What Does the Bible Say About Witchcraft and the Occult — In Biblical Context
The Bible strongly condemns all forms of witchcraft, sorcery, divination, and occult practices as abominations before God.
The Bible strongly condemns all forms of witchcraft, sorcery, divination, and occult practices as abominations before God.
"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, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD." — Deuteronomy 18:10-12 (KJV)
The Biblical Context
Scripture is unambiguous about the occult. Deuteronomy 18:10-12 lists practices God considers abominations: divination, observing times (astrology), enchantment, witchcraft, consulting familiar spirits, wizardry, and necromancy (communicating with the dead). King Saul's visit to the witch of Endor (1 Samuel 28) demonstrated the danger of turning to the occult instead of God. In the New Testament, Paul encountered sorcerers (Acts 13:6-12) and new believers in Ephesus burned their magic books worth fifty thousand pieces of silver (Acts 19:19). Galatians 5:20 lists witchcraft among the works of the flesh. The Bible's prohibition extends to any practice that seeks spiritual knowledge or power apart from God — including horoscopes, psychics, and spiritual mediums.
Where It Sits in Scripture
The core passage for this question, Deuteronomy 18:10-12, sits inside Deuteronomy 18. To grasp the full meaning, read the surrounding paragraph — the verses before set up the thought, the verses after carry it forward.
"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, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD."
Supporting Passages
"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft."
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