Deuteronomy 18:11

KJV

Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.

KJV (with Strong's)

Or a charmer {H2266}{H2267}, or a consulter {H7592} with familiar spirits {H178}, or a wizard {H3049}, or a necromancer {H1875}{H4191}.

Complete Jewish Bible

a spell-caster, a consulter of ghosts or spirits, or a necromancer.

Berean Standard Bible

casts spells, consults a medium or spiritist, or inquires of the dead.

American Standard Version

or a charmer, or a consulter with a familiar spirit, or a wizard, or a necromancer.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Deuteronomy 18:11 is a pivotal verse within a comprehensive list of prohibitions against various forms of divination and occult practices, delivered by Moses to the Israelites on the plains of Moab. It specifically condemns engaging with charmers, consulters with familiar spirits, wizards, and necromancers, underscoring God's absolute rejection of any attempt to gain knowledge or power through means other than His divine revelation. This prohibition serves to safeguard Israel's unique covenant relationship with Yahweh, emphasizing their call to holiness and complete reliance on Him as the sole legitimate source of truth and guidance, in stark contrast to the abominable practices of the surrounding Canaanite nations.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Deuteronomy 18:11 is situated within a broader passage (Deuteronomy 18:9-14) that outlines God's strict commands to Israel as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. Moses, acting as God's mediator, delivers these laws, warning the people not to "learn to do after the abominations of those nations" ([Deuteronomy 18:9](/deuteronomy/18-9 "Deuteronomy 18:9 - Warning Against Pagan Practices")). This section immediately follows instructions concerning the Levitical priests and their portion, thereby contrasting the legitimate means of approaching God with forbidden practices. The passage culminates with the promise of a future prophet like Moses ([Deuteronomy 18:15](/deuteronomy/18-15 "Deuteronomy 18:15 - Promise of a Prophet Like Moses")), establishing a clear dichotomy between seeking guidance through occult means and God's divinely appointed, authentic revelation.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The prohibitions in Deuteronomy 18:11 directly address the pervasive religious and magical practices common among the Canaanite peoples whom Israel was dispossessing. These cultures frequently engaged in various forms of divination, sorcery, and communication with the dead, believing they could manipulate divine forces, predict the future, or gain secret knowledge. Such practices were deeply integrated into Canaanite worship and daily life, often involving ritualistic acts and appeals to various deities or spirits. For Israel, embracing these practices would not only constitute idolatry but also compromise their distinct identity as a people set apart for Yahweh, who alone is sovereign and all-knowing. The severity of the prohibition highlights God's desire for His people to remain pure and wholly devoted, distinct from the defiling influences of their pagan neighbors, as reiterated in [Leviticus 18:24-30](/leviticus/18-24 "Leviticus 18:24-30 - Abominations of the Land").
* **Key Themes:** The verse contributes significantly to several overarching themes in Deuteronomy and the Pentateuch. Foremost is the theme of **Divine Authority and Exclusive Worship**, asserting that Yahweh alone is the legitimate source of truth, power, and guidance, thereby forbidding any attempt to seek knowledge or influence outside of His revealed will. This underpins Israel's call to **Holiness and Separation**, urging them to be "perfect with the LORD thy God" ([Deuteronomy 18:13](/deuteronomy/18-13 "Deuteronomy 18:13 - Be Blameless Before God")), which implies complete reliance on Him and avoidance of anything that defiles their relationship or compromises their covenant fidelity. Finally, it reinforces the theme of **True vs. False Revelation**, setting the stage for the coming prophet who would speak God's true words, in contrast to the deceptive and abominable practices listed in this verse.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Charmer (Hebrew, _ḥōḇēr_):** This term refers to one who binds or enchants, often through spells, incantations, or magical knots. It implies an attempt to manipulate or coerce spiritual forces, or even people, through ritualistic words or actions. The practice suggests a belief in a power external to God that can be controlled or influenced by human means, directly contradicting God's sovereignty.
* **Consulter with familiar spirits (Hebrew, _'ōḇ_):** This denotes a medium or necromancer who claims to communicate with the dead or with a spirit that possesses them, often speaking in a low, muffled voice (like a ventriloquist). The term "familiar spirit" indicates a spirit that is "known" or "familiar" to the medium, acting as an intermediary. This practice is a direct affront to God, who alone holds the keys to life and death, and forbids attempts to bypass His authority by seeking counsel from the deceased.
* **Necromancer (Hebrew, _dōrēš 'el hammētîm_):** Literally meaning "one who inquires of the dead," this term specifically describes the practice of attempting to evoke or communicate with deceased individuals for the purpose of gaining information, guidance, or prophecies. It is a severe transgression against God's command, as it presumes to invade the realm of the dead, which is under God's exclusive dominion, and seeks knowledge from sources explicitly forbidden by Him.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Or a charmer":** This refers to individuals who practice magic through incantations, spells, or charms, attempting to influence events or people through occult means. It signifies a reliance on manipulative spiritual practices rather than trust in God's providential care.
* **"or a consulter with familiar spirits":** This identifies a medium who claims to have a spirit (an 'ōḇ) that enables communication with the dead. Such individuals acted as conduits for supposed messages from the deceased, a practice strictly condemned as an abomination because it seeks truth from forbidden, deceptive sources.
* **"or a wizard":** The Hebrew term (_yiḏʿōnî_) comes from the root "to know," indicating someone who claims to possess secret knowledge or insight, often through occult means like divination or clairvoyance. This prohibition targets those who claim special, hidden wisdom outside of God's revealed truth.
* **"or a necromancer":** This final term, _dōrēš 'el hammētîm_, explicitly condemns the act of seeking to inquire of or communicate with the dead. It is the most direct reference to the practice of summoning spirits of the deceased, a profound violation of God's order and a dangerous dabbling in spiritual realms under His exclusive authority.

