The Commandments
The Mitzvot · the 613 commandments of the Law · 248 to do · 365 not to do · and the commandments of Christ
By the traditional Jewish reckoning the Law of Moses contains six hundred and thirteen commandments, in Hebrew the mitzvot (singular mitzvah). The number comes from the Talmud (Makkot 23b): three hundred and sixty-five prohibitions, as many as the days of the solar year, and two hundred and forty-eight positive commands, as many as the parts of the human body were counted to be.
The Law itself does not number its commandments, and the teachers who drew up lists did not always agree on which verses to count. The list given here is the best known, that of Moses Maimonides (1138–1204) in his Book of the Commandments, arranged under the fourteen subjects of his code, the Mishneh Torah. The count and the order are his. The wording of each statement is ours.
Each entry gives the commandment, whether it is a do or a do not, and the verse on which the tradition rests it, quoted from the Saints Translation and linked to its place in the chapter. Where several commandments rest on one verse, the verse is quoted once. To find a commandment by subject, use the fourteen pages of Part One, each divided into sections. To find what is drawn from a particular verse, use the index by verse.
Two things should be kept in mind. Many statements follow the way a verse was understood in Jewish tradition, which is sometimes narrower or wider than its plain words; where that is so, the entry says “understood as.” And the Saints Translation of the Law is made with the Greek Septuagint in view, so in a few places the verse reads differently from the Hebrew on which the commandment was counted; those places are marked. Verse numbers are those of the Saints Translation.
Part Two gathers the commandments of Jesus Christ from His own words in the four Gospels. It has two movements. The Law Fulfilled sets out the places where He takes up a commandment of Moses and carries it to its root, each beside the numbered commandments it concerns; those commandments in Part One point forward to His teaching in turn. The five pages that follow give what He commands in His own name. There is no traditional count of these; the 105 entries are a gathering, not a canon, and the numbering is only for finding them. His words are printed in red.
Part One: The Commandments of the Law
1. Knowing God
Sefer HaMadda, the Book of Knowledge · commandments 1–75 (75). The foundations: who God is, the character He asks of His people, the study of His Law, the rejection of every idol, and repentance.
The Foundations of the Law · Character and Conduct · The Study of the Law · Idolatry and Pagan Practice · Repentance
2. The Love of God
Sefer Ahavah, the Book of Love · commandments 76–86 (11). The daily remembrance of God: prayer, the words bound on hand and doorpost, the fringes, thanksgiving for food, and the covenant of circumcision.
The Recital of the Shema · Prayer and the Priestly Blessing · The Words on Hand, Forehead, Doorpost and Scroll · The Fringes · Blessings · Circumcision
3. Sabbath and Appointed Times
Sefer Zemanim, the Book of Seasons · commandments 87–121 (35). The Sabbath, the Day of Atonement, the festivals, the unleavened bread, the trumpet, the booths, the half-shekel, the new moon, and the cry to God in distress.
The Sabbath · The Rest of the Tenth Day · The Rest of the Festivals · Leaven and Unleavened Bread · The Trumpet, the Booth and the Branches · The Half-Shekel · The Sanctifying of the Month · Days of Distress
4. Marriage and Family
Sefer Nashim, the Book of Women · commandments 122–138 (17). Marriage and its duties, divorce, the brother’s widow, the protection of the unmarried woman, and the wife suspected of unfaithfulness.
Marriage · Divorce · The Brother’s Widow · The Unmarried Young Woman · The Suspected Wife
5. Holiness
Sefer Kedushah, the Book of Holiness · commandments 139–208 (70). What sets Israel apart in the body: the forbidden unions, the clean and unclean foods, and the manner of slaughter.
Forbidden Unions · Forbidden Foods · Slaughter
6. Oaths, Vows and Dedications
Sefer Hafla’ah, the Book of Separation · commandments 209–233 (25). What a person binds upon himself by word: oaths, vows, the Nazirite’s separation, and things valued or devoted to the Lord.
Oaths · Vows · The Nazirite · Valuations and Devoted Things
7. The Land, the Harvest and the Poor
Sefer Zera’im, the Book of Seeds · commandments 234–300 (67). The fruit of the land and who shares in it: forbidden mixtures, the portions of the poor, the priest’s and Levite’s share, the tithes, the firstfruits, the seventh year and the Jubilee.
