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What does the Bible say about the spirit of witchcraft?

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The Bible condemns witchcraft and all attempts to seek power, guidance, or protection apart from the living God, calling his people to trust him alone. Leviticus 19:31 and 20:6 forbid consulting mediums and spirits, while Isaiah 8:19 directs people to seek their God rather than the dead. Scripture portrays such practices as rebellion and deception, associated with the works of the flesh in Galatians 5:19-21 and with false spiritual influence in 1 Timothy 4:1. God judges occult practices, as seen in Exodus 22:18, Micah 5:12, and 2 Kings 21:6. Yet Christ delivers sinners from darkness, and believers are called to repent, resist evil, and rest in God's sovereign care.

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

  • Ezekiel 13:20

    Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh: Behold, I am against your pillows, with which you there hunt the souls to make [them] fly, and I will tear them from your arms; and I will let the souls go, even the souls who you hunt to make [them] fly.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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 5:19-21

    [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.

  • 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?

  • 1 Timothy 4:1

    But the Spirit says expressly that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons,

  • Micah 5:12

    I will destroy witchcraft from your hand; And you shall have no soothsayers.

  • Exodus 22:18

    "You shall not allow a sorceress to live.

  • 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.

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