Deuteronomy 18:10
New International Version
Let 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,

New Living Translation
For example, never sacrifice your son or daughter as a burnt offering. And do not let your people practice fortune-telling, or use sorcery, or interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft,

English Standard Version
There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer

Berean Standard Bible
Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, practices divination or conjury, interprets omens, practices sorcery,

King James Bible
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,

New King James Version
There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer,

New American Standard Bible
There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, a soothsayer, one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer,

NASB 1995
“There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer,

NASB 1977
“There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer,

Legacy Standard Bible
There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices soothsaying or one who interprets omens or a sorcerer,

Amplified Bible
There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or daughter pass through the fire [as a sacrifice], one who uses divination and fortune-telling, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer,

Christian Standard Bible
No one among you is to sacrifice his son or daughter in the fire, practice divination, tell fortunes, interpret omens, practice sorcery,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
No one among you is to make his son or daughter pass through the fire, practice divination, tell fortunes, interpret omens, practice sorcery,

American Standard Version
There shall not be found with thee any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, one that useth divination, one that practiseth augury, or an enchanter, or a sorcerer,

English Revised Version
There shall not be found with thee any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, one that useth divination, one that practiseth augury, or an enchanter, or a sorcerer,

GOD'S WORD® Translation
You must never sacrifice your sons or daughters by burning them alive, practice black magic, be a fortuneteller, witch, or sorcerer,

Good News Translation
Don't sacrifice your children in the fires on your altars; and don't let your people practice divination or look for omens or use spells

International Standard Version
There must never be found among you anyone who sacrifices his son or daughter in fire, practices divination, interprets omens, practices sorcery,

Majority Standard Bible
Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, practices divination or conjury, interprets omens, practices sorcery,

NET Bible
There must never be found among you anyone who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, anyone who practices divination, an omen reader, a soothsayer, a sorcerer,

New Heart English Bible
There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, one who practices divination, or tells fortunes, or interprets omens, or a sorcerer,

Webster's Bible Translation
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,

World English Bible
There shall not be found with you anyone who makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who tells fortunes, or an enchanter, or a sorcerer,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
There is not found in you one causing his son and his daughter to pass over into fire, a user of divinations, an observer of clouds, and an enchanter, and a sorcerer,

Young's Literal Translation
there is not found in thee one causing his son and his daughter to pass over into fire, a user of divinations, an observer of clouds, and an enchanter, and a sorcerer,

Smith's Literal Translation
There shall not be found in thee him causing his son or his daughter to pass through in fire, divining divinations, practicing magic, and taking omens and a sorcerer,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Neither let there be found among you any one that shall expiate his son or daughter, making them to pass through the fire: or that consulteth soothsayers, or observeth dreams and omens, neither let there be any wizard,

Catholic Public Domain Version
Do not let there be found among you one who would purify his son or daughter by leading them through fire, nor one who consults seers, nor one who observes dreams or omens. Do not let there be found among you one who practices the occult,

New American Bible
Let there not be found among you anyone who causes their son or daughter to pass through the fire, or practices divination, or is a soothsayer, augur, or sorcerer,

New Revised Standard Version
No one shall be found among you who makes a son or daughter pass through fire, or who practices divination, or is a soothsayer, or an augur, or a sorcerer,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
There shall not be found among you any one who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or who practices divination or black magic, or is an enchanter or a witch

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
There shall not be found among you one who passes his son or his daughter into fire, or who consults an oracle, or who shuts eyes, or who practices sorcery, or one who uses enchantments:
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, one that useth divination, a soothsayer, or an enchanter, or a sorcerer,

Brenton Septuagint Translation
There shall not be found in thee one who purges his son or his daughter with fire, one who uses divination, who deals with omens, and augury,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Sorcery Forbidden
9When you enter the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. 10Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, practices divination or conjury, interprets omens, practices sorcery, 11casts spells, consults a medium or spiritist, or inquires of the dead.…

Cross References
Leviticus 19:26
You must not eat anything with blood still in it. You must not practice divination or sorcery.

Leviticus 20:6
Whoever turns to mediums or spiritists to prostitute himself with them, I will also set My face against that person and cut him off from his people.

2 Kings 21:6
He sacrificed his own son in the fire, practiced sorcery and divination, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did great evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.

2 Chronicles 33:6
He sacrificed his sons in the fire in the Valley of Ben-hinnom. He practiced sorcery, divination, and witchcraft, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did great evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.

Isaiah 8:19
When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists who whisper and mutter, shouldn’t a people consult their God instead? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?

Isaiah 47:12-13
So take your stand with your spells and with your many sorceries, with which you have wearied yourself from your youth. Perhaps you will succeed; perhaps you will inspire terror! / You are wearied by your many counselors; let them come forward now and save you—your astrologers who observe the stars, who monthly predict your fate.

