The Best 50+ Bible Verses About Witchcraft
Curious about what the Bible says on the topic of witchcraft? You're not alone. Many people seek guidance from scripture to understand this often-misunderstood subject.
Whether you're looking for clarity or simply exploring, these verses offer a fascinating glimpse into the biblical perspective on witchcraft. Let's dive in and see what the Bible has to say.
50 Bible Verses About Witchcraft
10 Bible Verses on Witchcraft in Old Testament
- "You shall not permit a sorceress to live." — Exodus 22:18
- "You shall not eat anything with the blood, nor shall you practice divination or soothsaying." — Leviticus 19:26
- "A man or a woman who is a medium, or who has familiar spirits, shall surely be put to death; they shall stone them with stones. Their blood shall be upon them." — Leviticus 20:27
- "There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord, and because of these abominations the Lord your God drives them out from before you." — Deuteronomy 18:10-12
- "For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king." — 1 Samuel 15:23
- "Also he made his son pass through the fire, practiced soothsaying, used witchcraft, and consulted spiritists and mediums. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger." — 2 Kings 21:6
- "Also he caused his sons to pass through the fire in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom; he practiced soothsaying, used witchcraft and sorcery, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger." — 2 Chronicles 33:6
- "I will cut off sorceries from your hand, and you shall have no soothsayers." — Micah 5:12
- "Because of the multitude of harlotries of the seductive harlot, the mistress of sorceries, who sells nations through her harlotries, and families through her sorceries." — Nahum 3:4
- "And when they say to you, 'Seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter,' should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living?" — Isaiah 8:19
10 Bible Verses on Condemnation of Sorcery
- "Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." — Galatians 5:19-21
- "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." — Revelation 21:8
- "But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie." — Revelation 22:15
- "But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, 'This man is the great power of God.' And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time. But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done." — Acts 8:9-13
- "Now when they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus, who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, 'O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.' And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand." — Acts 13:6-11
- "Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons." — 1 Corinthians 10:20-21
- "And they caused their sons and daughters to pass through the fire, practiced witchcraft and soothsaying, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger." — 2 Kings 17:17
- "Therefore do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your dreamers, your soothsayers, or your sorcerers, who speak to you, saying, 'You shall not serve the king of Babylon.' For they prophesy a lie to you, to remove you far from your land; and I will drive you out, and you will perish." — Jeremiah 27:9-10
- "And say, 'Thus says the Lord God: “Woe to the women who sew magic charms on their sleeves and make veils for the heads of people of every height to hunt souls! Will you hunt the souls of My people, and keep yourselves alive? And will you profane Me among My people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, killing people who should not die, and keeping people alive who should not live, by your lying to My people who listen to lies?” Therefore thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I am against your magic charms by which you hunt souls there like birds. I will tear them from your arms, and let the souls go, the souls you hunt like birds." — Ezekiel 13:18-20
- "And I will come near you for judgment; I will be a swift witness against sorcerers, against adulterers, against perjurers, against those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans, and against those who turn away an alien—because they do not fear Me,” says the Lord of hosts." — Malachi 3:5
10 Bible Verses on Witchcraft and Idolatry
- "They sacrificed to demons, not to God, to gods they did not know, to new gods, new arrivals that your fathers did not fear." — Deuteronomy 32:17
- "They even sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons, and shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan; and the land was polluted with blood." — Psalm 106:37-38
- "Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry." — 1 Corinthians 10:14
- "Moreover Josiah put away those who consulted mediums and spiritists, the household gods and idols, all the abominations that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, that he might perform the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the Lord." — 2 Kings 23:24
- "Stand now with your enchantments and the multitude of your sorceries, in which you have labored from your youth—perhaps you will be able to profit, perhaps you will prevail. You are wearied in the multitude of your counsels; let now the astrologers, the stargazers, and the monthly prognosticators stand up and save you from what shall come upon you. Behold, they shall be as stubble, the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame; it shall not be a coal to be warmed by, nor a fire to sit before!" — Isaiah 47:12-14
- "Because they have forsaken Me and made this an alien place, because they have burned incense in it to other gods whom neither they, their fathers, nor the kings of Judah have known, and have filled this place with the blood of the innocents (they have also built the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings to Baal, which I did not command or speak, nor did it come into My mind)," — Jeremiah 19:4-5
