What does the Bible say about magic?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible forbids seeking supernatural power, guidance, or hidden knowledge apart from God, calling his people to trust him alone. Leviticus 19:31 and Isaiah 8:19 warn against mediums and spiritists, while Deuteronomy 18:10-12 describes occult practices as detestable because they turn hearts from the Lord. Exodus 22:18 and Leviticus 20:27 show the seriousness with which Israel was to reject such rebellion. Acts 19:19 portrays new believers renouncing magical arts, and Galatians 5:19-21 includes sorcery among works of the flesh. Christians should test spiritual claims by God's Word, as 1 John 4:1 teaches, and seek wisdom, protection, and guidance 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.
- Revelation 21:8
But for the cowardly, unbelieving, sinners, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their part is in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death."
- Deuteronomy 18:10-12
[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.
- Exodus 22:18
"You shall not allow a sorceress to live.
- 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.
- Acts 19:19
Many of those who practiced magical arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. They counted the price of them, and found it to be fifty thousand pieces of silver.
- 1 John 4:1
Beloved, don't believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
- Galatians 5:19-21
[19] Now the works of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness, [20] idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies, [21] envyings, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
- 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.'"
- 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?
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