Bible Dictionary: Sorcerer

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Smith's Bible Dictionary

Sorcerer

[DIVINATION]

ATS Bible Dictionary

Sorcerer

One who practised sorcery; nearly synonymous with magician, soothsayer, or wizard. This was a class of persons who dealt in incantations and divinations, and boasted of a power, in consequence of their deep science and by means of certain rites, to evoke the spirits of the dead from their gloomy abodes, and compel them to disclose information on subjects beyond the reach of human powers.

They pretended also that, by means of certain herbs and information on subjects beyond the reach of human powers. They pretended also that, by means of certain herbs and incantations, they were able to expel demons, Acts 13:6,8. Those persons also who devoted themselves to the general studies above mentioned, often abused their knowledge and deceived the common people, by pretending to foretell the destinies of men from the motions and appearances of the planets and stars, and to cure diseases by repeating certain phrases, etc. Of this class appears to have been Simon the sorcerer, mentioned in Acts 8:9,11. Females who practised such arts were called sorceresses and witches, Malachi 3:5 Revelation 22:15. See DIVINATION, ENCHANTMENTS, and MAGIC.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

From the Latin sortiarius, one who casts lots, or one who tells the lot of others. (see DIVINATION.)

In Dan. 2:2 it is the rendering of the Hebrew mekhashphim, i.e., mutterers, men who professed to have power with evil spirits. The practice of sorcery exposed to severest punishment (Malachi 3:5; Revelation 21:8; 22:15).

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

(n.) A conjurer; an enchanter; a magician.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

SORCERER; SORCERY

See ASTROLOGY, 1; DIVINATION; MAGIC; WITCHCRAFT.

Greek

5333. pharmakos -- a poisoner, sorcerer, magician
... a poisoner, sorcerer, magician. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration:
pharmakos Phonetic Spelling: (far-mak-os') Short Definition: a magician ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5333.htm - 6k

5332. pharmakeus -- sorcerer.
... 5331, 5332. pharmakeus. 5333 . sorcerer. Transliteration: pharmakeus Phonetic
Spelling: (far-mak-yoos') Short Definition: sorcerer. ... sorcerer. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5332.htm - 6k

1114. goes -- a wailer, a sorcerer, a swindler
... a wailer, a sorcerer, a swindler. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration:
goes Phonetic Spelling: (go'-ace) Short Definition: a conjurer, deceiver ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1114.htm - 7k

2387. Iambres -- Jambres, an Eg. sorcerer
... sorcerer. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: Iambres Phonetic Spelling:
(ee-am-brace') Short Definition: Jambres Definition: Jambres, a sorcerer ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2387.htm - 6k

2389. Iannes -- Jannes, an Eg. sorcerer
... sorcerer. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: Iannes Phonetic Spelling:
(ee-an-nace') Short Definition: Jannes Definition: Jannes, a sorcerer at ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2389.htm - 6k

3097. magos -- a Magian, ie an (Oriental) astrologer, by impl. a ...
... a magician. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: magos Phonetic Spelling:
(mag'-os) Short Definition: a sorcerer, magician, wizard Definition: a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3097.htm - 7k

1681. Elumas -- Elymas, a magician
... Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: Elumas Phonetic Spelling: (el-oo'-mas)
Short Definition: Elymas Definition: Elymas, the name of the sorcerer at Paphos ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1681.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

3786. kashshaph -- sorcerer
... 3785, 3786. kashshaph. 3787 . sorcerer. Transliteration: kashshaph Phonetic
Spelling: (kash-shawf') Short Definition: sorcerers. ... sorcerer. ...
/hebrew/3786.htm - 6k

3784. kashaph -- to practice sorcery
... Word Origin denominative verb from kesheph Definition to practice sorcery NASB Word
Usage practiced sorcery (1), sorcerer (1), sorcerers (3), sorceress (1). ...
/hebrew/3784.htm - 6k

6049. anan -- to practice soothsaying
... to practice soothsaying. Transliteration: anan Phonetic Spelling: (aw-nan') Short
Definition: bring. bring, enchanter, observer of times, soothsayer, sorcerer ...
/hebrew/6049.htm - 5k

Library

Simon the Sorcerer
... SIMON THE SORCERER. 'Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for
thy heart is not right in the sight of God.'"Acts 8:21. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/simon the sorcerer.htm

Menander the Sorcerer.
... Book III. Chapter XXVI."Menander the Sorcerer. 1. Menander, [813] who
succeeded Simon Magus, [814] showed himself in his conduct ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter xxvi menander the sorcerer.htm

