New International Version 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, New Living Translation For example, never sacrifice your son or daughter as a burnt offering. And do not let your people practice fortune-telling, or use sorcery, or interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft, English Standard Version 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 Berean Standard Bible Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, practices divination or conjury, interprets omens, practices sorcery, Berean Literal Bible There shall not be found among you one who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, a user of divinations, a soothsayer, or a diviner, or a sorcerer, King James Bible There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, New King James Version There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, New American Standard Bible There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, a soothsayer, one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, NASB 1995 “There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, NASB 1977 “There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, Legacy Standard Bible There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices soothsaying or one who interprets omens or a sorcerer, Amplified Bible There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or daughter pass through the fire [as a sacrifice], one who uses divination and fortune-telling, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, Berean Annotated Bible Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire \makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire/, practices divination or conjury, interprets omens, practices sorcery, Christian Standard Bible No one among you is to sacrifice his son or daughter in the fire, practice divination, tell fortunes, interpret omens, practice sorcery, Holman Christian Standard Bible No one among you is to make his son or daughter pass through the fire, practice divination, tell fortunes, interpret omens, practice sorcery, American Standard Version There shall not be found with thee any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, one that useth divination, one that practiseth augury, or an enchanter, or a sorcerer, English Revised Version There shall not be found with thee any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, one that useth divination, one that practiseth augury, or an enchanter, or a sorcerer, GOD'S WORD® Translation You must never sacrifice your sons or daughters by burning them alive, practice black magic, be a fortuneteller, witch, or sorcerer, Good News Translation Don't sacrifice your children in the fires on your altars; and don't let your people practice divination or look for omens or use spells International Standard Version There must never be found among you anyone who sacrifices his son or daughter in fire, practices divination, interprets omens, practices sorcery, NET Bible There must never be found among you anyone who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, anyone who practices divination, an omen reader, a soothsayer, a sorcerer, New Heart English Bible There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, one who practices divination, or tells fortunes, or interprets omens, or a sorcerer, Webster's Bible Translation There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleLet no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, practices divination or conjury, interprets omens, practices sorcery, World English Bible There shall not be found with you anyone who makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who tells fortunes, or an enchanter, or a sorcerer, Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionThere is not found in you one causing his son and his daughter to pass over into fire, a user of divinations, an observer of clouds, and an enchanter, and a sorcerer, Berean Literal Bible There shall not be found among you one who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, a user of divinations, a soothsayer, or a diviner, or a sorcerer, Young's Literal Translation there is not found in thee one causing his son and his daughter to pass over into fire, a user of divinations, an observer of clouds, and an enchanter, and a sorcerer, Smith's Literal Translation There shall not be found in thee him causing his son or his daughter to pass through in fire, divining divinations, practicing magic, and taking omens and a sorcerer, Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleNeither let there be found among you any one that shall expiate his son or daughter, making them to pass through the fire: or that consulteth soothsayers, or observeth dreams and omens, neither let there be any wizard, Catholic Public Domain Version Do not let there be found among you one who would purify his son or daughter by leading them through fire, nor one who consults seers, nor one who observes dreams or omens. Do not let there be found among you one who practices the occult, New American Bible Let there not be found among you anyone who causes their son or daughter to pass through the fire, or practices divination, or is a soothsayer, augur, or sorcerer, New Revised Standard Version No one shall be found among you who makes a son or daughter pass through fire, or who practices divination, or is a soothsayer, or an augur, or