33. Not to put any Jew to shame (Lev. 19:17) (CCN79).
34. Not to curse any other Israelite (Lev. 19:14) (by implication: if you may not curse those who cannot hear, you certainly may not curse those who can)
(CCN45).
35. Not to give occasion to the simple-minded to stumble on the road (Lev. 19:14) (this includes doing anything that will cause another to sin) (CCN76).
36. To rebuke the sinner (Lev. 19:17) (CCA72).
37. To relieve a neighbour of his burden and help to unload his beast (Ex. 23:5) (CCA70). See Love and Brotherhood.
38. To assist in replacing the load upon a neighbour's beast (Deut. 22:4) (CCA71) See Love and Brotherhood.
39. Not to leave a beast, that has fallen down beneath its burden, unaided (Deut. 22:4) (CCN183). See Love and Brotherhood.
= The Poor and Unfortunate
40. Not to afflict an orphan or a widow (Ex. 22:21) (CCN51).
41. Not to reap the entire field (Lev. 19:9; Lev. 23:22) (negative) (CCI6).
42. To leave the unreaped corner of the field or orchard for the poor (Lev. 19:9) (affirmative) (CCI1).
43. Not to gather gleanings (the ears that have fallen to the ground while reaping) (Lev. 19:9) (negative) (CCI7).
44. To leave the gleanings for the poor (Lev. 19:9) (affırmative) (CCI2). 45. Not to gather ol'loth (the imperfect clusters) of the vineyard (Lev. 19:10)
(negative) (CCI8).
46. To leave ol'loth (the imperfect clusters) of the vineyard for the poor (Lev. 19:10; Deut. 24:21) (affırmative) (CCI3).
47. Not to gather the peret (grapes) that have fallen to the ground (Lev. 19:10) (negative) (CCI9).
48. To leave peret (the single grapes) of the vineyard for the poor (Lev. 19:10) (affiırmative) (CCI4).
49. Not to return to take a forgotten sheaf (Deut. 24:19) This applies to all fruit trees (Deut. 24:20) (negative) (CC10).
50. To leave the forgotten sheaves for the poor (Deut. 24:19-20) (affırmative) (CCI5).
51. Not to refrain from maintaining a poor man and giving him what he needs (Deut. 15:7) (CCN62). See Tzedakah: Charity.
52. To give charity according to one's means (Deut. 15:11) (CCA38). See Tzedakah: Charity.
= Treatment of Gentiles
53. To love the stranger (Deut. 10:19) (CCA61). See Love and Brotherhood.
54. Not to wrong the stranger in speech (Ex. 22:20) (CCN49).
55. Not to wrong the stranger in buying or selling (Ex. 22:20) (CCN50).
56. Not to intermarry with gentiles (Deut. 7:3) (CCN19). See Interfaith Marriages.
57. To exact the debt of an alien (Deut. 15:3) (affirmative).
58. To lend to an alien at interest (Deut. 23:21) According to tradition, this is
mandatory (affırmative).
= Marriage, Divorce and Family
59. To honor father and mother (Ex. 20:12) (CCA41).
60. Not to smite a father or a mother (Ex. 21:15) (CCN44).
61. Not to curse a father or mother (Ex. 21:17) (CCN46).
62. To reverently fear (respect) father and mother (Lev. 19:3) (CCA42).
63. To be fruitful and multiply (Gen. 1:28) (CCA43).
64. That a eunuch shall not marry a daughter of Israel (Deut. 23:2) (CCN136).
65. That a mamzer* shall not marry the daughter of a Jew (Deut. 23:3) (CCN137). See Prohibited Marriages and Illegitimate Children. (*A child born of a married Jewish woman's adultery is a mamzer. The child of a single woman and a man she could lawfully have married is not a mamzer. It is irrelevant if the man is married or not. If one of the parents is not Jewish, the child is not a mamzer.)