System of the Magicians; Incantations of Demons; Secret Magical ...
... And (the sorcerer), taking (a paper), directs the inquirer [234] to write down with
water whatever questions he may desire to have asked from the demons. ...
/.../hippolytus/the refutation of all heresies/chapter xxviii name of the.htm

Heralds of the Gospel
... And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer,
a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-Jesus: which was with the deputy ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 17 heralds of the.htm

Acts xiii. 4, 5
... xi.19), and so here they betook them to the synagogues. "And when they had gone
through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily xxviii acts xiii 4.htm

Expatriation
... The eye of the sorcerer fell on the young man's dress. ... When his thoughts returned
to earth, he found the glittering eyes of the sorcerer fixed upon him. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xlii expatriation.htm

The Burning Æsculapius; Tricks with Fire.
... The (sorcerer), however, previously washes his hands frequently in brine; the
consequence being, that the contents of the cauldron do not in any wise, though ...
/.../chapter xxxiii the burning aesculapius tricks.htm

To the Regions Beyond
... synagogues of the Jews; and they had also John to their minister.6. And when they
had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/to the regions beyond.htm

The Teaching of Simon Cephas in the City of Rome.
... Let not Simon the sorcerer delude you by semblances which are not realities, which
he exhibits to you, as to men who have no understanding, who know not how to ...
/.../unknown/the decretals/ancient syriac documents the teaching 3.htm

Consummation of Thomas the Apostle.
... And Thomas went and found the jailors fighting, and saying: What wrong have we done
to that sorcerer, that, availing himself of his magic art, he has opened ...
/.../consummation of thomas the apostle/consummation of thomas the apostle.htm

Thesaurus

Sorcerer (3 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. SORCERER; SORCERY. See ASTROLOGY, 1; DIVINATION;
MAGIC; WITCHCRAFT. Multi-Version Concordance Sorcerer (3 Occurrences). ...
/s/sorcerer.htm - 8k

Barjesus (1 Occurrence)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Son of Joshua, the patronymic of Elymas the sorcerer
(Acts 13:6), who met Paul and Barnabas at Paphos. ...
/b/barjesus.htm - 9k

Bar-jesus (1 Occurrence)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Son of Joshua, the patronymic of Elymas the sorcerer
(Acts 13:6), who met Paul and Barnabas at Paphos. ...
/b/bar-jesus.htm - 9k

Enchanter (5 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) One who enchants; a sorcerer or magician; also,
one who delights as by an enchantment. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/e/enchanter.htm - 8k

Elymas (2 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Magician or sorcerer, the Arabic name of the
Jew Bar-jesus, who withstood Paul and Barnabas in Cyprus. ...
/e/elymas.htm - 7k

Sorcery (10 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. SORCERER; SORCERY. See ASTROLOGY, 1; DIVINATION;
MAGIC; WITCHCRAFT. Multi-Version Concordance Sorcery (10 Occurrences). ...
/s/sorcery.htm - 10k

Magician (5 Occurrences)
... (n.) One skilled in magic; a sorcerer; one who practices the black art; an enchanter;
a necromancer; a sorcerer or sorceress; a conjurer. Int. ...
/m/magician.htm - 24k

Witch (2 Occurrences)
... with the Devil; a sorcerer or sorceress; -- now applied chiefly or only to women,
but formerly used of men as well. 3. (n.) An ugly old woman; a hag. ...
/w/witch.htm - 24k

Magic (12 Occurrences)
... Simon, a magician, was found by Philip at Samaria (Acts 8:9-24); and Paul and Barnabas
encountered Elymas, a Jewish sorcerer, at Paphos (13:6-12). ...
/m/magic.htm - 29k

Soothsayer (4 Occurrences)
... Hebrews (see SORCERER.). Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (n.) One who foretells events
by the art of soothsaying; a prognosticator. 2. (n.) A mantis. ...
/s/soothsayer.htm - 8k

Bible Concordance

Sorcerer (3 Occurrences)

Acts 13:6 When they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar Jesus,
(WEB KJV ASV WBS NIV)

Acts 13:8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn aside the proconsul from the faith.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS NIV)

Deuteronomy 18:10 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 practices sorcery, or an enchanter, or a sorcerer,
(WEB JPS ASV DBY YLT NAS RSV)

Subtopics

Sorcerer

Related Terms

Barjesus (1 Occurrence)

Bar-jesus (1 Occurrence)

Enchanter (5 Occurrences)

Elymas (2 Occurrences)

Sorcery (10 Occurrences)

Magician (5 Occurrences)

Witch (2 Occurrences)

Magic (12 Occurrences)

Soothsayer (4 Occurrences)