Leviticus 20:27

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.

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.

"'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.'"

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.โ€™โ€

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.

Commentary

Context of Leviticus 20:27

Leviticus 20:27 is part of the extensive legal and moral code given by God to the nation of Israel through Moses, often referred to as the "Holiness Code" (Leviticus 17-27). This chapter specifically details various offenses that warranted the death penalty, emphasizing the gravity of sin within the covenant community. God's purpose was to establish Israel as a holy nation, distinct from the pagan practices of the surrounding Canaanite peoples, who commonly engaged in divination, necromancy, and other forms of occultism. This verse underscores God's absolute authority and His demand for exclusive worship and spiritual reliance.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Authority and Holiness: This law powerfully asserts that God alone is the source of spiritual truth and guidance. Seeking insight or power from any other source, especially through forbidden means, is an affront to His sovereignty and holiness.
  • Rejection of Occult Practices: The verse delivers a strong condemnation of spiritualism, necromancy, and all forms of divination. Such practices were considered abominations because they involved seeking knowledge or power from demonic spirits or attempting to manipulate spiritual forces outside of God's direct revelation. This prohibition is consistent with other warnings against such practices, such as in Deuteronomy 18:10-12.
  • Purity of Worship: Israel was commanded to worship and seek guidance exclusively from Yahweh. Engaging with "familiar spirits" or "wizards" polluted the nation's spiritual purity and diverted their allegiance from the one true God.
  • Consequences of Disobedience: The prescribed punishment of stoning to death highlights the extreme seriousness with which God viewed these transgressions in the Old Covenant. The phrase "their blood [shall be] upon them" signifies that the condemned person was solely responsible for their fate due to their grave sin.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "familiar spirit" translates the Hebrew word 'ob (ืื•ึนื‘), which refers to a medium or necromancer who claimed to conjure the spirits of the dead, often speaking through them as if from the grave. This practice is famously illustrated in King Saul's encounter with the medium at Endor. The term "wizard" translates the Hebrew yidde'oni (ื™ึดื“ึผึฐืขึนื ึดื™), which refers to one who "knows" or has a "knowing spirit," often associated with a diviner or sorcerer. Both terms describe individuals involved in forbidden spiritual activities that God explicitly prohibited, as also seen in Leviticus 19:31.

Practical Application

While the specific judicial punishment of stoning does not apply in the New Covenant, the spiritual principles behind this law remain vitally important for believers today. Leviticus 20:27 serves as a timeless warning against all forms of occultism, spiritualism, and seeking guidance from sources other than God and His revealed Word. In an age where astrology, fortune-telling, psychic readings, and other New Age practices are prevalent, this verse reminds us:

  • Seek God Directly: Believers are called to seek wisdom, guidance, and comfort directly from God through prayer, diligent study of the Scriptures, and reliance on the Holy Spirit.
  • Beware of Deception: There are spiritual forces at work that seek to deceive and lead people away from God. We are to be discerning and test all spirits (1 John 4:1).
  • God's Sufficiency: God is entirely sufficient for all our needs and provides all the truth we need for life and godliness through His Word. There is no need to resort to forbidden practices.

This verse ultimately calls us to a life of holiness and exclusive devotion to the one true God, trusting in His perfect wisdom and avoiding all forms of spiritual compromise.

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

Cross-References

  • Leviticus 19:31 (8 votes)

    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 (5 votes)

    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 (4 votes)

    ยถ 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 (4 votes)

    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 (3 votes)

    Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.

  • Deuteronomy 18:10 (3 votes)

    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 (3 votes)

    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.