Talmudic views on gentiles

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A complete set of the Babylonian Talmud.

The Babylonian Talmud is the central text of Rabbinic Judaism and the primary source of Jewish religious law and Jewish theology. It contains the teachings and disputes in opinion between rabbis on a wide variety of subjects.

The term "gentile", in this context, means "non-Jew". It is always important to read the entire section of the Talmud before forming an opinion.

Quotes

Positive views

The Talmud contains a number of passages that depict gentiles in a positive light. For example, there are a number of passages that affirm a gentile's right to study the Torah.

Torah study

See also: Torah study

"A gentile who engages in the study of Torah is like a High Priest." (Avodah Zarah 3a:2)

• רבי מאיר אומר מנין שאפילו עובד כוכבים ועוסק בתורה שהוא ככהן גדול תלמוד לומר (ויקרא יח, ה) אשר יעשה אותם האדם וחי בהם כהנים לוים וישראלים לא נאמר אלא האדם הא למדת שאפילו עובד כוכבים ועוסק בתורה הרי הוא ככהן גדול
  • Avodah Zarah 3a:2
  • Translation:
    • Rabbi Meir would say: From where is it derived that even a gentile who engages in Torah study is considered like a High Priest? The verse states: "You shall therefore keep My statutes and My ordinances, which if a person do, and shall live by them" (Leviticus 18:5). It is not stated: Priests, Levites, and Israelites, but rather the general term "person." From here you learn that even a gentile who engages in the study of Torah is like a High Priest. This demonstrates that gentiles are rewarded for fulfilling mitzvot, despite the fact that they are not commanded to do so.
      • The William Davidson Talmud

• ר״מ אומר מניין שאפילו עובד כוכבים ועוסק בתורה שהוא ככהן גדול שנאמר (ויקרא יח, ה) אשר יעשה אותם האדם וחי בהם כהנים לוים וישראלים לא נאמר אלא האדם הא למדת שאפילו עובד כוכבים ועוסק בתורה הרי הוא ככהן גדול
  • Sanhedrin 59a:4
  • Translation:
    • Rabbi Meir would say: From where is it derived that even a gentile who engages in Torah study is considered like a High Priest? It is derived from that which is stated: "You shall therefore keep My statutes and My ordinances, which if a man does he shall live by them" (Leviticus 18:5). The phrase: Which if priests, Levites, and Israelites do they shall live by them, is not stated, but rather: "A man," which indicates mankind in general. You have therefore learned that even a gentile who engages in Torah study is considered like a High Priest.
      • The William Davidson Talmud

• התם בשבע מצות דידהו׃
  • Sanhedrin 59a:5
  • Translation:
    • The Gemara answers: There, in the baraita, the reference is to a gentile who engages in the study of their seven mitzvot. It is a mitzva for a gentile to study the halakhot that pertain to the seven Noahide mitzvot, and when he does so he is highly regarded.
      • The William Davidson Talmud
  • Comments:
    • Sanhedrin 59a:2–5 contains a discussion arguing for and against the proposition that gentiles are permitted to study the Torah. Sanhedrin 59a:4 concludes positively, stating that a gentile who studies the Torah is highly regarded (i.e., "like a High Priest").

"That which is hateful to you do not do to another; that is the entire Torah, and the rest is its interpretation. Go study." (Hillel the Elder, Shabbat 31a:6)

• שׁוּב מַעֲשֶׂה בְּגוֹי אֶחָד שֶׁבָּא לִפְנֵי שַׁמַּאי. אָמַר לוֹ׃ גַּיְּירֵנִי עַל מְנָת שֶׁתְּלַמְּדֵנִי כׇּל הַתּוֹרָה כּוּלָּהּ כְּשֶׁאֲנִי עוֹמֵד עַל רֶגֶל אַחַת! דְּחָפוֹ בְּאַמַּת הַבִּנְיָן שֶׁבְּיָדוֹ. בָּא לִפְנֵי הִלֵּל, גַּיְירֵיהּ. אָמַר לוֹ׃ דַּעֲלָךְ סְנֵי לְחַבְרָךְ לָא תַּעֲבֵיד — זוֹ הִיא כׇּל הַתּוֹרָה כּוּלָּהּ, וְאִידַּךְ פֵּירוּשָׁהּ הוּא, זִיל גְּמוֹר.‏
  • Shabbat 31a:6
  • Translation:
    • There was another incident involving one gentile who came before Shammai and said to Shammai: Convert me on condition that you teach me the entire Torah while I am standing on one foot. Shammai pushed him away with the builder's cubit in his hand. This was a common measuring stick and Shammai was a builder by trade. The same gentile came before Hillel. He converted him and said to him: That which is hateful to you do not do to another; that is the entire Torah, and the rest is its interpretation. Go study.
      • The William Davidson Talmud
  • Comments:
    • Variously referred to as the "Golden Rule" and the "Silver Rule".