#### Literary Devices
Deuteronomy 18:11 employs a **List** of specific, forbidden practices, which serves to comprehensively cover the various forms of occultism prevalent in the ancient Near East. This **Enumeration** emphasizes the breadth and depth of activities God condemns, leaving no ambiguity about what is unacceptable. The cumulative effect of this list, alongside the preceding and succeeding verses, creates a strong sense of **Contrast** between the purity and singular devotion demanded by Yahweh and the defiling, idolatrous practices of the surrounding nations. The use of such a detailed list underscores the seriousness of these transgressions, implicitly highlighting the **Sovereignty** of God as the sole legitimate source of divine revelation and power.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Deuteronomy 18:11 profoundly articulates God's unwavering commitment to His unique relationship with Israel, demanding exclusive devotion and trust. The theological underpinning of this prohibition is God's absolute sovereignty and His nature as the sole source of all true knowledge, wisdom, and power. To seek guidance or power from any other source—whether through divination, sorcery, or communication with the dead—is a direct affront to His authority, a form of spiritual adultery, and a dangerous venture into realms outside His divine order. It implies a lack of faith in His ability and willingness to guide His people, and it opens the door to deceptive spiritual influences that can lead to moral and spiritual corruption. This passage thus serves as a foundational text for understanding God's rejection of all forms of occultism, emphasizing that His people are to rely solely on Him and His revealed word.

* [Leviticus 19:31](/leviticus/19-31 "Do Not Turn to Mediums")
* [1 Samuel 28:7-19](/1_samuel/28-7 "Saul and the Medium of Endor")
* [Isaiah 8:19-20](/isaiah/8-19 "Consult God, Not Mediums")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Deuteronomy 18:11, while rooted in ancient prohibitions, carries profound and timeless relevance for believers today. It calls us to a radical commitment to seeking God alone for wisdom, guidance, and truth in every area of our lives. In a world saturated with competing voices and alternative spiritualities, this verse stands as a stark warning against any practice or philosophy that seeks knowledge, power, or control outside of God's revealed will in Scripture and the leading of His Holy Spirit. This includes not only explicit occult practices like fortune-telling, astrology, or séances, but also more subtle forms of seeking truth in human philosophies, self-help gurus, or spiritual fads that contradict biblical principles. Our reliance on God must be total, trusting in His sovereignty, His provision, and His perfect plan, rather than attempting to manipulate circumstances or gain insight through forbidden means. True spiritual maturity involves resting in God's perfect knowledge and submitting to His divine authority, knowing that He desires to communicate with us directly through His Word and prayer, and through the wise counsel of His Spirit-filled community.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what subtle ways might I be tempted to seek knowledge or control outside of God's revealed will today?**
* **How does my daily pursuit of wisdom reflect a complete reliance on God, or a leaning on other sources?**
* **What practices or beliefs in contemporary culture might subtly echo the forbidden activities of Deuteronomy 18:11, and how can I guard against them?**
* **How does a deep trust in God's sovereignty protect me from the allure of forbidden spiritual practices?**

### FAQ
**Why are these specific practices so strictly forbidden by God?**

Answer: These practices are strictly forbidden because they represent a fundamental rejection of God's unique authority and sovereignty. They are attempts to bypass God and gain knowledge, power, or influence from alternative, often deceptive, spiritual sources. Engaging in such activities implies a lack of trust in God's ability and willingness to guide His people, and it opens individuals to spiritual deception and bondage. Furthermore, these practices were deeply intertwined with the idolatrous worship of the Canaanite nations, making them an "abomination" ([Deuteronomy 18:12](/deuteronomy/18-12 "Deuteronomy 18:12 - Abomination to the Lord")) that threatened Israel's covenant purity and distinctiveness. God desires a direct, unmediated relationship with His people, where He alone is the source of truth and life, as promised through the coming prophet ([Deuteronomy 18:15](/deuteronomy/18-15 "Deuteronomy 18:15 - Promise of a Prophet Like Moses")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Deuteronomy 18:11, with its stern prohibitions against false spiritual mediators, finds its ultimate fulfillment and resolution in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The passage immediately following these prohibitions promises a prophet "like unto me" ([Deuteronomy 18:15](/deuteronomy/18-15 "Deuteronomy 18:15 - Promise of a Prophet Like Moses")) whom Israel must obey, a promise that the New Testament unequivocally identifies as fulfilled in Jesus. While the charmer, wizard, and necromancer offer false or deceptive access to spiritual power and knowledge, Jesus is the true and ultimate Prophet, Priest, and King, the sole mediator between God and humanity ([1 Timothy 2:5](/1_timothy/2-5 "1 Timothy 2:5 - One Mediator")). He is the embodiment of God's perfect revelation, speaking only the words of the Father ([John 12:49-50](/john/12-49 "John 12:49-50 - Jesus Speaks the Father's Words")). Unlike the occult practices that rely on manipulation or hidden knowledge, Jesus offers open, accessible truth and life through His atoning sacrifice and resurrection ([John 14:6](/john/14-6 "John 14:6 - Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life")). In Him, believers find all the wisdom and guidance they need ([Colossians 2:3](/colossians/2-3 "Colossians 2:3 - In Christ Are Hidden All Treasures of Wisdom")), eliminating any need to turn to the forbidden, empty sources condemned in Deuteronomy 18:11. He is the ultimate authority, and through His Holy Spirit, He continues to guide and reveal truth to His followers, establishing a relationship built on trust and genuine communion, not on fear or manipulation.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

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.

1 Samuel 28:11

Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel.

1 Samuel 28:14

And he said unto her, What form [is] he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he [is] covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it [was] Samuel, and he stooped with [his] face to the ground, and bowed himself.