What does the Bible say about fortune telling?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible forbids seeking hidden knowledge or guidance through fortune telling, divination, mediums, or spirits, because these practices turn people from trusting and worshiping the living God. Leviticus 19:31 and 20:6 warn that consulting mediums defiles and spiritually betrays the Lord, while Deuteronomy 18:10-12 calls such practices detestable. Isaiah 8:19 directs God’s people to seek their God rather than the dead on behalf of the living. In Acts 16:16-18, Paul casts out a spirit of divination, showing Christ’s authority over deceptive spiritual powers. God calls His people to receive wisdom through His Word, prayer, and faithful obedience, resting in His sovereign care rather than attempting to uncover the future unlawfully.
Top passages, ranked by readers
Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- Leviticus 19:31 6 votes
"'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.
- Leviticus 20:6 5 votes
"'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.
- Acts 16:16-18 4 votes
[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.
- Deuteronomy 18:10-12 3 votes
[10] There shall not be found with you anyone who makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices sorcery, or an enchanter, or a sorcerer, [11] or a charmer, or a consulter with a familiar spirit, or a wizard, or a necromancer. [12] For whoever does these things is an abomination to Yahweh: and because of these abominations Yahweh your God does drive them out from before you.
- Deuteronomy 4:19 3 votes
and lest you lift up your eyes to the sky, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, even all the host of the sky, you are drawn away and worship them, and serve them, which Yahweh your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole sky.
- Leviticus 20:27 3 votes
"'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 3 votes
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.
- Isaiah 8:19 3 votes
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?
- Deuteronomy 18:10 3 votes
There shall not be found with you anyone who makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices sorcery, or an enchanter, or a sorcerer,
- Leviticus 19:26 2 votes
"'You shall not eat any meat with the blood still in it; neither shall you use enchantments, nor practice sorcery.
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