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613 mitzvot
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The 613 Mitzvot (: Taryag Mitzvot, "613 commandments") are statements and principles of law and ethics contained in the Torah or Five Books of Moses. These principles of Biblical law are sometimes called commandments (mitzvot) or collectively as the "Law of Moses" (Torat Moshe, ), "Mosaic Law," or simply "the Law."
Although there have been many attempts to codify and enumerate the commandments contained in the Torah, the traditional view is based on Maimonides' enumeration.
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The 613 Mitzvot (: Taryag Mitzvot, "613 commandments") are statements and principles of law and ethics contained in the Torah or Five Books of Moses. These principles of Biblical law are sometimes called commandments (mitzvot) or collectively as the "Law of Moses" (Torat Moshe, ), "Mosaic Law," or simply "the Law."
Although there have been many attempts to codify and enumerate the commandments contained in the Torah, the traditional view is based on Maimonides' enumeration. The 613 commandments are either "positive commandments" to perform an act (mitzvot aseh) or "negative commandments" to abstain from certain acts (mitzvot lo taaseh). There are 365 negative commandments, corresponding to the number of days in a solar year, and 248 positive commandments, ascribed to the number of bones and significant organs in the human body. Though the number 613 is mentioned in the Talmud, its real significance increased in later medieval rabbinic literature, including many works listing or arranged by the mitzvot.
Three categories of negative commandments fall under the category of yehareg ve'al ya'avor, meaning "One should let himself be killed rather than violate it". These are murder, idolatry, and forbidden sexual relations.
Many of the mitzvot cannot be observed following the destruction of the Second Temple, though they still retain religious significance. According to one standard reckoning, there are 77 negative and 194 positive commandments that can be observed today. There are 26 commands that apply only within the Land of Israel. Furthermore, there are some time-based commandments from which women are exempt (examples include shofar, sukkah, lulav, tzitzit and tefillin). Some depend on the special status of a person in Judaism (such as kohenim), while others apply only to men and others only to women.
Significance of 613
According to the Talmud (tractate Makkoth 23b), states that Moses transmitted the "Torah" from God to the Jewish people: "Moses commanded us the Torah as an inheritance for the community of Jacob".
The Talmud notes that the Hebrew numerical value (gematria) of the word "Torah" is 611, and combining Moses's 611 commandments with the two received directly from God adds up to 613. The Talmud attributes the number 613 to Rabbi Simlai, but other classical sages who hold this view include Rabbi Simeon ben Azzai (Sifre, Deuteronomy 76) and Rabbi Eleazar ben Yose the Galilean (Midrash Aggadah to Genesis 15:1). It is quoted in Midrash Shemot Rabbah 33:7, Bamidbar Rabbah 13:15–16; 18:21 and Talmud Yevamot 47b.
Many Jewish philosophical and mystical works (e.g. by Baal ha-Turim, the Maharal of Prague and leaders of Hasidic Judaism) find allusions and inspirational calculations relating to the number of commandments.
The tzitzit ("knotted fringes") of the tallit ("[prayer] shawl") are connected to the 613 commandments by interpretation: principal Torah commentator Rashi bases the number of knots on a gematria: the word tzitzit (Hebrew: ???? (Biblical), ?????, in its Mishnaic spelling) has the value 600. Each tassel has eight threads (when doubled over) and five sets of knots, totalling 13. The sum of all numbers is 613. This reflects the concept that donning a garment with tzitzit reminds its wearer of all Torah commandments.
In gematria, the Mitzvos or Mitzvot is transliterated as Taryag mitzvot. TaRYaG is the gematria for the number "613".
Dissent and difficulties
The rabbinic support for 613 is not without dissent and, even as the number gained acceptance, difficulties arose in elucidating the list. Some rabbis declared that this count was not an authentic tradition, or that it was not logically possible to come up with a systematic count. Not surprisingly, no early work of Jewish law or Biblical commentary depended on the 613 system, and no early systems of Jewish principles of faith made acceptance of this Aggadah (non-legal Talmudic statement) normative. The classical Biblical commentator and grammarian Rabbi Abraham ibn Ezra denied that this was an authentic rabbinic tradition. Ibn Ezra writes "Some sages enumerate 613 mitzvot in many diverse ways [...] but in truth there is no end to the number of mitzvot [...] and if we were to count only the root principles [...] the number of mitzvot would not reach 613" (Yesod Mora, Chapter 2).
