3049. yiddeoni
Lexical Summary
yiddeoni: Medium, spiritist, wizard

Original Word: יִדְּעֹנִי
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: yidd`oniy
Pronunciation: yid-deh-o-nee
Phonetic Spelling: (yid-deh-o-nee')
KJV: wizard
NASB: spiritists, spiritist
Word Origin: [from H3045 (יָדַע - know)]

1. (properly) a knowing one
2. specifically, a conjurer
3. (by impl) a ghost

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
wizard

From yada'; properly, a knowing one; specifically, a conjurer; (by impl) a ghost -- wizard.

see HEBREW yada'

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from yada
Definition
familiar spirit
NASB Translation
spiritist (2), spiritists (9).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
יִדְּעֹנִי noun masculine familiar spirit (properly either as knowing, wise (acquainted with secrets of unseen world), Ew vielwisserisch; or as intimate acquaintance of soothsayer, see RSJPh xiv. 1885. 127) — absolute יִדְּעֹנִי Deuteronomy 18:11 2t.; plural יִדְּעֹנִים 1 Samuel 28:3 6t.; הַיִּדְּעֹנִי מִן 1 Samuel 28:9, read הַיִּדְּעֹנִים מִן (see ᵐ5 Th We Klo Dr); familiar spirit, always "" אוֺב, אֹבוֺת 1 Samuel 28:3,9; Isaiah 8:19; Isaiah 19:3; 2 Kings 21:6 (עשׂה אוֺב; "" נִחֵשׁ, עוֺנֵן) = 2 Chronicles 33:6; 2 Kings 23:24; Leviticus 19:31; Leviticus 20:6,27 (all H; on last two compare Acts 16:16 and DrDeuteronomy 18:11), Deuteronomy 18:11("" אוֺב + דֹּרֵשׁ אֶלהַֿמֵּתִים).

Topical Lexicon
Definition and Overview

יִדְּעֹנִי (yiddeʿoni) designates a practitioner who seeks knowledge from the dead or from spirits other than the LORD—commonly rendered “medium,” “necromancer,” or “spiritist.” Every appearance of the word in the Old Testament is set in a context of divine prohibition or condemnation. The term is always paired with הָאוֹב (“medium, ghost specialist”), underscoring its place within occult activity that imitates prophetic revelation while rejecting the voice of God.

Biblical Prohibitions

Leviticus 19:31 commands, “You must not turn to mediums or familiar spirits; do not seek them out, or you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God”. The prohibition is intensified in Leviticus 20:6, 27, where consulting a יִדְּעֹנִי invites divine wrath and the death penalty. Deuteronomy 18:10–12 lists the practice among abominations that “the LORD your God is driving [the nations] out before you” because of such detestable acts. The Mosaic Law therefore treats the יִדְּעֹנִי as a direct threat to covenant holiness and communal purity.

Historical Manifestations in Israel

1 Samuel 28 records Saul’s desperate visit to a woman at En-dor who had “a familiar spirit.” His violation of his own earlier ban illustrates the tragic regression of the first king, whose loss of prophetic guidance led him to seek forbidden revelation.

Under Manasseh, “He practiced sorcery, divination, and witchcraft, and consulted mediums and spiritists” (2 Kings 21:6), filling Jerusalem with bloodshed and idolatry. Josiah’s later reform “swept away the mediums, spiritists, household gods, idols, and all the abominations” (2 Kings 23:24), highlighting the king’s resolve to restore exclusive devotion to Yahweh.

Prophetic Denunciations

Isaiah confronts Judah’s allure toward occult counsel: “When they say to you, ‘Consult the mediums and spiritists who whisper and mutter,’ should not a people consult their God?” (Isaiah 8:19). The prophet redirects the nation to “the law and the testimony,” affirming Scripture as the only reliable light. Isaiah 19:3 extends the judgment to Egypt, whose spiritists will “confound” the nation under God’s hand, proving the futility of such counsel among the Gentiles as well.

Spiritual Rationale

The prohibition is not merely moral but theological: seeking a יִדְּעֹנִי supplants trust in divine revelation with a counterfeit source that is under demonic influence. Scripture portrays false spiritual intermediaries as agents of deception (cf. Deuteronomy 32:17; 1 Corinthians 10:20). Turning to them rejects God’s covenant lordship, invites ritual defilement, and opens the community to judgment.

Consequences of Disobedience

Saul’s downfall and Manasseh’s atrocities demonstrate that consulting mediums brings both personal ruin and national crisis. Conversely, Josiah’s purge shows that repentance and eradication of occult practices are prerequisites for revival. The narrative arc reinforces that obedience to God’s Word safeguards the people, while dabbling in forbidden knowledge leads to darkness and death.

Relationship to Legitimate Revelation

The יִדְּעֹנִי appears as a corrupt parody of the biblical prophet. Where prophets speak by the Spirit of the LORD, mediums rely on illegitimate spirits. The contrast underscores the uniqueness of God’s self-disclosure through inspired Scripture and foreshadows the New Covenant outpouring of the Holy Spirit, who alone “will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13).

Continued Relevance for Ministry

Modern fascination with séances, channeling, astrology, and occult media mirrors ancient practices condemned in the Old Testament. Pastors and teachers must warn believers that spiritual curiosity outside the bounds of Scripture invites bondage. Effective discipleship includes:
• Teaching the sufficiency of Scripture for guidance.
• Encouraging prayer and dependence on the Holy Spirit.
• Leading repentant believers in renouncing occult involvement (Acts 19:18–20).

