A soothsayer, in biblical terms, refers to an individual who claims to foretell the future or reveal hidden knowledge through supernatural means. The practice of soothsaying is often associated with divination, which is explicitly condemned in the Scriptures. The Bible consistently warns against engaging with soothsayers and other forms of occult practices, as they are seen as contrary to the will and guidance of God.

Biblical References and Context

1. Old Testament Prohibitions: The Old Testament contains several prohibitions against soothsaying and related practices. In Deuteronomy 18:10-12 , the Israelites are instructed: "Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, practices divination or conjury, interprets omens, practices sorcery, casts spells, consults a medium or spiritist, or inquires of the dead. For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable things the LORD your God is driving out the nations before you."

2. The Story of Balaam: Balaam is a notable figure associated with soothsaying in the Bible. Although he was a prophet, he is often remembered for his association with divination. In Numbers 22:7 , the Moabite and Midianite elders came to Balaam with "the fees for divination in their hand," seeking his services to curse the Israelites. Despite his initial resistance, Balaam's account serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of compromising one's faith for personal gain.

3. King Saul and the Medium at Endor: In 1 Samuel 28, King Saul, desperate for guidance, seeks out a medium at Endor to summon the spirit of the prophet Samuel. This act of consulting a soothsayer is portrayed negatively, highlighting Saul's departure from God's guidance. 1 Samuel 28:7 states, "Then Saul said to his servants, 'Find me a woman who is a medium, so I may go and inquire of her.'"

4. Condemnation in the Prophets: The prophets of Israel frequently condemned soothsaying and similar practices. Isaiah 8:19 warns, "When men tell you to consult the spirits of the dead and the spiritists who whisper and mutter, should not a people consult their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?"

5. New Testament Warnings: The New Testament continues to warn against soothsaying. In Acts 16:16-18 , Paul encounters a slave girl with a spirit of divination. She followed Paul and his companions, proclaiming them as servants of the Most High God. Paul, troubled by this, commanded the spirit to leave her in the name of Jesus Christ, demonstrating the power of God over such practices.

Theological Implications

The consistent biblical stance against soothsaying underscores the importance of relying on God for guidance and wisdom. Soothsaying is seen as an attempt to circumvent God's sovereignty and seek knowledge or power apart from Him. The Bible encourages believers to trust in God's providence and seek His will through prayer and Scripture, rather than turning to forbidden practices that lead away from faithfulness to God.

Cultural and Historical Context

In the ancient Near East, soothsaying and divination were common practices among pagan cultures. These practices often involved interpreting omens, consulting the dead, or using various rituals to predict the future. The Israelites were called to be distinct from these cultures, adhering to the commandments of God and rejecting the practices of the surrounding nations. This distinction was crucial in maintaining their identity as God's chosen people and upholding the purity of their worship.903. Balaam -- Balaam, an unrighteous prophet
... Balaam Phonetic Spelling: (bal-ah-am') Short Definition: Balaam Definition: Balaam,
son of Beor of Pethor on the Euphrates, a soothsayer in the Old Testament. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/903.htm - 6k7248. Rab-mag -- perhaps "chief soothsayer," an official of the ...
... Rab-mag. 7249 . perhaps "chief soothsayer," an official of the Bab. king.
Transliteration: Rab-mag Phonetic Spelling: (rab-mawg') Short Definition: Rab-mag. ...
/hebrew/7248.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

7080. qasam -- to practice divination
... diviner prudent, soothsayer, use divination. A primitive root; properly,
to distribute, ie Determine by lot or magical scroll; by ...
/hebrew/7080.htm - 6k

1505. gezar -- to cut, determine
... cut out, soothsayer. (Aramaic) corresponding to gazar; to quarry; determine -- cut
out, soothsayer. see HEBREW gazar. 1504, 1505. gezar. 1506 . ...
/hebrew/1505.htm - 6k

He Teaches Rhetoric, the Only Thing He Loved, and Scorns the ...
... Book IV. Chapter II."He Teaches Rhetoric, the Only Thing He Loved, and
Scorns the Soothsayer, Who Promised Him Victory. 2. In ...
/.../the confessions and letters of st/chapter ii he teaches rhetoric the.htm

