The Bible mentions astrologers in various contexts. Today, we will examine what Scripture teaches about astrology and how it contrasts with trusting in God’s wisdom and guidance.
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What Does The Bible Say About Astrologers
Isaiah 47:13-14
You are wearied by your many counsels; let them stand forth and save you, those who divide the heavens, who gaze at the stars, who at the new moons make known what shall come upon you. Behold, they are like stubble; the fire consumes them; they cannot deliver themselves from the power of the flame.
This verse warns against relying on astrologers and those who worship the stars for guidance and predictions. It acknowledges their limited power and inability to save or deliver themselves from God’s judgment.
Astrology goes against the teachings of God, as it promotes seeking guidance from created things rather than putting our trust in the Creator. It reminds us to place our faith in the Lord alone, who holds our future and has a perfect plan for our lives.
Leviticus 19:26
You shall not eat any flesh with the blood still in it. You shall not interpret omens or tell fortunes.
This verse includes a prohibition against interpreting omens and telling fortunes, which aligns with the warnings against astrology. It emphasizes the importance of not seeking guidance or making decisions based on occult practices.
God desires His people to rely on Him for wisdom and guidance, rather than seeking answers through divination or astrology. He alone knows what is best for us and desires us to trust in His plan.
Deuteronomy 18:10-12
There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead. For whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord.
In this verse, God explicitly prohibits various forms of occult practices, including divination, fortune-telling, and interpreting omens. He labels those who engage in these practices as abominations.
God’s prohibition indicates that He wants His people to rely on Him for guidance and direction, rather than seeking answers through methods that are not aligned with His will. He is the only source of true wisdom and understanding.
Isaiah 8:19
And when they say to you, “Inquire of the mediums and the necromancers who chirp and mutter,” should not a people inquire of their God? Should they inquire of the dead on behalf of the living?
This verse challenges the idea of seeking guidance from mediums and necromancers, who claim to have the ability to communicate with the dead. It suggests that it is more appropriate for people to seek answers and guidance from God.
God wants His people to turn to Him in times of need and to seek His wisdom and counsel. He alone has the power to provide true guidance and direction.
Acts 16:16-18
As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.
In this passage, Paul encounters a girl possessed by a spirit of divination who was used by her owners for fortune-telling. Paul recognizes the spirit and casts it out in the name of Jesus Christ.
This verse serves as a reminder of the power and authority that believers have in the name of Jesus Christ. It highlights the contrast between the true power of God and the deceptive practices of divination and fortune-telling.
Jeremiah 10:2
Thus says the Lord: “Learn not the way of the nations, nor be dismayed at the signs of the heavens because the nations are dismayed at them.”
God instructs His people not to follow the practices and beliefs of the nations around them, including being dismayed or intimidated by signs of the heavens that astrologers and stargazers may be focused on.
By discouraging the adoption of these practices, God emphasizes the importance of trusting in Him alone and not being swayed by cultural or societal norms that go against His teachings.
Daniel 2:27-28
Daniel answered the king and said, “No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers can show to the king the mystery that the king has asked, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days.”
When faced with a demand to interpret dreams, Daniel acknowledges the limitations of the wise men, enchanters, magicians, and astrologers. He points to the power of God as the revealer of mysteries.
This verse shows the stark contrast between the finite knowledge of human wisdom and the infinite wisdom and knowledge of God. It reminds us that true understanding and revelation come from seeking God’s guidance and not relying on human or occult practices.
Isaiah 41:21-24
Set forth your case, says the Lord; bring your proofs, says the King of Jacob. Let them bring them, and tell us what is to happen. Tell us the former things, what they are, that we may consider them, that we may know their outcome; or declare to us the things to come. Tell us what is to come hereafter, that we may know that you are gods; do good, or do harm, that we may be dismayed and terrified. Behold, you are nothing, and your work is less than nothing; an abomination is he who chooses you.
In this passage, God challenges those who claim to be able to predict the future. He calls on false gods and astrologers to prove their abilities by declaring past events or revealing future ones.
This verse exposes the emptiness and futility of relying on false gods and astrologers. It affirms that only God holds all knowledge and is the ultimate source of true prophetic revelation.
Amos 5:26-27
You shall take up Sikkuth your king, and Kiyyun your star-god—your images that you made for yourselves, and I will send you into exile beyond Damascus,” says the Lord, whose name is the God of hosts.
In this verse, God pronounces judgment on the people of Israel for their idolatry and worship of false gods, including their star-god Kiyyun.
By mentioning the worship of star-gods, this verse highlights the wrongfulness of placing faith and trust in astrology or any form of idolatry. God desires sincere worship and devotion to Him alone.
Isaiah 44:24-25
Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb: “I am the Lord, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself, who frustrates the signs of liars and makes fools of diviners, who turns wise men back and makes their knowledge foolish.”
God asserts His sovereignty and power over all things, including the ability to frustrate signs and predictions made by liars and diviners.
