Deuteronomy 18:11

Deuteronomy 18:11 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
• English Standard Version (ESV)or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead,
• New King James Version (NKJV)or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead.
• New Living Translation (NLT)or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead.

Context of Deuteronomy 18:11

9When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. 10Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. 12Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord; because of these same detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you. 13You must be blameless before the Lord your God.

Deuteronomy 18:11 word by word

וְחֹבֵ֖ר חָ֑בֶר וְשֹׁאֵ֥ל אוֹב֙ וְיִדְּעֹנִ֔י וְדֹרֵ֖שׁ אֶל־הַמֵּתִֽים׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Or a charmerחֶ֫בֶרcheber · spellH2267
• Or a charmerחָבַרchâbar · to uniteH2266
• or a consulterשָׁאַלshâ'al shâ'êl · to askH7592
• with familiar spiritsאוֹב'ôb · mediumH178
• or a wizardיִדְּעֹנִיyidde‛ônîy · spiritistH3049
• or a necromancerמוּתmûth · to dieH4191
• or a necromancerדָּרַשׁdârash · to seekH1875

Cross-references for Deuteronomy 18:11

• 1 Samuel 28:11Then the woman asked, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” “Bring up Samuel,” he said.

Commentaries on Deuteronomy 18:11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11A charmer - חבר חבר chober chaber, one who uses spells; a peculiar conjunction, as the term implies, of words, or things, tying knots, etc., for the purposes of divination. This was a custom among the heathen, as we learn from the following verses: - Necte Tribus Nodis ternos, Amarylli, colores: Necte, Amarylli, modo; et Veneris, dic, vincula necto. Virg. Ecl. viii., ver. 77. "Knit with three Knots the fillets, knit them straight; Then say, these Knots to…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 11A charmer - i. e., one who fascinates and subdues noxious animals or men, such as the famous serpent-charmers of the East Psalm 58:4-5. A consulter with familiar spirits … a wizard - Compare Leviticus 19:31 note. Recromancer - literally, “one who interrogates the dead.” The purpose of the text is obviously to group together all the known words belonging to the practices in question. Compare 2 Chronicles 33:6.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-14Verses 9-14 Was it possible that a people so blessed with Divine institutions, should ever be in any danger of making those their teachers whom God had made their captives? They were in danger; therefore, after many like cautions, they are charged not to do after the abominations of the nations of Canaan. All reckoning of lucky or unlucky days, all charms for diseases, all amulets or spells to prevent evil, fortune-telling, &c. are here forbidden. These…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 11cast spells: These spoken formulas (special words believed to have power) were used to harm people. The person speaking the spell would call on a curse to destroy or injure someone. Balaam, a false prophet, was hired to do this against Israel (Numbers 22:2–6). medium or spiritist: These people claimed they could speak with the spirits of the dead. They were believed to be especially skilled at calling up and communicating with these spirits (see 1 Samuel…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 9-149-14. thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations--(See on Le 18:21; Le 19:26; Le 19:31; Le 20:4). In spite of this express command, the people of Canaan, especially the Philistines, were a constant snare and stumbling block to the Israelites, on account of their divinations and superstitious practices.Read the comment

Topics related to Deuteronomy 18:11

• Abomination
• Charmers and Charming
• Familiar Spirits
• Necromancy
• Sorcery

In the dictionaries

• Charmer
• Consulter
• Divination
• Enchantments
• Familiar spirit
• Magic
• Midst
• Raise
• Astrology
• Atonement, Day of

Commentaries on Deuteronomy 18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings