THE 613 LAWS OF YAHWEH — CALLED THE MITZVOT

The following is a simplified listing of the 613 commandments as they are recorded in the Torah — the first five books of the Tanakh (Hebrew Scriptures) — and as they have been understood and catalogued by the Hebrew people from antiquity to the present day.

The Hebrew word for 'law' is Torah. In its most precise definition it refers to the five books of Moshe (Moses): Bereishit (Genesis), Shemot (Exodus), Vayikra (Leviticus), Bemidbar (Numbers), and Devarim (Deuteronomy). More broadly, Torah is used to encompass the whole of the Tanakh. The word itself means 'to teach' or 'to instruct' — conveying both human instruction and Divine instruction from Yahweh to His people.

Through the Law, Yahweh Elohim reveals His interest in every dimension of human life. Motivated by covenant love, Yahweh instructs His people in the ways of wisdom and righteousness. The Law is not a burden — it is a covenant gift. Its positive commandments (248 in number) and its negative commandments (365 in number) exist for the protection, prosperity, and sanctification of all who walk in covenant with Yahweh.

The Torah is the revealed mind of Yahweh. His will is His commandment, and His commandment is His Law. It is therefore Divine in origin — proceeding from Yahweh Himself — and perfect, as Yahweh Himself is perfect. The Torah supersedes all human legislation. It transcends every civil, religious, and cultural system, standing as the supreme standard of righteousness for the whole earth.

The Torah is universal and comprehensive. It speaks to all areas of life and to every living soul. It addresses ceremonial truth, moral truth, and dietary truth. It speaks of man's duty toward Yahweh, and man's duty toward his fellow man. The Torah addresses philosophy, psychology, biology, agriculture, economics, ecology, civil and criminal law, military conduct, international and domestic relations, family life, covenant community life, business practice — and every other dimension of human existence. There is no area of life that Yahweh's covenant instruction fails to address.