Caste viewed as a Doer
... The village soothsayer warned them that their father's god would be angry; they
did not heed him, but went on, and suddenly their baby died. ...
/.../wilson-carmichael/things as they are/chapter xi caste viewed as.htm

1 Cor. xii. 1, 2
... For this is peculiar to the soothsayer, to be beside himself, to be under compulsion,
to be pushed, to be dragged, to be haled as a madman. ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily xxix 1 cor xii.htm

Prophets and the Prophet
... methods; the second is an obscure word, which is supposed by some to mean a 'murmurer,'
and may refer rather to the low mutterings of the soothsayer than to ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/prophets and the prophet.htm

Psalm LVIII.
... an astrologer; there is added a fourth sin: the astrologer answereth perchance with
some hard and evil responses, he runneth to a soothsayer, that expiation ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm lviii.htm

Balak's Inquiries Relative to the Service of God, and Balaam's ...
... Moab we are not informed; but on occasion before us, the affrighted sovereign of
that people, sent to some distance for Balaam, a famous soothsayer or diviner ...
/.../sermon xviii balaks inquiries relative.htm

Commandment Eleventh. The Spirit and Prophets to be Tried by their ...
... These doubters then go to him as to a soothsayer, and inquire of him what will happen
to them; and he, the false prophet, not having the power of a Divine ...
/.../the pastor books first second third/commandment eleventh the spirit and.htm

Let us Pass on Now to Theatrical Exhibitions, which we have ...
... from temples and altars, and that mournful profusion of incense and blood, with
music of pipes and trumpets, all under the direction of the soothsayer and the ...
/.../tertullian/the shows or de spectaculis/chapter x let us pass.htm

The Greek Kings of Egypt.
... Masollam asked why; and a soothsayer, pointing to a bird, told him that if the bird
stopped, it would be lucky for them to stop; if it flew on, they might go on ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson xvi the greek kings.htm

"But they are Gods to Us," You Say. ...
... or the bowl of the gods from the ladle of the manes? or the undertaker from the
soothsayer, as in fact this latter personage also attends upon the dead? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/apology/chapter xiii but they are.htm

Soothsayer (4 Occurrences)
...Soothsayer (4 Occurrences). ... Deuteronomy 18:11 or a charmer, or one that inquireth
of a spirit of Python, or a soothsayer, or one that consulteth the dead. (DBY). ...
/s/soothsayer.htm - 8k

Sooth-sayer (1 Occurrence)
Sooth-sayer. Soothsayer, Sooth-sayer. Soothsayers . Multi-Version Concordance ...
(WBS). Soothsayer, Sooth-sayer. Soothsayers . Reference Bible.
/s/sooth-sayer.htm - 6k

Soothsayers (16 Occurrences)

/s/soothsayers.htm - 12k

Soothing (40 Occurrences)

/s/soothing.htm - 18k

Kirjath-huzoth (1 Occurrence)
... It was probably from the summit of Attarus, the high place near the city, that the
soothsayer first saw the encampments of Israel. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/k/kirjath-huzoth.htm - 7k

Kirjathhuzoth (1 Occurrence)
... It was probably from the summit of Attarus, the high place near the city, that the
soothsayer first saw the encampments of Israel. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/k/kirjathhuzoth.htm - 7k

Urim (8 Occurrences)
... the function of the priests as the mouthpiece of Yahweh, as well as with the ceremonial
side of the service (Exodus 28:30; compare Arabic kahin, "soothsayer"). ...
/u/urim.htm - 21k

Jambres (2 Occurrences)
... and anachronisms. They are to the effect that Jannes and Jambres were
sons of Balaam, the soothsayer of Pethor. Notwithstanding ...
/j/jambres.htm - 11k

Jannes (2 Occurrences)
... and anachronisms. They are to the effect that Jannes and Jambres were
sons of Balaam, the soothsayer of Pethor. Notwithstanding ...
/j/jannes.htm - 10k

Inquireth (7 Occurrences)
... Inquireth (7 Occurrences). Deuteronomy 18:11 or a charmer, or one that inquireth
of a spirit of Python, or a soothsayer, or one that consulteth the dead. (DBY). ...
/i/inquireth.htm - 8k

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