An enchanter, in biblical terms, refers to an individual who practices enchantment, a form of divination or sorcery that involves the use of spells or incantations to influence or predict events. The practice of enchantment is consistently condemned in the Bible as it is associated with pagan rituals and the worship of false gods. Enchanters are often grouped with other practitioners of forbidden arts, such as sorcerers, diviners, and necromancers.

Old Testament References

The Old Testament contains several references to enchanters, often in the context of prohibitions against their practices. In Deuteronomy 18:10-12 , the Israelites are explicitly warned against engaging in such practices: "Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD."

The Hebrew word often translated as "enchanter" is "nachash," which can also mean to whisper or hiss, suggesting the secretive and deceptive nature of their practices. Enchanters are mentioned alongside other forbidden practitioners in Leviticus 19:26 : "You must not eat anything with blood still in it. You must not practice divination or sorcery."

Historical Context

In the ancient Near East, enchantment was a common practice among various cultures, often associated with the worship of deities other than Yahweh. Enchanters were believed to have the power to manipulate natural and supernatural forces through their incantations. This practice was seen as a direct challenge to the sovereignty of God, who alone holds power over creation.

New Testament Context

While the New Testament does not specifically mention enchanters, it continues the Old Testament's condemnation of sorcery and related practices. In Acts 8:9-24 , Simon the Sorcerer is rebuked by Peter for attempting to buy the power of the Holy Spirit, illustrating the incompatibility of such practices with the Christian faith.

Theological Implications

From a theological perspective, the practice of enchantment is seen as a form of idolatry, as it places trust in powers other than God. It is a violation of the First Commandment, which calls for exclusive worship of the Lord. Enchanters, by seeking to control or predict the future through forbidden means, demonstrate a lack of faith in God's providence and sovereignty.

Moral and Ethical Considerations

The Bible's prohibition against enchantment underscores the importance of relying on God rather than seeking power through illicit means. It serves as a warning against the allure of occult practices, which can lead individuals away from the truth of God's Word. Christians are called to discernment and to reject any form of spiritual deception that contradicts the teachings of Scripture.

Conclusion

The biblical stance on enchanters is clear: their practices are detestable to God and are to be avoided by His people. The consistent message throughout Scripture is one of reliance on God alone for guidance, wisdom, and power.(n.) One who enchants; a sorcerer or magician; also, one who delights as by an enchantment.1114. goes -- a wailer, a sorcerer, a swindler
... 1114 ("a charlatan"), used only in 2 Tim 3:13, refers to a (properly,
a ) -- a fraud who "sounds off" like a whining enchanter. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1114.htm - 7k826. ashaph -- a conjurer, enchanter
... 825, 826. ashaph. 827 . a conjurer, enchanter. Transliteration: ashaph
Phonetic Spelling: (ash-shawf') Short Definition: conjurers. ...
/hebrew/826.htm - 6k

5172. nachash -- to practice divination, observe signs
... certainly, divine, enchanter, use enchantment, learn by experience, diligently
observe. A primitive root; properly, to hiss, ie Whisper ...
/hebrew/5172.htm - 6k

6049. anan -- to practice soothsaying
... to practice soothsaying. Transliteration: anan Phonetic Spelling: (aw-nan') Short
Definition: bring. bring, enchanter, observer of times, soothsayer, sorcerer ...
/hebrew/6049.htm - 5k

3908. lachash -- a whispering, charming
... Word Origin from lachash Definition a whispering, charming NASB Word Usage amulets
(1), charm (1), charmed (1), enchanter (1), whisper a prayer (1). ...
/hebrew/3908.htm - 6k

5177. Nachshon -- brother-in-law of Aaron
... Naashon, Nahshon. From nachash; enchanter; Nachshon, an Israelite -- Naashon, Nahshon.
see HEBREW nachash. 5176, 5177. Nachshon. 5178 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/5177.htm - 6k

3873. Lochesh -- "whisperer," a leader in Isr.
... Hallohesh, Haloshesh includ. Active participle of lachash; (the) enchanter; Lochesh,
an Israelite -- Hallohesh, Haloshesh (includ. The article). ...
/hebrew/3873.htm - 6k

Saint George Kills the Enchanter Osmond.
... CHAPTER THIRTEEN. SAINT GEORGE KILLS THE ENCHANTER OSMOND. Saint George and
his virtuous Lady, having arrived in Africa, were travelling ...
/.../the seven champions of christendom/chapter thirteen saint george kills.htm

