What does the Bible say about necromancy?

Top passages, ranked by readers

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.

• Deuteronomy 18:9-12

  [9] When you are come into the land which Yahweh your God gives you, you shall not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. [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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.'"

• 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."

• 1 Samuel 28:7-19

  [7] Then said Saul to his servants, Seek me a woman who has a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her. His servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman who has a familiar spirit at En-dor. [8] Saul disguised himself, and put on other clothing, and went, he and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, Please divine to me by the familiar spirit, and bring me up whoever I shall name to you. [9] The woman said to him, Behold, you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off those who have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: why then lay you a snare for my life, to cause me to die? [10] Saul swore to her by Yahweh, saying, As Yahweh lives, there shall no punishment happen to you for this thing. [11] Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up to you? He said, Bring me up Samuel. [12] When the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice; and the woman spoke to Saul, saying, Why have you deceived me? for you are Saul. [13] The king said to her, Don't be afraid: for what do you see? The woman said to Saul, I see a god coming up out of the earth. [14] He said to her, What form is he of? She said, An old man comes up; and he is covered with a robe. Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground, and did obeisance. [15] Samuel said to Saul, Why have you disquieted me, to bring me up? Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answers me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called you, that you may make known to me what I shall do. [16] Samuel said, Why then do you ask of me, seeing Yahweh is departed from you, and is become your adversary? [17] Yahweh has done to you, as he spoke by me: and Yahweh has torn the kingdom out of your hand, and given it to your neighbor, even to David. [18] Because you didn't obey the voice of Yahweh, and didn't execute his fierce wrath on Amalek, therefore has Yahweh done this thing to you this day. [19] Moreover Yahweh will deliver Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines; and tomorrow shall you and your sons be with me: Yahweh will deliver the host of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines.

• Deuteronomy 18:11

  or a charmer, or a consulter with a familiar spirit, or a wizard, or a necromancer.

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