The seven commandments that the Noahides were commanded, for each of which they are executed if violated, are: establishing courts of law, blasphemy, idolatry, sexual immorality, murder, theft, and eating flesh from a living animal. The first six were commanded from the time of Adam, and the prohibition of eating flesh from a living animal was added from the time of Noah, as it is stated, “But flesh with its life, its blood, you shall not eat” (Genesis 9:4). The prohibition of eating meat from a living animal includes all its flesh, but Noahides are permitted to consume the blood of a living animal. Likewise, castration, even though it is similar to removing a limb from a living creature, is permitted for them. Similarly, the pagan practices of divination, sorcery, and consulting the dead—even though these are idolatrous customs—are permitted for them, despite the verse stating, “Because of these abominations, the Lord your God is driving them out before you” (Deuteronomy 18:12). If so, why were they punished for engaging in these practices if they were not prohibited? Rather, it is because these practices are a gateway to idolatry, which is why they were punished. This is what was stated later regarding idolatry, that Gentiles are punished for engaging in these things.

Noahides are forbidden from crossbreeding animals of different species, as well as from grafting trees of different species. However, these are not included among the seven Noahide laws, and they are not executed for them. Other forms of forbidden mixtures are permitted for them.

A Noahide is not executed for idolatry unless he worships it in the manner that an Israelite would be executed for it—such as worshiping it in its customary manner, meaning the way it is traditionally worshiped, or by performing one of the four primary acts of worship (sacrificing, burning incense, pouring libations, or bowing). Even if the idol is not traditionally worshiped in that manner, as will be explained later in this chapter, if he did so, he is liable. However, if he worshiped it in a manner that is not customary and not one of the four primary acts—such as hugging or kissing it and similar actions that are not part of its normal service—he is exempt, though it remains prohibited for him just as it is for an Israelite. Similarly, he is prohibited from erecting a monument, planting an Asherah tree, or making images even for decoration, let alone for worship. However, if he only made them but did not worship them, he is exempt, since an Israelite is not executed for making them but only receives lashes, and lashes do not apply to Noahides. The principle that “their prohibition is their death penalty” applies only to those prohibitions explicitly commanded to them, not to those derived from Israelite law. Some explain the principle that “their prohibition is their death penalty” to mean that whenever the Mishnah states that Noahides are prohibited from something, it implies that they are liable for the death penalty, as it does not use the term "prohibition" in a general sense.

An Israelite is only executed with a court of twenty-three judges, with valid witnesses and prior warning. However, a Noahide does not require all of these; he is executed based on a single judge and a single witness, even if the witness is a relative, though not based on the testimony of a woman. It appears to me that he is also not executed based on the testimony of those disqualified from giving testimony under Torah law.

Noahides are obligated to establish courts of law in every district and in every city, just as Israel was commanded, so that they will have fixed courts to judge cases concerning these seven commandments and to admonish their people regarding them. Since they were commanded in this, if they see someone transgressing and do not judge him, they are all executed. This is the reason why the people of Shechem were liable to be killed—not because of sexual immorality, since the woman was unmarried, but because of theft. As it is stated, “Shall he treat our sister like a harlot?” (Genesis 34:31), and the great rabbinic authorities wrote in their commentaries that “like a harlot” means that he treated her as ownerless, meaning that he would not be liable for theft. Thus, Shechem was guilty of theft, and they saw and did not judge him. This is the opinion of the great commentators. However, some leading scholars of later generations dispute this, saying that the obligation to establish courts for Noahides is only a positive commandment, and when it is said that “their prohibition is their death penalty,” this does not apply to positive commandments. According to their opinion, the killing of the people of Shechem was unjustified, and this is why Jacob cursed them. However, in my view, the obligation to establish courts is included in the commandment of “justice,” which prohibits wrongdoing and violence, and thus it is a prohibition, not just a positive commandment. Jacob did not curse them for acting unjustly, but because he had made an agreement with them and wanted to maintain his word and their treaty, going beyond the strict letter of the law. A proof for my view is what is stated later, that a Gentile who rests on the Sabbath is liable for the death penalty, as it is written, “Day and night they shall not cease” (Genesis 8:22). The Talmud asks why this is not included among the seven commandments and answers that the list only includes prohibitions of inaction, whereas this is an active prohibition. The Talmud then questions why the obligation to establish courts is included, since it is an active commandment, and answers that it includes both an active and a passive prohibition, meaning preventing wrongdoing, as it is written, “You shall not commit injustice” (Leviticus 19:15). Any means that leads to enforcing justice is therefore included.

Noahides are commanded regarding both strict judgment and compromise, as it is stated, “To do righteousness and justice” (Genesis 18:19). It has already been explained that "righteousness" refers to compromise. However, they do not have monetary fines, nor are they permitted to judge cases involving fines.

Noahides are warned against eating a limb from a living animal, whether from a kosher or non-kosher species. This is different from Israelites, for whom the prohibition applies only to kosher species, as we explained in Tractate Chullin. The prohibition of a limb from a living animal applies to domesticated animals, wild animals, and birds— for Israelites, it applies only to kosher species, but for Noahides, it applies even to non-kosher species, since those species are still considered "permissible" to them. However, the prohibition does not apply to creeping creatures (sheratzim), neither for Israelites nor for Noahides. An Israelite does not receive lashes for eating an entire limb from a creeping creature; rather, the prohibition applies only if he eats an olive-sized portion while the creature is alive and a lentil-sized portion after its death, as explained in Tractate Meilah. Even though creeping creatures are considered "permissible" to Noahides, it appears that the prohibition of a limb from a living animal does not apply to them. Some major scholars wrote that, in their view, a Noahide is not liable for execution for eating a limb from a living bird. However, this is puzzling, and other leading scholars believe this is a scribal error and that the original intent was to refer to a limb from a creeping creature. Even though creeping creatures are permissible to Noahides, an Israelite is not punished for eating flesh from a living animal unless he eats an olive-sized portion, whereas a Noahide is executed even for eating the smallest amount. This is because all measurements of prohibited food quantities apply only to Israelites. It was clarified in Tractate Chullin that if an Israelite slaughters an animal by cutting both of its simanim (the trachea and esophagus), but the animal is still convulsing, it is forbidden to Noahides under the prohibition of eating a limb from a living animal. However, for an Israelite, it is permitted since the animal has undergone proper ritual slaughter.