mitzvá

Mitzvá is the Hebrew term for a commandment or religious obligation in Judaism. The word comes from the Hebrew root tzavah, meaning to command; in singular form it is mitzvá, and the plural is mitzvot. The concept covers duties commanded by God in the Torah and interpreted through rabbinic law, and it can refer to both ritual and ethical obligations.

Mitzvot are traditionally divided into positive commandments (aseh) and negative commandments (lo ta'aseh). They are also categorized by their relation to God (bein adam la-makom) or to other people (bein adam la-chavero). Some mitzvot are time-bound, dependent on the calendar and performable only at certain times, while others are not. Many mitzvot are biblical, given in the Torah; others are rabbinic obligations established by the sages.

Traditionally 613 mitzvot are enumerated in rabbinic literature, notably by Maimonides in Sefer Hamitzvot. Not all are applicable today in the absence of the Temple or due to different halakhic interpretations; some are observed differently by denominations.

In practice, mitzvot guide daily life, including Shabbat observance, kashrut, prayer, and festivals, as well as acts of interpersonal ethics such as charity and honoring parents. The term mitzvah is also commonly used in modern Hebrew to mean a good deed.