Nahmanides held that this counting was the matter of a rabbinic controversy, and that rabbinic opinion on this is not unanimous. Nonetheless, he concedes that "this total has proliferated throughout the aggadic literature... we ought to say that it was a tradition from Moses at Mount Sinai," (Nahmanides, Commentary to Maimonides' Sefer Hamitzvot', Root Principle 1).
Rabbi Simeon ben Zemah Duran likewise rejected the legal relevance of the 613, saying that "perhaps the agreement that the number of mitzvot is 613... is just Rabbi Simlai's opinion, following his own explication of the mitzvot. And we need not rely on his explication when we come to determine the law, but rather on the Talmudic discussions" (Zohar Harakia, Lviv, 1858, p.99).
Even when rabbis attempted to compile a list of the 613 commandments, they faced a number of difficulties:
- Which statements were to be counted as commandments? Every command by God to any individual? Only commandments to the entire people of Israel?
- Would an order from God be counted as a commandment, for the purposes of such a list, if it could only be complied with in one place and time? Or, would such an order only count as a commandment if it could - at least in theory - be followed at all times? (The latter is the view of Maimonides.)
- How does one count commandments in a single verse which offers multiple prohibitions? Should each prohibition count as a single commandment, or does the entire set count as one commandment?
Ultimately, though, the concept of 613 commandments became accepted as normative in the Jewish community. Today, even among those who do not literally accept this count as accurate, it is still a common practice to refer to the total system of commandments within the Torah as the "613 commandments."
However, the 613 Mitzvot do not constitute a formal code of present-day halakhah. (See Halakha: Codes of Jewish law.) The most widely recognized is the Shulkhan Arukh, written by Rabbi Yosef Karo (Safed, Israel, 1550) and adopted to Ashkenazic custom by Rabbi Moses Isserles. For Sephardic Jewry, this is generally the accepted code. The Kitzur Shulkhan Arukh of Rabbi Shlomo Ganzfried (Hungary 1804 -1886) is an especially popular among Ashkenazic Jews --though often criticized-- overview of the rules of Ashkenazi Jewish life.
Works enumerating the commandments
There is no single definitive list that explicates the 613 commandments. Lists differ, for example, in how they interpret passages in the Torah that may be read as dealing with several cases under a single law or several separate laws. Other "commandments" in the Torah are restricted as one-time acts, and would not be considered as "mitzvot" binding on other persons. In rabbinic literature, Rishonim and later scholars composed works to articulate and justify their enumeration of the commandments:
Sefer ha-Mitzvoth ("Book of Commandments") by Rabbi Saadia Gaon is the earliest extant enumeration of the 613 mitzvot. Written during the period of the Geonim, Saadia's work is a simple list (though it was later expanded by Rabbi Yerucham Fishel Perlow.)Sefer Hamitzvot ("Book of Commandments") by Maimonides, with a critical commentary by Nachmanides. Maimonides employs a set of fourteen rules (shorashim) which determine inclusion into the list. In this work, he supports his specification of each Mitzvah through quotations from the midrash halakha and the Gemara. Nachmanides makes a number of critical points and replaces some items of the list with others.Sefer ha-Chinnuch ("Book of Education"). This work generally follows Maimonides' reckoning of the 613 commandments. It is written in the order in which the commandments appear in the Torah rather than an arrangement by category (as in Maimonides' work.) In addition to enumerating the commandments and giving a brief overview of relevant laws, the Sefer ha-Chinuch also tries to explain the philosophical reasons behind the mitzvot. It has been attributed to various authors, most commonly Rabbi Aaron ha-Levi of Barcelona (the Ra'ah), though its true authorship is unknown.Sefer ha-Mitzvoth ha-Gadol or SMaG("Large book of Commandments") by Rabbi Moses ben Jacob of Coucy.Sefer ha-Mitzvoth ha-Katan or SMaK("Small book of Commandments") by Rabbi Isaac of Corbeil. This work was written in the form of a poem, divided into seven sections and intended to be read each week. While Isaac's work is fairly short, most editions contain lengthy commentaries. Like the Chafetz Chaim's enumeration, the SMaK deals only with those mitzvot applicable today.Sefer Yere'im ("Book of the [God-]fearing") by Rabbi Eliezer of Metz (not a clear enumeration.)Sefer ha-Mitzvoth by Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan (the "Chafetz Chaim"). The Chafetz Chaim's work follows the reckoning of Maimonides but gives only the commandments relevant today. Notably, this listing omits commandments regarding temple service, ritual purity, sacrifices, and so on. Though the original work included only those commandments relevant in all places and at all times, later editions include agricultural laws relevant today only in the Land of Israel.