66. That an Ammonite or Moabite shall never marry the daughter of an Israelite (Deut. 23:4) (negative).
67. Not to exclude a descendant of Esau from the community of Israel for three generations (Deut. 23:8-9) (negative).
68. Not to exclude an Egyptian from the community of Israel for three generations (Deut. 23:8-9)(negative)
69. That there shall be no harlot (in Israel); that is, that there shall be no intercourse with a woman, without previous marriage with a deed of marriage
and formal declaration of marriage (Deut. 23:18) (CCN133). See Marriage.
70. To take a wife by kiddushin, the sacrament of marriage (Deut. 24:1) (CCA44). See The Process of Marriage: Kiddushin and Nisuin.
71. That the newly married husband shall (be free) for one year to rejoice with his wife (Deut. 24:5) (affirmative).
72. That a bridegroom shall be exempt for a whole year from taking part in any public labor, such as military service, guarding the wall and similar duties (Deut. 24:5) (negative).
73. Not to withhold food, clothing or conjugal rights from a wife (Ex. 21:10) (CCN42). See The Marital Relationship.
74. That the woman suspected of adultery shall be dealt with as prescribed in the Torah (Num. 5:30) (affirmative).
75. That one who defames his wife's honor (by falsely accusing her of unchastity before marriage) must live with her all his lifetime (Deut. 22:19) (affırmative).
76. That a man may not divorce his wife concerning whom he has published an evil report (about her unchastity before marriage) (Deut. 22:19)(negative).
77. To divorce by a formal written document (Deut. 24:1) (affirmative). See The Process of Obtaining a Divorce.
78. That one who divorced his wife shall not remarry her, if after the divorce she had been married to another man (Deut. 24:4) (CCN134). See Divorce.
79. That a widow whose husband died childless must not be married to anyone but her deceased husband's brother (Deut. 25:5) (CCN135) (this is only in effect insofar as it requires the procedure of release below).
80. To marry the widow of a brother who has died childless (Deut. 25:5) (this is only in effect insofar as it requires the procedure of release below) (CCA45)
81. That the widow formally release the brother-in-law (if he refuses to marry her) (Deut. 25:7-9) (CCA46).
= Forbidden Sexual Relations
82. Not to indulge in familiarities with relatives, such as kissing, embracing,
winking, skipping, which may lead to incest (Lev. 18:6) (CCN110).
83. Not to commit incest with one's mother (Lev. 18:7) (CCN112). See Prohibited Marriages and Illegitimate Children.
84. Not to commit sodomy with one's father (Lev. 18:7) (CCN111).
85. Not to commit incest with one's father's wife (Lev. 18:8) (CCN113). See Prohibited Marriages and Illegitimate Children.
86. Not to commit incest with one's sister (Lev. 18:9) (CCN127). See Prohibited Marriages and Illegitimate Children.
87. Not to commit incest with one's father's wife's daughter (Lev. 18:11) (CCN128). See Prohibited Marriages and Illegitimate Children.
88. Not to commit incest with one's son's daughter (Lev. 18:10) (CCN119) (Note: CC treats this and the next as one commandment; however, Rambam treats them as two). See Prohibited Marriages and Illegitimate Children.
89. Not to commit incest with one's daughter's daughter (Lev. 18:10) (CCN119) (Note: CC treats this and the previous as one commandment; however, Rambam treats them as two). See Prohibited Marriages and Illegitimate
Children.
90. Not to commit incest with one's daughter (this is not explicitly in the Torah but is inferred from other explicit commands that would include it) (CCN120). See Prohibited Marriages and Illegitimate Children.
91. Not to commit incest with one's fathers sister (Lev. 18:12) (CCN129). See Prohibited Marriages and Illegitimate Children.
92. Not to commit incest with one's mother's sister (Lev. 18:13) (CCN130). See Prohibited Marriages and Illegitimate Children.
93. Not to commit incest with one's father's brothers wife (Lev. 18:14) (CCN125). See Prohibited Marriages and Illegitimate Children.
94. Not to commit sodomy with one's father's brother (Lev. 18:14) (CCN114).
95. Not to commit incest with one's son's wife (Lev. 18:15) (CCN115). See Prohibited Marriages and Illegitimate Children.
