What does the Bible say about enchantment?

Definition and Scope of Enchantment

Enchantment in biblical contexts typically refers to practices associated with magic, sorcery, spells, incantations, divination, or any attempt to manipulate events or people through supernatural means apart from the power of God. Such practices were common among surrounding nations in the ancient Near East, and Scripture consistently warns against them. The term “enchantment” can encompass sorcery, witchcraft, casting of spells, or charms intended to harness hidden forces. These practices present an alternative source of power and knowledge that Scripture deems deceptive and contrary to faith in the one true God.

Terminology and Historical Background

Several Hebrew terms in the Old Testament reflect the concept of enchantment. For instance, נַחַשׁ (naḥash) can imply divination or enchantment (as in Genesis 44:5, though context varies), while לָחַשׁ (laḥash) may indicate whispering a spell (Isaiah 3:3). Archaeological findings from the ancient Near East, including texts from neighboring cultures (e.g., Ugaritic tablets), reveal widespread belief in powerful incantations to ward off evil or gain favor from deities. The biblical authors frequently addressed these practices because God’s people encountered them among neighboring nations and had the temptation to imitate them.

Old Testament Teachings

1. Condemnation of Foreign Magical Practices

Deuteronomy 18:9–12 warns: “When you enter the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the abominations of those nations… Let no one be found among you who… interprets omens, practices sorcery… For whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD.” This command reflects God’s prohibition against seeking divine knowledge or power through pagan rituals and highlights that reliance on such methods undermines absolute trust in Him.

2. Explicit Prohibition and Consequences

Leviticus 19:26 states, “You must not practice divination or sorcery.” Similarly, 2 Chronicles 33:6 describes King Manasseh’s wickedness by listing his involvement in such practices, demonstrating that enchantment and sorcery led Israel into spiritual ruin. In 1 Chronicles 10:13, Saul’s consultation of a medium is counted among the transgressions that led to his downfall. These accounts emphasize that relying on spells or summoning spirits is rebellion against God’s revealed ways.

3. Contrast with Divine Revelation

Throughout the Old Testament, God calls His people to seek Him rather than occult practices (Isaiah 8:19). Instead of enchantments, believers are instructed to look to God’s Word, prophetic utterance, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit (even in Old Testament times, such guidance came through God’s chosen prophets). This contrast sets apart God’s people from neighboring nations and fosters a covenant relationship built on trust in Yahweh’s sovereign power.

New Testament Teachings

1. Continued Condemnation of Sorcery

Galatians 5:19–20 includes sorcery among the “works of the flesh,” thus identifying such practices as incompatible with a Spirit-filled life. Revelation 21:8 places “the sorcerers” among those who face judgment, underscoring the seriousness with which the New Testament addresses enchantment.

2. Examples of Turning Away from Magical Practices

In Acts 19:18–19, believers in Ephesus publicly confess their involvement in magical arts and burn their spell books. This event emphasizes Scripture’s stance that true faith in Christ and trust in the living God require forsaking all forms of sorcery or incantations.

3. Supremacy of God’s Power

Jesus is shown in the Gospels casting out demons, healing the sick, and displaying divine authority over nature (Mark 4:39; Luke 4:33–36). These acts demonstrate genuine power from God, contrasting starkly with the deceptive, prohibited methods of enchantment. Rather than teaching magical rites, the New Testament emphasizes salvation through belief in the resurrected Christ and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, who provides counsel and power exceeding any earthly or occult source.

Central Biblical Principles on Enchantment

1. Exclusive Worship of God

Scripture views any attempt to harness supernatural power outside God’s design as a form of idolatry (Exodus 20:3). Turning to enchantment places trust in created or demonic forces rather than the Creator (Romans 1:25).

2. Reliance on Divine Revelation

Guidance and wisdom come from God’s Word. Both Old and New Testaments affirm that God’s Spirit illuminates truth (Psalm 119:105; John 16:13). The practice of enchantment often seeks knowledge or outcomes God hasn’t granted, violating the principle that God's guidance is sufficient.

3. Holiness and Separation

Believers are called to be set apart (1 Peter 1:16). Engaging in enchantment aligns with occult or pagan influences, contradicting the biblical call to holiness. God’s people are to demonstrate a life distinct from practices of secrecy or hidden power.

Harmonizing Scriptural Consistency

Ancient manuscripts, such as sections of the Dead Sea Scrolls, consistently confirm the biblical teaching that places these banned practices outside God’s will. Throughout centuries of textual transmission, the message remains clear that enchantment and sorcery are denounced. Historical and archaeological evidence detailing Israel’s interactions with neighboring pagan cultures further confirms why these prohibitions were so pertinent. Scripture’s embedded history, accurately preserved, reveals a continuous theme of warning against all forms of enchantment.

Practical and Theological Implications

1. Dependency on God Alone

A recurring thread is the call to trust God’s timing and provision rather than seeking shortcuts or hidden knowledge. True security and insight come from the Creator, underscored by the consistent biblical teaching against merging faith with occultic or supernatural manipulation.

2. Call to Repentance

Acts 19 shows that hearts convicted by the gospel turn away from magical artifacts and spells. This principle applies to anyone drawn to the promise of secret power: genuine repentance involves abandoning any form of enchantment.

3. Christ’s Victory Over All Powers

The resurrection of Christ reveals a triumph over evil, sin, and death (1 Corinthians 15:54–57). By extension, all forms of occult power are ultimately subject to His authority. For believers, there is absolute confidence that they need not fear or resort to occult methods; Christ reigns supremely.

Conclusion

Scripture maintains a consistent and unified stance that enchantment—embracing sorcery, divination, or manipulative spiritual practices—stands in opposition to trusting God. From the Torah’s commands, through historical narratives of Israel’s kings, to the New Testament church’s declarations against sorcery, the Bible clearly teaches that all who revere the God of creation must reject occult methods.

Reliance on enchantment is shown to be both spiritually dangerous and offensive to the holiness of God. Instead, Scripture calls believers to trust in divine revelation, remain dependent on God’s sovereign will, and live in the freedom that comes from genuine faith in the resurrected Christ. This message remains abundantly clear across the breadth of biblical testimony, supported by manuscript evidence and the consistent historical record that warns of the perils of seeking power outside the true and living God.