In recent years, ''Noahide'' has come to refer to non-Jews who strive to live in accord with the seven Noahide Laws; the terms "observant Noahide" or "Torah-centered Noahides" would be more precise but are infrequently used. The [[rainbow]], referring to the Noahide or First Covenant (Genesis 9), is the symbol of many organized Noahide groups. A non-Jewish person of any ethnicity or religion is referred to as a ''bat'' "daughter" or ''ben'' "son" of Noah, but most organizations that call themselves בני נח are composed of gentiles who are keeping the Noahide Laws.
According to the [[Tanach]], '''B’nei Noah''' literally the children of [[Noah]]<ref> Just as the term "Children of Israel" not only represents a people (in the case of the Children of Noah the entire World) it also means that those identified with this term hold to a common ideology. The term "B'nei Noah", therefore, represents not only physical descendants of Noah but also "spiritual" descendants.</ref> are descendants of [[Noah]] the only survivor of the flood that destroyed all of humanity. Noah’s children [[Shem]], [[Ham]], and [[Japheth]] along with their wives and Noah’s wife [[Naamah]] also survived the flood aboard the ark. Once the survivors were able to leave the ark for dry ground they began to start new families and rebuild the earth. The story of [[Noah]] culminates in the promise of God to [[Noah]] that he would never again destroy the world through a flood. The sign of this promise was the [[rainbow]]<ref>Among the Jewish people and B'nei Noah this rainbow is a sign of the Noachide covenant. Man's part of this covenant is to obey the seven universal laws given to Noah by God. For more information on the Noahide Covenant see: [[http://www.highcouncilofbneinoachhighcouncilofbneinoah.com/resources/Articles/A_Brief_Introduction_to_the_Noahide_Covenant.aspx "A Brief Introduction to the Noahide Covenant"]]</ref>
==The Laws of Adam==
Along with the promise of new life God reestablished the six laws originally given to [[Adam]]<ref> See Hilchot Melachim</ref> in the garden (prohibition against [[idolatry]],<ref> The prohibition against idolatry is more complex than it may first appear. For a fuller examination of the complexities regarding idolatry see[[http://www.noahidenations.com/content/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=164&Itemid=38 Idolatry]] and
[[http://www.highcouncilofbneinoachhighcouncilofbneinoah.com/resources/Articles/Idol_Chatter.aspx Idol Chatter]]</ref> blasphemy, theft, murder, illicit sex and the command to establish courts of justice) and added a new law, the prohibition of eating the limb of a living animal.