a sorcerer, Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleThere shall not be found among you any one who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or who practices divination or black magic, or is an enchanter or a witch Peshitta Holy Bible Translated There shall not be found among you one who passes his son or his daughter into fire, or who consults an oracle, or who shuts eyes, or who practices sorcery, or one who uses enchantments: OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, one that useth divination, a soothsayer, or an enchanter, or a sorcerer, Brenton Septuagint Translation There shall not be found in thee one who purges his son or his daughter with fire, one who uses divination, who deals with omens, and augury, Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context Sorcery Forbidden9When you enter the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. 10Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, practices divination or conjury, interprets omens, practices sorcery, 11casts spells, consults a medium or spiritist, or inquires of the dead.… Cross References Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, Leviticus 18:21 You must not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molech, for you must not profane the name of your God. I am the LORD. Leviticus 20:2-5 “Tell the Israelites, ‘Any Israelite or foreigner living in Israel who gives any of his children to Molech must be put to death. The people of the land are to stone him. / And I will set My face against that man and cut him off from his people, because by giving his offspring to Molech, he has defiled My sanctuary and profaned My holy name. / And if the people of the land ever hide their eyes and fail to put to death the man who gives one of his children to Molech, … Jeremiah 7:31 They have built the high places of Topheth in the Valley of Ben-hinnom so they could burn their sons and daughters in the fire—something I never commanded, nor did it even enter My mind. practices divination or conjury, Leviticus 19:26 You must not eat anything with blood still in it. You must not practice divination or sorcery. Leviticus 19:31 You must not turn to mediums or spiritists; do not seek them out, or you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God. 1 Samuel 28:8 So Saul disguised himself by putting on different clothes, and he set out with two of his men. They came to the woman at night, and Saul said, “Consult a spirit for me. Bring up for me the one I name.” interprets omens, Numbers 24:1 And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not seek omens as on previous occasions, but he turned his face toward the wilderness. Ezekiel 21:21-22 For the king of Babylon stands at the fork in the road, at the junction of the two roads, to seek an omen: He shakes the arrows, he consults the idols, he examines the liver. / In his right hand appears the portent for Jerusalem, where he is to set up battering rams, to call for the slaughter, to lift a battle cry, to direct the battering rams against the gates, to build a ramp, and to erect a siege wall. Isaiah 47:13 You are wearied by your many counselors; let them come forward now and save you—your astrologers who observe the stars, who monthly predict your fate. practices sorcery, 2 Chronicles 33:6 He sacrificed his sons in the fire in the Valley of Ben-hinnom. He practiced sorcery, divination, and witchcraft, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did great evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger. Exodus 22:18 You must not allow a sorceress to live. Micah 5:12 I will cut the sorceries from your hand, and you will have no fortune-tellers. Leviticus 20:6 Whoever turns to mediums or spiritists to prostitute himself with them, I will also set My face against that person and cut him off from his people. 2 Kings 21:6 He sacrificed his own son in the fire, practiced sorcery and divination, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did great evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger. Isaiah 8:19 When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists who whisper and mutter, shouldn’t a people consult their God instead? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? Isaiah 47:12-13 So take your stand with your spells and with your many sorceries, with which you have wearied yourself from your youth. Perhaps you will succeed; perhaps you will inspire terror! / You are wearied by your many counselors; let them come forward now and save you—your astrologers who observe the stars, who monthly predict your fate. Treasury of Scripture There shall not be found among you any one that makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that uses divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch. maketh Deuteronomy 12:31 Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods. Leviticus 18:21 And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD. Leviticus 20:2-5 Again, thou shalt say to the children of Israel, Whosoever he be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, that giveth any of his seed unto Molech; he shall surely be put to death: the people of the land shall stone him with stones… Exodus 22:18 Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. Leviticus 19:26,31 Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times… Leviticus 20:26,27 