Topical Bible: Divination: The Law: Punished With Death Those Who Used

◄ Divination: The Law: Punished With Death Those Who Used ►

Jump to: Torrey's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

Divination, in the biblical context, refers to the practice of seeking knowledge of the future or the unknown through supernatural means. The Bible explicitly condemns such practices, associating them with pagan rituals and idolatry. The Mosaic Law, given to the Israelites, strictly prohibited divination and prescribed severe penalties for those who engaged in it.

The prohibition against divination is rooted in the call for the Israelites to remain distinct from the surrounding nations, who often practiced various forms of divination as part of their religious customs. In Deuteronomy 18:10-12 , the Lord commands, "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."

The severity of the prohibition is underscored by the prescribed punishment for engaging in divination. Leviticus 20:27 states, "A man or a woman who is a medium or spiritist must surely be put to death. They shall be stoned; their blood is upon them." This reflects the seriousness with which God viewed the practice, as it was seen as a direct challenge to His sovereignty and an act of rebellion against His commandments.

The biblical narrative provides examples of individuals who faced consequences for engaging in divination. One notable instance is King Saul, who, in desperation, sought the counsel of a medium at Endor. This act of disobedience led to his downfall, as recorded in 1 Samuel 28. Saul's decision to consult a medium was a violation of God's law and demonstrated a lack of faith in God's guidance.

The New Testament continues to affirm the rejection of divination. In Acts 16:16-18 , the Apostle Paul encounters a slave girl possessed by a spirit of divination. Paul commands the spirit to leave her in the name of Jesus Christ, demonstrating the power of God over such practices and affirming the Christian stance against them.

Throughout Scripture, divination is consistently portrayed as incompatible with the worship of the one true God. The severe penalties prescribed in the Mosaic Law serve as a testament to the importance of maintaining purity in worship and reliance on God alone for guidance and revelation.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Exodus 22:18
You shall not suffer a witch to live.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

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.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Heads.
... That the believer ought not to be punished for other offences but for ... That divination
must not be used ... be in accordance with the terms, before the law, of equity ...
/.../cyprian/three books of testimonies against the jews/heads 3.htm

Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews
... That a new law was to be given. ... That the believer ought not to be punished for other
offences, except for the name he bears. ... That divination must not be used. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/cyprian/three books of testimonies against the jews/

The First Apology of Justin, the Martyr
... And so those who make second marriages according to human law are sinners ... that the
souls of the unrighteous will be punished after death, still remaining ...
/.../richardson/early christian fathers/the first apology of justin.htm

Appeal to the Christian Women of the South
... There is in this country a monstrous inequality of law and right. ... offences which
cost a white man a few dollars only, are punished in the with death. ...
/.../an appeal to the christian women of the south/appeal to the christian women.htm

The Conversion of the Jailor of Philippi.
... whom Paul expelled a spirit of divination, and like ... They had punished and imprisoned
two men, upon a ... prosecuted the magistrates with the utmost rigour of law. ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture xviii the conversion of.htm

Book 18 Footnotes
... breach thereof had not been always punished by the ... that Tiberius was greatly given
to astrology and divination. ... an idolatrous wife, contrary to the law of Moses ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 18 footnotes.htm

Excerpts of Theodotus;
... of their hair and finery, women are punished by the ... also the holy men before the
Law, as the ... who transgressed taught men astronomy and divination, and the rest ...
/.../theodotus/excerpts of theodotus/excerpts of theodotus.htm

Psalm XL.
... of diviner; he aspires to the honours of divination by abandoning the ... is the same
as, "And in His Law doth he ... He punished himself, that God might free him from ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm xl.htm

On Feast Days and Fast Days.
... reviling Him, tempting Him, seeking vain divination instead of ... when you sit up all
night, the Law, the Prophets ... live, but by disbelieving you shall be punished. ...
/.../various/constitutions of the holy apostles/sec iii on feast days and.htm

The Book of Jubilees
... destroy men with the Flood, he punished the sinning ... observers of the ritual and
ceremonial law before it ... from the charge of practising divination Isaac repents ...
//christianbookshelf.org/deane/pseudepigrapha/the book of jubilees.htm