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What does the Bible say about familiar spirits?

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The Bible forbids seeking familiar spirits or any occult source of guidance, calling God’s people to seek Him alone in faith and obedience. Leviticus 19:31 and 20:6 warn that consulting mediums and spiritists defiles and turns a person from the Lord, while Leviticus 20:27 treats such practice as a grave rebellion. Isaiah 8:19 asks why people should seek the dead rather than inquire of their God. Kings such as Manasseh embraced these sins, but Josiah removed them in reforms (2 Kings 21:6; 23:24). Acts 16:16-18 shows Christ’s authority over a divining spirit. Believers should reject occult practices, repent, and receive God’s sufficient word and help through Christ.

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Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible

  • Leviticus 19:31

    "'Don't turn to those who are mediums, nor to the wizards. Don't seek them out, to be defiled by them. I am Yahweh your God.

  • Isaiah 8:19

    When they shall tell you, "Consult with those who have familiar spirits and with the wizards, who chirp and who mutter:" shouldn't a people consult with their God? on behalf of the living [should they consult] with the dead?

  • Leviticus 20:6

    "'The person that turns to those who are mediums, and to the wizards, to play the prostitute after them, I will even set my face against that person, and will cut him off from among his people.

  • Isaiah 19:3

    The spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst of it; and I will destroy the counsel of it: and they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to those who have familiar spirits, and to the wizards.

  • Acts 16:16-18

    [16] It happened, as we were going to prayer, that a certain girl having a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much gain by fortune telling. [17] Following Paul and us, she cried out, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation!" [18] She was doing this for many days. But Paul, becoming greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I charge you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!" It came out that very hour.

  • Leviticus 20:27

    "'A man or a woman that is a medium, or is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones; their blood shall be upon them.'"

  • 2 Kings 21:6

    He made his son to pass through the fire, and practiced sorcery, and used enchantments, and dealt with those who had familiar spirits, and with wizards: he worked much evil in the sight of Yahweh, to provoke him to anger.

  • Galatians 5:20

    idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies,

  • 2 Chronicles 33:6

    He also made his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom; and he practiced sorcery, and used enchantments, and practiced sorcery, and dealt with those who had familiar spirits, and with wizards: he worked much evil in the sight of Yahweh, to provoke him to anger.

  • 2 Kings 23:24

    Moreover those who had familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the teraphim, and the idols, and all the abominations that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, did Josiah put away, that he might confirm the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of Yahweh.

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