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The Thirty Mitzvot of the Bnei Noach
Although there are only Seven Noachide Laws, it is possible to subdivide them into 30 subdivisions. There are two versions of the 30 Noachide Mitzvot:
- The 30 Noachide Laws recorded by Rabbi Shmuel ben Hofni, Gaon.
- The 30 Noachide Laws recorded by Rabbi Menachem Azaria de Fano
N.B. - Please note that the following lists of additional laws should be treated as lists of recommendations and not as the actual accepted Halacha. For further explanation of this, or if you actually have a Halachic question, you should consult your Local Orthodox Rabbi or Local Beth Din.
The Talmud (Chullin 92a) mentions that Bnei Noach have thirty mitzvot (laws):
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'Rav Yehuda Says: This verse (Zacharia 11:12) refers to the thirty righteous persons among the nations of the world, whose merit sustains the nations of the world.
Ulla said: This verse refers to the thirty commandments which the Noachites have accepted. But they keep only three of them. One, they do not draw up marriage contracts for homosexuals. Two, they do not merchandize (human) flesh in the marketplace. Three, they do have respect for the Torah (and for Torah scholars).'
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As Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki) tells us, Chazal (the Sages) do not elaborate on the nature of the 30 Mitzvot, but various commentaries offer suggestions. The basic thesis with which they work is that the 30 Mitzvot are subdivisions of the seven Noachide laws.
Rabbi Menachem Azaria de Fano רבנו מנחם עזריה מפאנו 1548-1620 (also known as the REMA mi'PANU רמ״ע מפאנו) in his book ספר עשרה מאמרות Asarah Ma'amaros, Ma'amar Chikur Din 3:21 מאמר חקור דין ־ חלק ג פרק כא (Amsterdam 1649), enumerates the 30 laws as follows:
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The REMA Mi’Panu’s 30 laws in transliterated Hebrew
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And translated into English
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in the original Hebrew
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ראשונה
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1
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AVODAH ZARAH / Avodat Elilim
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IDOLATRY:
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עבודת אלילים
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2
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Ma'avir Ba'esh
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Passing a child through fire in the worship of molech
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מעביר באש
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3
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Kosem
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Stick divination
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קוסם
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4
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Me'onen
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Divining of auspicious times
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מעונן
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5
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Menachesh
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Interpreting of omens / Superstition
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מנחש
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6
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Mechashef
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Witchcraft / Sorcery
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מכשף
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7
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Chover Chaver
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Charming / using incantations
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חובר חבר
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8
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Ov
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Consulting mediums
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אוב
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9
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Yidoni
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Consulting oracles
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ידעוני
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10
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Doresh El ha'Mesim
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Necromancy
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דורש אל המתים
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שנית
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11
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GILUY ARAYOS
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SEXUAL SINS:
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גלוי עריות
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12
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Peru *
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Be fruitful.
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פרו
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13
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Revu *
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Multiply seed.
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רבו
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14
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Ba Al ha'Zechur
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Don’t draw up marriage contracts for homosexuals.
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אסור הזכור אפילו יחדו בכתובה
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15
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Kilayei Behemah
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Cross-breeding of animals
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כלאי בהמה
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16
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Sirus
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Castration
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סרוס
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17
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Harkavas ha'Ilan
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Grafting trees
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הרכבת אילן
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שלישית
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18
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SHEFICHUS DAMIM
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MURDER:
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שפיכות דמים
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19
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Soter Lo'o Shel Yisroel
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Striking a Jew
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סוטר לועו של ישראל
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רביעית
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20
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BIRKAS HASHEM
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BLASPHEMY:
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ברכת ה׳
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21
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Kavod ha'Torah *
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Honour the Torah (and Torah scholars).
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כבוד התורה
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22
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la'Asok ba'Torah she'Nitnah Lahem *
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Studying relevant parts of the Torah.
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לעסוק בתורה שניתנה להם
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חמישית
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23
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GEZZEL
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THEFT:
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גזל
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24
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Shelo la'Asok ba'Torah Shel Yisrael
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No to study non-relevant parts of the Torah.