Maimonides' list
The following are the 613 commandments and their source in scripture, as enumerated by Maimonides:
To know there is a God
Not to entertain thoughts of other gods besides Him
To know that He is One
To love Him
To fear Him
To sanctify His Name
Not to profane His Name
Not to destroy objects associated with His Name
To listen to the prophet speaking in His Name
Not to test the prophet unduly
To emulate His ways
To cleave to those who know Him
To love other Jews
To love converts
Not to hate fellow Jews
To reprove a sinner
Not to embarrass others
Not to oppress the weak
Not to speak derogatorily of others
Not to take revenge
Not to bear a grudge
To learn Torah
To honor those who teach and know Torah
Not to inquire into idolatry
Not to follow the whims of your heart or what your eyes see
Not to blaspheme
Not to worship idols in the manner they are worshiped
Not to worship idols in the four ways we worship God
Not to make an idol for yourself
Not to make an idol for others
Not to make human forms even for decorative purposes
Not to turn a city to idolatry
To burn a city that has turned to idol worship
Not to rebuild it as a city
Not to derive benefit from it
Not to missionize an individual to idol worship
Not to love the idolater
Not to cease hating the idolater
Not to save the idolater
Not to say anything in the idolater's defense
Not to refrain from incriminating the idolater
Not to prophesize in the name of idolatry
Not to listen to a false prophet
Not to prophesize falsely in the name of God
Not to be afraid of killing the false prophet
Not to swear in the name of an idol
Not to perform ov (medium)
Not to perform yidoni ("magical seer")
Not to pass your children through the fire to Molech
Not to erect a pillar in a public place of worship
Not to bow down on smooth stone
Not to plant a tree in the Temple courtyard
To destroy idols and their accessories
Not to derive benefit from idols and their accessories
Not to derive benefit from ornaments of idols
Not to make a covenant with idolaters
Not to show favor to them
Not to let them dwell in the Land of Israel
Not to imitate them in customs and clothing
Not to be superstitious
Not to go into a trance to foresee events, etc.
Not to engage in astrology
Not to mutter incantations
Not to attempt to contact the dead
Not to consult the ov
Not to consult the yidoni
Not to perform acts of magic
Men must not shave the hair off the sides of their head
Men must not shave their beards with a razor
Men must not wear women's clothing
Women must not wear men's clothing
Not to tattoo the skin
Not to tear the skin in mourning
Not to make a bald spot in mourning
To repent and confess wrongdoings
To say the Shema twice daily
To serve the Almighty with daily prayer
The Kohanim must bless the Jewish nation daily
To wear tefillin (phylacteries) on the head
To bind tefillin on the arm
To put a mezuzah on each door post
Each male must write a Torah scroll
The king must have a separate Sefer Torah for himself
To have tzitzit on four-cornered garments
To bless the Almighty after eating
To circumcise all males on the eighth day after their birth
To rest on the seventh day
Not to do prohibited labor on the seventh day
The court must not inflict punishment on Shabbat
Not to walk outside the city boundary on Shabbat
To sanctify the day with Kiddush and Havdalah
To rest from prohibited labor
Not to do prohibited labor on Yom Kippur
To afflict yourself on Yom Kippur
Not to eat or drink on Yom Kippur
To rest on the first day of Passover
Not to do prohibited labor on the first day of Passover
To rest on the seventh day of Passover
Not to do prohibited labor on the seventh day of Passover
To rest on Shavuot
Not to do prohibited labor on Shavuot
To rest on Rosh Hashanah
Not to do prohibited labor on Rosh Hashanah
To rest on Sukkot
Not to do prohibited labor on Sukkot
To rest on Shemini Atzeret
Not to do prohibited labor on Shemini Atzeret
Not to eat chametz on the afternoon of the 14th day of Nissan
To destroy all chametz on 14th day of Nissan
Not to eat chametz all seven days of Passover
Not to eat mixtures containing chametz all seven days of Passover
Not to see chametz in your domain seven days
Not to find chametz in your domain seven days
To eat matzah on the first night of Passover
To relate the Exodus from Egypt on that night
To hear the Shofar on the first day of Tishrei (Rosh Hashanah)
To dwell in a Sukkah for the seven days of Sukkot
To take up a Lulav and Etrog all seven days
Each man must give a half shekel annually
Courts must calculate to determine when a new month begins
To afflict oneself and cry out before God in times of calamity
To marry a wife by means of ketubah and kiddushin
Not to have sexual relations with women not thus married
Not to withhold food, clothing, and sexual relations from your wife
To have children with one's wife
To issue a divorce by means of a Get document
A man must not remarry his ex-wife after she has married someone else
To perform yibbum (marry the widow of one's childless brother)
To perform halizah (free the widow of one's childless brother from yibbum)
The widow must not remarry until the ties with her brother-in-law are removed (by halizah)
The court must fine one who sexually seduces a maiden
The rapist must marry the maiden (if she chooses)
He is never allowed to divorce her
The slanderer must remain married to his wife
He must not divorce her
To fulfill the laws of the Sotah
Not to put oil on her meal offering (as usual)
Not to put frankincense on her meal offering (as usual)
Not to have sexual relations with your mother
Not to have sexual relations with your father's wife
Not to have sexual relations with your sister
Not to have sexual relations with your father's wife's daughter
Not to have sexual relations with your son's daughter
Not to have sexual relations with your daughter
Not to have sexual relations with your daughter's daughter
Not to have sexual relations with a woman and her daughter
Not to have sexual relations with a woman and her son's daughter
Not to have sexual relations with a woman and her daughter's daughter
Not to have sexual relations with your father's sister
Not to have sexual relations with your mother's sister
Not to have sexual relations with your father's brother's wife
Not to have sexual relations with your son's wife
Not to have sexual relations with your brother's wife
Not to have sexual relations with your wife's sister
A man must not have sexual relations with an animal
A woman must not have sexual relations with an animal
Not to have homosexual sexual relations among men
Not to have homosexual sexual relations with your father
Not to have homosexual sexual relations with your father's brother
Not to have sexual relations with someone else's wife
Not to have sexual relations with a menstrually impure woman
Not to marry non-Jews
Not to let Moabite and Ammonite males marry into the Jewish people
Not to prevent a third-generation Egyptian convert from marrying into the Jewish people
Not to refrain from marrying a third generation Edomite convert
Not to let a mamzer (a child born due to an illegal relationship) marry into the Jewish people
Not to let a eunuch marry into the Jewish people
Not to offer to God any castrated male animals
The High Priest must not marry a widow
The High Priest must not have sexual relations with a widow even outside of marriage
The High Priest must marry a virgin maiden
A Kohen (priest) must not marry a divorcee
A Kohen must not marry a zonah (a woman who has had a forbidden sexual relationship)
A Kohen must not marry a chalalah ("a desecrated person") (party to or product of 169-172)
Not to make pleasurable (sexual) contact with any forbidden woman
To examine the signs of animals to distinguish between kosher and non-kosher
To examine the signs of fowl to distinguish between kosher and non-kosher
To examine the signs of fish to distinguish between kosher and non-kosher
To examine the signs of locusts to distinguish between kosher and non-kosher
Not to eat non-kosher animals
Not to eat non-kosher fowl
Not to eat non-kosher fish
Not to eat non-kosher flying insects
Not to eat non-kosher creatures that crawl on land
Not to eat non-kosher maggots
Not to eat worms found in fruit on the ground
Not to eat creatures that live in water other than (kosher) fish
Not to eat the meat of an animal that died without ritual slaughter
Not to benefit from an ox condemned to be stoned
Not to eat meat of an animal that was mortally wounded
Not to eat a limb torn off a living creature
Not to eat blood
Not to eat certain fats of clean animals
Not to eat the sinew of the thigh
Not to eat meat and milk cooked together
Not to cook meat and milk together
Not to eat bread from new grain before the Omer
Not to eat parched grains from new grain before the Omer
Not to eat ripened grains from new grain before the Omer
Not to eat fruit of a tree during its first three years
Not to eat diverse seeds planted in a vineyard
Not to eat untithed fruits
Not to drink wine poured in service to idols
To ritually slaughter an animal before eating it
Not to slaughter an animal and its offspring on the same day
To cover the blood (of a slaughtered beast or fowl) with earth
To send away the mother bird before taking its children
To release the mother bird if she was taken from the nest
Not to swear falsely in God's Name
Not to take God's Name in vain
