Biblical Condemnation Of Witchcraft Practices
The Bible consistently condemns various practices associated with witchcraft, sorcery, and divination, often linking them to idolatry and rebellion against God [1, 4, 7]. These prohibitions are found throughout the Old and New Testaments, indicating a sustained theological stance against such activities.
One of the clearest condemnations appears in Deuteronomy 18:10-12, which lists several forbidden practices: "There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, for everyone who does these things is an abomination to the Lord" [10, 13]. This passage highlights that such actions are considered an "abomination" to God, a strong term indicating severe disapproval [10]. The Babylonian Talmud also references this passage, stating that descendants of Noah are prohibited from engaging in any type of sorcery mentioned therein [11].
The book of Exodus contains the stark command, "You shall not allow a sorceress to live" (Exodus 22:18) [5, 15]. This demonstrates the severity with which ancient Israel was to treat those who practiced sorcery. The prophet Micah similarly declares, "I will destroy witchcraft from your hand; and you shall have no soothsayers" (Micah 5:12), indicating God's intent to eradicate these practices from among his people [2, 12].
The condemnation extends to various forms of occult activity. "Witchcraft" in biblical texts often encompasses a range of practices, including divination, enchantment, and consulting with familiar spirits [1]. For instance, the "witch of En-dor" mentioned in 1 Samuel 28 is identified as a necromancer, one who feigned communication with the dead [3]. The damsel with "a spirit of divination" in Acts 16:16 was understood to be possessed by an evil spirit [3].
The Bible often equates these practices with rebellion against God. In 1 Samuel 15:23, the prophet Samuel tells King Saul, "For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as idolatry and teraphim" [4]. This verse, interpreted by John Gill, suggests that rebellion against God's commands is as heinous as witchcraft [9]. Tyndale House notes that "rebellion... and stubbornness, sins of the heart, are as bad as the sinful practices of idolatrous pagans" [8]. The use of "sorceries" (Greek: pharmakeia) is also listed among the "works of the flesh" in Galatians 5:20 and is associated with idolatry and other grave sins [3, 16]. The Mishneh Torah specifies that a sorcerer who performs a deed of sorcery must be executed by stoning [14].
These prohibitions underscore a consistent biblical message: seeking knowledge or power through means other than God is a rejection of His authority and a dangerous alliance with forces opposed to Him [6].
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Divination — An abominable practice -- 1Sa 15:23. All who practised it, abominable -- De 18:12. Practised by Diviners. -- De 18:14. Enchanters. -- De 18:10; Jer 27:9. Witches. -- Ex 22:18; De 18:10. Charmers. -- De 18:11. Wizards. -- De 18:11; 1Sa 28:3. Consulters of familiar spirits. -- De 18:11. Magicians. -- Ge 41:8; Da 4:7. Astrologers. -- Isa 47:13; Da 4:7. Sorcerers. -- Jer 27:9; Ac 13:6,8. Necromancers. -- De 18:11. Soothsayers. -- Isa 2:6; Da 2:27. False prophets. -- Jer 14:14; Eze 13:3,6. Effected through Enchantments. -- Ex 7:11; Nu 24:1. Sorcery. -- Isa 47”
- Micah “I will destroy witchcraft from your hand; and you shall have no soothsayers. -- Micah 5:12”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Witchcraft — (1 Sam. 15:23; 2 Kings 9:22; 2 Chr. 33:6; Micah 5:12; Nahum 3:4; Gal. 5:20). In the popular sense of the word no mention is made either of witches or of witchcraft in Scripture. The "witch of En-dor" (1 Sam. 28) was a necromancer, i.e., one who feigned to hold converse with the dead. The damsel with "a spirit of divination" (Acts 16:16) was possessed by an evil spirit, or, as the words are literally rendered, "having a spirit, a pithon." The reference is to the heathen god Apollo, who was regarded as the god of prophecy.”
- I Samuel “I Samuel 15:23 (ASV) — For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as idolatry and teraphim. Because thou hast rejected the word of Jehovah, he hath also rejected thee from being king.”
- Exodus ““You shall not allow a sorceress to live. -- Exodus 22:18”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Alliance and Society With the Enemies of God — Forbidden -- Ex 23:32; 34:12; De 7:2,3; 13:6,8; Jos 23:6,7; Jdj 2:2; Ezr 9:12; Pr 1:10,15; 2Co 6:14-17; Eph 5:11. Lead to idolatry -- Ex 34:15,16; Nu 25:1-8; De 7:4; Jdj 3:5-7; Re 2:20. Have led to murder and human sacrifice -- Ps 106:37,38. Provoke the anger of God -- De 7:4; 31:16,17; 2Ch 19:2; Ezr 9:13,14; Ps 106:29,40; Isa 2:6. Provoke God to leave mean to reap the fruits of them -- Jos 23:12,13; Jdj 2:1-3. Are ensnaring -- Ex 23:33; Nu 25:18; De 12:30; 13:6; Ps 106:36. Are enslaved -- 2Pe 2:18,19. Are defiling -- Ez”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Idolatry — Forbidden -- Ex 20:2,3; De 5:7. Consists in Bowing down to images. -- Ex 20:5; De 5:9. Worshipping images. -- Isa 44:17; Da 3:5,10,15. Sacrificing to images. -- Ps 106:38; Ac 7:41. Worshipping other gods. -- De 30:17; Ps 81:9. Swearing by other gods. -- Ex 23:13; Jos 23:7. Walking after other gods. -- De 8:19. Speaking in the name of other gods. -- De 18:20. Looking to other gods. -- Ho 3:1. Serving other gods. -- De 7:4; Jer 5:19. Fearing other gods. -- 2Ki 17:35. Sacrificing to other gods. -- Ex 22:20. Worshipping the true God by an image, & c. -- Ex 32:”
- 1 Samuel (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Samuel 15:23: 15:23 Rebellion . . . and stubbornness, sins of the heart, are as bad as the sinful practices of idolatrous pagans. • Scripture condemns witchcraft (see study note on Deut 18:10).”
