The Bible clearly addresses practices like soothsaying, warning against them. It points believers towards seeking guidance from God rather than relying on fortune-telling or similar activities.
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What Does The Bible Say About Soothsayers
1 Samuel 15:23
“For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.”
This verse highlights the sinfulness of rebellion and stubbornness, likening them to witchcraft. It serves as a reminder that seeking guidance from soothsayers or engaging in occult practices is contrary to God’s will.
Deuteronomy 18:10-12
“There shall not be found among you anyone who practices witchcraft or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord, and because of these abominations the Lord your God drives them out from before you.”
This passage clearly prohibits the engagement with soothsayers, witches, and practitioners of occult arts. God considers such practices as abominations and warns His people against involvement in these activities.
Isaiah 47:12-13
“Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail. Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee.”
Addressing the nation of Babylon, this passage mocks their reliance on enchantments, sorceries, and astrologers. It exposes the futility of seeking guidance and salvation from such sources, emphasizing their inability to bring true deliverance.
Acts 16:16-18
“And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.”
This narrative in Acts exposes the presence of a soothsaying spirit in a young girl. Though the girl initially proclaimed truths about Paul and his companions, they discerned the demonic influence and commanded the spirit to leave her. This passage demonstrates the power of Jesus’ name to overcome and deliver from the hold of soothsaying.
Leviticus 19:26
“You shall not eat anything with the blood, nor shall you practice divination or seeress.”
Within God’s instructions to Israel, the practice of divination is explicitly prohibited. The people were to rely on God for wisdom and guidance rather than seeking supernatural insight through pagan practices.
Leviticus 19:31
“Give no regard to mediums and familiar spirits; do not seek after them, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God.”
God warns His people against seeking the advice of mediums and familiar spirits, emphasizing that doing so would defile them. The Israelites were to trust in the Lord alone and not rely on supernatural forces apart from Him.
Leviticus 20:6
“And the person who turns to mediums and familiar spirits, to prostitute himself with them, I will set My face against that person and cut him off from his people.”
In this verse, God declares His opposition towards those who engage in practices involving mediums and familiar spirits. He states that such individuals will be cut off from the community as a consequence of prostituting themselves with these supernatural forces.
Leviticus 20:27
“A man or woman who is a medium, or who has familiar spirits, shall surely be put to death; they shall stone them with stones. Their blood shall be upon them.”
This verse reveals the severity with which God dealt with those who practiced witchcraft, sorcery, and divination in ancient Israel. The punishment for engaging in such practices was death by stoning, reflecting God’s detestation of these activities.
Galatians 5:20
“Idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions.”
Paul includes sorcery among a list of sinful behaviors in this passage. The presence of sorcery alongside other negative traits signifies the spiritual darkness and immorality associated with these practices.
Revelation 21:8
“But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
In this verse, sorcerers are specifically mentioned as being deserving of punishment in the lake of fire. It underscores the eternal consequences faced by those who persist in practicing sorcery and aligning themselves with the forces of darkness.
Exodus 22:18
“You shall not permit a sorceress to live.”
In the context of the Mosaic Law, sorcery was considered a grievous offense. God commanded His people to eliminate the presence of sorceresses from among them, maintaining the purity of their community.
Revelation 22:15
“But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.”
When describing the eternal state, this verse denotes sorcerers as being excluded from God’s presence, along with other sinful individuals. It emphasizes the incompatibility of sorcery with the holiness of God’s kingdom.
Isaiah 8:19
“And when they say to you, ‘Seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter,’ should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living?”
Isaiah challenges the people’s inclination to seek guidance from mediums and soothsayers. He calls them to seek God instead and not rely on communing with the dead, highlighting the futility and spiritual danger associated with such practices.
2 Kings 17:17
“They caused their sons and daughters to pass through the fire, practiced witchcraft and soothsaying, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger.”
In recounting the history of Israel’s idolatry and disobedience, this verse highlights the involvement of witchcraft and soothsaying. It illustrates the descent into sin and the consequences of turning away from God’s commands.
Isaiah 19:3
“And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will destroy the counsel thereof: and they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards.”
Prophesying against Egypt, Isaiah reveals that in their distress, the Egyptians would turn to idols, charmers, and wizards for guidance. This verse serves as a warning against seeking supernatural help from sources that are not aligned with God.
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.”
Jeremiah condemns the false prophets who claimed to speak on behalf of God but were actually engaged in divination and spreading falsehoods. This verse exposes the deceptive practices of soothsayers and emphasizes the importance of discerning true prophecy from false.
Micah 5:12
“I will cut off sorceries from your hand, and you shall have no more soothsayers.”
Micah prophesies that sorcery and soothsaying would be eradicated from Israel. This verse reflects God’s desire to remove these practices, denouncing them as incompatible with His plan for His people.
Daniel 2:27-28
“Daniel replied, ‘No wise man, enchanter, magician, or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about. But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries.”
When King Nebuchadnezzar demanded that his counselors interpret a troubling dream, Daniel emphasized that human enchanters and diviners were incapable of unlocking the mystery. Instead, he proclaimed the superiority of the true God, who possesses the ability to reveal hidden things.
Acts 19:18-19
“And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.”
After Paul’s ministry in Ephesus, believers who had formerly practiced sorcery and other occult arts repented of their deeds. They publicly renounced their involvement with these practices by burning their books, demonstrating their commitment to follow Christ alone.