And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine… Jump to Previous Arts Auguries Augury Causing Daughter Divination Divinations Enchanter Interprets Maker Makes Maketh Observer Offering Omens Practices Practiseth Reader Sacrifices Secret Signs Soothsayer Sorcerer Sorcery Sounds Strange Times Uses Useth Using Witch Witchcraft Wonder-WorkerJump to Next Arts Auguries Augury Causing Daughter Divination Divinations Enchanter Interprets Maker Makes Maketh Observer Offering Omens Practices Practiseth Reader Sacrifices Secret Signs Soothsayer Sorcerer Sorcery Sounds Strange Times Uses Useth Using Witch Witchcraft Wonder-WorkerDeuteronomy 18 1. The LORD is the priests and Levites' inheritance3. The priests' due 6. The Levites' portion 9. The abominations of the nations are to be avoided 15. Christ the Prophet is to be heard 20. The presumptuous prophet is to die Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, Child sacrifice was practiced among Canaanite peoples, including rites associated with Molech. Israel was not to imitate worship that offered children to gain divine favor. God’s stopping of Abraham before Isaac was harmed showed that He did not desire human sacrifice. Lev 18:21 You must not give any of your children to be sacrificed… practices divination or conjury, Israel was not to seek direction through forbidden rituals, such as divination and conjury—attempts to gain insight or predict the future through supernatural means—or attempts to uncover hidden knowledge. God had revealed His will and would provide His prophets rather than leave His people dependent on pagan sources. Lev 19:26 You must not eat anything with blood still in it.… interprets omens, Surrounding nations looked to unusual events, celestial signs, and patterns in nature for guidance about the future. Such practices replaced trust in God’s revealed word with superstition and spiritual deception. Num 24:1 And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel,… practices sorcery, Sorcery sought to influence people or events through spells, rituals, and occult powers. It belonged to the idolatrous practices of the nations and was incompatible with worship of the Lord alone. 2Ch 33:6 He sacrificed his sons in the fire in the Valley of Ben-hinnom… Persons / Places / Events 1. MosesThe author of Deuteronomy, who is delivering God's laws and instructions to the Israelites before they enter the Promised Land. 2. Israelites The chosen people of God, who are being instructed on how to live in a way that honors God and sets them apart from other nations. 3. Canaan The land that the Israelites are about to enter, where the practices mentioned in this verse were common among the inhabitants. 4. Pagan Nations The surrounding nations whose practices are being condemned and from whom the Israelites are to remain distinct. 5. God (Yahweh) The one true God who is giving these commands to protect His people from spiritual corruption. Teaching Points Avoidance of Pagan PracticesGod’s people are called to be distinct and holy, avoiding practices that are detestable to Him. Trust in God Alone Engaging in divination or sorcery reflects a lack of trust in God’s sovereignty and provision. Spiritual Purity Maintaining spiritual purity is essential for a relationship with God and for being a witness to others. Influence of Culture Believers must be vigilant about the influence of surrounding cultures and remain steadfast in their commitment to God’s ways. Repentance and Renewal Like the Ephesians in Acts, believers are called to repent from past practices and renew their commitment to God. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Deuteronomy 18:10?2. How does Deuteronomy 18:10 guide us in avoiding occult practices today? 3. Why does God forbid practices like "divination" and "sorcery" in Deuteronomy 18:10? 4. What New Testament verses reinforce Deuteronomy 18:10's stance on occult practices? 5. How can we help others understand the dangers mentioned in Deuteronomy 18:10? 6. What practical steps can we take to obey Deuteronomy 18:10 in daily life? 7. Why does Deuteronomy 18:10 prohibit practices like divination and sorcery? 8. How does Deuteronomy 18:10 relate to modern practices like astrology and tarot reading? 9. What historical context influenced the prohibitions in Deuteronomy 18:10? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Deuteronomy 18? (10) To pass through the fire.--See Leviticus 18:21. Useth divination--(Numbers 22:7), possibly by sacrifices. Observer of times.--This is the Rabbinical explanation of the word. In Hebrew the idea of "time" is not so clear. It seems to mean practising hidden arts. (See Leviticus 19:26.) Enchanter.