The term "divineth" is an archaic form of the verb "divine," which refers to the practice of seeking knowledge of the future or the unknown by supernatural means. In the context of the Bible, divination is often associated with practices that are forbidden and considered contrary to the worship of the one true God. The practice of divination is mentioned in several passages throughout the Scriptures, and it is consistently portrayed in a negative light.

Old Testament References

In the Old Testament, divination is explicitly condemned as an abomination to the Lord. The Israelites were instructed to avoid such practices, as they were common among the pagan nations surrounding them. In Deuteronomy 18:10-12 , it is written: "Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, practices divination or conjury, interprets omens, practices sorcery, casts spells, consults a medium or spiritist, or inquires of the dead. For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable things the LORD your God is driving out the nations before you."

The account of King Saul consulting the witch of Endor in 1 Samuel 28 is a notable example of divination in the Old Testament. Despite having previously expelled mediums and spiritists from the land, Saul seeks out a medium to summon the spirit of the prophet Samuel. This act of desperation is portrayed as a grave sin, leading to Saul's downfall.

New Testament References

In the New Testament, divination continues to be viewed negatively. In Acts 16:16-18 , the Apostle Paul encounters a slave girl who has a spirit of divination: "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."

Paul's exorcism of the spirit highlights the incompatibility of divination with the Christian faith. The practice is seen as a form of spiritual bondage, and the power of Christ is demonstrated as superior to any form of divination.

Theological Implications

From a theological perspective, divination is often associated with a lack of trust in God's sovereignty and provision. It represents an attempt to gain control over the future or to seek guidance apart from God's revealed will. The Bible emphasizes that true wisdom and guidance come from God alone, as seen in passages like James 1:5 : "Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him."

The practice of divination is also linked to idolatry, as it often involves seeking knowledge or power from sources other than God. This is in direct violation of the first commandment, which calls for exclusive worship of the Lord.

Cultural Context

In the ancient Near Eastern context, divination was a common practice among various cultures. It often involved interpreting omens, consulting the dead, or using objects like arrows, entrails, or casting lots to predict the future. The biblical prohibition against divination set the Israelites apart from their neighbors and underscored their unique covenant relationship with God.

Conclusion

While the practice of divination is condemned in Scripture, the Bible offers a clear alternative: seeking wisdom and guidance through prayer, the study of God's Word, and reliance on the Holy Spirit. This approach affirms the sufficiency of God's revelation and the believer's trust in His divine plan.

Joseph and his Brethren
... evil for good? Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, and whereby he indeed
divineth? ye have done evil in so doing. And he overtook ...
/.../select masterpieces of biblical literature/i joseph and his brethren.htm

Divineth (3 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Divineth (3 Occurrences). Genesis 44:5 Is not this
it in which my lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth? ...
/d/divineth.htm - 7k

Whereby (46 Occurrences)
... (KJV JPS ASV YLT). Genesis 44:5 Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, and whereby
indeed he divineth? ye have done evil in so doing. (KJV JPS ASV). ...
/w/whereby.htm - 20k

Drinketh (33 Occurrences)
... (YLT). Genesis 44:5 Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, and whereby indeed
he divineth? ye have done evil in so doing. (KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT). ...
/d/drinketh.htm - 16k

Divines (1 Occurrence)

/d/divines.htm - 6k

Divining (3 Occurrences)

/d/divining.htm - 7k

Bloodguiltiness (15 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 20:27 A man also or a woman that divineth by a ghost or a familiar spirit,
shall surely be put to death; they shall stone them with stones; their ...
/b/bloodguiltiness.htm - 11k

Spiritist (2 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 20:27 A man also or a woman that divineth by a ghost or a familiar spirit,
shall surely be put to death; they shall stone them with stones; their ...
/s/spiritist.htm - 7k

Divination (25 Occurrences)
... Genesis 44:5 Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, and whereby he indeed
divineth? ye have done evil in so doing.' (See NAS NIV). ...
/d/divination.htm - 45k

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus