Definition and Terminology:
Witchcraft, in the biblical context, refers to practices involving sorcery, divination, and the invocation of spirits, often associated with idolatry and rebellion against God. The term encompasses a range of activities that seek to manipulate supernatural forces or gain forbidden knowledge. In the Hebrew Bible, the term "witchcraft" is often translated from words like "kashaph" (כָּשַׁף), which means to practice sorcery or magic. In the New Testament, the Greek word "pharmakeia" (φαρμακεία) is used, which can refer to the use of potions or spells.

Old Testament References:
Witchcraft is explicitly condemned in the Old Testament. 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."

The account of King Saul consulting the witch of Endor in 1 Samuel 28 illustrates the severity of turning to witchcraft. Despite having previously expelled mediums and spiritists from the land, Saul seeks out a medium to summon the spirit of the prophet Samuel, an act that leads to his downfall.

New Testament References:
In the New Testament, witchcraft is listed among the works of the flesh in Galatians 5:19-21 : "The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God."

The account of Simon the Sorcerer in Acts 8:9-24 highlights the incompatibility of witchcraft with the Christian faith. Simon, who had practiced sorcery in Samaria, attempts to buy the power of the Holy Spirit from the apostles, revealing a misunderstanding of the nature of God's gifts and the gravity of attempting to manipulate divine power.

Theological Implications:
Witchcraft is seen as a direct challenge to the sovereignty and authority of God. It represents a reliance on powers other than God and is often linked with idolatry. The Bible consistently portrays witchcraft as a serious sin that leads individuals away from the truth and into spiritual darkness.

Cultural Context:
In ancient Near Eastern cultures, practices associated with witchcraft were common and often intertwined with religious rituals. The biblical prohibitions against witchcraft served to distinguish the Israelites from surrounding nations and to maintain the purity of their worship of Yahweh.

Modern Considerations:
While the specific practices of ancient witchcraft may differ from contemporary expressions, the underlying issues of seeking power or knowledge apart from God remain relevant. Christians are called to discernment and to avoid any practices that compromise their allegiance to God or open them to spiritual deception.

Conclusion:
The Bible's consistent condemnation of witchcraft underscores the importance of exclusive devotion to God and the rejection of any practices that seek to usurp His authority or rely on forbidden spiritual powers.3785. kesheph -- sorcery
... sorceries. Word Origin from an unused word Definition sorcery NASB Word
Usage sorceries (5), witchcrafts (1). sorcery, witchcraft. ...
/hebrew/3785.htm - 6k

The Judgment of the Harlot.
... She is also described as "The well-favored harlot, the mistress of witchcrafts,
that selleth nations through her whoredoms, and families through her witchcrafts ...
/.../bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/the judgment of the harlot.htm

Nahum's Doom of Nineveh
... Because of the multitude of the whoredoms of the well-favoured harlot, The mistress
of witchcrafts, that selleth nations through her whoredoms, And families ...
/.../select masterpieces of biblical literature/xi nahums doom of nineveh.htm

Introduction
... as the apostle says: "For the works of the flesh are manifest, which are, fornications,
uncleannesses, incest, idolatries, witchcrafts, hatreds, contentions ...
/.../cyprian/the seventh council of carthage under cyprian/introduction.htm

The Way of Death.
... First of all it is evil and full of curse: [2429] murders, [2430] adulteries, lusts,
fornications, thefts, idolatries, magic arts, witchcrafts, rapines, false ...
/.../various/the teaching of the twelve apostles/chapter v name way of.htm

And Also, when He Exhorts Us, that we Live not after the Flesh...
... Galatians, and saying, "But the works of the flesh are manifest, which are,
fornications, uncleannesses, luxuries, idolatry, witchcrafts, hatreds, contentions ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/on continence/section 9 and also when.htm

Treats Upon the Actions of Carnal and of Spiritual Persons; Also ...
... the Galatians: "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are adulteries,
fornications, uncleanness, luxuriousness, idolatries, witchcrafts, [4526] hatreds ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xi treats upon the actions.htm

To John, Bishop of Germanicia.
... On account of what murders and witchcrafts have I been expelled? What adulteries
did the man commit? What tombs did the man violate? ...
/.../theodoret/the ecclesiastical history of theodoret/cxlvii to john bishop of.htm

Of Carnal Life, which is to be Understood not Only of Living in ...
... For who does not see that idolatries, witchcrafts, hatreds, variance, emulations,
wrath, strife, heresies, envyings, are vices rather of the soul than of the ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 2 of carnal life which.htm

Whether the Fruits of the Holy Ghost are Contrary to the Works of ...
... Against witchcrafts, enmities, contentions, emulations, wraths and quarrels, there
is longsuffering, which helps us to bear the evils inflicted on us by those ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the fruits of the 2.htm

Whether Spiritual Sins are Fittingly Distinguished from Carnal ...
... For the Apostle says (Gal.5:19): "The works of the flesh are manifest, which are
fornication, uncleanness, immodesty, luxury, idolatry, witchcrafts," etc. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether spiritual sins are fittingly.htm

Witchcrafts (3 Occurrences)
...Witchcrafts (3 Occurrences). Revelation 9:21 And they repented not of their murders,
nor of their witchcrafts, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts. ...
/w/witchcrafts.htm - 7k

Whoredoms (34 Occurrences)
... Jehu? And he answered, What peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother
Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many? (KJV ASV YLT). ...
/w/whoredoms.htm - 17k

Graceful (6 Occurrences)
... Nahum 3:4 Because of the abundance of the fornications of an harlot, The goodness
of the grace of the lady of witchcrafts, Who is selling nations by her ...
/g/graceful.htm - 8k

Well-favored (7 Occurrences)
... Nahum 3:4 because of the multitude of the whoredoms of the well-favored harlot,
the mistress of witchcrafts, that selleth nations through her whoredoms, and ...
/w/well-favored.htm - 8k

Wellfavoured (1 Occurrence)
... Nahum 3:4 Because of the multitude of the whoredoms of the wellfavoured harlot,
the mistress of witchcrafts, that selleth nations through her whoredoms, and ...
/w/wellfavoured.htm - 6k

Well-favoured (4 Occurrences)
... Nahum 3:4 because of the multitude of the whoredoms of the well-favored harlot,
the mistress of witchcrafts, that selleth nations through her whoredoms, and ...
/w/well-favoured.htm - 7k

Lewd (37 Occurrences)
... Jehu? And he answered, What peace, so long as the lewd acts of thy mother
Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many? (WBS). Proverbs ...
/l/lewd.htm - 20k

Selleth (17 Occurrences)
... Nahum 3:4 Because of the multitude of the whoredoms of the wellfavoured harlot,
the mistress of witchcrafts, that selleth nations through her whoredoms, and ...
/s/selleth.htm - 11k

Selling (23 Occurrences)
... Nahum 3:4 Because of the abundance of the fornications of an harlot, The goodness
of the grace of the lady of witchcrafts, Who is selling nations by her ...
/s/selling.htm - 13k

Witchcraft (8 Occurrences)
... The plural "witchcrafts" (in the King James Version and the Revised Version (British
and American)) stands for the Hebrew noun just noticed (keshaphim) in 2 ...
/w/witchcraft.htm - 23k

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