What does the Bible say about witchcraft?

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The Bible condemns witchcraft and every attempt to seek spiritual power, guidance, or protection apart from the living God. Israel was forbidden to consult mediums or necromancers in Leviticus 19:31 and 20:6, and Exodus 22:18 and Leviticus 20:27 show how seriously God regarded such practices. Scripture treats sorcery as a work of the flesh that excludes the unrepentant from God’s kingdom, while Revelation 21:8 and 22:15 warn of final judgment. Isaiah 8:19 directs God’s people to seek their God rather than the dead. Yet Christ welcomes repentant sinners, calling us to renounce darkness and trust him alone.

Top passages, ranked by readers

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

  • Leviticus 19:31 5 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.

  • Exodus 22:18 4 votes

    "You shall not allow a sorceress to live.

  • 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.'"

  • Revelation 21:8 3 votes

    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."

  • Leviticus 20:6 3 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.

  • Galatians 5:19-21 3 votes

    [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.

  • 1 Samuel 15:23 3 votes

    For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as idolatry and teraphim. Because you have rejected the word of Yahweh, he has also rejected you from being king.

  • 2 Chronicles 33:6 2 votes

    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.

  • Revelation 22:15 2 votes

    Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

  • Isaiah 8:19 2 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?

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