Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version “’Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God. New Living Translation “Do not defile yourselves by turning to mediums or to those who consult the spirits of the dead. I am the LORD your God. English Standard Version “Do not turn to mediums or necromancers; do not seek them out, and so make yourselves unclean by them: I am the LORD your God. Berean Standard Bible 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. King James Bible Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God. New King James Version ‘Give no regard to mediums and familiar spirits; do not seek after them, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God. New American Standard Bible ‘Do not turn to mediums or spiritists; do not seek them out to be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God. NASB 1995 ‘Do not turn to mediums or spiritists; do not seek them out to be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God. NASB 1977 ‘Do not turn to mediums or spiritists; do not seek them out to be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God. Legacy Standard Bible ‘Do not turn to mediums or spiritists; do not seek them out to be defiled by them. I am Yahweh your God. Amplified Bible ‘Do not turn to mediums [who pretend to consult the dead] or to spiritists [who have spirits of divination]; do not seek them out to be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God. Christian Standard Bible “Do not turn to mediums or consult spiritists, or you will be defiled by them; I am the LORD your God. Holman Christian Standard Bible Do not turn to mediums or consult spiritists, or you will be defiled by them; I am Yahweh your God.” American Standard Version Turn ye not unto them that have familiar spirits, nor unto the wizards; seek them not out, to be defiled by them: I am Jehovah your God. Contemporary English Version Don't make yourselves disgusting to me by going to people who claim they can talk to the dead. English Revised Version Turn ye not unto them that have familiar spirits, nor unto the wizards; seek them not out, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God. GOD'S WORD® Translation "Don't turn to psychics or mediums to get help. That will make you unclean. I am the LORD your God. Good News Translation "Do not go for advice to people who consult the spirits of the dead. If you do, you will be ritually unclean. I am the LORD your God. International Standard Version "You are to consult neither mediums nor familiar spirits. You are never to seek them—you'll just be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God. NET Bible Do not turn to the spirits of the dead and do not seek familiar spirits to become unclean by them. I am the LORD your God. New Heart English Bible "'Do not turn to spirits of the dead, and do not inquire of familiar spirits, to be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God. Webster's Bible Translation Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleYou 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. World English Bible “‘Don’t turn to those who are mediums, nor to the wizards. Don’t seek them out, to be defiled by them. I am Yahweh your God. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionYou do not turn to those having familiar spirits, and you do not seek for wizards, to become unclean by them; I [am] your God YHWH. Young's Literal Translation Ye do not turn unto those having familiar spirits; and unto wizards ye do not seek, for uncleanness by them; I am Jehovah your God. Smith's Literal Translation Ye shall not turn to necromancers, and to wizards ye shall not seek, to be defiled by them: I Jehovah your God. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims Bible31Go not aside after wizards, neither ask any thing of soothsayers, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God. Catholic Public Domain Version Do not turn aside to astrologers, nor consult with soothsayers, so as to be polluted through them. I am the Lord your God. New American Bible Do not turn to ghosts or consult spirits, by which you will be defiled. I, the LORD, am your God. New Revised Standard Version Do not turn to mediums or wizards; do not seek them out, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleYou shall not go after diviners, neither after the soothsayers, nor shall you consult them to be defiled by them; I am the LORD your God. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Do Not go after necromancers and soothsayers and you shall not inquire of them lest you will be defiled by them; I AM LORD JEHOVAH your God. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Turn ye not unto the ghosts, nor unto familiar spirits; seek them not out, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God. Brenton Septuagint Translation Ye shall not attend to those who have in them divining spirits, nor attach yourselves to enchanters, to pollute yourselves with them: I am the Lord your God. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Keep My Decrees…30You must keep My Sabbaths and have reverence for My sanctuary. I am the LORD. 31You 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. 32You are to rise in the presence of the elderly, honor the aged, and fear your God. I am the LORD.… Cross References Deuteronomy 18:10-12 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, practices divination or conjury, interprets omens, practices sorcery, / casts spells, consults a medium or spiritist, or inquires of the dead. / For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD. And because of these detestable things, the LORD your God is driving out the nations before you. 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? 1 Samuel 28:7-9 Then Saul said to his servants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, so I can go and consult her.” “There is a medium at Endor,” his servants replied. / 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.” / But the woman replied, “Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has killed the mediums and spiritists in the land. Why have you set a trap to get me killed?” 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. 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. Jeremiah 27:9-10 But as for you, do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your interpreters of dreams, your mediums, or your sorcerers who declare, ‘You will not serve the king of Babylon.’ / For they prophesy to you a lie that will serve to remove you from your land; I will banish you and you will perish. Acts 16:16-18 One day as we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl with a spirit of divination, who earned a large income for her masters by fortune-telling. / This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation!” / She continued this for many days. Eventually Paul grew so aggravated that he turned and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” And the spirit left her at that very moment. Galatians 5:19-21 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; / idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, / and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Revelation 21:8 But to the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.” Revelation 22:15 But outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. 