Bible Strands

Leviticus 20:27

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.’”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The LORD issues this command to the Israelite community while establishing covenant boundaries in Leviticus. The directive immediately follows the call to remain set apart and holy as God is holy (Leviticus 20:26).

The words — The text identifies אֹב ('ov) as a necromancer and יִדְּעֹנִי (yi.dde'oni) as a soothsayer. These terms designate individuals who operate as mediums or spiritists.

The thread — The prohibition against consulting mediums or spiritists recurs in Leviticus 19:31 and Leviticus 20:6, while 1 Samuel 28:7 documents Saul actively seeking out a female medium.

Why it lands — The text commands the stoning of any man or woman who practices necromancy or spiritism. A reader must apply the boundary that seeking spiritual mediation outside God's provision constitutes a covenant violation requiring removal.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וְאִ֣ישׁve./'Ishand/ a manאֽוֹ־'ov-orאִשָּׁ֗ה'i.Shaha womanכִּֽי־ki-thatיִהְיֶ֨הyih.Yehhe will beבָהֶ֥םva./Hemamong <the>/ themא֛וֹב'ova necromancerא֥וֹ'oorיִדְּעֹנִ֖יyi.de.'o.Nia soothsayerמ֣וֹתMotcertainly <to die>יוּמָ֑תוּyu.Ma.tuthey will be put to deathבָּאֶ֛בֶןba./'E.venwith <the>/ stone[s]יִרְגְּמ֥וּyir.ge.Mupeople will stoneאֹתָ֖ם'o.Ta/m<obj.>/ themדְּמֵיהֶ֥םde.mei./Hemblood<s>/ theirבָּֽם׃ פBa/m[are] on <the>/ them

King James Version

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.

Cross-references