Not to deny possession of something entrusted to you
Not to swear in denial of a monetary claim
To swear in God's Name to confirm the truth when deemed necessary by court
To fulfill what was uttered and to do what was avowed
Not to break oaths or vows
For oaths and vows annulled, there are the laws of annulling vows explicit in the Torah
The Nazir must let his hair grow
He must not cut his hair
He must not drink wine, wine mixtures, or wine vinegar
He must not eat fresh grapes
He must not eat raisins
He must not eat grape seeds
He must not eat grape skins
He must not be under the same roof as a corpse
He must not come into contact with the dead
He must shave his head after bringing sacrifices upon completion of his Nazirite period
To estimate the value of people as determined by the Torah
To estimate the value of consecrated animals
To estimate the value of consecrated houses
To estimate the value of consecrated fields
Carry out the laws of interdicting possessions (cherem)
Not to sell the cherem
Not to redeem the cherem
Not to plant diverse seeds together
Not to plant grains or greens in a vineyard
Not to crossbreed animals
Not to work different animals together
Not to wear shaatnez, a cloth woven of wool and linen
To leave a corner of the field uncut for the poor
Not to reap that corner
To leave gleanings
Not to gather the gleanings
To leave the gleanings of a vineyard
Not to gather the gleanings of a vineyard
To leave the unformed clusters of grapes
Not to pick the unformed clusters of grapes
To leave the forgotten sheaves in the field
Not to retrieve them
To separate the "tithe for the poor"
To give charity
Not to withhold charity from the poor
To set aside Terumah Gedolah (gift for the Kohen)
The Levite must set aside a tenth of his tithe
Not to preface one tithe to the next, but separate them in their proper order
A non-Kohen must not eat Terumah
A hired worker or a Jewish bondsman of a Kohen must not eat Terumah
An uncircumcised Kohen must not eat Terumah
An impure Kohen must not eat Terumah
A chalalah (party to #s 169-172 above) must not eat Terumah
To set aside Ma'aser (tithe) each planting year and give it to a Levite
To set aside the second tithe (Ma'aser Sheni)
Not to spend its redemption money on anything but food, drink, or ointment
Not to eat Ma'aser Sheni while impure
A mourner on the first day after death must not eat Ma'aser Sheni
Not to eat Ma'aser Sheni grains outside Jerusalem
Not to eat Ma'aser Sheni wine products outside Jerusalem
Not to eat Ma'aser Sheni oil outside Jerusalem
The fourth year crops must be totally for holy purposes like Ma'aser Sheni
To read the confession of tithes every fourth and seventh year
To set aside the first fruits and bring them to the Temple
The Kohanim must not eat the first fruits outside Jerusalem
To read the Torah portion pertaining to their presentation
To set aside a portion of dough for a Kohen
To give the shoulder, two cheeks, and stomach of slaughtered animals to a Kohen
To give the first shearing of sheep to a Kohen
To redeem firstborn sons and give the money to a Kohen
To redeem the firstborn donkey by giving a lamb to a Kohen
To break the neck of the donkey if the owner does not intend to redeem it
To rest the land during the seventh year by not doing any work which enhances growth
Not to work the land during the seventh year
Not to work with trees to produce fruit during that year
Not to reap crops that grow wild that year in the normal manner
Not to gather grapes which grow wild that year in the normal way
To leave free all produce which grew in that year
To release all loans during the seventh year
Not to pressure or claim from the borrower
Not to refrain from lending immediately before the release of the loans for fear of monetary loss
The Sanhedrin must count seven groups of seven years
The Sanhedrin must sanctify the fiftieth year
To blow the Shofar on the tenth of Tishrei to free the slaves
Not to work the soil during the fiftieth year (Jubilee)
Not to reap in the normal manner that which grows wild in the fiftieth year
Not to pick grapes which grew wild in the normal manner in the fiftieth year
Carry out the laws of sold family properties
Not to sell the land in Israel indefinitely
Carry out the laws of houses in walled cities
The Tribe of Levi must not be given a portion of the land in Israel, rather they are given cities to dwell in
The Levites must not take a share in the spoils of war
To give the Levites cities to inhabit and their surrounding fields
Not to sell the fields but they shall remain the Levites' before and after the Jubilee year
To build a Temple
Not to build the altar with stones hewn by metal
Not to climb steps to the altar
