בס”ד
May a Noahide Prostate and Kneel to G-d?
People who embrace the Noahide path and come from religious traditions where kneeling or prostrating is common may notice that Jews do not perform these acts in their daily prayers. This raises a natural question: why don’t Jews kneel before G-d—and may Noahides do so?
Let’s explore the reason behind Jewish customs, and what is permitted or advisable for Noahides.
Why Don’t Jews Kneel in Daily Prayer?
With the exception of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, when prostration is done in synagogue (typically on a cloth or towel to avoid contact with stone), Jews don’t prostrate themselves during everyday prayer.
This practice is rooted in Leviticus 26:1 which states:
| 1 Ye shall make you no idols, neither shall ye rear you up a graven image, or a pillar, neither shall ye place any figured stone in your land, to bow down unto it; for I am the L-RD your G-d. | א לֹא-תַעֲשׂוּ לָכֶם אֱלִילִם, וּפֶסֶל וּמַצֵּבָה לֹא-תָקִימוּ לָכֶם, וְאֶבֶן מַשְׂכִּית לֹא תִתְּנוּ בְּאַרְצְכֶם, לְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֺת עָלֶיהָ: כִּי אֲנִי ד’, אֱלֹקיכֶם. |
This verse prohibits the setting up of idols or pillars and bowing down upon a special stone surface—even to G-d. While the patriarch Jacob once set up a pillar in worship (Genesis 28:18), G-d later forbade this for the Jewish people because such practices became closely associated with idolatry.
Genesis 28:18 states:
| 18 And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put under his head, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. | יח וַיַּשְׁכֵּם יַעֲקֹב בַּבֹּקֶר, וַיִּקַּח אֶת-הָאֶבֶן אֲשֶׁר-שָׂם מְרַאֲשֹׁתָיו, וַיָּשֶׂם אֹתָהּ, מַצֵּבָה; וַיִּצֹק שֶׁמֶן, עַל-רֹאשָׁהּ. |
In Deuteronomy 16:22, G-d reinforces this:
| 22 Neither shalt thou set thee up a pillar, which the L-RD thy G-d hateth. | כב וְלֹא-תָקִים לְךָ, מַצֵּבָה, אֲשֶׁר שָׂנֵא, ד’ אֱלֹקיךָ. |
According to Rashi commentary on Leviticus 26:1:3, even kneeling or fully prostrating on a stone surface is forbidden for Jews—even in the worship of the One G-d—because it mimics pagan ritual and could mislead others.1
Are Noahides Permitted to Kneel or Prostrate Before G-d?
The short answer is: yes, but with caution.
As explained in The Divine Code (by Rabbi Moshe Weiner), it is permissible for a non-Jew to kneel or prostrate themselves to G-d, whether in prayer or as a private act of awe and reverence.
However, there are important guidelines:
- The action must be directed solely to the One True G-d, with no inclusion of foreign elements, symbolic objects, or ritual practices borrowed from idolatry.
- A Noahide may kneel or prostrate on a stone floor, unlike a Jew, because the specific prohibition against doing so was only given to Israel.
- But, it is not permitted to designate a particular stone, floor tile, or object as a “holy spot” for bowing or prayer. That turns a permitted act into something dangerously close to idolatry2.
This concern arises because idolaters would often place a decorative stone or pillar in front of their god-image and bow to it. Even if the intention is pure, the act appears similar to pagan worship, and that’s exactly what G-d wants to prevent.
A Lesson from the Jewish Commandments
In the Sefer HaMitzvot, two specific negative commandments explain why these actions are forbidden for Jews:
- Negative Commandment 11: Prohibits erecting a pillar—even for the purpose of honoring G-d—because it resembles idolatrous practice.
- Negative Commandment 12: Prohibits creating a special stone for bowing, again even if meant for G-d, because it imitates idol-worship traditions.
These commandments are meant to guard the purity of worship and remove any practices that might be misinterpreted or misused. G-d, in His wisdom, distanced His people from anything that looked like idolatry—even if the heart was in the right place.
Conclusion: Permitted, but Is It Wise?
Although Noahides are permitted to kneel or prostrate before G-d, one might still ask: is it wise?
Given how closely these gestures resemble the acts of idol worship, and considering that G-d has explicitly expressed hatred for such forms—even when directed toward Him—it may be more respectful and spiritually safer to follow the Jewish model and avoid them.
There is no lack of reverence in praying while sitting, standing, or bowing modestly. True devotion is shown through the heart and deeds—not the depth of one’s posture.
By Angelique Sijbolts
With thanks to Rabbi Tani Burton for his feedback
- להשתחות עליה TO PROSTRATE YOURSELVES UPON IT, not even to the L-rd, since prostration involves stretching forth of hands and feet (the highest form of adoration) and Scripture forbids doing so outside the Temple (Megillah 22b) ↩︎
- The Divine Code by Rabbi Moshe Weiner 4th edition p. 81 – “It is permissible for a non-Jew to prostrate to G-d, whether his doing so in prayer or not. If he prostrates to G-d when he is not praying, he should do it in a manner of honor and awe. And when he bows down to G-d, he should not include in this prostration any words other than prayer, thanks, or praise to G-d and The Divine Code by Rabbi Moshe Weiner 4th edition p. 147 – Non-Jews were not warned for: “you shall not emplace a flooring stone upon which to prostrate oneself”. So a non-Jew may bow down and prostrate to G-d in any decent place…, and on any floor [including a stone floor], but it is forbidden to designate a ‘specific’ stone, floor tile, or other fixed object upon which to prostrate oneself. ↩︎
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