Sooth-sayers, often referred to as diviners or fortune-tellers, are individuals who claim to predict the future or reveal hidden knowledge through supernatural means. In the biblical context, sooth-saying is consistently portrayed as contrary to the will of God and is associated with pagan practices and idolatry.

Old Testament References

The Old Testament contains numerous warnings against sooth-saying and similar practices. In Deuteronomy 18:10-12 , the Israelites are explicitly instructed: "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 practice of sooth-saying is often linked with other forms of divination and is condemned as an abomination. In Leviticus 19:26 , the Israelites are commanded, "You must not eat anything with blood still in it. You must not practice divination or sooth-saying."

The narrative of King Saul consulting the witch of Endor in 1 Samuel 28 illustrates the dangers and futility of seeking guidance from sooth-sayers. Despite God's clear prohibition, Saul seeks out a medium to summon the spirit of the prophet Samuel, leading to his downfall.

New Testament References

In the New Testament, the practice of sooth-saying is also condemned. Acts 16:16-18 recounts the account of a slave girl in Philippi who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much profit by fortune-telling. The Apostle Paul, recognizing the spirit as evil, commands it to leave her in the name of Jesus Christ, demonstrating the power of God over such practices.

Theological Implications

From a theological perspective, sooth-saying is seen as a form of rebellion against God. It represents a reliance on supernatural powers other than God and is often associated with idolatry. The Bible emphasizes that true knowledge and wisdom come from God alone, as seen in Proverbs 3:5-6 : "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."

Cultural Context

In the ancient Near Eastern context, sooth-sayers were common and often held positions of influence in royal courts. They were believed to have the ability to interpret dreams, omens, and other signs. However, the biblical narrative consistently portrays these practices as deceptive and ultimately powerless compared to the sovereignty of God.

Moral and Ethical Considerations

The biblical injunctions against sooth-saying serve as a moral and ethical guide for believers, emphasizing the importance of seeking God's guidance and rejecting any form of occult practice. The warnings against sooth-saying underscore the need for discernment and faithfulness to God's commandments.

Conclusion

While the Bible acknowledges the existence of sooth-sayers, it unequivocally condemns their practices as contrary to the worship and trust in the one true God. Believers are called to seek wisdom and guidance from God alone, rejecting any form of divination or reliance on supernatural powers outside of His will.6049a. anan -- to practice soothsaying
... NASB Word Usage diviners' (1), fortune-tellers (1), practice witchcraft (1), practiced
witchcraft (2), practices witchcraft (1), soothsayers (2), soothsaying (1 ...
/hebrew/6049a.htm - 5k

Those who Give Themselves up to Soothsayers or to those who are ...
... The Sixth Ecumenical Council. Canon LXI. Those who give themselves up to
soothsayers or to those who are called hecatontarchs or? ...
/.../schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/canon lxi those who give.htm

Of the Fortunes of the World at the Last Time, and of the Things ...
... The Divine Institutes. Book VII. Of a Happy Life. Chap. XVIII."Of the Fortunes of
the World at the Last Time, and of the Things Foretold by the Soothsayers. ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap xviii of the fortunes of.htm

That Constantine Prepared Himself for the War by Prayer: Licinius ...
... On the other hand, he gathered round himself Egyptian diviners and soothsayers,
with sorcerers and enchanters, and the priests and prophets of those whom he ...
/.../the life of constantine/chapter iv that constantine prepared himself.htm

1 Cor. xii. 1, 2
... And this was not the only thing to disturb them, but there were also in the place
many soothsayers, inasmuch as the city was more than usually addicted to ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily xxix 1 cor xii.htm

Belshazzar's Feast
... smote one against another. The king cried aloud to bring in the enchanters,
the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. The king spake and ...
/.../various/select masterpieces of biblical literature/vii belshazzars feast.htm

Diocletian, as Being of a Timorous Disposition, was a Searcher ...
... rites interrupted. The soothsayers trembled, unable to investigate the wonted
marks on the entrails of the victims. They frequently ...
/.../of the manner in which the persecutors died/chap x diocletian as being.htm

The Unseen Watcher
... help. His wild cry rang out in the assembly, calling upon the astrologers,
the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers to read the writing. ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 43 the unseen watcher.htm

Of the Wonders Effected by the Power of the Cross, and of Demons.
... And when the soothsayers understood this, at the instigation of the same demons
to whom they had sacrificed, [861] complaining that profane men were present at ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap xxvii of the wonders effected.htm

Letter ccxvii. To Amphilochius, the Canons.
... LXXII. He who has entrusted himself [2841] to soothsayers, or any such persons,
shall be under discipline for the same time as the homicide. LXXIII. ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/letter ccxvii to amphilochius the.htm

The Birth of Cyrus.
... son and heir. He called together his soothsayers, related his dream to them,
and asked for their interpretation. They decided that ...
//christianbookshelf.org/abbott/cyrus the great/chapter ii the birth of.htm

Soothsayers (16 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia SOOTHSAYERS. sooth'-sa-erz. See ASTROLOGY, 1;
DIVINATION. Multi-Version Concordance Soothsayers (16 Occurrences). ...
/s/soothsayers.htm - 12k

Sooth-sayers (5 Occurrences)
Sooth-sayers. Soothsayers, Sooth-sayers. Soothsaying . Multi-Version Concordance ...
Soothsayers, Sooth-sayers. Soothsaying . Reference Bible.
/s/sooth-sayers.htm - 8k

Necromancers (8 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 19:31 Turn not unto necromancers and unto soothsayers; seek not after
them to make yourselves unclean: I am Jehovah your God. (DBY). ...
/n/necromancers.htm - 9k

Diviners (14 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 27:9 But as for you, don't you listen to your prophets, nor to your diviners,
nor to your dreams, nor to your soothsayers, nor to your sorcerers, who ...
/d/diviners.htm - 11k

Enchanters (9 Occurrences)
... 2:27 Daniel answered before the king, and said, The secret which the king has demanded
can neither wise men, enchanters, magicians, nor soothsayers, show to ...
/e/enchanters.htm - 9k

Conjurers (7 Occurrences)
... 2:27 Daniel answered before the king, and said, The secret which the king has demanded
can neither wise men, enchanters, magicians, nor soothsayers, show to ...
/c/conjurers.htm - 8k

Astrologers (9 Occurrences)
... in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot
the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto ...
/a/astrologers.htm - 9k

Magicians (16 Occurrences)
... 2:27 Daniel answered before the king, and said, The secret which the king has demanded
can neither wise men, enchanters, magicians, nor soothsayers, show to ...
/m/magicians.htm - 12k

Meonenim (1 Occurrence)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary (Judges 9:37; AV, "the plain of Meonenim;" RV, "the oak
of Meonenim") means properly "soothsayers" or "sorcerers," "wizards ...
/m/meonenim.htm - 8k

Explain (30 Occurrences)
... 2:27 Daniel answered before the king, and said, The secret which the king has demanded
can neither wise men, enchanters, magicians, nor soothsayers, show to ...
/e/explain.htm - 15k

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