Magic is a topic the Bible approaches with caution, often warning against practices that turn people away from God. In different passages, it distinguishes between trust in God’s power and seeking control through supernatural means. Understand the Bible’s stance on magic and why it encourages faith over mystical practices.
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What Does The Bible Say About Magic
Exodus 22:18
“Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.”
This verse emphasizes the prohibition against witchcraft and the severe consequences for practicing it. It reflects God’s command to the Israelites to reject and eliminate any form of magic or occult practices from their midst.
Deuteronomy 18:10-12
“Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord.”
This passage highlights the various forms of magic and occult practices that are condemned by God. It warns against seeking supernatural guidance or power outside of a relationship with God, emphasizing the importance of remaining faithful and obedient to Him.
Galatians 5:19-20
“The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions.”
This verse includes witchcraft as one of the acts of the flesh, highlighting its association with sinful and immoral behavior. It serves as a reminder to Christians to abstain from any form of magic or occult practices that go against God’s commands.
Acts 8:9-11
“Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, ‘This man is rightly called the Great Power of God.'”
This passage recounts the story of Simon the sorcerer, who used his magic to gain popularity and influence. However, it shows that true power and authority come from God alone, not from practicing sorcery or engaging in magical acts.
Revelation 21:8
“But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
In this verse, practicing magic arts is mentioned as one of the sinful behaviors that will lead to eternal condemnation. It emphasizes the seriousness of engaging in magical practices and warns against the consequences of turning away from God’s righteousness.
Leviticus 19:26
“Do not practice divination or seek omens.”
This verse instructs the Israelites to avoid the use of divination and seeking omens to predict the future or gain supernatural knowledge. It emphasizes the importance of relying on God’s guidance and trusting in His plans rather than seeking information through magical means.
Isaiah 47:12-13
“Keep on, then, with your magic spells and with your many sorceries, which you have labored at since childhood. Perhaps you will succeed, perhaps you will cause terror. All the counsel you have received has only worn you out! Let your astrologers come forward, those stargazers who make predictions month by month, let them save you from what is coming upon you.”
This passage addresses those who rely on magic spells and sorceries for guidance and protection. It challenges the effectiveness and futility of such practices, pointing out that true deliverance and salvation come from God alone.
2 Kings 17:17
“They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire. They practiced divination and sought omens and sold themselves to do evil in the eyes of the Lord, arousing his anger.”
This verse highlights the link between magic practices, idolatry, and evil deeds. It depicts how engaging in magic and divination can lead to moral corruption and provoke God’s anger.
Isaiah 8:19
“When someone tells you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?”
This verse encourages people to seek God’s guidance rather than turning to mediums or spiritists. It emphasizes the importance of seeking divine wisdom and counsel from the living God rather than relying on supernatural information from deceased individuals or spiritual entities.
Acts 13:6-8
“They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith.”
In this passage, a sorcerer named Elymas tries to hinder the spread of the Gospel. It serves as a reminder of the spiritual battles Christians may face when confronting the influence of magic and the importance of standing firm in their faith against opposition.
Isaiah 47:9
“Both of these will overtake you in a moment, on a single day: loss of children and widowhood. They will come upon you in full measure, in spite of your many sorceries and all your potent spells.”
This verse reveals that despite relying on sorceries and potent spells, there will be no escape from the consequences of engaging in magic practices. It emphasizes the futility of relying on magic for protection or control.
Acts 16:16-18
“Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, ‘These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.’ She kept this up for many days. Finally, Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, ‘In the name of Jesus Christ, I command you to come out of her!’ At that moment the spirit left her.”
In this account, Paul encounters a girl possessed by a fortune-telling spirit. It demonstrates the superiority of the power of Christ over any form of magic or divination, as the spirit is cast out in the name of Jesus.
Leviticus 20:27
“A man or woman who is a medium or spiritist among you must be put to death. You are to stone them; their blood will be on their own heads.”
This verse underscores the severity of engaging in mediumship or spiritism, as it was considered a capital offense punishable by death. It reflects the Israelites’ commitment to removing any occult influence from their society.
Acts 19:19
“A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.”
This passage recounts the repentance and renouncement of those who had previously practiced sorcery. It demonstrates the transformative power of the Gospel and the willingness of believers to turn away from magic and embrace the truth of Christ.
1 Samuel 15:23
“For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.”
This verse draws a parallel between rebellion and the sin of divination, highlighting the negative consequences that result from rejecting God’s Word and relying on magic or sorcery. It serves as a warning against the prideful pursuit of personal desires instead of submitting to God’s authority.
Isaiah 19:3
“The Egyptians will lose heart, and I will bring their plans to nothing; they will consult the idols and the spirits of the dead, the mediums and the spiritists.”
This verse exposes the futility of relying on idols, spirits of the dead, mediums, and spiritists for guidance or protection. It emphasizes that true wisdom and deliverance come from God alone, not from magic or occult practices.
Revelation 22:15
“Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.”
This verse includes practicing magic arts among the sinful behaviors that will be excluded from the heavenly kingdom. It underscores the importance of living a life of truth and righteousness, free from the influence of occult practices.
2 Chronicles 33:6
“He sacrificed his children in the fire in the Valley of Ben Hinnom, practiced divination and witchcraft, sought omens, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the eyes of the Lord, arousing his anger.”
This verse highlights the wickedness of King Manasseh, who engaged in various magical and occult practices. It serves as a cautionary example of the consequences that can arise from embracing magic and departing from God’s commands.
1 Timothy 4:1
“The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.”
This verse warns of the dangers of being led astray by deceptive spirits and demonic teachings. It advises believers to remain steadfast in their faith and not be swayed by the allure of magic or supernatural phenomena.
2 Chronicles 36:14
“Furthermore, all the leaders of the priests and the people became more and more unfaithful, following all the detestable practices of the nations and defiling the temple of the Lord, which he had consecrated in Jerusalem.”
This verse describes the Israelites’ descent into idolatry, witchcraft, and other detestable practices, leading to the desecration of God’s temple. It serves as a reminder of the dangers of compromising one’s faith by embracing magic or occultism.
Jeremiah 14:14
“Then the Lord said to me, ‘The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds.”
In this verse, false prophets are condemned for spreading lies and engaging in divination, idolatry, and self-deception. It underscores the importance of discerning true spiritual guidance from the deception of magic and false prophecies.
2 Thessalonians 2:9
“The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie.”
This verse warns of the deceptive nature of supernatural signs and wonders performed by those under the influence of Satan. It cautions believers to remain vigilant and discerning, not being swayed by magical acts that serve to lead people away from the truth.