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שלא לעסוק בתורה מורשה אלינו
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ששית
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25
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HADINIM LEYISHUVO SHEL OLOM *
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ESTABLISHMENT OF A SYSTEM OF JUSTICE:
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הדינין לישובו של עולם
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26
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Velo Yishbosu
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Not to observe the Sabbath
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ולא ישבותו
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שביעית
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27
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EIVER MIN HACHAY
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EATING ALL OR PART OF A LIVING CREATURE:
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אבר מן החי
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28
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Dam Min ha'Chay
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Blood of a living creature
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דם מן החי
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29
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Nevelah
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Eating an animal that died without proper slaughter.
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נבלה
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30
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Basar Hames
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Human flesh.
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בשר המת
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Laws 2 to 10 are from Deut. 18:10-11
The Seven Noachide Laws are shown in capital letters.
The commandments that are followed by an * are positive commandments, and those that do not are to be understood as prohibitions.
ADDITIONAL LAWS:
Rav Saadiah Gaon adds:
- Tithing *
- Levirate marriage *
Rav Nissim Gaon adds:
- Obedience to God *
- Knowledge of God *
- Worship of God *
Ran and Rama add:
- Charity *
These 30 laws of the Benei Noah are from the Cairo Genizah and were written by Rabbi Shmuel ben Hofni, Gaon.
Samuel ben Hofni Gaon was head of the Yeshiva of Sura in Baghdad during the cultural renaissance which characterized the Buyid period. His writings reflect the impact of Arabic literature on Jewish intellectuals at this time.
Chabad.org - Rav Shmuel bar Hofnii
(see the book by A. Greenbaum, 'Thirty Commandments According to R. Samuel ben Hofni.' Published in Hebrew, Sinai, 1973).
(See also the appendix of the Encyclopedia Talmudica, Vol.3, in the section headed 'Ben Noah').
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1
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The singularity of G-d (That is, to believe in G-d) *
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Genesis 2:16
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2
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No idolatry
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Genesis 2:16
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3
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No blasphemy
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Genesis 2:16
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4
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To pray *
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Genesis 20:7
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5
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No false oaths
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Genesis 21:23
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6
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No suicide
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Genesis 9:5-6
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7
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No murder
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Genesis 9:5-6
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8
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No adultery
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Genesis 20:3
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9
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Formal marriages via bride price & marriage gifts *
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Genesis 34:12
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10
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No incest (with a sister)
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Genesis 12:13
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11
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No homosexuality
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Genesis 2:24
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12
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No bestiality
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Genesis 2:24
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13
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No castration
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Genesis 5:17
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14
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Not to eat an animal that died naturally or without proper slaughter
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Genesis 9:3
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15
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Not to eat a limb of a living creature
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Genesis 9:4
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16
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Not to eat or drink blood
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Genesis 9:4
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17
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Not to crossbreed animals
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Genesis 8:20
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18
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[Justice] (the original manuscript was damaged here)
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19
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To offer ritual sacrifices *
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Genesis 8:20
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20
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No theft (including kidnapping)
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Genesis 2:16;6:11
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21
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To respect / honour father & mother *
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Genesis 9:22-23
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22
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No Molech worship (passing a child through fire
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Deuteronomy 18:10
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23
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No divination
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Deuteronomy 18:10
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24
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No Divining of auspicious times
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Deuteronomy 18:10
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25
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No Interpreting of omens / Superstition
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Deuteronomy 18:10
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26
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No Witchcraft / Sorcery
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Deuteronomy 18:10
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27
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No Charming / using incantations / conjuring
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Deuteronomy 18:10
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28
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No consulting mediums
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Deuteronomy 18:10
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29
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No consulting oracles
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Deuteronomy 18:10
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30
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No consulting the dead (necromancy)
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Deuteronomy 18:10
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The laws that are followed by an * are positive admonitions, and those that do not are to be understood as prohibitions.
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