witchcraft Summary and Overview

(1 Sam. 15:23; 2 Kings 9:22; 2 Chr. 33:6; Micah 5:12; Nahum 3:4; Gal. 5:20). In the popular sense of the word no mention is made either of witches or of witchcraft in Scripture. The "witch of En-dor" (1 Sam. 28) was a necromancer, i.e., one who feigned to hold converse with the dead. The damsel with "a spirit of divination" (Acts 16:16) was possessed by an evil spirit, or, as the words are literally rendered, "having a spirit, a pithon." The reference is to the heathen god Apollo, who was regarded as the god of prophecy.

WITCH'CRAFT , 1 Sam 15:23, WITCH, Deut 18:10, WIZARD. Lev 20:27. A man who pretends to supernatural power, so that he can foretell future events, cure diseases, call up or drive away spirits, or disclose information beyond the reach of the natural powers, is called a wizard. A woman of like practices is called a witch, and the evil art itself is called witchcraft. Not only those who made such foolish and wicked pretensions, but also those who suffered themselves to be duped thereby, are most severely denounced both in the O.T. and in the N.T. Ex 22:18; Deut 18:11-12; Lev 20:6; Nah 3:4; Gal 5:20.