1 Corinthians 10:20-21 No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to be participants with demons. / You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot partake in the table of the Lord and the table of demons too. Ephesians 5:11-12 Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. / For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons, Treasury of Scripture Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God. Leviticus 19:26 Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times. Leviticus 20:6,7,27 And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people… Exodus 22:18 Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. Jump to Previous Defiled Familiar Ghosts Mediums Necromancers Regard rs Seek Soothsayers Spiritists Spirits Turn Unclean Uncleanness Use Ways Wizards Wonder-Workers YourselvesJump to Next Defiled Familiar Ghosts Mediums Necromancers Regard rs Seek Soothsayers Spiritists Spirits Turn Unclean Uncleanness Use Ways Wizards Wonder-Workers YourselvesLeviticus 19 1. A repetition of various lawsYou must not turn to mediums or spiritists; This command is part of the Holiness Code, a section of Leviticus that outlines how the Israelites are to live as God's holy people. Mediums and spiritists were individuals who claimed to communicate with the dead or with spirits, practices common in the surrounding pagan cultures. The prohibition against turning to them underscores the importance of relying solely on God for guidance and wisdom. In Deuteronomy 18:10-12, similar prohibitions are given, emphasizing that such practices are detestable to the Lord. The Israelites were to be distinct from other nations, who often engaged in these practices as part of their religious rituals. do not seek them out, or you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God. Persons / Places / Events 1. Mediums and SpiritistsIndividuals who claim to communicate with the dead or spirits. In ancient Israel, these practices were common among pagan cultures and were strictly forbidden by God. 2. The Israelites The chosen people of God to whom the laws in Leviticus were given. They were called to be holy and set apart from the surrounding nations. 3. The LORD (Yahweh) The covenant God of Israel, who commands His people to follow His statutes and remain pure. 4. Mount Sinai The place where God gave the Law to Moses, including the instructions found in Leviticus. 5. Moses The prophet and leader of Israel who received the Law from God and communicated it to the people. Teaching Points Holiness and SeparationGod calls His people to be holy and separate from practices that defile. Engaging with mediums and spiritists compromises spiritual purity and allegiance to God. Trust in God Alone Seeking guidance from mediums indicates a lack of trust in God. Believers are encouraged to rely on God’s wisdom and guidance through prayer and Scripture. The Danger of Spiritual Deception Engaging with the occult opens individuals to spiritual deception and bondage. Christians are called to discernment and to avoid practices that lead away from God. The Sufficiency of Scripture The Bible provides all the guidance needed for life and godliness. Believers should turn to Scripture for direction rather than seeking forbidden spiritual practices. Witness to the World By rejecting occult practices, Christians bear witness to the power and sufficiency of God, setting an example of faithfulness to a watching world. Lists and Questions Top 10 Lessons from Leviticus 19What defines a medium? What does the Bible say about praying to the dead? What are familiar spirits? What does the Bible say about Christian exorcism?(31) Regard not.--Better, Turn ye not unto, as the Authorised Version renders this very phrase in Leviticus 19:4. Them that have familiar spirits.--This phrase represents the single word oboth in the original, and the translators of our Authorised Version by adopting it implied that those who practised this craft were supposed to be attended by an invisible spirit who was subject to their call to supply them with supernatural information. According to the authorities during the second Temple it denotes one who has a spirit speaking from under his arm-holes, or chest, with a hollow voice, as if it came out of a bottle, which is the meaning of ob in Job 32:19. They identified it with the spirit of Python, by which the ancient Chaldee Version renders it. Neither seek after wizards.--The expression "wizard," which in old English denotes "wise man," "sage," is almost the exact equivalent of the word in the original. These cunning men pretended to tell people their fortunes, where their lost property was to be found, &c. According to ancient tradition, these wizards took in their mouth a bone of a certain bird called yadu?, burned incense, thus producing fumes which sent them off into an ecstacy, and then foretold future events. Hence their name, yidonee, as it is in the original. It occurs eleven times in the Bible, and always together with the word translated "familiar spirit." Verse 31. - This verse contains a prohibition of all dealings with those that have familiar spirits or are wizards. The punishment of such persons is appointed in the next chapter. Both in the Old and the New Testament, the real existence of evil spirits and their power of communicating with the human spirit is assumed.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew “You must notאַל־ (’al-) Adverb Strong's 408: Not turn תִּפְנ֤וּ (tip̄·nū) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural Strong's 6437: To turn, to face, appear, look to אֶל־ (’el-) Preposition Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to mediums הָאֹבֹת֙ (hā·’ō·ḇōṯ) Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 178: A bottle (made from animal skin), a necromancer [or] וְאֶל־ (wə·’el-) Conjunctive waw | Preposition Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to spiritists; הַיִּדְּעֹנִ֔ים (hay·yid·də·‘ō·nîm) Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 3049: A knowing one, a conjurer, a ghost do not seek them out, תְּבַקְשׁ֖וּ (tə·ḇaq·šū) Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine plural Strong's 1245: To search out, to strive after or you will be defiled לְטָמְאָ֣ה (lə·ṭā·mə·’āh) Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singular Strong's 2930: To be or become unclean by them. בָהֶ֑ם (ḇā·hem) Preposition | third person masculine plural Strong's Hebrew I אֲנִ֖י (’ă·nî) Pronoun - first person common singular Strong's 589: I am the LORD יְהוָ֥ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel your God. אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃ (’ĕ·lō·hê·ḵem) Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative Links Leviticus 19:31 NIVLeviticus 19:31 NLT Leviticus 19:31 ESV Leviticus 19:31 NASB Leviticus 19:31 KJV Leviticus 19:31 BibleApps.com Leviticus 19:31 Biblia Paralela Leviticus 19:31 Chinese Bible Leviticus 19:31 French Bible Leviticus 19:31 Catholic Bible OT Law: Leviticus 19:31 Don't turn to those who are mediums (Le Lv Lev.) |
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