Mishpatim in a Nutshell

The name of the Parshah, "Mishpatim," means "Ordinances" and it is found in Exodus 21:1.

Following the revelation at Sinai, G‑d legislates a series of laws for the people of Israel. These include the laws of the indentured servant; the penalties for murder, kidnapping, assault and theft; civil laws pertaining to redress of damages, the granting of loans and the responsibilities of the “Four Guardians”; and the rules governing the conduct of justice by courts of law.

Also included are laws warning against mistreatment of foreigners; the observance of the seasonal festivals, and the agricultural gifts that are to be brought to the Holy Temple in Jerusalem; the prohibition against cooking meat with milk; and the mitzvah of prayer. Altogether, the Parshah of Mishpatim contains 53 mitzvot—23 imperative commandments and 30 prohibitions.

G‑d promises to bring the people of Israel to the Holy Land, and warns them against assuming the pagan ways of its current inhabitants.

The people of Israel proclaim, “We will do and we will hear all that G‑d commands us.” Leaving Aaron and Hur in charge in the Israelite camp, Moses ascends Mount Sinai and remains there for forty days and forty nights to receive the Torah from G‑d.

Learn: Mishpatim in Depth
Browse: Mishpatim Parshah Columnists
Prep: Devar Torah Q&A for Mishpatim
Read: Haftarah in a Nutshell
Play: Mishpatim Parshah Quiz

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Azi February 3, 2026

ye this is super tuff Reply

wppmwr renew,mrnewm February 20, 2025

good story I listen to it alot lot Reply

A K February 4, 2024

"Also included are laws warning against mistreatment of foreigners"

What relationship exists between these laws and the Noahide Laws? Should Jews convert non-Jews to Bnei Noah? Reply

Rabbi EK for chabad.org February 4, 2024

in response to A K:

The term Ger in the Torah sometimes means a Ger Tzedek, a full-fledged convert. Sometimes, it means a Ger Toshav, a non-Jew who accepted the Noahide laws and lives among the Jews in the land. Accepting a Ger Toshav only applies when Yovel is practiced.
Teaching Gentiles the Noahide laws is encouraged; for most of our history, it did not happen as it was unsafe to do so, but it was done and documented. Reply

A K February 8, 2024

in response to Rabbi EK for chabad.org:

Thank you for your answer.

Is the instruction of the rabbis in line with the task of the Jewish people to be Chosen?

I mean that before the formation of the Jewish people at Mount Sinai, the Gentiles were found to be incapable of keeping the Noahide Laws. Apparently they need the help of the Jewish people to do that.

So can I then draw the conclusion that non-Jews should never observe the Noahide Laws on their own, but should always ask the advice of rabbis? Is a rabbi the spiritual mentor of the non-Jews (and of course of the Jews themselves)? Or can a righteous Noahide also be a spiritual mentor for other Noahides? Reply

George A. Lincoln Winterhaven February 9, 2024

in response to A K:

Well, if the Jews had been able to keep G__s' Laws, I suppose they then could teach gentiles...but.... Reply

Lawrence Iowa February 13, 2021

"These include the laws of the indentured servant"

The haftarah relates to sidrah on release of slaves.

I believe the release of slaves would indicate Jeremiah 34 was a Sabbath Year and the year before the destruction of the Temple according to Arakin,12b. Later, when Babylonians raised their siege--to attack Egypt, Ezekiel 29.1-16-- the slaves were brought back into subjection .

Ezekiel's prophecy came Tebet 12 one year after Tebet 10 siege by Nebuchadnezzar. The Temple was destroyed the next summer on Tisha b'Av. Reply

Lawrence Iowa February 19, 2024

in response to Lawrence :

Is mass incarceration in this nation a form of slavery? Reply

Shmuel Konikov satellite beach florida February 7, 2019

i know that there is 53 mitzvos in this parsha thats alot! Reply

Lee Margulies February 2, 2019

Where did you get 53 mitzvot for Mishpatim when Sefer Hachinuch list only 24? Reply

David Murillo February 8, 2026

in response to Lee Margulies :

Are you taking into account the prohibitions? Reply

Anonymous Jamestown February 9, 2018

"We will do and we will hear" means Israel will first obey HaShem, and then will study what the mitzvot mean--not the other way around. If a person does not fully understand the meaning, should he break a mitzvah? Who will HaShem honor? Reply

Malkie Janowski for Chabad.org Chabad.org February 12, 2016

These laws were taught to the Jews in the desert, but with the understanding that they would only apply once the nation entered the land of Israel, and the people actually began to engage in agriculture. This is true for many laws that only became practicable in Israel. Reply

Anonymous USA February 9, 2018

in response to Malkie Janowski for Chabad.org:

Gods laws are for ever and always. Taught in the Torah and the Prophets! Reply

Anonymous Amboy February 2, 2019

in response to Malkie Janowski for Chabad.org:

These laws were taught to Adam, Noah, Abraham, on down. They were taught to Israel, not just Jews, and again, at Sinai was not the first time. Reply

