The term "occult" refers to practices and beliefs that involve the supernatural, mystical, or magical. These practices often seek to gain hidden knowledge or power and are typically characterized by their secretive nature. The Bible addresses various aspects of the occult, warning against involvement in such practices and emphasizing the importance of relying solely on God for guidance and wisdom.

Biblical Prohibitions

Scripture explicitly condemns involvement in the occult. In Deuteronomy 18:10-12 , God commands the Israelites: "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." This passage highlights the seriousness with which God views these practices, associating them with the pagan nations that Israel was to displace.

Forms of Occult Practices

The Bible identifies several forms of occult practices, including:

1. Divination: The attempt to gain insight into the future or unknown through supernatural means. This includes practices like astrology, tarot reading, and the use of omens. In Ezekiel 21:21 , the king of Babylon is described as using divination: "For the king of Babylon will stop at the fork in the road, at the junction of the two roads, to seek an omen; he will cast lots with arrows, consult his idols, and examine the liver."

2. Sorcery and Witchcraft: The use of spells, potions, or rituals to manipulate or control events or people. Galatians 5:19-21 lists sorcery as one of the "acts of the flesh," warning that "those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."

3. Mediums and Spiritists: Individuals who claim to communicate with the dead or with spirits. Leviticus 19:31 instructs, "You must not turn to mediums or spiritists; do not seek them out, or you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God."

Consequences of Involvement

The Bible warns of severe consequences for those who engage in occult practices. In 1 Samuel 28, King Saul seeks the counsel of a medium, which ultimately leads to his downfall. This narrative illustrates the spiritual peril and divine disfavor associated with turning to the occult instead of God.

God's Sovereignty and Guidance

The Bible emphasizes that God alone is the source of true wisdom and guidance. Isaiah 8:19-20 admonishes, "When they say to you, '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? To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn."

The Power of Christ

Believers are reminded of the supremacy of Christ over all spiritual forces. Colossians 2:15 declares, "And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross." This victory assures Christians that they need not fear the occult, as Christ has already triumphed over all spiritual adversaries.

Call to Holiness

Christians are called to live lives set apart from the practices of the world, including the occult. Ephesians 5:11 instructs, "Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them." This call to holiness underscores the importance of rejecting occult practices and living in the light of God's truth.Leviticus 19:31
Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.
Topicalbible.org

Isaiah 8:19
And when they shall say to you, Seek to them that have familiar spirits, and to wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek to their God? for the living to the dead?
Topicalbible.org

2 Kings 21:6
And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he worked much wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.
Topicalbible.org

Leviticus 20:6
And the soul that turns after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.
Topicalbible.org

Acts 16:16
And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:
Topicalbible.org

Deuteronomy 4:19
And lest you lift up your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, should be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD your God has divided to all nations under the whole heaven.
Topicalbible.org

Ezekiel 13:18
And say, Thus said the Lord GOD; Woe to the women that sew pillows to all armholes, and make kerchiefs on the head of every stature to hunt souls! Will you hunt the souls of my people, and will you save the souls alive that come to you?
Topicalbible.org

Revelation 21:8
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Topicalbible.org

Leviticus 20:27
A man also or woman that has a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be on them.
Topicalbible.org

Exodus 22:18
You shall not suffer a witch to live.
Topicalbible.org

2 Kings 23:24
Moreover the workers with familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the images, and the idols, and all the abominations that were spied in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, did Josiah put away, that he might perform the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the LORD.
Topicalbible.org

5147. Nachbi -- a Naphtalite
... Word Origin from chabah Definition a Naphtalite NASB Word Usage Nahbi (1). Nakbi.
From chabah; occult; Nachbi, an Israelite -- Nakbi. see HEBREW chabah. ...
/hebrew/5147.htm - 6k

3281. Yalam -- an Edomite
... Word Origin from alam Definition an Edomite NASB Word Usage Jalam (4). Jalam. From
alam; occult; Jalam, an Edomite -- Jalam. see HEBREW alam. 3280, 3281. ...
/hebrew/3281.htm - 6k

Whether we Ought to Distinguish Several Species of Divination?
... express invocation of the demons, belongs that which is practiced by observing certain
things done seriously by men in the research of the occult, whether by ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether we ought to distinguish.htm

Whether Observances Directed to the Alteration of Bodies, as for ...
... Now in the physical order things have certain occult forces, the reason of which
man is unable to assign; for instance that the magnet attracts iron, and many ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether observances directed to the.htm

I Will Address the Master in one of his Own Phrases. Why, after ...
... If that be true, then what you say, that in this world life is either acquired
or lost, is not true; unless it has some occult meaning. ...
/.../36 i will address the.htm

On the Different Kinds of Cause.
... Further, of causes, some are apparent; others are grasped by a process of reasoning;
others are occult; others are inferred analogically. ...
/.../clement/the stromata or miscellanies/chapter ix on the different kinds.htm

Paracelsus {13}
... for royal roads to knowledge, and to the fame and wealth which might be got out
of knowledge; who meddled with vain dreams about the occult sciences, alchemy ...
/.../kingsley/historical lectures and essays/paracelsus 13.htm

The Apostles did not Keep Back any of the Deposit of Doctrine ...
... wished him to "commit these things to faithful men, who should be able to teach
others also," [2124] be construed into a proof of there being some occult gospel ...
/.../the prescription against heretics/chapter xxv the apostles did not.htm

The Relation of Manich??ism to the Old Babylonian Religion as Seen ...
... It is the opinion of Kessler, who has devoted much attention to this sect and to
the relations of occult religious matters in general in Mesopotomia, that "the ...
/.../chapter v name relation of.htm

Whether Divination Practiced by Invoking the Demons is Unlawful?
... What is thy name?" and the latter replied: "My name is Legion, for we are many"
(Mk.5:9). Therefore it seems lawful to question the demons about the occult. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether divination practiced by invoking.htm

Whether the Priest Ought to Deny the Body of Christ to the Sinner ...
... Verbis. Dom.; cf. Serm. lxxxii). Consequently, Christ's body is not to be
given to occult sinners, even if they ask for it. On the ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the priest ought to.htm

Valentine Weigel and Nature Mysticism
... Cornelius Agrippa of Nettesheim (1487-1535) by his writings increased the prevailing
fascination for occult knowledge and pushed this particular line of ...
/.../chapter viii valentine weigel and.htm

The: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus