What Does the Bible Say About Witchcraft? Key Scriptures Explained

TL;DR: The Bible consistently and firmly condemns witchcraft, sorcery, and divination. In Exodus 22:18, practitioners of witchcraft faced the death penalty under Mosaic Law. Deuteronomy 18:10 lists witchcraft alongside divination and enchantment as detestable practices forbidden among God's people. Leviticus 19:31 warns Israel not to seek familiar spirits or wizards, framing such contact as spiritual defilement. Across both the Law and the Prophets, the Bible treats witchcraft as a serious offense against God's exclusive authority and covenant relationship with His people. Exodus 22:18 Deuteronomy 18:10 Leviticus 19:31

"Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live." — Exodus 22:18 Exodus 22:18

This stark command appears in the Mosaic covenant law given to Israel. It reflects how seriously God regarded the practice of witchcraft — it wasn't treated as a minor infraction but as a capital offense under the theocratic legal code of ancient Israel. Exodus 22:18

Deuteronomy 18:10 expands the prohibition considerably, listing a whole spectrum of occult practices:

"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 18:10 Deuteronomy 18:10

The breadth of this list makes clear that God's prohibition wasn't narrowly focused — it covered every form of occult inquiry and supernatural manipulation outside of His revealed will. Deuteronomy 18:10 Leviticus 19:31 reinforces this by framing contact with familiar spirits and wizards as spiritual contamination: those who sought them out would be "defiled" before the LORD their God. Leviticus 19:31

Protestant · Christianity

Protestant View on Witchcraft

"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 18:10

Protestant theology has historically viewed witchcraft as a direct violation of the First Commandment's demand for exclusive loyalty to God. The Mosaic prohibition in Exodus 22:18 is understood as revealing God's moral character — His intolerance for any rival spiritual authority — even if the specific civil penalty no longer applies under the New Covenant. Exodus 22:18

Deuteronomy 18:10 is frequently cited in Protestant preaching and teaching as the definitive Old Testament catalog of forbidden occult practices. Reformers like John Calvin saw these prohibitions as grounded not merely in ceremonial law but in the moral law's demand that God alone be consulted for guidance and truth. Deuteronomy 18:10

Leviticus 19:31's language of defilement resonates strongly in Protestant thought — seeking wizards or familiar spirits isn't just disobedience, it's a corruption of one's relationship with God. The verse's closing phrase, "I am the LORD your God," grounds the prohibition in God's covenant identity and authority. Leviticus 19:31

Protestants also draw on Proverbs 3:33, which teaches that "the curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked," to argue that involvement in witchcraft invites divine judgment rather than supernatural power or protection. Proverbs 3:33

Key takeaways

Exodus 22:18 prescribed the death penalty for witchcraft under Mosaic Law, showing how seriously God regarded the practice. Exodus 22:18
Deuteronomy 18:10 lists witchcraft alongside divination, enchantment, and child sacrifice as practices forbidden among God's people. Deuteronomy 18:10
Leviticus 19:31 frames consulting familiar spirits or wizards as spiritual defilement before the LORD God. Leviticus 19:31
Proverbs 3:33 warns that 'the curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked,' implying divine judgment on those who pursue occult practices. Proverbs 3:33
Across both Law and Wisdom literature, the Bible's prohibition on witchcraft is grounded in God's exclusive covenant authority over His people.

FAQs

What is the punishment for witchcraft in the Bible?

Under Mosaic Law, Exodus 22:18 prescribed death as the penalty for practicing witchcraft: "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live." This capital punishment applied within the theocratic legal system of ancient Israel and reflected how gravely God regarded occult practice as a covenant violation. Exodus 22:18 Most Protestant theologians distinguish this civil penalty from the enduring moral prohibition against witchcraft itself.

Does the Bible say anything about consulting psychics or mediums?

Yes. Leviticus 19:31 explicitly commands: "Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God." Leviticus 19:31 The word "defiled" indicates that consulting such figures wasn't spiritually neutral — it was viewed as contaminating one's covenant relationship with God. Deuteronomy 18:10 similarly lists such practices among things "not to be found" among God's people. Deuteronomy 18:10

Is witchcraft listed alongside other sins in the Bible?

Absolutely. Deuteronomy 18:10 groups witchcraft with divination, observing times, enchanting, and even child sacrifice through fire — placing it in a cluster of practices God calls detestable. Deuteronomy 18:10 Proverbs 3:33 adds broader context, noting that "the curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked," suggesting that those who pursue such practices fall under divine judgment rather than blessing. Proverbs 3:33

Why does the Bible forbid witchcraft?

The Bible's prohibition is rooted in God's exclusive claim on His people's loyalty and trust. Leviticus 19:31 closes its warning with "I am the LORD your God" Leviticus 19:31, anchoring the command in covenant identity. Seeking power or knowledge through witchcraft implies distrust of God and acknowledgment of rival spiritual authorities — a direct affront to the First Commandment. Deuteronomy 18:10 frames these practices as incompatible with belonging to God's people. Deuteronomy 18:10

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