Deuteronomy 18:11

11 or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.

Deuteronomy 18:11 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
English Standard Version (ESV)
11 or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead,
New Living Translation (NLT)
11 or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead.
The Message Bible (MSG)
11 casting spells, holding séances, or channeling with the dead.
American Standard Version (ASV)
11 or a charmer, or a consulter with a familiar spirit, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
11 cast spells, ask ghosts or spirits for help, or consult the dead.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
11 cast spells, consult a medium or a familiar spirit, or inquire of the dead.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
11 Don't put a spell on anyone. Don't get messages from those who have died. Don't talk to the spirits of the dead. Don't get advice from the dead.

Deuteronomy 18:11 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 18:11

Or a charmer
That pretends to cure diseases by charms, or a charmer of serpents; according to Jarchi, one that gathers together serpents and scorpions, and other animals, into one place; with which agree the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem,

``which bind serpents and scorpions, and all kind of creeping things;''

but, according to Aben Ezra, one that says certain words to gather demons together:

or a consulter with familiar spirits;
or the inquirer of "Ob", or the bottle, which the Jews interpret of Python, or one that has the spirit of Python; see ( Acts 16:16 ) , a ventriloquist, one that spoke or seemed to speak out of his belly, or from under his armpits; so it is said in the Misnah F8 of Ob, this is Python, one that speaks out of his arm holes; agreeably to which, Jarchi says, this is that sort of witchcraft which is called Python, and he speaks from his arm holes, and brings up the dead thither: of Baal Ob, or the master of the bottle, say some Jewish writers, one way he uses is, he takes the skull of a dead man, the flesh of which is consumed from it, and he hides it and burns incense to it, and mutters words by it, and hears from it, as if from a dead man F11: or a wizard: a knowing one, as the word signifies, such an one as we call a cunning man; (See Gill on Leviticus 19:31)

or a necromancer that inquiries of the dead,
or seeks instruction from them, as the Targum of Jerusalem. Aben Ezra describes him as one that goes to burying grounds, and takes the bone of a dead man, and because of his wild imagination there appears to him the likeness of forms; or as Maimonides F12, better still, he is one that fasts and sleeps in graveyards, and utters words; and, according to his imagination, sees future things in dreams.


FOOTNOTES:

F8 Misn. Sanhedrin, c. 7. sect. 7.
F11 Maimon. & Bartenora in ib.
F12 In ib.

Deuteronomy 18:11 In-Context

9 When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there.
10 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft,
11 or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.
12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD; because of these same detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you.
13 You must be blameless before the LORD your God.

Cross References 2

  • 1. Isaiah 47:9
  • 2. S Exodus 22:18; S 1 Samuel 28:13
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