Topical Encyclopedia Divination, in the biblical context, refers to the practice of seeking knowledge of the future or the unknown through supernatural means. It is often associated with false prophets who claim to receive divine revelations but are, in fact, deceiving the people of God. The Bible consistently condemns divination as an abomination and warns against its practice.Old Testament Context In the Old Testament, divination is explicitly prohibited. Deuteronomy 18:10-12 states, "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 underscores the seriousness with which God views divination and related practices, associating them with the pagan nations that Israel was to displace. False prophets in Israel often engaged in divination to lead the people astray. Ezekiel 13:6-7 describes such prophets: "They see false visions and speak lying divinations. They claim, ‘Thus declares the LORD,’ when the LORD did not send them; yet they wait for the fulfillment of their message. Have you not seen a false vision and spoken a lying divination when you proclaim, ‘Thus declares the LORD,’ even though I have not spoken?" New Testament Context The New Testament continues to warn against false prophets and their deceptive practices. In Acts 16:16-18 , we encounter a slave girl possessed by a spirit of divination: "One day as we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl with a spirit of divination, who earned a large income for her masters by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, 'These men are servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation.' She continued this for many days. Eventually Paul grew so aggravated that he turned and said to the spirit, 'In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!' And the spirit left her at that very moment." This account illustrates the power of Christ over demonic forces and the rejection of divination by the early church. Warnings and Consequences The Bible warns of severe consequences for those who practice divination and for the false prophets who lead others into such practices. Jeremiah 14:14-15 declares, "The prophets are prophesying lies in My name," the LORD replied. "I did not send them or appoint them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a false vision, worthless divination, the delusion of their own minds. Therefore, this is what the LORD says about the prophets who are prophesying in My name: I did not send them, yet they are saying, ‘No sword or famine will touch this land.’ By sword and famine these very prophets will meet their end!" Discernment and True Prophecy Believers are called to discern true prophecy from false. 1 John 4:1 advises, "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world." True prophecy aligns with the revealed Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ, while false prophecy, often accompanied by divination, leads people away from the truth. In summary, divination as practiced by false prophets is consistently condemned in Scripture. It is portrayed as a deceptive practice that leads people away from God and His truth, and it is associated with severe divine judgment. The faithful are urged to rely on God's Word and the guidance of the Holy Spirit to discern truth from falsehood. Torrey's Topical Textbook Jeremiah 14:14Then the LORD said to me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spoke to them: they prophesy to you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nothing, and the deceit of their heart. Torrey's Topical Textbook Ezekiel 13:3,6 Library The Unclean Spirits. The Ascension of Isaiah. On Threefold Wisdom. The Sibylline Oracles. The Mission of Paul and Silas to Macedonia. In the Fifteenth Year of Tiberius C??sar and under the Pontificate ... Definitive Form of the Ideas of Jesus Respecting the Kingdom of ... The City of God. Index of Subjects. A Holy Life the Beauty of Christianity: Or, an Exhortation to ... Against Jovinianus. Resources What kind of divination did Joseph do in Genesis 44:5, 15? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about divination? | GotQuestions.org What does the Bible say about palm reading? | GotQuestions.org Divination: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Divination: All Who Practised It, Abominable Divination: An Abominable Practice Divination: Could not Injure the Lord's People Divination: Effected Through: A Lucrative Employment Divination: Effected Through: Books of, Numerous and Expensive Divination: Effected Through: Connected With Idolatry Divination: Effected Through: Cups Divination: Effected Through: Dreams Divination: Effected Through: Enchantments Divination: Effected Through: Inspecting the Inside of Beasts Divination: Effected Through: Observing Heavenly Bodies Divination: Effected Through: Observing Times Divination: Effected Through: Raising the Dead Divination: Effected Through: Rods Divination: Effected Through: Sorcery Divination: Effected Through: The Flight of Arrows Divination: Practised by Astrologers Divination: Practised by Charmers Divination: Practised by Consulters of Familiar Spirits Divination: Practised by Diviners Divination: Practised by Enchanters Divination: Practised by False Prophets Divination: Practised by Magicians Divination: Practised by Necromancers Divination: Practised by Soothsayers Divination: Practised by Sorcerers Divination: Practised by Witches Divination: Practised by Wizards Divination: The Law: Forbade Seeking To Divination: The Law: Forbade to the Israelites the Practice of Divination: The Law: Punished Those Who Sought To Divination: The Law: Punished With Death Those Who Used Divination: Those Who Practised used Mysterious Words and Gestures Divination: Those Who Practised: Consulted in Difficulties Divination: Those Who Practised: Regarded As Wise Men Divination: Those Who Practised: Regarded With Awe Related Terms |
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