The Occult in the Bible
The occult refers to practices that seek hidden knowledge or power through sources other than God, such as witchcraft, sorcery, divination, mediums, and contacting the dead. Scripture consistently and emphatically forbids these practices, not because spiritual realities are imaginary, but precisely because they are real and place a person under deceptive and destructive powers opposed to God. The Law of Moses speaks plainly. "Do not turn to mediums or necromancers; do not seek them out, and so make yourselves unclean by them" (LEV.19.31). God warns that He will set His face against anyone who turns to such things: "If a person turns to mediums and necromancers, whoring after them, I will set my face against that person and will cut him off from among his people" (LEV.20.6). The occult is treated as spiritual adultery against the Lord. Deuteronomy gives the fullest list. There shall not be found among God's people "anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead" (DEU.18.10-11), "for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD" (DEU.18.12). Isaiah exposes the folly of consulting the dead: "Should not a people inquire of their God? Should they inquire of the dead on behalf of the living?" (ISA.8.19). God's people are to seek Him, not forbidden spirits. The New Testament continues this teaching with the power of the gospel to set people free. In Ephesus, new believers who had practiced magic publicly burned their costly scrolls: "A number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all" (ACT.19.19). Paul lists "sorcery" among the works of the flesh that exclude people from God's kingdom (GAL.5.20). The Bible's message is both a warning and an invitation. Occult practices are forbidden because they lead away from the living God into bondage; but in Christ there is full deliverance, forgiveness, and freedom for any who renounce these works and turn to Him.
Key verse snapshot
“Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God.”
Bible Verses about The Occult
8 Scripture passages on this theme
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.”
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 18:11
“Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.”
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.”
Isaiah 8:19
“And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?”
Acts 19:19
“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.”
Galatians 5:20
“Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,”
Frequently Asked Questions
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Apply These Verses to Your Life
Scripture comes alive when we meditate on it and apply it daily. Read these verses in full context, pray for understanding, and ask God how they speak to your situation with the occult.
- Author:
- The Lord Will Editorial Team
- Reviewed by:
- Ugo Candido
- Last updated:
- Category:
- Scripture Guidance