King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood [shall be] upon them.
Complete Jewish Bible:
"'A man or woman who is a spirit-medium or sorcerer must be put to death; they are to stone them to death; their blood will be on them.'"
Berean Standard Bible:
A man or a woman who is a medium or spiritist must surely be put to death. They shall be stoned; their blood is upon them.’”
American Standard Version:
A man also or a woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones; their blood shall be upon them.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
A man{H376} also or woman{H802} that hath{H3588} a familiar spirit{H178}, or that is a wizard{H3049}, shall surely{H4191} be put to death{H4191}: they shall stone{H7275} them with stones{H68}: their blood{H1818} shall be upon them.
Cross-References (KJV):
Leviticus 19:31
- Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I [am] the LORD your God.
Leviticus 20:6
- And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.
1 Samuel 28:7
- ¶ Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, [there is] a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.
1 Samuel 28:9
- And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die?
Exodus 22:18
- Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.
Deuteronomy 18:10
- 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,
Deuteronomy 18:12
- For all that do these things [are] an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.
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Commentary for Leviticus 20:27
1. Themes:
- Holiness and Purity: Leviticus 20:27 reflects the theme of maintaining holiness and purity within the Israelite community. The prohibition against sorcery and the practice of having a "familiar spirit" (engaging with spirits for divination or communication with the dead) is part of a larger set of instructions intended to separate the Israelites from the pagan practices of their neighbors.
- Divine Authority: The verse underscores the authority of God's law over the community. Obedience to these laws was a sign of loyalty to God and his covenant with Israel.
- Justice and Judgment: The command for capital punishment for such offenses highlights the severe consequences for violating God's commands and the importance of justice within the community.
2. Historical Context:
- The Law of Moses: Leviticus is part of the Pentateuch, traditionally attributed to Moses, which contains the Law given by God to the Israelites after their Exodus from Egypt. This book provides regulations for worship, rituals, and moral conduct.
- Ancient Near Eastern Practices: The prohibitions in Leviticus 20:27 likely reflect the prevalence of occult practices in the surrounding cultures. The Canaanites, among other neighboring peoples, engaged in various forms of divination and spiritism, which the Israelites were commanded to avoid.
- Community Purity: The strict stance against occult practices was meant to prevent the influence of foreign gods and religions, ensuring the religious and cultural integrity of the Israelite nation.
In summary, Leviticus 20:27 addresses the prohibition of occult practices, emphasizing the importance of holiness and obedience to God's law in the context of the Israelite community's religious and cultural separation from pagan influences in the ancient Near East. The severe penalty reflects the gravity with which such transgressions were viewed.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H376
There are 1507 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אִישׁ
Transliteration: ʼîysh
Pronunciation: eesh
Description: contracted for אֱנוֹשׁ (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation); also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phrase] steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare אִשָּׁה. - Strong's Number: H802
There are 729 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אִשָּׁה
Transliteration: ʼishshâh
Pronunciation: ish-shaw'
Description: feminine of אִישׁ or אֱנוֹשׁ; irregular plural, נָשִׁים;(used in the same wide sense as אֱנוֹשׁ); a woman; (adulter) ess, each, every, female, [idiom] many, [phrase] none, one, [phrase] together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English. - Strong's Number: H3588
There are 43 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כִּי
Transliteration: kîy
Pronunciation: kee
Description: a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent or consequent; (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed; and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + till, truly, + until, when, whether, while, whom, yea, yet. - Strong's Number: H178
There are 49 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אוֹב
Transliteration: ʼôwb
Pronunciation: obe
Description: from the same as אָב (apparently through the idea of prattling a father's name); properly, a mumble, i.e. a water skin (from its hollow sound); hence a necromancer (ventriloquist, as from a jar); bottle, familiar spirit. - Strong's Number: H3049
There are 11 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יִדְּעֹנִי
Transliteration: yiddᵉʻônîy
Pronunciation: yid-deh-o-nee'
Description: from יָדַע; properly, a knowing one; specifically, a conjurer; (by impl) a ghost; wizard. - Strong's Number: H4191
There are 694 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מוּת
Transliteration: mûwth
Pronunciation: mooth
Description: a primitive root; to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill; [idiom] at all, [idiom] crying, (be) dead (body, man, one), (put to, worthy of) death, destroy(-er), (cause to, be like to, must) die, kill, necro(-mancer), [idiom] must needs, slay, [idiom] surely, [idiom] very suddenly, [idiom] in (no) wise. - Strong's Number: H7275
There are 15 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רָגַם
Transliteration: râgam
Pronunciation: raw-gam'
Description: a primitive root (compare רֶגֶב, רוּעַ, רָקַם); to cast together (stones), i.e. to lapidate; [idiom] certainly, stone. - Strong's Number: H68
There are 1276 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶבֶן
Transliteration: ʼeben
Pronunciation: eh'-ben
Description: from the root of בָּנָה through the meaning to build; a stone; [phrase] carbuncle, [phrase] mason, [phrase] plummet, (chalk-, hail-, head-, sling-) stone(-ny), (divers) weight(-s). - Strong's Number: H1818
There are 295 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: דָּם
Transliteration: dâm
Pronunciation: dawm
Description: from דָּמַם (compare אָדַם); blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of the grape; figuratively (especially in the plural) bloodshed (i.e. drops of blood); blood(-y, -guiltiness, (-thirsty), [phrase] innocent.