- "For when you offer your gifts and make your sons pass through the fire, you defile yourselves with all your idols, even to this day. So shall I be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live,” says the Lord God, “I will not be inquired of by you." — Ezekiel 20:31
- "My people ask counsel from their wooden idols, and their staff informs them. For the spirit of harlotry has caused them to stray, and they have played the harlot against their God." — Hosea 4:12
- "Then Saul said to his servants, 'Find me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.' And his servants said to him, 'In fact, there is a woman who is a medium at En Dor.' So Saul disguised himself and put on other clothes, and he went, and two men with him; and they came to the woman by night. And he said, 'Please conduct a séance for me, and bring up for me the one I shall name to you.' Then the woman said to him, 'Look, you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and the spiritists from the land. Why then do you lay a snare for my life, to cause me to die?'" — 1 Samuel 28:7-9
- "He burned incense in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, and burned his children in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel." — 2 Chronicles 28:3
10 Bible Verses on New Testament Warnings
- "Idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies." — Galatians 5:20
- "Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons." — 1 Timothy 4:1
- "But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived." — 2 Timothy 3:13
- "The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved." — 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10
- "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world." — 1 John 4:1
- "For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect." — Matthew 24:24
- "Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, 'These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.' And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, 'I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.' And he came out that very hour." — Acts 16:16-18
- "You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led." — 1 Corinthians 12:2
- "Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ." — Colossians 2:8
- "But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction." — 2 Peter 2:1
10 Bible Verses on Spiritual Warfare Against Witchcraft
- "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." — Ephesians 6:11-12
- "Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." — James 4:7
- "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world." — 1 Peter 5:8-9
- "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ." — 2 Corinthians 10:4-5
- "Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." — Romans 8:37-39
- "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith." — 1 John 5:4
- "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death." — Revelation 12:11
- "You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot." — Psalm 91:13
- "Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you." — Luke 10:19
- "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." — 2 Timothy 1:7
What Does the Bible Say About Witchcraft
The Bible's stance on witchcraft is clear and unequivocal, condemning it as an abomination and a serious sin. From the Old Testament to the New Testament, the scriptures consistently warn against engaging in practices such as sorcery, divination, and consulting with spirits. For instance, Exodus 22:18 states, "You shall not permit a sorceress to live," highlighting the severity with which these acts were viewed. Similarly, Deuteronomy 18:10-12 lists various forms of witchcraft and labels them as detestable to the Lord.
In the New Testament, the condemnation continues, with Galatians 5:19-21 including sorcery among the "works of the flesh" that prevent one from inheriting the kingdom of God. Revelation 21:8 also warns that sorcerers will face the "second death" in the lake of fire. These verses serve as a stern reminder of the spiritual dangers associated with witchcraft and idolatry.
However, the Bible also offers hope and guidance for those seeking to resist these temptations. Ephesians 6:11-12 encourages believers to "put on the whole armor of God" to stand against the devil's schemes. James 4:7 advises, "Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." By embracing these teachings, individuals can find strength and protection in their faith, steering clear of practices that lead them away from God's love and grace.
How to Apply Witchcraft Bible Verses in Daily Life
Applying the Bible's teachings on witchcraft in daily life involves a conscious effort to align one's actions and thoughts with scriptural guidance. Here are some actionable steps to help you stay on the right path:
- Stay Informed: Regularly read and study Bible verses that address witchcraft and idolatry to understand their implications.
- Pray for Guidance: Seek God's wisdom and strength through prayer to resist temptations and avoid practices condemned in the scriptures.
- Surround Yourself with Positive Influences: Engage with a community of believers who support and encourage your spiritual growth.
Another practical approach is to replace any superstitious or occult practices with activities that honor God:
- Engage in Worship: Attend church services and participate in worship to strengthen your faith.
- Practice Gratitude: Keep a gratitude journal to focus on the blessings in your life, steering clear of negative influences.
- Serve Others: Volunteer your time and resources to help those in need, reflecting God's love in your actions.
By incorporating these steps, you can live a life that is pleasing to God and free from the spiritual dangers associated with witchcraft.
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