In biblical terms, mediums are individuals who claim to communicate with the dead or the spirit world, often acting as intermediaries between the living and the deceased. The practice of consulting mediums is explicitly condemned in the Bible, as it is associated with idolatry and the occult, which are contrary to the worship of the one true God.

Old Testament References

The Old Testament contains several references to mediums, often in the context of prohibitions against their practices. In Leviticus 19:31, the Israelites are commanded, "Do not turn to mediums or spiritists; do not seek them out to be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God." This command underscores the belief that seeking guidance from mediums defiles a person, leading them away from God.

Further, in Leviticus 20:6, the Lord warns, "As for the person who turns to mediums and spiritists to prostitute himself with them, I will set My face against that person and cut him off from his people." This severe consequence highlights the seriousness with which God views the practice of consulting mediums.

The narrative of King Saul consulting the medium at Endor is a notable account involving a medium. In 1 Samuel 28:7-20, Saul, desperate for guidance before a battle with the Philistines, seeks out a medium to summon the spirit of the prophet Samuel. This act of desperation is portrayed negatively, as Saul had previously expelled mediums and spiritists from the land in accordance with God's commands (1 Samuel 28:3). The encounter results in a prophecy of doom for Saul, emphasizing the futility and danger of seeking counsel from the dead.

New Testament Context

While the New Testament does not explicitly mention mediums, it continues the Old Testament's condemnation of practices associated with the occult. In Galatians 5:19-21, Paul lists "sorcery" among the works of the flesh, warning that those who practice such things "will not inherit the kingdom of God." The term "sorcery" encompasses a range of occult practices, including those involving mediums.

Acts 16:16-18 provides an account of a slave girl possessed by a spirit of divination, who brought her owners much profit through fortune-telling. Paul, in the name of Jesus Christ, commands the spirit to leave her, demonstrating the power of God over such practices and the rejection of any form of divination.

Theological Implications

The biblical stance against mediums is rooted in the belief that God alone is the source of truth and guidance. Consulting mediums is seen as a form of idolatry, as it places trust in sources other than God. Deuteronomy 18:10-12 explicitly lists mediums among those who practice abominations before the Lord, stating, "Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, 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 Bible encourages believers to seek wisdom and guidance through prayer, Scripture, and the counsel of godly individuals, rather than through forbidden practices. The consistent biblical message is that God is sovereign over life and death, and He alone should be sought for understanding and direction.(n.) Plural of Medium.178. ob -- a bottle (made from animal skin), a necromancer
... 177b, 178. ob. 179 . a bottle (made from animal skin), a necromancer.
Transliteration: ob Phonetic Spelling: (obe) Short Definition: mediums. ...
/hebrew/178.htm - 6k

On the First Commandment
... Thus some fortune tellers, clairvoyants, mindreaders, mediums, or whatever else
they call themselves, who are truly in league with the devil, may by his power ...
/.../kinkead/baltimore catechism no 4/lesson 30 on the first.htm

Footnotes
... Campbell. 7 This possession by demons is similar to the mode by which pretended
spirits claim that they communicate through mediums. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/footnotes.htm

The Death of Two Brave Warriors
... own town Ramah. Saul, too, had put the mediums and those who had messages
from the spirits of the dead out of the land. Then the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/the death of two brave.htm

The Fall of the House of Ahab
... Today the mysteries of heathen worship are replaced by the secret association and
seances, the obscurities and wonders, of spiritistic mediums. ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 16 the fall of.htm

The Unclean Spirits.
... furniture has been seen to move about the room, and other wonders, or miracles,
been performed, by invisible agency, at the command of mediums to attending ...
/.../bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/the unclean spirits.htm

"Peace, be Still"
... Jesus asked, "What is thy name?" And the answer was, "My name is Legion: for we
are many." Using the afflicted men as mediums of communication, they besought ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 35 peace be still.htm

Four Soils for one Seed
... the coloured glass or on the light that streams through it; and, as is the case
with all revelations of spiritual realities through sensuous mediums, gross and ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/four soils for one seed.htm

Note on Demons.
... Perhaps, too, there may sometimes be something in the claims of writing and trance
mediums, who insist that they are controlled by spirits. ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/note on demons.htm

Whether the Five Exterior Senses are Properly Distinguished?
... In the same way nature provided various mediums for the various senses,
according to the convenience of the acts of the powers. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the five exterior senses.htm

Whether Natural Knowledge and Love Remain in the Beatified Angels?
... of natural knowledge is not opposed to the perfection of the knowledge in glory;
for nothing hinders us from knowing a thing through various mediums, as a ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether natural knowledge and love.htm

Mediums (10 Occurrences)
... (n.) Plural of Medium. Multi-Version Concordance Mediums (10 Occurrences). Leviticus
19:31 "'Don't turn to those who are mediums, nor to the wizards. ...
/m/mediums.htm - 10k

Wizards (10 Occurrences)
... Wizards (10 Occurrences). Leviticus 19:31 "'Don't turn to those who are mediums,
nor to the wizards. Don't seek them out, to be defiled by them. ...
/w/wizards.htm - 10k

Medium (4 Occurrences)

/m/medium.htm - 8k

Turns (80 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 20:6 "'The person that turns to those who are mediums, and to the wizards,
to play the prostitute after them, I will even set my face against that ...
/t/turns.htm - 28k

Meeda
Meeda. Mediums, Meeda. Meedda . Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia MEEDA.
me-e'-da. See MEEDDA. Mediums, Meeda. Meedda . Reference Bible.
/m/meeda.htm - 6k

Playing (37 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 20:6 "'The person that turns to those who are mediums, and to the wizards,
to play the prostitute after them, I will even set my face against that ...
/p/playing.htm - 18k

Prostitute (83 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 20:6 "'The person that turns to those who are mediums, and to the wizards,
to play the prostitute after them, I will even set my face against that ...
/p/prostitute.htm - 33k

Play (61 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 20:6 "'The person that turns to those who are mediums, and to the wizards,
to play the prostitute after them, I will even set my face against that ...
/p/play.htm - 28k

Defiled (119 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 19:31 "'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. ...
/d/defiled.htm - 38k

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