Is it a sin for non-Jews to live together before marriage?

Question:

While on mivtzoim, I met a non-Jew who asked me what Judaism says about a man and woman living together before marriage. Is this considered a sin for a ben Noach?

If the woman is an eishes ish, it’s obviously forbidden. But what if she is single (pnuyah)? Does the issur of kedeishah apply to a non-Jew? And what defines a “zonah” according to halacha?

Answer:

If the woman is already set aside for another man – i.e., she is officially married (including a legal marriage), or lives together with a steady partner – and they have lived together as husband and wife, she is considered an eishes ish and forbidden. However, if she officially left her husband, or he broke up with her, she is no longer considered an eishes ish, even if they are technically still legally married.

In all other cases, there is no inherent prohibition for bnei Noach when there is mutual consent, as the issur of kedeisha applies only to Jews. Of course, they are expected to always improve their behavior and act with piety in this regard too. Indeed, according to many opinions, the bnei Noach have taken upon themselves to be restricted in this matter too.

Note that they may not spill seed. Additionally, the purpose of intimacy for bnei Noach too is procreation. They shouldn’t engage in relations for pleasure alone, as per the passuk l’sheves yetzoro.

Sources:

ע״ז לו, ב. ספרי כי תצא כג, יח. ירושלמי קידושין א, א ופני משה שם. והובא בתוד״ה משום ע״ז לו, ב. ב״ר יח, ט. רמב״ם אישות א, ד. מגיד משנה ריש הל׳ אישות. רש״ש לרמב״ם שם. מו״נ ג, מט. פירש״י וישלח לד, ז (ודינה היתה פנוי׳. אבל ראה לקו״ש ה דלקמן). מהרש״א סוטה י, ב. גור ארי׳ וישב לח, טו. בן יהוידע זבחים קטז, ב. (וראה מפרשי רש״י שם לח, כד. וע״ד הפשט – לקו״ש ה ע׳ 185 הע׳ 7).

וראה לקו״ש לט ע׳ 30 הע׳ 4. ע׳ 31 ובהע׳ 14. ובר״ד משיחה הנ״ל – שיחת ש״פ תשא תשמ״ט – תורת מנחם ע׳ 368 ואילך.

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