96. Not to commit incest with one's brother's wife (Lev. 18:16)(CCN126). See Prohibited Marriages and Illegitimate Children.
97. Not to commit incest with one's wife's daughter (Lev. 18:17)(CCN121). See Prohibited Marriages and Illegitimate Children.
98. Not to commit incest with the daughter of one's wife's son (Lev. 18:17) (CCN122). See Prohibited Marriages and Illegitimate Children.
99. Not to commit incest with the daughter of one's wife's daughter (Lev. 18:17) (CCN123). See Prohibited Marriages and Illegitimate Children.
100. Not to commit incest with one's wife's sister (Lev. 18:18) (CCN131). See Prohibited Marriages and Illegitimate Children.
101. Not to have intercourse with a woman, in her menstrual period (Lev. 18:19) (CCN132).
102. Not to have intercourse with another man's wife (Lev. 18:20) (CCN124)
103. Not to commit sodomy with a male (Lev. 18:22) (CCN116).
104. Not to have intercourse with a beast (Lev. 18:23) (CCN117).
105. That a woman shall not have intercourse with a beast (Lev. 18:23) (CCN118).
106. Not to castrate the male of any species; neither a man, nor a domestic or wild beast, nor a fowl (Lev. 22:24) (CCN143).
= Times and Seasons
107. That the new month shall be solemnly proclaimed as holy, and the months and years shall be calculated by the Supreme Court only (Ex. 12:2) (affirmative) (the authority to declare months is inferred from the use of the word "unto you").
108. Not to travel on Shabbat outside the limits of one's place of residence (Ex. 16:29) (CCN7). See Shabbat.
109. To sanctify Shabbat (Ex. 20:8) (CCA19). See Shabbat.
110. Not to do work on Shabbat (Ex. 20:10) (CCN6). See Shabbat.
111. To rest on Shabbat (Ex. 23:12; 34:21) (CCA20). See Shabbat.
112. To celebrate the festivals [Passover, Shavu'ot and Sukkot] (Ex. 23:14) (affirmative).
113. To rejoice on the festivals (Deut. 16:14)(CCA21).
114. To appear in the Sanctuary on the festivals (Deut. 16:16) (affirmative)
115. To remove chametz on the Eve of Passover (Ex. 12:15) (CCA22). See Passover.
116. To rest on the first day of Passover (Ex. 12:16; Lev. 23:7) (CCA25). See Passover.
117. Not to do work on the first day of Passover (Ex. 12:16; Lev. 23:6-7) (CCN147). See Passover.
118. To rest on the seventh day of Passover (Ex. 12:16; Lev. 23:8) (CCA27). See Passover.
119. Not to do work on the seventh day of Passover (Ex. 12:16; Lev. 23:8) (CCN148). See Passover.
120. To eat matzah on the first night of Passover (Ex. 12:18) (CCA23). See Passover.
121. That no chametz be in the Israelite's possession during Passover (Ex. 12:19) (CCN3). See Passover
122. Not to eat any food containing chametz on Passover (Ex. 12:20) (CCN5). See Passover.
123. Not to eat chametz on Passover (Ex. 13:3) (CCN4). See Passover.
124. That chametz shall not be seen in an Israelite's home during Passover (Ex. 13:7) (CCN2). See Passover.
125. To discuss the departure from Egypt on the first night of Passover (Ex. 13:8) (CCA24). See The Passover Seder.
126. Not to eat chametz after mid-day on the fourteenth of Nissan (Deut. 16:3) (CCN104). See Passover.
127. To count forty-nine days from the time of the cutting of the Omer (first sheaves of the barley harvest) (Lev. 23:15) (CCA26). See The Counting of the Omer.
