Witchcraft is a topic that has both intrigued and terrified humanity for centuries. In the context of Christian faith, witchcraft is often associated with dark spiritual forces, manipulation, and practices that oppose the will of God. The Bible provides strong and clear warnings about engaging in witchcraft, sorcery, divination, and other occult practices. While the Bible does not provide a comprehensive list of “witchcraft” as we may understand it today, it does contain numerous scriptures that address these practices and their dangers.
This article will explore 20 scriptures on witchcraft, examining both Old and New Testament passages that serve as warnings against involvement in the occult. These scriptures not only highlight the moral and spiritual dangers of witchcraft but also reveal the biblical view of spiritual warfare, the importance of trusting in God alone, and the ultimate power of the Gospel over the forces of darkness.
The Bible’s View on Witchcraft
The Bible is clear about the seriousness of witchcraft and related practices, often condemning them as abominations to God. Witchcraft, in its various forms—whether as sorcery, magic, or divination—is seen as a rebellion against God’s sovereignty. In the Old Testament, witchcraft is strongly prohibited, with specific laws given to the Israelites on how to deal with sorcery and witchcraft. The New Testament builds on these warnings, emphasizing the power of the Holy Spirit and the victory of Christ over the forces of evil.
Let’s explore the scriptures that address witchcraft and its related practices.
Old Testament Scriptures on Witchcraft
1. Exodus 22:18
“You shall not permit a sorceress to live.”
This verse in Exodus is one of the clearest Old Testament prohibitions against witchcraft. It reflects God’s disdain for sorcery and the practices associated with witchcraft, and it emphasizes the severity with which such acts were to be treated.
2. Leviticus 19:26
“You shall not eat anything with the blood, nor practice divination or soothsaying.”
Divination and soothsaying are forms of witchcraft that involve seeking knowledge through supernatural means rather than through God. This scripture warns against these practices as they were common in pagan cultures surrounding Israel.
3. Leviticus 20:6
“The person who turns to mediums and spiritists, to prostitute himself with them, I will set My face against that person and will cut him off from his people.”
This verse highlights God’s condemnation of those who seek out occult practices like consulting mediums or spiritists. It emphasizes that engaging in such activities separates people from God’s covenant.
4. Leviticus 20:27
“A man or a woman who is a medium or a spiritist among you must be put to death.”
Here, the seriousness of witchcraft and spiritism is reiterated. God commands severe punishment for those who engage in such practices, indicating the spiritual danger posed by these activities.
5. Deuteronomy 18:9-12
“When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells…”
This passage is a direct warning to the Israelites not to adopt the occult practices of the nations they were about to dispossess. Witchcraft and occult practices were viewed as detestable to God and were forbidden.
6. Deuteronomy 18:14
“The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination. But as for you, the Lord your God has not permitted you to do so.”
God specifically distinguishes His people from pagan nations that engage in witchcraft, pointing out that such practices are incompatible with a life dedicated to Him.
7. 1 Samuel 15:23
“For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.”
The prophet Samuel rebukes King Saul for his disobedience to God’s commands. He compares rebellion against God to the sin of witchcraft, demonstrating that witchcraft is a serious form of spiritual rebellion.
8. 1 Samuel 28:7-8
“Saul then said to his servants, ‘Find me a woman who is a medium, so I may go and inquire of her.’ There is one in Endor,” they said.”
This scripture describes King Saul seeking out a medium, even though he had previously expelled all mediums and spiritists from the land. It is a tragic moment that reveals Saul’s desperation and his fall into occult practices.
9. 2 Kings 21:6
“He sacrificed his own son in the fire, practiced sorcery, divination, and consulted mediums and spiritists.”
King Manasseh of Judah engaged in multiple forms of witchcraft and occultism. This verse shows the extent to which Israel’s kings were tempted to fall into such practices, leading to God’s judgment on the nation.
10. 2 Kings 23:24
“Moreover, Josiah got rid of the mediums and spiritists, the household gods, the idols, and all the other detestable things seen in the land of Judah and Jerusalem.”
King Josiah took action to rid the land of occult practices and witchcraft during his reign. This verse shows the reformative work of a righteous king who sought to purify the land of idolatry and witchcraft.
11. 2 Chronicles 33:6
“He sacrificed his children in the fire, practiced sorcery and divination, and consulted mediums and spiritists.”
This verse again refers to King Manasseh’s reign, noting the widespread use of witchcraft, child sacrifice, and other abominable practices during his rule. It highlights the deep spiritual decline in Israel at the time.
12. Isaiah 8:19-20
“When someone tells you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?”
This passage warns against consulting mediums and spiritists, urging people to seek guidance from God instead. It reinforces the idea that witchcraft and the occult are contrary to God’s will.
13. Isaiah 47:9-13
“These two things will come to you suddenly, in one day: loss of children and widowhood. They will come upon you in full measure, in spite of your many sorceries and all your potent spells.”
The prophet Isaiah delivers God’s judgment on Babylon, a nation known for its involvement in witchcraft and sorcery. The passage shows that God will not tolerate these practices and will bring judgment upon those who engage in them.
14. Jeremiah 27:9
“So do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your interpreters of dreams, your mediums, or your sorcerers, who tell you, ‘You will not serve the king of Babylon.'”
Jeremiah warns the people of Judah not to listen to false prophets or those who practice witchcraft and divination, because they were leading the people astray.
15. Micah 5:12
“I will destroy your witchcraft and you will no longer cast spells.”
In this prophecy, God promises to eliminate witchcraft from His people, signifying that those who practice such things will face His judgment.
New Testament Scriptures on Witchcraft
16. Acts 8:9-13
“Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria.”
This passage describes Simon the Sorcerer, who tried to buy the power of the Holy Spirit. Peter rebukes him for his attempt to use the Holy Spirit for personal gain, which demonstrates the incompatibility of witchcraft and the gospel.
17. Acts 13:6-12
“When they had traveled the whole island as far as Paphos, there they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus.”
The Apostle Paul confronts the sorcerer Elymas, who seeks to oppose the gospel. This encounter shows how witchcraft is opposed to the work of God and His message.
18. Galatians 5:19-21
“The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft…”
Paul lists witchcraft as one of the acts of the flesh, contrasting it with the fruit of the Spirit. It emphasizes that witchcraft is not of God but is a sign of living in sin.
19. Revelation 21:8
“But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur.”
This verse underscores the eternal consequence for those who engage in witchcraft and magic arts. It serves as a warning about the judgment awaiting those who practice these sins.
20. Revelation 22:15
“Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.”
This scripture highlights that those who practice witchcraft and other sins will be excluded from the holy city, emphasizing the seriousness with which God views such practices.
Conclusion
The Bible clearly condemns witchcraft and related occult practices, both in the Old and New Testaments. The Scriptures provide a strong warning to Christians to avoid the allure of magic, sorcery, divination, and other forms of witchcraft. These practices are seen as rebellious against God and incompatible with a life lived according to His will.
Throughout both the Old and New Testaments, we see that witchcraft is not only prohibited but is also portrayed as a danger that leads people away from God. The faithful are called to resist these temptations and to seek guidance and power from God alone, through the Holy Spirit. As Christians, it is essential to recognize the destructive nature of witchcraft and to be vigilant in protecting our spiritual lives from such practices.
By understanding these 20 scriptures, believers are reminded of the importance of trusting in God, standing firm against the forces of evil, and seeking to live a life that is pleasing to Him.
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