The Bible consistently condemns witchcraft and sorcery across both testaments, with passages like Exodus 22:18, Leviticus 20:27, and Deuteronomy 18:10–12 forbidding practices such as divination, necromancy, and spell-casting. These activities are classified alongside serious sins in Galatians 5:19–20 and Revelation 21:8. Scripture presents occult practices not as neutral tools but as gateways to spiritual deception and bondage, replacing dependence on God with dangerous spiritual rebellion. The biblical record warns of consequences while emphasizing the importance of avoiding such practices. The following sections explore these scriptural warnings in greater depth.
Key Takeaways
- The Bible explicitly condemns witchcraft, with Exodus 22:18 commanding that a sorceress shall not be permitted to live.
- Deuteronomy 18:10–12 declares divination, sorcery, witchcraft, spell-casting, and necromancy as abominations to God.
- Both Old and New Testaments classify sorcery among serious sins deserving judgment and spiritual condemnation.
- Scripture presents occult practices as gateways to demonic deception, leading to spiritual bondage rather than power.
- Biblical law prescribed severe penalties including death for practicing witchcraft, mediumship, and consulting spirits.
Biblical Condemnation of Witchcraft and Sorcery Throughout Scripture
The biblical record presents a sustained and unambiguous rejection of witchcraft, sorcery, and all forms of divination across both covenants. Exodus 22:18 declares, “You shall not permit a sorceress to live,” while Leviticus 20:27 mandates death by stoning for mediums and fortune-tellers. Archaeological and textual preservation help confirm the historical context for these laws and their longevity textual preservation.
Deuteronomy 18:10–12 prohibits divination, sorcery, omens, witchcraft, spell-casting, and necromancy, labeling practitioners “abomination” before the Lord. First Samuel 15:23 equates rebellion with witchcraft, and Leviticus 20:6 describes turning to mediums as spiritual prostitution. Leviticus 19:31 warns against consulting mediums and familiar spirits to avoid spiritual defilement.
The New Testament continues this pattern: Galatians 5:19–20 lists sorcery among works of the flesh, while Revelation 21:8 assigns sorcerers to “the fiery pool of burning sulfur.” Paul rebuked the magician Elymas as “enemy of all that is right” in Acts 13:8–11, demonstrating consistent scriptural opposition. First Chronicles 10:13 records that Saul’s death resulted from his unfaithfulness and consultation with a medium.
The Spiritual Dangers and Demonic Deception Behind Occult Practices
Beyond the explicit prohibitions cataloged in Scripture, Christian theology identifies a compelling spiritual rationale for rejecting occult involvement: these practices are understood not as neutral tools or harmless superstitions, but as functional gateways to demonic deception and influence.
According to this framework, divination and spiritism create contact points with hostile spiritual entities that often masquerade as benevolent guides, offering accurate information initially to establish credibility and deepen dependency.
Occult practices open doors to deceptive spirits who build trust through initial accuracy before drawing victims into deeper bondage.
Counselors report that individuals involved in tarot, mediumship, or sorcery frequently experience increasing spiritual darkness, including aversion to Scripture, compulsive fear, and attraction to forbidden knowledge.
The apparent wisdom promised through occultism echoes the original satanic temptation to gain godlike insight through forbidden channels, replacing dependence on God with spiritual adultery and functional idolatry. This mirrors how some interpreters contrast literal and epochal readings of Genesis when assessing origins and age, noting differing hermeneutical approaches to Scripture and science biblical hermeneutics.
Rather than granting genuine power, occult engagement leads to progressive bondage and enslavement, as practitioners surrender control to forces that seek their destruction rather than their benefit.
Scripture describes these practices as participating in struggle against dark forces, aligning individuals with powers actively opposed to God’s kingdom.