--Whisperer, or serpent charmer. (See Genesis 44:5.) . . . Verses 10, 11. - Maketh his son or daughter to pass through the fire (see note on Deuteronomy 12:31). That useth divination (cf. Ezekiel 21:21, where the different methods of divination are enumerated). An observer of times. This is according to the Targum, observans horns; the LXX. have κληδονιζόμενος, "one who augurs what is to happen;" Vulgate, qui observat somnia atque auguria. The word (מְעונֵן) is part of a verb which signifies to cover, to use covert arts, to practice sorcery; though some derive it from the noun עָנַן, a thick cloud, and explain it as "interpreter of clouds;" while others trace it to עַיִן, the eye, and explain it as "one who cheats by optical fascinations" (so the Syriac, fascinans oculis), or one who divines by inspection - an augur." An enchanter; one who practices magic, or divines by signs (cf. Genesis 44:5; Numbers 24:1). It is sometimes said that the verb of which this word is a part (נִחֵשׁ) is a denominative from נָחָשׁ, a serpent; whence it is inferred that the species of divination indicated by this word is ophiomancy, or divination by serpents, but this is not generally accepted by scholars. A witch (מִכַשֵׁפ; LXX., φαρμακός: Vulgate, maleficus); probably one who pretended to cure diseases, or procure some desired result, by means of nostrums and philtres. In the enumeration of the wise men of Babylon (Daniel 2:2), the Mecashephim have a place beside the Hartummim, and in Genesis 41:8 and Exodus 7:11, they are joined with the Hachamim or Magi of Egypt; and this favors the conclusion that their sorcery had a quasi-scientific basis. The English word "witch" is now restricted to the female practicer of unlawful arts; formerly it was applied to males as well, if not chiefly (Trench, 'Select Glossary,' p. 806). A charmer (חֹבֵר הָבֶר); a dealer in spells, one who by means of spells or charms pretends to achieve some desired result. The verb here used primarily means to bind, and the species of magic indicated is probably that practiced by binding certain knots, whereby it was supposed that the curse or blessing, as the case might he, was bound on its object; this was accompanied apparently with incantation (Psalm 58:5). Comp. English spell-bound, and the phrase, "to rivet charms" (Jonson, 'Sad Shepherd,' 2:2). A species of incantation known to the Romans consisted in tying knots with threads of different colors, three in number, which were supposed to become a bond to secure an object (cf. Virg., 'Eclog.' 8:76, 77). A consulter with familiar spirits. This phrase conveys something different from what is expressed, in the Hebrew. שֹׂאֵל אוב is one who asks or inquires of an Ob, that is, a Python, or divining spirit. This spirit was supposed to be in the person of the conjurer, and to be able to reveal to him what was secret or hidden in the future (Leviticus 20:27; 1 Samuel 28:7, 8; Acts 16:16). The notion of "a familiar spirit," i.e. a spirit not dwelling in the person, but with which he is intimate - generally the spirit of one who formerly lived on earth - is a modern notion not known to Scripture. The persons here referred to were probably ventriloquists (LXX., ἐγγαστρίμυθοι), and used their faculty in this respect for purposes of magic, pretending that they had within them a spirit which they could consult, and by which they could predict what would happen or reveal what was hid. Wizard. The English word "wizard" did not originally convey the idea of anything evil in the person of whom it was used; Milton applies it to the Magi who came to worship at Bethlehem ('Ode on the Nativity,' 4.); it meant merely "the wise one," or "the knowing one;" and thus is an exact equivalent for the Hebrew word here used (יְדעֹנִי, knowing, wise, from יָדַע, to know). A necromancer; one who professed to call up the dead, and from them to learn the secrets of futurity (cf. 1 Samuel 28:7). (See on all these names the learned and copious dissertation of Dr. Holmes, art. 'Divination,' in Kitto's 'Bibl. Cyclop.,' 3rd. edit., 1:682.) Deuteronomy 18:10 draws a clear boundary: God’s people must renounce every practice that devalues life or taps into dark spiritual sources. Child sacrifice is condemned because life is sacred. Divination, conjury, omen-reading, and sorcery are banned because they bypass God’s revelation, foster control over trust, and invite demonic influence. Instead, the Lord calls His people to rely on His word, His prophets, and His steadfast character—finding wisdom, guidance, and protection in Him alone.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Let no oneלֹֽא־ (lō-) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no be found יִמָּצֵ֣א (yim·mā·ṣê) Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 4672: To come forth to, appear, exist, to attain, find, acquire, to occur, meet, be present among you בְךָ֔ (ḇə·ḵā) Preposition | second person masculine singular Strong's Hebrew who sacrifices מַעֲבִ֥יר (ma·‘ă·ḇîr) Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 5674: To pass over, through, or by, pass on his son בְּנֽוֹ־ (bə·nōw-) Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 1121: A son or daughter וּבִתּ֖וֹ (ū·ḇit·tōw) Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 1323: A daughter in the fire, בָּאֵ֑שׁ (bā·’êš) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singular Strong's 784: A fire practices divination קְסָמִ֔ים (qə·sā·mîm) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 7080: To distribute, determine by lot, magical scroll, to divine [or] conjury, מְעוֹנֵ֥ן (mə·‘ō·w·nên) Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 6049: To act covertly, practise magic interprets omens, וּמְנַחֵ֖שׁ (ū·mə·na·ḥêš) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 5172: To hiss, whisper a, spell, to prognosticate practices sorcery, וּמְכַשֵּֽׁף׃ (ū·mə·ḵaš·šêp̄) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 3784: To whisper a, spell, to inchant, practise magic Additonal Resources Deuteronomy 18:10 Blue Letter BibleDeuteronomy 18:10 Bible Gateway Deuteronomy 18:10 Bible.com Deuteronomy 18:10 NIV |
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