Jeremiah 27:9-10
But as for you, do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your interpreters of dreams, your mediums, or your sorcerers who declare, ‘You will not serve the king of Babylon.’ / For they prophesy to you a lie that will serve to remove you from your land; I will banish you and you will perish.

Ezekiel 13:6-9
They see false visions and speak lying divinations. They claim, ‘Thus declares the LORD,’ when the LORD did not send them; yet they wait for the fulfillment of their message. / Haven’t you seen a false vision and spoken a lying divination when you proclaim, ‘Thus declares the LORD,’ even though I have not spoken? / Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: Because you have uttered vain words and seen false visions, I am against you, declares the Lord GOD. ...

Micah 5:12
I will cut the sorceries from your hand, and you will have no fortune-tellers.

Malachi 3:5
“Then I will draw near to you for judgment. And I will be a swift witness against sorcerers and adulterers and perjurers, against oppressors of the widowed and fatherless, and against those who defraud laborers of their wages and deny justice to the foreigner but do not fear Me,” says the LORD of Hosts.

Acts 8:9-11
Prior to that time, a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and astounded the people of Samaria. He claimed to be someone great, / and all the people, from the least to the greatest, heeded his words and said, “This man is the divine power called the Great Power.” / They paid close attention to him because he had astounded them for a long time with his sorcery.

Acts 13:6-8
They traveled through the whole island as far as Paphos, where they found a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, / an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, a man of intelligence, summoned Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. / But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith.

Acts 16:16-18
One day as we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl with a spirit of divination, who earned a large income for her masters by fortune-telling. / This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation!” / She continued this for many days. Eventually Paul grew so aggravated that he turned and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” And the spirit left her at that very moment.

Acts 19:18-19
Many who had believed now came forward, confessing and disclosing their deeds. / And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books and burned them in front of everyone. When the value of the books was calculated, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.

Galatians 5:19-21
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; / idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, / and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.


Treasury of Scripture

There shall not be found among you any one that makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that uses divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch.

maketh

Deuteronomy 12:31
Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods.

Leviticus 18:21
And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.

Leviticus 20:2-5
Again, thou shalt say to the children of Israel, Whosoever he be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, that giveth any of his seed unto Molech; he shall surely be put to death: the people of the land shall stone him with stones…

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

Leviticus 19:26,31
Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times…

Leviticus 20:26,27
And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine…

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Deuteronomy 18
1. The LORD is the priests and Levites' inheritance
3. The priests' due
6. The Levites' portion
9. The abominations of the nations are to be avoided
15. Christ the Prophet is to be heard
20. The presumptuous prophet is to die














Let no one be found among you
This phrase sets a clear boundary for the Israelites, emphasizing the importance of maintaining purity and holiness within the community. The Hebrew root for "found" (מָצָא, matsa) implies discovery or encountering, suggesting that such practices should not even be present or discovered among God's people. This directive underscores the call for Israel to be distinct from surrounding nations, reflecting God's holiness.

who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire
This refers to the abhorrent practice of child sacrifice, which was prevalent among some Canaanite religions, particularly in the worship of Molech. The Hebrew word for "sacrifices" (עָבַר, avar) can mean to pass through, indicating the ritual of passing children through fire. This practice is condemned as it directly opposes the sanctity of life and the character of God, who values and cherishes human life.

practices divination
Divination (קֶסֶם, qesem) involves seeking knowledge of the future or the unknown through supernatural means. This practice is forbidden as it represents a reliance on powers other than God. The Israelites are called to trust in God's revelation and guidance rather than seeking forbidden knowledge through occult practices.

or conjury
Conjury, or the act of invoking spirits, is another form of seeking power or knowledge apart from God. The Hebrew term (מְעוֹנֵן, meonen) suggests enchantment or soothsaying. This practice is prohibited because it attempts to manipulate spiritual forces, undermining the sovereignty and authority of God.

interprets omens
Interpreting omens (נָחַשׁ, nachash) involves reading signs or events to predict the future. This practice is rooted in superstition and is condemned because it diverts trust from God to created things. The Israelites are reminded to rely on God's word and promises rather than seeking assurance through omens.

practices sorcery
Sorcery (כָּשַׁף, kashaph) involves the use of magic or spells to influence events or people. This practice is forbidden as it represents an attempt to control or manipulate the natural and spiritual world, which is contrary to the submission and trust that God requires from His people. Sorcery is seen as a rebellion against God's order and authority.

(10) To pass through the fire.--See Leviticus 18:21.

Useth divination--(Numbers 22:7), possibly by sacrifices.

Observer of times.--This is the Rabbinical explanation of the word. In Hebrew the idea of "time" is not so clear. It seems to mean practising hidden arts. (See Leviticus 19:26.)

Enchanter.--Whisperer, or serpent charmer. (See Genesis 44:5.) . . .