Noahide laws

"The descendants of Noah, i.e., all of humanity, were commanded to observe seven mitzvot." (Sanhedrin 56a:24)

• תנו רבנן שבע מצות נצטוו בני נח דינין וברכת השם ע״ז גילוי עריות ושפיכות דמים וגזל ואבר מן החי
  • Sanhedrin 56a:24
  • Translation:
    • The descendants of Noah, i.e., all of humanity, were commanded to observe seven mitzvot: The mitzva of establishing courts of judgment; and the prohibition against blessing, i.e., cursing, the name of God; and the prohibition of idol worship; and the prohibition against forbidden sexual relations; and the prohibition of bloodshed; and the prohibition of robbery; and the prohibition against eating a limb from a living animal.
      • The William Davidson Talmud
  • Comments:
    • This important passage lists the seven Noahide Laws, which are considered to be binding on all of humanity (i.e., all the descendants of Noah).

Property

• אֲבָל יֵשׁ קִנְיָן לְגוֹי בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל לַחְפּוֹר בָּהּ בּוֹרוֹת שִׁיחִין וּמְעָרוֹת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר׃ ״הַשָּׁמַיִם שָׁמַיִם לַה׳ וְהָאָרֶץ נָתַן לִבְנֵי אָדָם״.‏
  • Gittin 47a:8
  • Translation:
    • [A] gentile does have, however, the capability of acquisition of land in Eretz Yisrael to allow him to dig pits, ditches, and caves in the land he has purchased, as it is stated: "The heavens are the heavens of the Lord; but the earth has He given to the children of men" (Psalms 115:16).
      • The William Davidson Talmud

Good deeds

• אָמַר רִבִּי שַׁבְּתָי כְּתִיב וּמִשְׁפָּט וְרֹב צְדָקָה לֹא יַעֲנֶה. אֵין הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַשְׁהֵא מַתַּן שְׂכָרָן שֶׁל עוֹשֵׂי מִצְוֹת בַּגּוֹיִם.‏
  • Jerusalem Talmud Peah 1:1:22
  • Translation:
    • Rebbi Sabbatai said (Job 37:23): "Justice and much charity He will not suppress." The Holy One, praise to Him, will not wait to give the reward for good deeds to the Gentiles.
      • Heinrich W. Guggenheimer translation
  • Comments:
    • Since gentiles do not believe in the world to come, they are rewarded in this world instead.

Other views

The Talmud also contains passages that describe gentiles in less favorable terms. However, many views are articulated for the sake of discussion and may, in a modern context, be considered to be refuted by more positive views.

Torah study

• ואמר ר׳ יוחנן עובד כוכבים שעוסק בתורה חייב מיתה שנאמר (דברים לג, ד) תורה צוה לנו משה מורשה לנו מורשה ולא להם
  • Sanhedrin 59a:2
  • Translation:
    • And Rabbi Yoḥanan says: A gentile who engages in Torah study is liable to receive the death penalty; as it is stated: "Moses commanded us a law [torah], an inheritance of the congregation of Jacob" (Deuteronomy 33:4), indicating that it is an inheritance for us, and not for them.
      • The William Davidson Talmud
  • Comments:
    • Refuted by Sanhedrin 59a:4.

• וליחשבה גבי שבע מצות מ״ד מורשה מיגזל קא גזיל לה מאן דאמר מאורסה דינו כנערה המאורסה דבסקילה
  • Sanhedrin 59a:3
  • Translation:
    • The Gemara explains: According to the one who says that the verse is referring to the Torah as an inheritance, this prohibition is included in the prohibition of robbery, as a gentile who studies Torah robs the Jewish people of it. According to the one who says that the verse is referring to the Torah as betrothed, as the spelling of the Hebrew word for betrothed [me'orasa], is similar to that of the word for inheritance [morasha], the punishment of a gentile who studies Torah is like that of one who engages in intercourse with a betrothed young woman, which is execution by stoning.
      • The William Davidson Talmud
  • Comments:
    • These passages are part of a larger discussion in Sanhedrin 59a:2–5, which argues for and against the proposition that gentiles have the right to study the Torah. Sanhedrin 59a:4 concludes positively, stating that "a gentile who engages in Torah study is considered like a High Priest". See also positive views.

Mourning for Jerusalem

See also: Siege of Jerusalem (70 CE)

• כׇּל שִׁיטָּה וְשִׁיטָּה שֶׁנָּטְלוּ גּוֹיִם מִירוּשָׁלַיִם, עָתִיד הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְהַחֲזִירָן לָהּ
  • Rosh Hashanah 23a:11
  • Translation:
    • Each and every acacia tree that the gentiles took from Jerusalem will be returned to the city by the Holy One, Blessed be He.
      • The William Davidson Talmud

Quotes about the Talmud

• Judaic sources, including from Tanach and the Talmud, speak of the Messianic Era in which Gentiles will serve the Jewish People. … When the Messiah shall come, the Gentiles will recognize and embrace their task in this world. They will ensure that God can have his special relationship with His Chosen Nation, perhaps by prioritizing Jewish community services or the like.
  • "The Jewish Attitude towards Gentiles". Jewish Belief Reimagined, 2018-12-02.

See also

• Gentile
• Talmud

External links

• Search for "gentile" in the Talmud at Sefaria.org