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,

There shall not be found {H4672} among you any one that maketh his son {H1121} or his daughter {H1323} to pass {H5674} through the fire {H784}, or that useth {H7080} divination {H7081}, or an observer of times {H6049}, or an enchanter {H5172}, or a witch {H3784},

There must not be found among you anyone who makes his son or daughter pass through fire, a diviner, a soothsayer, an enchanter, a sorcerer,

Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, practices divination or conjury, interprets omens, practices sorcery,

There shall not be found with thee any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, one that useth divination, one that practiseth augury, or an enchanter, or a sorcerer,

Commentary

Deuteronomy 18:10 is a powerful prohibition against various forms of pagan and occult practices that were prevalent in the ancient Near East. This verse, part of Moses' final discourse to the Israelites before they entered the Promised Land, underscores God's absolute demand for holiness and exclusive devotion from His people.

Context

As the Israelites prepared to inhabit Canaan, they would encounter nations deeply entrenched in practices abhorrent to the Lord. The surrounding cultures, particularly the Canaanites, engaged in rituals like child sacrifice and various forms of divination to seek knowledge, power, or favor from their deities. This verse, along with others in Deuteronomy 18:9, serves as a stark warning and a clear command for Israel to remain distinct and pure, not adopting the "abominations" of the nations they were dispossessing. God was establishing a covenant people set apart for Himself.

Key Themes

  • Rejection of Idolatry and Paganism: The verse explicitly forbids practices associated with false gods and demonic influence. It is a call for Israel to worship Yahweh alone, rejecting any competitor for their allegiance or source of guidance.
  • Sanctity of Human Life: "Making his son or his daughter to pass through the fire" primarily refers to child sacrifice, a horrific practice often associated with the worship of Molech. This was a profound violation of human dignity and an act of extreme cruelty, completely antithetical to God's character and His valuing of life (see Leviticus 18:21).
  • Reliance on God Alone for Guidance: The various forms of divination listed (divination, observing times, enchanter, witch) represent attempts to gain knowledge or control over the future through means other than God's direct revelation. God intended to guide His people through His law and through prophets He would raise up (Deuteronomy 18:15), not through occultic arts.
  • Holiness and Purity: These prohibitions were essential for maintaining the spiritual purity of the nation of Israel. Engaging in such practices would defile the land and the people, inviting divine judgment.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV uses several distinct terms, each referring to a specific occult practice:

  • "Pass through the fire": While some interpretations suggest a purification ritual, the strongest biblical evidence points to literal child sacrifice, often to the Ammonite god Molech (Jeremiah 32:35).
  • "Divination" (Hebrew: qesem): This refers to seeking secret knowledge or revealing the future through omens, lots, or other non-divine means.
  • "Observer of times" (Hebrew: 'onen): One who practices augury, interpreting omens, signs, or atmospheric phenomena (like clouds) to predict events or determine auspicious times.
  • "Enchanter" (Hebrew: menachesh): This term can refer to someone who practices magic by interpreting omens, often in connection with serpents, or someone who uses spells or charms.
  • "Witch" (Hebrew: mekashef): A sorcerer or magician, typically one who uses spells, drugs, or incantations to manipulate events or people, often with malevolent intent.

Practical Application

While literal child sacrifice and ancient forms of witchcraft may not be common in many societies today, the underlying principles of Deuteronomy 18:10 remain profoundly relevant. God's call to exclusive devotion and reliance on Him alone is timeless. Modern applications include:

  • Avoiding Occult Practices: This includes seemingly innocuous activities like horoscopes, fortune-telling, spiritualism, Ouija boards, or any practice that seeks guidance or power from sources other than God's revealed Word.
  • Trusting God's Providence: Instead of trying to control or predict the future through forbidden means, believers are called to trust in God's sovereign plan and seek His will through prayer, His Word, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
  • Protecting the Vulnerable: The abhorrence of child sacrifice reminds us of the sanctity of human life and the call to protect the most vulnerable in society.
  • Living Distinctly: Just as Israel was to be distinct from the surrounding pagan nations, believers today are called to live set apart from the world's values and practices that contradict God's truth, demonstrating a transformed mind and life.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Leviticus 19:31 (9 votes)

    Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I [am] the LORD your God.

  • Leviticus 19:26 (8 votes)

    Ye shall not eat [any thing] with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times.

  • Exodus 22:18 (8 votes)

    Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.

  • Acts 19:19 (6 votes)

    Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all [men]: and they counted the price of them, and found [it] fifty thousand [pieces] of silver.

  • Deuteronomy 12:31 (6 votes)

    Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods.

  • 2 Chronicles 33:6 (6 votes)

    And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.

  • Isaiah 47:13 (6 votes)

    Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from [these things] that shall come upon thee.