Verses 10, 11. - Maketh his son or daughter to pass through the fire (see note on Deuteronomy 12:31). That useth divination (cf. Ezekiel 21:21, where the different methods of divination are enumerated). An observer of times. This is according to the Targum, observans horns; the LXX. have κληδονιζόμενος, "one who augurs what is to happen;" Vulgate, qui observat somnia atque auguria. The word (מְעונֵן) is part of a verb which signifies to cover, to use covert arts, to practice sorcery; though some derive it from the noun עָנַן, a thick cloud, and explain it as "interpreter of clouds;" while others trace it to עַיִן, the eye, and explain it as "one who cheats by optical fascinations" (so the Syriac, fascinans oculis), or one who divines by inspection - an augur." An enchanter; one who practices magic, or divines by signs (cf. Genesis 44:5; Numbers 24:1). It is sometimes said that the verb of which this word is a part (נִחֵשׁ) is a denominative from נָחָשׁ, a serpent; whence it is inferred that the species of divination indicated by this word is ophiomancy, or divination by serpents, but this is not generally accepted by scholars. A witch (מִכַשֵׁפ; LXX., φαρμακός: Vulgate, maleficus); probably one who pretended to cure diseases, or procure some desired result, by means of nostrums and philtres. In the enumeration of the wise men of Babylon (Daniel 2:2), the Mecashephim have a place beside the Hartummim, and in Genesis 41:8 and Exodus 7:11, they are joined with the Hachamim or Magi of Egypt; and this favors the conclusion that their sorcery had a quasi-scientific basis. The English word "witch" is now restricted to the female practicer of unlawful arts; formerly it was applied to males as well, if not chiefly (Trench, 'Select Glossary,' p. 806). A charmer (חֹבֵר הָבֶר); a dealer in spells, one who by means of spells or charms pretends to achieve some desired result. The verb here used primarily means to bind, and the species of magic indicated is probably that practiced by binding certain knots, whereby it was supposed that the curse or blessing, as the case might he, was bound on its object; this was accompanied apparently with incantation (Psalm 58:5). Comp. English spell-bound, and the phrase, "to rivet charms" (Jonson, 'Sad Shepherd,' 2:2). A species of incantation known to the Romans consisted in tying knots with threads of different colors, three in number, which were supposed to become a bond to secure an object (cf. Virg., 'Eclog.' 8:76, 77). A consulter with familiar spirits. This phrase conveys something different from what is expressed, in the Hebrew. שֹׂאֵל אוב is one who asks or inquires of an Ob, that is, a Python, or divining spirit. This spirit was supposed to be in the person of the conjurer, and to be able to reveal to him what was secret or hidden in the future (Leviticus 20:27; 1 Samuel 28:7, 8; Acts 16:16). The notion of "a familiar spirit," i.e. a spirit not dwelling in the person, but with which he is intimate - generally the spirit of one who formerly lived on earth - is a modern notion not known to Scripture. The persons here referred to were probably ventriloquists (LXX., ἐγγαστρίμυθοι), and used their faculty in this respect for purposes of magic, pretending that they had within them a spirit which they could consult, and by which they could predict what would happen or reveal what was hid. Wizard. The English word "wizard" did not originally convey the idea of anything evil in the person of whom it was used; Milton applies it to the Magi who came to worship at Bethlehem ('Ode on the Nativity,' 4.); it meant merely "the wise one," or "the knowing one;" and thus is an exact equivalent for the Hebrew word here used (יְדעֹנִי, knowing, wise, from יָדַע, to know). A necromancer; one who professed to call up the dead, and from them to learn the secrets of futurity (cf. 1 Samuel 28:7). (See on all these names the learned and copious dissertation of Dr. Holmes, art. 'Divination,' in Kitto's 'Bibl. Cyclop.,' 3rd. edit., 1:682.)

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Let no one
לֹֽא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

be found
יִמָּצֵ֣א (yim·mā·ṣê)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4672: To come forth to, appear, exist, to attain, find, acquire, to occur, meet, be present

among you
בְךָ֔ (ḇə·ḵā)
Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew

who sacrifices
מַעֲבִ֥יר (ma·‘ă·ḇîr)
Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5674: To pass over, through, or by, pass on

his son
בְּנֽוֹ־ (bə·nōw-)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1121: A son

or daughter
וּבִתּ֖וֹ (ū·ḇit·tōw)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1323: A daughter

in the fire,
בָּאֵ֑שׁ (bā·’êš)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 784: A fire

practices divination
קְסָמִ֔ים (qə·sā·mîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 7080: To distribute, determine by lot, magical scroll, to divine

[or] conjury,
מְעוֹנֵ֥ן (mə·‘ō·w·nên)
Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 6049: To act covertly, practise magic

interprets omens,
וּמְנַחֵ֖שׁ (ū·mə·na·ḥêš)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5172: To hiss, whisper a, spell, to prognosticate

practices sorcery,
וּמְכַשֵּֽׁף׃ (ū·mə·ḵaš·šêp̄)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 3784: To whisper a, spell, to inchant, practise magic


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OT Law: Deuteronomy 18:10 There shall not be found with you (Deut. De Du)
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