What does the Bible say about witchcraft?

Definition and Scope

Witchcraft involves seeking power, knowledge, or influence through supernatural means apart from the true and living God. In various cultures, it may include casting spells, contacting spirits, or performing rituals that rely on mystical, occult practices. The Bible consistently warns against such endeavors, calling them an affront to God’s holiness and sovereignty.

Witchcraft can manifest in many forms—everything from sorcery, divination, and necromancy to modern-day practices that follow similar occult patterns. In each instance, Scripture points to the same root issue: attempting to access forbidden, counterfeit spiritual power leads people away from authentic reliance on the Creator.

Old Testament Condemnations

A foundational passage is Exodus 22:18, which starkly states, “You must not allow a sorceress to live.” This shows the seriousness with which the community of ancient Israel was to address occult practices. Such actions, though culturally foreign to many today, underscore the command to keep God’s covenant people free from influences that would draw them into moral or spiritual compromise.

Deuteronomy 18:10–12 likewise gives an extensive warning: “Let no one be found among you who ... practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft...” The underlying reason is introduced just a few verses later: these practices are “detestable to the LORD,” directly contrasting God’s desire for pure worship with pagan rites.

In 1 Samuel 28, King Saul consults a medium at Endor, illustrating that even those officially charged with honoring God can fall into occult temptations under distress. The text highlights Saul’s disobedience and the grave consequences he faced for turning to forbidden spiritual guidance rather than obeying God (see 1 Samuel 28:16–19).

New Testament Teachings

Galatians 5:19–20 includes “sorcery” among the “acts of the flesh,” placed alongside idolatry, strife, and other sins that prevent one from inheriting the kingdom of God. The New Testament language of “sorcery” (Greek: pharmakeia) can imply the use of potions or practices meant to manipulate spiritual realities.

Acts 8:9–24 tells the story of Simon the Sorcerer, who astonished the people of Samaria with his magic but was rendered powerless alongside the genuine power of God proclaimed by Philip. When Simon attempted to buy the Holy Spirit’s power, Peter rebuked him sharply, displaying that no amount of human trickery or money can obtain the true work of God.

Similarly, Acts 16:16–18 recounts how Paul and his companions encountered a slave girl who predicted the future by an evil spirit. Through God’s power, Paul drove out the spirit, confirming the supremacy of divine authority over any occult power. Later, in Ephesus (Acts 19:19), practitioners of magic publicly burned their scrolls, demonstrating the conversion from darkness to light.

Historical Context and Cultural Evidence

Archaeological discoveries from regions once inhabited by ancient Israelites have unearthed artifacts related to pagan religions and occult practices. These objects confirm the biblical accounts that neighboring cultures engaged in diverse forms of idolatry, sorcery, and communication with spirits. Records from Mesopotamia and Egypt describe rituals to manipulate deities and spirits—practices the Israelites were specifically forbidden to imitate.

Ancient papyri from Greco-Roman times support the New Testament’s depiction of sorcery as a recognizable enterprise, often involving incantations that called on various spiritual entities. These historical documents align with the scriptural portrayal of a world in which occult practices promised power but stood in opposition to the God revealed in Scripture.

Warnings and Consequences

Throughout Scripture, those who engage in witchcraft face moral and spiritual peril. Rather than relying on God, they place trust in fallen powers that can only distort the truth. Baumann’s “Archaeology and the Old Testament” and related scholarly works propose that the biblical warning against such practices was not merely a cultural taboo but a necessary directive to prevent deep spiritual deception and enslavement.

Revelation 21:8 includes “sorcerers” among those who face God’s judgment, emphasizing that such acts, unrepented of, indicate a heart turned away from divine grace. The Bible’s teachings are unanimous: witchcraft and related practices are incompatible with a life grounded in the worship of the one true God.

Relationship to the Spiritual Realm

The scriptural condemnation of witchcraft implies the existence of a real, invisible realm. The Bible portrays created spiritual beings who can influence people in deceptive ways (Ephesians 6:12). Attempts to employ demonic or occult forces inevitably ensnare individuals in counterfeits opposed to God’s design.

Recognizing the reality of these entities, many have reported modern-day experiences—often documented by missionaries—where formerly occult-practicing individuals confess to encountering evil forces that tormented rather than helped them. Such testimonies underscore the biblical conclusion that sorcery promises autonomy and power but delivers bondage.

Deliverance and True Power

Scripture identifies only one legitimate spiritual source: the God who created and sustains the universe. The resurrection of Christ, attested by multiple eyewitnesses and corroborated through detailed historical analysis, demonstrates divine power surpassing any occult claim.

Acts 19:19 exemplifies how new believers renounced witchcraft after encountering the gospel. The burning of costly scrolls testified to a genuine turning away from false spirituality and a devotion to the risen Savior. This event aligns with the transformative message that through faith in Christ, one receives spiritual discernment and the Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence, freeing believers from reliance on counterfeit powers.

Practical Application

1. Discernment: Believers are encouraged to “test the spirits” (1 John 4:1) to ensure they do not unwittingly participate in occult practices disguised as innocent entertainment or “spiritual exploration.”

2. Repentance: If someone has been involved in witchcraft, biblical examples such as the Ephesians’ public renunciation of magic in Acts 19:19 show that repentance includes fully abandoning occult artifacts and practices.

3. Faith in God’s Protection: Scripture teaches that God’s power is far greater than any alleged spiritual force. Drawing near to Him brings clarity, peace, and a secure refuge (Psalm 91).

4. Glorifying the Creator: Acknowledging divine sovereignty over the cosmos—an idea supported by the evidence of intelligent design—reinforces the truth that ultimate power belongs to the One who spoke galaxies into existence.

Conclusion

From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible presents a unified message that witchcraft stands in direct opposition to the worship of the Creator. Historical, archaeological, and textual evidence supports the framework in which God’s people were warned to avoid occult practices that lead astray from truth. New Testament passages confirm that in Christ, all competing spiritual claims are overshadowed by the power of the resurrection, offering genuine hope and deliverance.

Far from an outdated concern, witchcraft remains relevant wherever people seek spiritual energy independent of the Maker. The consistent biblical witness urges everyone to turn from such practices and trust in the God who rescues, redeems, and reigns with everlasting authority.