Deuteronomy 18:10

Sorcery Forbidden · Deuteronomy 18:9–14
Read Deuteronomy 18

Translations

Modern
Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, practices divination or conjury, interprets omens, practices sorcery,
Traditional
There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,
Literal
There shall not be found among you one who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, a user of divinations, a soothsayer, or a diviner, or a sorcerer,
Latin
Nec inveniatur in te qui lustret filium suum, aut filiam, ducens per ignem: aut qui ariolos sciscitetur, et observet somnia atque auguria, nec sit maleficus,

Original

Hebrew
English
Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, practices divination or conjury, interprets omens, practices sorcery,

Notes

  • Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire: Some Canaanite religions practiced child sacrifice to please their gods. God strictly warned Israel against participating in this practice (Exodus 34:15–16; Leviticus 18:21; 20:2–5).

    When they did, it brought God's judgment (2 Kings 17:16–17; 21:6; Ezekiel 23:37). 

  • divination: In the ancient Near East, diviners (people who tried to learn the future) were seen as experts at reading signs called omens (events believed to show what would happen next). One common method was extispicy (examining the internal organs of animals). They studied the liver, kidneys, and other organs of sacrificed animals to look for signs.

  • conjury: Conjurers tried to call up the spirits of the dead. People believed these spirits could give secret knowledge or power.

  • Diviners would use divining cups to interpret omens (see Genesis 44:5). They would place drops of oil in water, and the spread of the oil indicated a message to the diviner. This is similar to reading tea leaves.

  • sorcery: This involved performing unusual acts or signs to mislead people (Exodus 7:11; Malachi 3:5).

Theme notes and profiles

Ancient Law Codes Calling up the Dead

Parallels

Acts 8:9–25

Glossary

Archaeology and the Bible Balaam Biblical Concept of Law Covenant Deuteronomy, Book of Kings, Books of First and Second Law of Moses Magic Omen Prophet, Prophetess Sheol Soothsayer Sorcery Wizard

Topics

Abomination to God: Offering Children in Sacrifice Abomination to God: Sorcery and Necromancy Child Sacrifice Contacting the Dead Crystal Healing Cults Divination: Practised by Enchanters Divination: Practised by Witches Divination: The Law: Forbade to the Israelites the Practice of Familiar Spirits: Consulting of, Forbidden Fortune Fortune Tellers Horoscopes Human Sacrifice Idolatry: Wicked Practices of Human Sacrifices Jesus, the Christ: Prophet: God Will Severely Punish Those Who Reject Him Mysticism Numerology Ouija Board Palm Reading Palmistry Psychics Reading a Horoscope Sorcery: Forbidden Spiritism Tarot Cards Telepathy The Canaanites: Superstitious The Jews: Prohibited From: Following Practices of Others Voodoo Witches Wizards Zodiac Signs