To show reverence to the Temple
To guard the Temple area
Not to leave the Temple unguarded
To prepare the anointing oil
Not to reproduce the anointing oil
Not to anoint with anointing oil
Not to reproduce the incense formula
Not to burn anything on the Golden Altar besides incense
The Levites must transport the ark on their shoulders
Not to remove the staves from the ark
The Levites must work in the Temple
No Levite must do another's work of either a Kohen or a Levite
To dedicate the Kohen for service
The work of the Kohanims shifts must be equal during holidays
The Kohanim must wear their priestly garments during service
Not to tear the priestly garments
The Kohen Gadol 's breastplate must not be loosened from the Efod
A Kohen must not enter the Temple intoxicated
A Kohen must not enter the Temple with his head uncovered
A Kohen must not enter the Temple with torn clothes
A Kohen must not enter the Temple indiscriminately
A Kohen must not leave the Temple during service
To send the impure from the Temple
Impure people must not enter the Temple
Impure people must not enter the Temple Mount area
Impure Kohanim must not do service in the temple
An impure Kohen, following immersion, must wait until after sundown before returning to service
A Kohen must wash his hands and feet before service
A Kohen with a physical blemish must not enter the sanctuary or approach the altar
A Kohen with a physical blemish must not serve
A Kohen with a temporary blemish must not serve
One who is not a Kohen must not serve
To offer only unblemished animals
Not to dedicate a blemished animal for the altar
Not to slaughter it
Not to sprinkle its blood
Not to burn its fat
Not to offer a temporarily blemished animal
Not to sacrifice blemished animals even if offered by non-Jews
Not to inflict wounds upon dedicated animals
To redeem dedicated animals which have become disqualified
To offer only animals which are at least eight days old
Not to offer animals bought with the wages of a harlot or the animal exchanged for a dog
Not to burn honey or yeast on the altar
To salt all sacrifices
Not to omit the salt from sacrifices
Carry out the procedure of the burnt offering as prescribed in the Torah
Not to eat its meat
Carry out the procedure of the sin offering
Not to eat the meat of the inner sin offering
Not to decapitate a fowl brought as a sin offering
Carry out the procedure of the guilt offering
The Kohanim must eat the sacrificial meat in the Temple
The Kohanim must not eat the meat outside the Temple courtyard
A non-Kohen must not eat sacrificial meat
To follow the procedure of the peace offering
Not to eat the meat of minor sacrifices before sprinkling the blood
To bring meal offerings as prescribed in the Torah
Not to put oil on the meal offerings of wrongdoers
Not to put frankincense on the meal offerings of wrongdoers
Not to eat the meal offering of the High Priest
Not to bake a meal offering as leavened bread
The Kohanim must eat the remains of the meal offerings
To bring all avowed and freewill offerings to the Temple on the first subsequent festival
Not to withhold payment incurred by any vow
To offer all sacrifices in the Temple
To bring all sacrifices from outside Israel to the Temple
Not to slaughter sacrifices outside the courtyard
Not to offer any sacrifices outside the courtyard
To offer two lambs every day
To light a fire on the altar every day
Not to extinguish this fire
To remove the ashes from the altar every day
To burn incense every day
To light the Menorah every day
The Kohen Gadol ("High Priest") must bring a meal offering every day
To bring two additional lambs as burnt offerings on Shabbat
To make the show bread
To bring additional offerings on Rosh Chodesh (" The New Month")
To bring additional offerings on Passover
To offer the wave offering from the meal of the new wheat
Each man must count the Omer - seven weeks from the day the new wheat offering was brought
To bring additional offerings on Shavuot
To bring two leaves to accompany the above sacrifice
To bring additional offerings on Rosh Hashana
To bring additional offerings on Yom Kippur
To bring additional offerings on Sukkot
To bring additional offerings on Shmini Atzeret
Not to eat sacrifices which have become unfit or blemished
Not to eat from sacrifices offered with improper intentions
Not to leave sacrifices past the time allowed for eating them
Not to eat from that which was left over
Not to eat from sacrifices which became impure
An impure person must not eat from sacrifices
To burn the leftover sacrifices
To burn all impure sacrifices
To follow the procedure of Yom Kippur in the sequence prescribed in Parshah Acharei Mot ("After the death of Aaron's sons...")
