What does Leviticus 19:31 say about consulting mediums and spiritists?

Verse at a Glance

• “You must not turn to mediums or spiritists; do not seek them out, lest you become defiled by them. I am the LORD your God.” — Leviticus 19:31

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What the Verse Clearly Says

• No turning toward, seeking out, or consulting mediums or spiritists

• Such contact brings defilement—spiritual contamination before God

• The prohibition is grounded in God’s own authority: “I am the LORD your God”

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Key Terms Explained

• Mediums — people claiming to channel or communicate with the dead or unseen spirits

• Spiritists — practitioners who seek information or power from supernatural beings apart from God

• Defiled — rendered unclean, unholy, and unfit for fellowship with the LORD

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Why God Forbids It

• Protects covenant purity: God’s people belong exclusively to Him (Exodus 20:3)

• Avoids counterfeit guidance: evil spirits masquerade as truth (2 Corinthians 11:14)

• Guards against idolatry: seeking supernatural help outside God equals spiritual adultery

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Supporting Passages

• Leviticus 20:6 — “Whoever turns to mediums and spiritists… I will set My face against that person.”

• Deuteronomy 18:10-12 — Mediums and spiritists are “detestable to the LORD.”

• 1 Chronicles 10:13-14 — Saul’s downfall traced to consulting a spiritist instead of God.

• Isaiah 8:19-20 — “Should not a people consult their God? … If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light.”

• Acts 16:16-18 — Paul casts out a spirit of divination, showing Christ’s authority over occult powers.

• Galatians 5:19-21 — “Idolatry and sorcery” listed among works of the flesh that bar inheriting God’s kingdom.

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Practical Takeaways for Today

• Reject all forms of occult practice: séances, tarot, horoscopes, witchcraft, “white magic,” and new-age channeling.

• Seek guidance from Scripture and prayer, not from the dead or unseen spirits.

• Remember the sufficiency of Christ: He is the one mediator between God and humanity (1 Timothy 2:5).

• Cultivate discernment: test every spiritual claim by God’s Word (1 John 4:1).

• Encourage repentance and deliverance for anyone entangled in occult activity; freedom is found in Jesus (Colossians 1:13-14).