128. To rest on Shavu'ot (Lev. 23:21) (CCA28). See Shavu'ot.
129. Not to do work on the Shavu'ot (Lev. 23:21) (CCN149). See Shavu'ot.
130. To rest on Rosh Hashanah (Lev. 23:24) (CCA29). See Rosh Hashanah
131. Not to do work on Rosh Hashanah (Lev. 23:25) (CCN150). See Rosh Hashanah.
132. To hear the sound of the shofar on Rosh Hashanah (Num. 29:1) (CCA30). See RoshHashanah.
133. To fast on Yom Kippur (Lev. 23:27) (CCA32). See Yom Kippur.
134. Not to eat or drink on Yom Kippur (Lev. 23:29) (CCN152). See Yom Kippur.
135. Not to do work on Yom Kippur (Lev. 23:31) (CCN151). See Yom Kippur.
136. To rest on the Yom Kippur (Lev. 23:32) (CCA31). See Yom Kippur.
137. To rest on the first day of Sukkot (Lev. 23:35) (CCA34). See Sukkot.
138. Not to do work on the first day of Sukkot (Lev. 23:35) (CCN153). See Sukkot.
139. To rest on the eighth day of Sukkot (Shemini Atzeret) (Lev. 23:36) (CCA37). See Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah.
140. Not to do work on the eighth day of Sukkot (Shemini Atzeret) (Lev. 23:36) (CCN154). See Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah.
141. To take during Sukkot a palm branch and the other three plants (Lev. 23:40) (CCA36). See Sukkot.
142. To dwell in booths seven days during Sukkot (Lev. 23:42) (CCA35). See Sukkot.
= Dietary Laws
143. To examine the marks in cattle (so as to distinguish the clean from the unclean) (Lev. 11:2) (affirmative). See Animals that may not be eaten.
144. Not to eat the flesh of unclean beasts (Lev. 11:4) (CCN93). See Animals that may not be eaten.
145. To examine the marks in fishes (so as to distinguish the clean from the unclean (Lev. 11:9) (affirmative). See Animals that may not be eaten.
146. Not to eat unclean fish (Lev. 11:11) (CCN95). See Animals that may not be eaten.
147. To examine the marks in fowl, so as to distinguish the clean from the unclean (Deut. 14:11) (affirmative). See Animals that may not be eaten.
148. Not to eat unclean fowl (Lev. 11:13) (CCN94). See Animals that may not be eaten.
149. To examine the marks in locusts, so as to distinguish the clean from the unclean (Lev. 11:21) (affırmative). See Animals that may not be eaten.
150. Not to eat a worm found in fruit (Lev. 11:41) (CCN98). See Animals that may not be eaten.
151. Not to eat of things that creep upon the earth (Lev. 11:41-42) (CCN97). See Animals that may not be eaten.
152. Not to eat any vermin of the earth (Lev. 11:44) (CCN100). See Animals that may not be eaten.
153. Not to eat things that swarm in the water (Lev. 11:43 and 46) (CCN99). See Animals that may not be eaten.
154. Not to eat of winged insects (Deut. 14:19) (CCN96). See Animals that may not be eaten.
155. Not to eat the flesh of a beast that is terefah (lit torn) (Ex. 22:30) (CCN87). See Kosher slaughtering.
156. Not to eat the flesh of a beast that died of itself (Deut. 14:21) (CCN86). See Kosher slaughtering.
157. To slay cattle, deer and fowl according to the laws of shechitah if their flesh is to be eaten (Deut. 12:21) ("as I have commanded" in this verse refers to the technique) (CCA48). See Kosher slaughtering.
158. Not to eat a limb removed from a living beast (Deut. 12:23) (CCN90). See Kosher slaughtering.
159. Not to slaughter an animal and its young on the same day (Lev. 22:28) (CCN108).
160. Not to take the mother-bird with the young (Deut. 22:6) (CCN189). See Treatment of Animals.
161. To set the mother-bird free when taking the nest (Deut. 22:6-7) (CCA74). See Treatment of Animals.
162. Not to eat the flesh of an ox that was condemned to be stoned (Ex. 21:28) (negative).
163. Not to boil meat with milk (Ex. 23:19) (CCN91). See Separation of Meat and
( Resource from here )
No comments:
Post a Comment