Yonatan Israel February 8, 2016

Mishpatim before the Temple and land of Israel How is the agricultural gifts that are to be brought to the Holy Temple in Jerusalem mentioned in Mishpatim? Reply

Davida Tiberias February 6, 2016

update to old comment Attending a Shiur with our local Rabbi is so enriching! I stopped having dairy with chicken to appreciate the difference in how dairy nurtures and meat shows strength. Our weekly 1-hour Shiur encourages careful, meaningful thought, in addition to the posted commentaries. Reply

Davida Tiberias February 6, 2016

Still holds value The values of respect and responsibility that these commandments promote are timeless. Holding such values builds trust and sets expectations that knit a community together. I hardly knew my neighbors before I settled in Israel and love living here. Reply

Shmuel Konikov satellite beach florida February 7, 2019

in response to Davida:

keep trying and make a small thing that your going to do like "spending time to learn torah or give charity if you do something to big it will drop and then you wont be doing it so small steps are good enough even the smallest mitzvah good bring "mashiach" (masiah) very quickly Reply

Davida Israel February 7, 2019

in response to Shmuel Konikov:

Sweet reminder that even small contributions give evidence of gratitude. I just met a wonderful descendant of an active 95 year old Survivor. Her family does innovative work in agriculture that helps many nations. Nice to think a small thing also is significant. B"H Reply

Nicole New York February 6, 2016

Great resource This site is very helpful and informative. It explains the parsha in an approachable way. It's my go to resource for my monthly parsha exploration and drama games session that I do for junior congregation at my synagogue. Thank you. I'm learning a lot!!! Reply

Anonymous February 6, 2016

Agreeing with Davida on fowl and milk. That never made sense to me! Nor the part of why anyone would cook an animal in milk? I suppose water was not available! Reply

Micah T Dallas January 25, 2014

"However, why give Divine commandments that only exist for a short period of time?"

This is a question I have often asked myself. Doesn't it suggest that G-d works through man and that man is an imperfect medium? G-d doesn't make mistakes, but man does. Divinely inspired men are still just men.

I too would like to know the Orthodox view on this. Reply

Anonymous February 10, 2018

in response to Micah T:

Although the bee is not kosher, the work of the bee (honey) is. Reply

Davida HI January 23, 2014

Nothing is outdated if understood in context. Like a truly good movie, the dynamics reveal what's right and wrong in-between the lines. Problem I find is adding practices, as if that's equal to Torah. To cook an animal in the milk created for its nurture is so heartless. To say its wrong to mix fowl and dairy takes the meaning away, since fowl don't nurture their young with milk. Torah is so easy to learn from in real context, not legalistically. Reply

Anonymous Largo February 8, 2013

Exodus 21:1–24:18 Pagan Warning I liked this line : "G‑d promises to bring the people of Israel to the Holy Land, and warns them against assuming the pagan ways of its current inhabitants."
Pagan - "morally deficient"
My life became completely messed up because....I started having relationships with pagans. I was young; and I confused it with true love (1st love) Much of the country appears to be similar....and yet God is within it...we just need to keep searching for the same mindset (Israel's) Pledge - one nation under God, "in God we trust". How can we make it a stronger force? It's foundation is beautiful. So often we don't stop "pagan behavior" around us..until it controls just about every step we take Reply

David South East February 8, 2013

Laws When the world is corrupt before G*d all the human institutions and laws of society cannot prevent society, in general, from ruin. The erosion of any social structure is guaranteed with the absence of sanctions imposed by a life oriented towards the goal of holiness. The laws and ordnances transcend time; weather spoken or written.
(Taken from Ezekiel / Artscroll) Reply

Anonymous San Jose, California via chabadneworleans.com February 7, 2013

Yeah to Hey Well before Nazi Germany how many advanced societies attempted to eliminate the Chosen People only to become extinct themselves? This history serves as abundant reason to fear, revere and believe. Reply

Hessel Meilech Cape town and Chicago January 27, 2022

in response to Anonymous:

Egypt is a together country with 60 million people nourished by the Nile. The Suez canal brings in a lot of Revenue. Germany is the most prosperous country in Europe today,
Israel has 6 million Jews and 6 million outside today. A divided nation. Israel speaks Hebrew and many Jews outside Israel dont speak a single word of Hebrew,
Hardly extinct nations Reply

Alexander New Jersey February 18, 2023

in response to Hessel Meilech:

Egypt had long disappeared from the map as the country it was. The present country only has the name and the territory of the former Egypt. Different culture, religion, language, people. Reply

Mordechai February 4, 2013

Hey Dear anonymous,
You have a great question I hope I can answer it. It seems that these laws are very humane and ethical, so perhaps you question their divinity. However without fear and belief in g-d , people don't follow. Some of the most advanced societies like Germany during WWII killed 6 million Jews because although they were the most advanced and civilized they didn't understand commandment of I am your g-d. A person needs to fear and love g-d or even the most practical things like honor mother and father are not followed through with. Hope this makes sense. Reply

Anonymous January 6, 2013

My Torah portion Reply

Exodus 21:1–24:18

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