One who profaned property must repay what he profaned plus a fifth and bring a sacrifice
Not to work consecrated animals
Not to shear the fleece of consecrated animals
To slaughter the paschal sacrifice at the specified time
Not to slaughter it while in possession of leaven
Not to leave the fat overnight
To slaughter the second Paschal Lamb
To eat the Paschal Lamb with matzah and Marror on the night of the fourteenth of Nissan
To eat the second Paschal Lamb on the night of the 15th of Iyar
Not to eat the paschal meat raw or boiled
Not to take the paschal meat from the confines of the group
An apostate must not eat from it
A permanent or temporary hired worker must not eat from it
An uncircumcised male must not eat from it
Not to break any bones from the paschal offering
Not to break any bones from the second paschal offering
Not to leave any meat from the paschal offering over until morning
Not to leave the second paschal meat over until morning
Not to leave the meat of the holiday offering of the 14th until the 16th
To be seen at the Temple on Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot
To celebrate on these three Festivals (bring a peace offering)
To rejoice on these three Festivals (bring a peace offering)
Not to appear at the Temple without offerings
Not to refrain from rejoicing with, and giving gifts to, the Levites
To assemble all the people on the Sukkot following the seventh year
To set aside the firstborn animals
The Kohanim must not eat unblemished firstborn animals outside Jerusalem
Not to redeem the firstborn
Separate the tithe from animals
Not to redeem the tithe
Every person must bring a sin offering (in the temple) for his transgression
Bring an asham talui (temple offering) when uncertain of guilt
Bring an asham vadai (temple offering) when guilt is ascertained
Bring an oleh v'yored (temple offering) offering (if the person is wealthy, an animal; if poor, a bird or meal offering)
The Sanhedrin must bring an offering (in the Temple) when it rules in error
A woman who had a running (vaginal) issue must bring an offering (in the Temple) after she goes to the Mikveh
A woman who gave birth must bring an offering (in the Temple) after she goes to the Mikveh
A man who had a running (unnatural urinary) issue must bring an offering (in the Temple) after he goes to the Mikveh
A metzora must bring an offering (in the Temple) after going to the Mikveh
Not to substitute another beast for one set apart for sacrifice
The new animal, in addition to the substituted one, retains consecration
Not to change consecrated animals from one type of offering to another
Carry out the laws of impurity of the dead
Carry out the procedure of the Red Heifer (Para Aduma)
Carry out the laws of the sprinkling water
Rule the laws of human tzara'at as prescribed in the Torah
The metzora must not remove his signs of impurity
The metzora must not shave signs of impurity in his hair
The metzora must publicize his condition by tearing his garments, allowing his hair to grow and covering his lips
Carry out the prescribed rules for purifying the metzora
The metzora must shave off all his hair prior to purification
Carry out the laws of tzara'at of clothing
Carry out the laws of tzara'at of houses
Observe the laws of menstrual impurity
Observe the laws of impurity caused by childbirth
Observe the laws of impurity caused by a woman's running issue
Observe the laws of impurity caused by a man's running issue (irregular ejaculation of infected semen)
Observe the laws of impurity caused by a dead beast
Observe the laws of impurity caused by the eight shratzim (insects)
Observe the laws of impurity of a seminal emission (regular ejaculation, with normal semen)
Observe the laws of impurity concerning liquid and solid foods
Every impure person must immerse himself in a Mikvah to become pure
The court must judge the damages incurred by a goring ox
The court must judge the damages incurred by an animal eating
The court must judge the damages incurred by a pit
The court must judge the damages incurred by fire
Not to steal money stealthily
The court must implement punitive measures against the thief
Each individual must ensure that his scales and weights are accurate
Not to commit injustice with scales and weights
Not to possess inaccurate scales and weights even if they are not for use
Not to move a boundary marker to steal someone's property
Not to kidnap
Not to rob openly
Not to withhold wages or fail to repay a debt
Not to covet and scheme to acquire another's possession
Not to desire another's possession
Return the robbed object or its value
Not to ignore a lost object
Return the lost object
The court must implement laws against the one who assaults another or damages another's property
Not to murder
Not to accept monetary restitution to atone for the murderer
The court must send the accidental murderer to a city of refuge
Not to accept monetary restitution instead of being sent to a city of refuge
Not to kill the murderer before he stands trial
Save someone being pursued even by taking the life of the pursuer
Not to pity the pursuer
Not to stand idly by if someone's life is in danger
Designate cities of refuge and prepare routes of access
Break the neck of a calf by the river valley following an unsolved murder
Not to work nor plant that river valley
Not to allow pitfalls and obstacles to remain on your property
Make a guard rail around flat roofs
Not to put a stumbling block before a blind man (nor give harmful advice)
Help another remove the load from a beast which can no longer carry it
Help others load their beast
Not to leave others distraught with their burdens (but to help either load or unload)
Conduct sales according to Torah law
Not to overcharge or underpay for an article
Not to insult or harm anybody with words
Not to cheat a convert monetarily
Not to insult or harm a convert with words
Purchase a Hebrew slave in accordance with the prescribed laws