Christological Fulfillment

Jesus Christ is the ultimate revelation of God (Hebrews 1:1–2). His victory over the powers of darkness (Colossians 2:15) renders mediums powerless for those united to Him. By His resurrection, He removes the fear of death that often drives people to seek the counsel of spirits, offering instead the living fellowship of the risen Lord.

Summary

יִדְּעֹנִי epitomizes the forbidden quest for supernatural knowledge apart from God. Scripture’s consistent censure—rooted in the holiness of the LORD and the sufficiency of His Word—equips believers to resist occult enticements, cling to Christ, and proclaim the true light that overcomes every shadowed whisper of the dead.

Forms and Transliterations
הַ֠יִּדְּעֹנִים הַיִּדְּעֹנִ֔ים הַיִּדְּעֹנִ֖י הַיִּדְּעֹנִ֖ים הַיִּדְּעֹנִֽים׃ הידעני הידענים הידענים׃ וְיִדְּעֹנִ֑ים וְיִדְּעֹנִ֔י וְיִדְּעוֹנִ֑י וידעוני וידעני וידענים יִדְּעֹנִ֖י ידעני haiyiddeoNi haiyiddeoNim hay·yid·də·‘ō·nî hay·yid·də·‘ō·nîm hayyiddə‘ōnî hayyiddə‘ōnîm veyiddeoNi veyiddeoNim wə·yid·də·‘ō·nî wə·yid·də·‘ō·nîm wə·yid·də·‘ō·w·nî wəyiddə‘ōnî wəyiddə‘ōnîm wəyiddə‘ōwnî yid·də·‘ō·nî yiddə‘ōnî yiddeoNi
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Englishman's Concordance
Leviticus 19:31
HEB: הָאֹבֹת֙ וְאֶל־ הַיִּדְּעֹנִ֔ים אַל־ תְּבַקְשׁ֖וּ
NAS: to mediums or spiritists; do not seek
KJV: neither seek after wizards, to be defiled
INT: mediums to spiritists not seek

Leviticus 20:6
HEB: הָֽאֹבֹת֙ וְאֶל־ הַיִּדְּעֹנִ֔ים לִזְנ֖וֹת אַחֲרֵיהֶ֑ם
NAS: to mediums and to spiritists, to play the harlot
KJV: and after wizards, to go a whoring
INT: to mediums and to spiritists to play after

Leviticus 20:27
HEB: א֛וֹב א֥וֹ יִדְּעֹנִ֖י מ֣וֹת יוּמָ֑תוּ
NAS: or a spiritist shall surely
KJV: a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely
INT: medium or A spiritist shall surely be put

Deuteronomy 18:11
HEB: וְשֹׁאֵ֥ל אוֹב֙ וְיִדְּעֹנִ֔י וְדֹרֵ֖שׁ אֶל־
NAS: or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls
KJV: with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
INT: A consulter spirits A spiritist calls up

1 Samuel 28:3
HEB: הָאֹב֥וֹת וְאֶת־ הַיִּדְּעֹנִ֖ים מֵהָאָֽרֶץ׃
NAS: those who were mediums and spiritists.
KJV: those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.
INT: had removed were mediums and spiritists the land

1 Samuel 28:9
HEB: הָאֹב֥וֹת וְאֶת־ הַיִּדְּעֹנִ֖י מִן־ הָאָ֑רֶץ
NAS: those who are mediums and spiritists from the land.
KJV: those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land:
INT: has cut are mediums and spiritists from the land

2 Kings 21:6
HEB: וְעָ֥שָׂה א֖וֹב וְיִדְּעֹנִ֑ים הִרְבָּ֗ה לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת
NAS: with mediums and spiritists. He did
KJV: with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought
INT: and dealt mediums and spiritists much did

2 Kings 23:24
HEB: הָאֹב֣וֹת וְאֶת־ הַ֠יִּדְּעֹנִים וְאֶת־ הַתְּרָפִ֨ים
NAS: the mediums and the spiritists and the teraphim
KJV: Moreover the [workers with] familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the images,
INT: Moreover the mediums and the spiritists and the teraphim and the idols

2 Chronicles 33:6
HEB: וְעָ֥שָׂה א֖וֹב וְיִדְּעוֹנִ֑י הִרְבָּ֗ה לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת
NAS: with mediums and spiritists. He did
KJV: with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought
INT: and dealt mediums and spiritists much did

Isaiah 8:19
HEB: הָאֹבוֹת֙ וְאֶל־ הַיִּדְּעֹנִ֔ים הַֽמְצַפְצְפִ֖ים וְהַמַּהְגִּ֑ים
NAS: the mediums and the spiritists who whisper
KJV: unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep,
INT: the mediums and to the spiritists whisper and mutter

Isaiah 19:3
HEB: הָאֹב֖וֹת וְאֶל־ הַיִּדְּעֹנִֽים׃
NAS: And to mediums and spiritists.
KJV: and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards.
INT: mediums and to spiritists

11 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 3049
11 Occurrences


hay·yid·də·‘ō·nî — 1 Occ.
hay·yid·də·‘ō·nîm — 6 Occ.
wə·yid·də·‘ō·nî — 2 Occ.
wə·yid·də·‘ō·nîm — 1 Occ.
yid·də·‘ō·nî — 1 Occ.

3048
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