613 Mitzvot: The Concept of Commandments

The term Mitzvah (Hebrew מִצְוָה, plural Mitzvot) in Judaism refers to a commandment or religious obligation. In everyday language, it is often used to describe a “good deed”, but in the theological sense, it describes a divine directive from the Torah.

The Division of the 613 Commandments

Rabbinic tradition divides the 613 Mitzvot into two main categories:

1. Positive Commandments (Mitzvot Aseh — “Thou shalt do”):
   • Number: 248
   • Symbolism: This number is traditionally associated with the limbs and organs of the human body (see Babylonian Talmud, Makkot 23b). They represent action using one’s entire body.
2. Negative Prohibitions (Mitzvot Lo Ta’aseh — “Thou shalt not do”):
   • Number: 365
   • Symbolism: This number corresponds to the number of days in the solar year. It symbolizes that on every day of the year, humans should refrain from transgression.

Different Counting Systems

Although the number 613 holds a central place in Jewish tradition, the biblical text itself does not contain a numbered list from 1 to 613.

Historically, various Jewish scholars and authorities compiled their own lists to identify the exact commandments. There were disagreements over which specific text passages count as independent, permanent commandments and which were only temporary directives.

The most influential systematization comes from Maimonides (Rambam) in his work Sefer HaMitzvot (Book of Commandments), in which he established 14 methodological rules (Shorashim) to define the criteria for counting. Other counts include those by Nachmanides (Ramban) or the Sefer HaChinuch.