Of the Hidden Time of the Final Persecution.
... to believe in Christ, that His disciple Peter did not learn magic arts from Him,
yet that, although He was innocent, His disciple was an enchanter, and chose ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 53 of the hidden time.htm

The Life of St. George Martyr
... Then, when Dacian the provost saw that he might not surmount him, he called his
enchanter and said to him: I see that these Christian people doubt not our ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/the life of st george.htm

The Release of Saint George.
... Many adventures, which cannot here be recorded, were met with; and at length they
reached the magic forest which surrounded the castle of the fell Enchanter. ...
/.../kingston/the seven champions of christendom/chapter eleven the release of.htm

The Adventures of Saint David of Wales.
... There, for many years, till the full term of seven was accomplished, we, too, will
leave them, daily visited by the Enchanter Ormandine, who came to mock at ...
/.../kingston/the seven champions of christendom/chapter ten the adventures of.htm

The Method which Origen Used in his Theological and Metaphysical ...
... win us over to love it as truth; and it holds its place within us even though it
be false and deceitful, overmastering us like some enchanter, and retaining as ...
/.../argument xiii the method which origen.htm

The Death of Saint Denis.
... The Champion and the false knight met; but the latter, by the arts of a wicked
enchanter, had come so prepared by talismans for the fight, that all the skill ...
/.../kingston/the seven champions of christendom/chapter seventeen the death of.htm

Other Sins Forbidden.
... for out of all these adulteries are engendered.4. My child, be not an observer of
omens, since it leadeth the way to idolatry; neither an enchanter, nor an ...
/.../various/the teaching of the twelve apostles/chapter iii name sins forbidden.htm

Deaf Ears and Stammering Tongues.
... No thoughtful man can mark the spring-time coming to the woods and hedgerows, and
waking the sleeping plants as with the wand of an enchanter, or see the ...
/.../the life of duty a years plain sermons v 2/sermon xlvii deaf ears and.htm

The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles, Commonly Called the Didache
... adultery. ^4My child, do not be a diviner, for that leads to idolatry. Do
not be an enchanter or an astrologer or a magician. Moreover ...
/.../richardson/early christian fathers/the teaching of the twelve.htm

Enchanter (5 Occurrences)
...Enchanter (5 Occurrences). ... Isaiah 3:3 the captain of fifty, the honorable man,
the counselor, the skilled craftsman, and the clever enchanter. ...
/e/enchanter.htm - 8k

Charmer (5 Occurrences)
... object. In Isaiah 3:3 the words "eloquent orator" should be, as in the Revised
Version, "skilful enchanter.". Noah Webster's Dictionary. ...
/c/charmer.htm - 8k

Sorcerer (3 Occurrences)
... 15). Noah Webster's Dictionary. (n.) A conjurer; an enchanter; a magician.
Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. SORCERER; SORCERY. See ...
/s/sorcerer.htm - 8k

Magician (5 Occurrences)
... (n.) One skilled in magic; a sorcerer; one who practices the black art; an enchanter;
a necromancer; a sorcerer or sorceress; a conjurer. Int. ...
/m/magician.htm - 24k

Witch (2 Occurrences)
... word, meaning "enchantress" (RV, "sorceress"), and in Deuteronomy 18:10, as the
rendering of mekhashshepheth, the masculine form of the word, meaning "enchanter...
/w/witch.htm - 24k

Enchanters (9 Occurrences)

/e/enchanters.htm - 9k

Witchcraft (8 Occurrences)
... 2, above) and are cognate to 'ashshaph (see Daniel 1:20; Daniel 2:2, 10, etc.),
which means a magician (the Revised Version (British and American) "enchanter...
/w/witchcraft.htm - 23k

Divination (25 Occurrences)
... The participle of this verb is translated "enchanter" in Deuteronomy 18:10, the
cognate verb, "to use enchantments" in Leviticus 19:26 2 Kings 21:6; 2 ...
/d/divination.htm - 45k

Useth (9 Occurrences)
... found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the
fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a ...
/u/useth.htm - 8k

User (2 Occurrences)
... there is not found in thee one causing his son and his daughter to pass over into
fire, a user of divinations, an observer of clouds, and an enchanter, and a ...
/u/user.htm - 7k

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