Forbidden Mixtures · The Portions of the Poor · The Priests’ Portion · The Tithe · The Second Tithe and the Fourth-Year Fruit · Firstfruits and the Priests’ Gifts · The Seventh Year and the Jubilee
8. The Sanctuary and Its Service
Sefer Avodah, the Book of Service · commandments 301–403 (103). The house of God and its ministry: the sanctuary, its vessels and ministers, who may enter, what may be offered, the order of the sacrifices, the daily and festival offerings, and the Day of Atonement.
The Chosen House · The Vessels and Those Who Serve · Entering the Sanctuary · What May Not Be Offered · The Order of the Sacrifices · The Daily and Additional Offerings · Offerings Made Unfit · The Service of the Day of Atonement · Trespass against Holy Things
9. The Offerings
Sefer Korbanot, the Book of Offerings · commandments 404–442 (39). The offerings an Israelite brings: the Passover, the pilgrim festivals, the firstborn, offerings for sin, offerings that complete purification, and the law of substitution.
The Passover Offering · The Pilgrim Festivals · Firstborn Animals and the Tithe of the Herd · Offerings for Unintentional Sin · Those Whose Atonement Is Incomplete · Substitution
10. Purity
Sefer Taharah, the Book of Purity · commandments 443–462 (20). Clean and unclean: the dead, the red heifer, leprous disease, bodily discharges, unclean creatures, food, and immersion in water.
Uncleanness from the Dead · The Red Heifer · Leprous Disease · Bodily Discharges and Childbirth · Other Sources of Uncleanness · Uncleanness of Food and Drink · Immersion
11. Injury, Theft and the Protection of Life
Sefer Nezikin, the Book of Damages · commandments 463–498 (36). Harm done by one’s property, theft and honest measures, robbery and lost property, bodily injury, murder, and the guarding of life.
Damage by Property · Theft · Robbery and Lost Property · Bodily Injury · Murder and the Guarding of Life
12. Buying, Selling and Servants
Sefer Kinyan, the Book of Acquisition · commandments 499–516 (18). Honest dealing in trade, the protection of the sojourner, and the law of servants.
13. Wages, Loans and Inheritance
Sefer Mishpatim, the Book of Judgments · commandments 517–539 (23). The hired worker, things borrowed and entrusted, lending and pledges, disputed claims, and inheritance.
Hiring · Borrowing and Deposits · Lender and Borrower · Claims · Inheritance
14. Judges, Kings and War
Sefer Shofetim, the Book of Judges · commandments 540–613 (74). The courts and their justice, witnesses, the authority of the judges and of parents, mourning, the king, and the conduct of war.
The Courts and Their Penalties · Witnesses · Authority, Parents and the Rebellious Son · Mourning · Kings and Their Wars
Index by verse: every commandment of the Law in the order of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.
Part Two: The Commandments of Christ
1. The Law Fulfilled
The commandments of Moses as Christ takes them up · entries 1–28. Jesus did not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets but to fulfil them. Here are the places where He takes up a commandment of Moses, names it, and carries it to its root: from the deed to the heart, from the letter to the will of the Father. Each entry stands beside the numbered commandments it concerns.
The Law and the Prophets · You Heard That It Was Said, but I Tell You · Marriage · The Sabbath · Clean and Unclean, and the Tradition of the Elders · The Commandments and the One Thing Lacking · Temple, Offerings and Tithes · Done to Be Seen
2. Repent, Believe, Follow
His own commandments: the call · entries 29–45. The first words of His preaching and the conditions of discipleship: to turn, to believe, to follow, and to keep what He commands.
Repent and Believe · Follow Me · Hear and Keep
3. Love, Mercy and Forgiveness
His own commandments: one another · entries 46–63. The new commandment and what follows from it: mercy, forgiveness, service, and care for the least.
The New Commandment · Judging and Forgiving · Serving · The Little Ones and the Poor
4. Prayer, Fasting and Giving
His own commandments: before the Father · entries 64–73. The hidden life: alms, prayer and fasting done for the Father who sees in secret, and the prayer He gave.
5. Treasure, Trust and Watchfulness
His own commandments: in the world · entries 74–90. Possessions, anxiety, fear, false teachers, and readiness for His coming.
Treasure · Trust · Watchfulness
6. The Church and Its Mission
His own commandments: until He comes · entries 91–105. What He gave His disciples to do together and to carry to the nations: the Supper, baptism and teaching, the sending, the shepherding of His flock.
Do This in Remembrance of Me · Go and Make Disciples · The Sending · Shepherds of the Flock
Index by Gospel verse: every entry in the order of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, with parallels.
Saints Translation · The Commandments · the traditional count of 613 after Maimonides; statements in our own words; verses quoted from the Saints Translation · working draft awaiting specialist review.