Not to sell him as a slave is sold
Not to work him oppressively
Not to allow a non-Jew to work him oppressively
Not to have him do menial slave labor
Give him gifts when he goes free
Not to send him away empty-handed
Redeem Jewish maidservants
Betroth the Jewish maidservant
The master must not sell his maidservant
Canaanite slaves must work forever unless injured in one of their limbs
Not to extradite a slave who fled to (Biblical) Israel
Not to wrong a slave who has come to Israel for refuge
The courts must carry out the laws of a hired worker and hired guard
Pay wages on the day they were earned
Not to delay payment of wages past the agreed time
The hired worker may eat from the unharvested crops where he works
The worker must not eat while on hired time
The worker must not take more than he can eat
Not to muzzle an ox while plowing
The courts must carry out the laws of a borrower
The courts must carry out the laws of an unpaid guard
Lend to the poor and destitute
Not to press them for payment if you know they don't have it
Press the idolater for payment
The creditor must not forcibly take collateral
Return the collateral to the debtor when needed
Not to delay its return when needed
Not to demand collateral from a widow
Not to demand as collateral utensils needed for preparing food
Not to lend with interest
Not to borrow with interest
Not to intermediate in an interest loan, guarantee, witness, or write the promissory note
Lend to and borrow from idolaters with interest
The courts must carry out the laws of the plaintiff, admitter, or denier
Carry out the laws of the order of inheritance
Appoint judges
Not to appoint judges who are not familiar with judicial procedure
Decide by majority in case of disagreement
The court must not execute through a majority of one; at least a majority of two is required
A judge who presented an acquittal plea must not present an argument for conviction in capital cases
The courts must carry out the death penalty of stoning
The courts must carry out the death penalty of burning
The courts must carry out the death penalty of the sword
The courts must carry out the death penalty of strangulation
The courts must hang those stoned for blasphemy or idolatry
Bury the executed on the day they are killed
Not to delay burial overnight
The court must not let the sorcerer live
The court must give lashes to the wrongdoer
The court must not exceed the prescribed number of lashes
The court must not kill anybody on circumstantial evidence
The court must not punish anybody who was forced to do a crime
A judge must not pity the murderer or assaulter at the trial
A judge must not have mercy on the poor man at the trial
A judge must not respect the great man at the trial
A judge must not decide unjustly the case of the habitual transgressor
A judge must not pervert justice
A judge must not pervert a case involving a convert or orphan
Judge righteously
The judge must not fear a violent man in judgment
Judges must not accept bribes
Judges must not accept testimony unless both parties are present
Not to curse judges
Not to curse the head of state or leader of the Sanhedrin
Not to curse any upstanding Jew
Anybody who knows evidence must testify in court
Carefully interrogate the witness
A witness must not serve as a judge in capital crimes
Not to accept testimony from a lone witness
Transgressors must not testify
Relatives of the litigants must not testify
Not to testify falsely
Punish the false witnesses as they tried to punish the defendant
Act according to the ruling of the Sanhedrin
Not to deviate from the word of the Sanhedrin
Not to add to the Torah commandments or their oral explanations
Not to diminish from the Torah any commandments, in whole or in part
Not to curse your father and mother
Not to strike your father and mother
Respect your father or mother
Fear your father or mother
Not to be a rebellious son
Mourn for relatives
The High Priest must not defile himself for any relative
The High Priest must not enter under the same roof as a corpse
A Kohen must not defile himself (by going to funerals or cemeteries) for anyone except relatives
Appoint a king from Israel
Not to appoint a foreigner
The king must not have too many wives
The king must not have too many horses
The king must not have too much silver and gold
Destroy the seven Canaanite nations
Not to let any of them remain alive
Wipe out the descendants of Amalek
Remember what Amalek did to the Jewish people
Not to forget Amalek's atrocities and ambush on our journey from Egypt in the desert
Not to dwell permanently in Egypt
Offer peace terms to the inhabitants of a city while holding siege, and treat them according to the Torah if they accept the terms
Not to offer peace to Ammon and Moab while besieging them
Not to destroy fruit trees even during the siege
Prepare latrines outside the camps
Prepare a shovel for each soldier to dig with
Appoint a priest to speak with the soldiers during the war
He who has taken a wife, built a new home, or planted a vineyard is given a year to rejoice with his possessions
Not to demand from the above any involvement, communal or military
Not to panic and retreat during battle
Keep the laws of the captive woman
Not to sell her into slavery
Not to retain her for servitude after having sexual relations with her
See also
*Halakhah
*Laws and customs of the Land of Israel in Judaism
Bibliography
*Eisenberg, Ronald L. The 613 Mitzvot: A Contemporary Guide to the Commandments of Judaism Schreiber Publishing, 2005. ISBN 0884003035
*Moses Maimonides, translation by Charles Ber Chavel and Moses ibn Tibbon. The book of divine commandments (the Sefer Ha-mitzvoth of Moses Maimonides) London: Soncino Press, 1940.
External links
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* The 613 Mitzvot According to Sefer Hamitzvot of Rambam (Jewish Virtual Library)
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