Isaiah 2:6
“Therefore thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Jacob, because they be replenished from the east, and are soothsayers like the Philistines, and they please themselves in the children of strangers.”
In this verse, Isaiah rebukes the people of Judah for adopting the practices of the Philistines, including the involvement with soothsayers. He attributes their abandonment by God to their disobedience and turning to foreign gods.
Matthew 7:22-23
“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
Jesus warns that performing miracles and prophesying in His name is not an indication of one’s true relationship with Him. This verse highlights the importance of genuine faith and obedience, as even those who engage in supernatural acts can still be regarded as evildoers if they do not possess a genuine relationship with Him.
Leviticus 19:26
“You shall not eat anything with the blood, nor shall you practice divination or seeress.”
Within God’s instructions to Israel, the practice of divination is explicitly prohibited. The people were to rely on God for wisdom and guidance rather than seeking supernatural insight through pagan practices.
Leviticus 19:31
“Give no regard to mediums and familiar spirits; do not seek after them, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God.”
God warns His people against seeking the advice of mediums and familiar spirits, emphasizing that doing so would defile them. The Israelites were to trust in the Lord alone and not rely on supernatural forces apart from Him.
Leviticus 20:6
“And the person who turns to mediums and familiar spirits, to prostitute himself with them, I will set My face against that person and cut him off from his people.”
In this verse, God declares His opposition towards those who engage in practices involving mediums and familiar spirits. He states that such individuals will be cut off from the community as a consequence of prostituting themselves with these supernatural forces.
Leviticus 20:27
“A man or woman who is a medium, or who has familiar spirits, shall surely be put to death; they shall stone them with stones. Their blood shall be upon them.”
This verse reveals the severity with which God dealt with those who practiced witchcraft, sorcery, and divination in ancient Israel. The punishment for engaging in such practices was death by stoning, reflecting God’s detestation of these activities.
Galatians 5:20
“Idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions.”
Paul includes sorcery among a list of sinful behaviors in this passage. The presence of sorcery alongside other negative traits signifies the spiritual darkness and immorality associated with these practices.
Revelation 21:8
“But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
In this verse, sorcerers are specifically mentioned as being deserving of punishment in the lake of fire. It underscores the eternal consequences faced by those who persist in practicing sorcery and aligning themselves with the forces of darkness.
Exodus 22:18
“You shall not permit a sorceress to live.”
In the context of the Mosaic Law, sorcery was considered a grievous offense. God commanded His people to eliminate the presence of sorceresses from among them, maintaining the purity of their community.
Revelation 22:15
“But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.”
When describing the eternal state, this verse denotes sorcerers as being excluded from God’s presence, along with other sinful individuals. It emphasizes the incompatibility of sorcery with the holiness of God’s kingdom.
Isaiah 8:19
“And when they say to you, ‘Seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter,’ should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living?”
Isaiah challenges the people’s inclination to seek guidance from mediums and soothsayers. He calls them to seek God instead and not rely on communing with the dead, highlighting the futility and spiritual danger associated with such practices.
2 Kings 17:17
“They caused their sons and daughters to pass through the fire, practiced witchcraft and soothsaying, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger.”
In recounting the history of Israel’s idolatry and disobedience, this verse highlights the involvement of witchcraft and soothsaying. It illustrates the descent into sin and the consequences of turning away from God’s commands.
Isaiah 19:3
“And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will destroy the counsel thereof: and they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards.”
Prophesying against Egypt, Isaiah reveals that in their distress, the Egyptians would turn to idols, charmers, and wizards for guidance. This verse serves as a warning against seeking supernatural help from sources that are not aligned with God.
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.”
Jeremiah condemns the false prophets who claimed to speak on behalf of God but were actually engaged in divination and spreading falsehoods. This verse exposes the deceptive practices of soothsayers and emphasizes the importance of discerning true prophecy from false.
Micah 5:12
“I will cut off sorceries from your hand, and you shall have no more soothsayers.”
Micah prophesies that sorcery and soothsaying would be eradicated from Israel. This verse reflects God’s desire to remove these practices, denouncing them as incompatible with His plan for His people.
Daniel 2:27-28
“Daniel replied, ‘No wise man, enchanter, magician, or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about. But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries.”
When King Nebuchadnezzar demanded that his counselors interpret a troubling dream, Daniel emphasized that human enchanters and diviners were incapable of unlocking the mystery. Instead, he proclaimed the superiority of the true God, who possesses the ability to reveal hidden things.
Acts 19:18-19
“And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.”
After Paul’s ministry in Ephesus, believers who had formerly practiced sorcery and other occult arts repented of their deeds. They publicly renounced their involvement with these practices by burning their books, demonstrating their commitment to follow Christ alone.
Isaiah 2:6
“Therefore thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Jacob, because they be replenished from the east, and are soothsayers like the Philistines, and they please themselves in the children of strangers.”
In this verse, Isaiah rebukes the people of Judah for adopting the practices of the Philistines, including the involvement with soothsayers. He attributes their abandonment by God to their disobedience and turning to foreign gods.
Matthew 7:22-23
“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
Jesus warns that performing miracles and prophesying in His name is not an indication of one’s true relationship with Him. This verse highlights the importance of genuine faith and obedience, as even those who engage in supernatural acts can still be regarded as evildoers if they do not possess a genuine relationship with Him.