This verse highlights the superiority of God’s wisdom and knowledge over human wisdom and the deceptive practices of astrology. It reassures believers that God is in control and can expose the foolishness of those who claim to have understanding through occult means.
1 Samuel 15:23
For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king.”
In this verse, Samuel confronts King Saul for his disobedience and compares rebellion to the sin of divination.
This verse connects rebellion against God’s commandments with the sinful practices of divination and fortune-telling. It serves as a reminder of the seriousness of seeking guidance from occult practices and warns against turning away from God’s word.
Colossians 2:8
See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
Paul cautions the Colossian believers against being deceived and led astray by human philosophies and traditions that are contrary to the teachings of Christ.
This verse emphasizes the importance of discernment and staying grounded in the truth of Christ. It warns against being influenced by worldly ideologies, including astrology and occult practices, that undermine our faith in Jesus.
Psalm 19:1-4
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.
This passage extols the majesty of God’s creation, with the heavens and the sky displaying His glory and proclaiming His handiwork.
While this verse emphasizes the magnificence of the skies, it does not endorse seeking divination or guidance from them. Rather, it invites us to appreciate God’s creation and recognize His power and sovereignty over all things.
2 Kings 17:16-17
And they abandoned all the commandments of the Lord their God, and made for themselves metal images of two calves; and they made an Asherah and worshiped all the host of heaven and served Baal. And they burned their sons and their daughters as offerings and used divination and omens and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger.
This verse describes the sinful practices of the people of Israel, which include not only idol worship and child sacrifice but also the use of divination and omens.
It serves as a warning against turning to occult practices and emphasizes the destructive consequences that arise from such actions. It reveals that seeking guidance apart from God’s commands only leads to provoking His anger.
Acts 19:19
And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver.
In this verse, repentant individuals who had dabbled in magic and sorcery voluntarily gather their books and burn them publicly as a sign of their renouncement of occult practices.
This verse highlights the need for believers to reject and turn away from any involvement in occult activities. It demonstrates the transformative power of faith in Jesus and the desire for a clean break from anything that opposes God’s truth.
Jeremiah 27:9
So do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your dreamers, your fortune-tellers, or your sorcerers, who are saying to you, ‘You shall not serve the king of Babylon.’
Jeremiah warns the people of Judah against heeding the words of false prophets, diviners, dreamers, fortune-tellers, and sorcerers who were misleading them by denying the prophecy of the Babylonian captivity.
This verse serves as a reminder that we are to be discerning and cautious about the sources of guidance we seek. It instructs believers to align their beliefs and decisions with God’s truth rather than being swayed by worldly or deceptive practices.
Ezekiel 12:24
For there shall be no more any false vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel.
This verse prophesies that false visions and divination will no longer have a place within the house of Israel.
It indicates that God desires His people to turn away from deceptive practices and rely solely on Him for guidance. It expresses His commitment to purify and cleanse His people from any false influences that may hinder their relationship with Him.
Genesis 41:8
In the morning his spirit was troubled, so he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was none who could interpret them to Pharaoh.
This verse describes Pharaoh’s attempt to seek interpretation for his dreams from the magicians and wise men of Egypt, but none were able to provide an understanding.
It reveals the limitations of human wisdom and knowledge, including the practices of astrology and divination. It suggests that true understanding and interpretation come from God alone.
2 Chronicles 33:6
And he burned his sons as an offering in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom and used fortune-telling and omens and sorcery, and dealt with mediums and with necromancers. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger.
In this verse, King Manasseh is condemned for his practice of fortune-telling, omens, sorcery, and engagement with mediums and necromancers.
The verse serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of engaging in occult practices. It warns against partaking in activities that provoke God’s anger and emphasizes the importance of seeking His guidance and rejecting all forms of divination.
Zechariah 10:2
For the household gods utter nonsense, and the diviners see lies; they tell false dreams and give empty consolation. Therefore the people wander like sheep; they are afflicted for lack of a shepherd.
In this verse, the foolishness of household gods, diviners, and false dreams is highlighted. It speaks to their inability to provide true guidance and meaningful consolation.
God desires His people to trust in His truth and guidance rather than seeking comfort or direction from sources that ultimately offer emptiness and falsehood. He is the good shepherd who leads and cares for His flock.
Deuteronomy 4:19
And beware lest you raise your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, you be drawn away and bow down to them and serve them, things that the Lord your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven.
In this verse, God warns against being drawn away from Him by worshiping the sun, moon, stars, and the host of heaven.
It highlights the importance of recognizing that these celestial bodies are created by God and should not be objects of worship or sources of guidance. Our worship and devotion should be directed to the Creator alone.
Matthew 7:15
Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
This verse cautions against false prophets who appear to be harmless but inwardly carry dangerous intentions and teachings.
Such individuals may use divination, astrology, or other occult practices as a guise, leading people astray from the truth of the Gospel. Believers are called to be discerning and to rely on God’s Word to recognize false teachings and deceptive practices.