- 1 Samuel (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Samuel 15:23: For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft,.... Or divination (e), in whatsoever way it was exercised; for there were various sorts of it among the Heathens, and all condemned by the law of God, Deu 18:10. Now rebellion against God, or disobeying his commands, though in things otherwise, were they not forbidden by him, lawful to be done, is as heinous a sin as to be guilty of witchcraft, or any kind of divination forbidden by the law of God, and deserves as sore a punishment: and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry: for a man, when he has committed a sin, to ”
- Deuteronomy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Deuteronomy 18:12: For all that do these things are an abomination to the Lord,.... Not that do all these things, but whoever does any of them, as Jarchi notes; all such persons that use such unlawful methods, or any of them, to gain knowledge; and likewise all those that consult them, and make use of them; and especially it must be very abominable in the people of Israel to encourage such persons and practices, who had the knowledge of the true God, and him to consult on all occasions; had his law and testimony to attend unto as the rule of their conduct, and his prophets to advi”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 56b.2: Rabbi Yosei says: With regard to every type of sorcery that is stated in the passage about sorcery, it is prohibited for a descendant of Noah to engage in it. This is derived from the verses: “When you come into the land that the Lord your God gives you, you shall not learn to do like the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you one who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, a diviner, a soothsayer, or an enchanter, or a warlock, or a charmer, or one who consults a necromancer and a sorcerer, or directs inquiries to the”
- Micah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Micah 5:12: And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thine hand,.... Such as were formerly practised among the Jews, though forbidden them, and in mystical Babylon, or the antichristian church, whose sorceries are mentioned, Rev 9:21; but nothing of this kind will be found in the Christian church, consisting of Jews and Gentiles, in the latter day; all unlawful arts, cheating and juggling in religious matters, will cease, and be no more: and thou shalt have no more soothsayers; or diviners, that cast a mist over people's eyes, and deceived them with false appearances of things; tha”
- Deuteronomy (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Deuteronomy 18:10: 18:10 never sacrifice your son or daughter as a burnt offering: Some Canaanite religions included child sacrifice to appease their gods. Israel was strictly warned never to engage in this practice (Exod 34:15-16; Lev 18:21; 20:2-5). When they did, it aroused God’s judgment (2 Kgs 17:16-17; 21:6; Ezek 23:37). • fortune-telling: Throughout the ancient Near East, diviners were considered experts at reading and interpreting omens. Divination was commonly done through extispicy, the examination of livers, kidneys, and other internal organs of various animals. • s”
- Mishneh Torah (Maimonides) (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Mishneh Torah (Maimonides), Mishneh Torah%2C Foreign Worship and Customs of the Nations 11:15: A sorcerer must be condemned to execution by stoning. This applies when he commits a deed of sorcery. If, however, he merely deludes those who observe him into thinking that he is performing an act although he actually does not, he is given stripes for rebelliousness. [The reason is] that the prohibition against sorcery is stated in the prohibition [Deuteronomy 18:10-11]: "There shall not be found among you one who... [practices sorcery]." It is, however, a prohibition which is punishable by executio”
- Exodus (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Exodus 22:16: Here is, I. A law that he who debauched a young woman should be obliged to marry her, Exo 22:16, Exo 22:17. If she was betrothed to another, it was death to debauch her (Deu 22:23, Deu 22:24); but the law here mentioned respects her as single. But, if the father refused her to him, he was to give satisfaction in money for the injury and disgrace he had done her. This law puts an honour upon marriage and shows likewise how improper a thing it is that children should marry without their parents' consent: even here, where the divine law appointed the marriage, both ”
- Revelation (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Revelation 9:21: sorceries--witchcrafts by means of drugs (so the Greek). One of the fruits of the unrenewed flesh: the sin of the heathen: about to be repeated by apostate Christians in the last days, Rev 22:15, "sorcerers." The heathen who shall have rejected the proffered Gospel and clung to their fleshly lusts, and apostate Christians who shall have relapsed into the same shall share the same terrible judgments. The worship of images was established in the East in A.D. 842. fornication--singular: whereas the other sins are in the plural. Other sins are perpet”