A soothsayer, in biblical terms, refers to an individual who claims to foretell the future or reveal hidden knowledge through supernatural means. The practice of soothsaying is often associated with divination, enchantment, and other forms of occultism, which are explicitly condemned in the Scriptures. The Bible consistently warns against engaging with soothsayers and similar practitioners, as these practices are considered abominations to the Lord.

Biblical References and Context

The term "soothsayer" appears in various contexts throughout the Bible, often in association with other forms of divination and magic. In the Old Testament, soothsayers are mentioned alongside other forbidden practices such as witchcraft, sorcery, and necromancy. These practices are seen as attempts to gain knowledge or power apart from God, and they are strictly prohibited.

In Deuteronomy 18:10-12 , the Israelites are 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 prophet Isaiah also speaks against soothsayers, highlighting their futility and the judgment that awaits them. Isaiah 2:6 states, "For You have abandoned Your people, the house of Jacob, because they are filled with influences from the east; they are soothsayers like the Philistines, and they strike hands with the children of foreigners."

Historical and Cultural Background

In the ancient Near East, soothsayers were common in many cultures, including those surrounding Israel. These individuals often served in royal courts, providing counsel based on their interpretations of omens, dreams, or celestial phenomena. The Philistines, Babylonians, and Egyptians, among others, employed soothsayers and magicians as part of their religious and political systems.

The biblical narrative often contrasts the false wisdom of soothsayers with the true wisdom that comes from God. For example, in the book of Daniel, the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar calls upon his magicians, enchanters, and soothsayers to interpret his troubling dream, but they are unable to do so. It is only Daniel, a servant of the Most High God, who can reveal and interpret the dream, demonstrating the superiority of divine revelation over human attempts at divination (Daniel 2:27-28).

Theological Implications

From a theological perspective, the Bible's condemnation of soothsaying underscores the importance of relying on God for guidance and wisdom. Soothsaying is seen as a form of idolatry, as it places trust in created things or spiritual forces rather than in the Creator. The practice is also viewed as a rebellion against God's sovereignty, as it seeks to circumvent His will and timing.

The New Testament continues this theme, warning believers to avoid all forms of occultism and to remain steadfast in their faith. 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 demonic influence, commands the spirit to leave her in the name of Jesus Christ, demonstrating the power of God over such practices.

Moral and Ethical Considerations

Engaging with soothsayers or participating in divination is considered a serious moral and ethical violation in the biblical worldview. Believers are called to seek God's guidance through prayer, Scripture, and the counsel of the Holy Spirit, rather than turning to forbidden practices. The Bible encourages a life of faith and trust in God's providence, rejecting the allure of secret knowledge or control over the future.

In summary, the biblical stance on soothsayers is clear and unequivocal: such practices are to be avoided, as they lead individuals away from the truth and into spiritual darkness. The Scriptures call for a wholehearted devotion to God, who alone holds the future and reveals His will to those who seek Him with a sincere heart.One who pretends to prognosticate future events. Baalam is so called (Joshua 13:22; Hebrews kosem, a "diviner, " as rendered 1 Samuel 6:2; rendered "prudent, Isaiah 3:2). In Isaiah 2:6 and Micah 5:12 (Hebrews yonenim, i.e., "diviners of the clouds") the word is used of the Chaldean diviners who studied the clouds. In Dan. 2:27; 5:7 the word is the rendering of the Chaldee gazrin, i.e., "deciders" or "determiners", here applied to Chaldean astrologers, "who, by casting nativities from the place of the stars at one's birth, and by various arts of computing and divining, foretold the fortunes and destinies of individuals.", Gesenius, Lex. Hebrews (see SORCERER.) 1. (n.) One who foretells events by the art of soothsaying; a prognosticator.

2. (n.) A mantis.

903. Balaam -- Balaam, an unrighteous prophet
... Balaam Phonetic Spelling: (bal-ah-am') Short Definition: Balaam Definition: Balaam,
son of Beor of Pethor on the Euphrates, a soothsayer in the Old Testament. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/903.htm - 6k7248. Rab-mag -- perhaps "chief soothsayer," an official of the ...
... Rab-mag. 7249 . perhaps "chief soothsayer," an official of the Bab. king.
Transliteration: Rab-mag Phonetic Spelling: (rab-mawg') Short Definition: Rab-mag. ...
/hebrew/7248.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

7080. qasam -- to practice divination
... diviner prudent, soothsayer, use divination. A primitive root; properly,
to distribute, ie Determine by lot or magical scroll; by ...
/hebrew/7080.htm - 6k

1505. gezar -- to cut, determine
... cut out, soothsayer. (Aramaic) corresponding to gazar; to quarry; determine -- cut
out, soothsayer. see HEBREW gazar. 1504, 1505. gezar. 1506 . ...
/hebrew/1505.htm - 6k

He Teaches Rhetoric, the Only Thing He Loved, and Scorns the ...
... Book IV. Chapter II."He Teaches Rhetoric, the Only Thing He Loved, and
Scorns the Soothsayer, Who Promised Him Victory. 2. In ...
/.../the confessions and letters of st/chapter ii he teaches rhetoric the.htm

Caste viewed as a Doer
... The village soothsayer warned them that their father's god would be angry; they
did not heed him, but went on, and suddenly their baby died. ...
/.../wilson-carmichael/things as they are/chapter xi caste viewed as.htm

1 Cor. xii. 1, 2
... For this is peculiar to the soothsayer, to be beside himself, to be under compulsion,
to be pushed, to be dragged, to be haled as a madman. ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily xxix 1 cor xii.htm

Prophets and the Prophet
... methods; the second is an obscure word, which is supposed by some to mean a 'murmurer,'
and may refer rather to the low mutterings of the soothsayer than to ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/prophets and the prophet.htm

Psalm LVIII.
... an astrologer; there is added a fourth sin: the astrologer answereth perchance with
some hard and evil responses, he runneth to a soothsayer, that expiation ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm lviii.htm

Balak's Inquiries Relative to the Service of God, and Balaam's ...
... Moab we are not informed; but on occasion before us, the affrighted sovereign of
that people, sent to some distance for Balaam, a famous soothsayer or diviner ...
/.../sermon xviii balaks inquiries relative.htm

Commandment Eleventh. The Spirit and Prophets to be Tried by their ...
... These doubters then go to him as to a soothsayer, and inquire of him what will happen
to them; and he, the false prophet, not having the power of a Divine ...
/.../the pastor books first second third/commandment eleventh the spirit and.htm

Let us Pass on Now to Theatrical Exhibitions, which we have ...
... from temples and altars, and that mournful profusion of incense and blood, with
music of pipes and trumpets, all under the direction of the soothsayer and the ...
/.../tertullian/the shows or de spectaculis/chapter x let us pass.htm

The Greek Kings of Egypt.
... Masollam asked why; and a soothsayer, pointing to a bird, told him that if the bird
stopped, it would be lucky for them to stop; if it flew on, they might go on ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson xvi the greek kings.htm

"But they are Gods to Us," You Say. ...
... or the bowl of the gods from the ladle of the manes? or the undertaker from the
soothsayer, as in fact this latter personage also attends upon the dead? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/apology/chapter xiii but they are.htm

Soothsayer (4 Occurrences)
...Soothsayer (4 Occurrences). ... Deuteronomy 18:11 or a charmer, or one that inquireth
of a spirit of Python, or a soothsayer, or one that consulteth the dead. (DBY). ...
/s/soothsayer.htm - 8k

Soothing (40 Occurrences)

/s/soothing.htm - 18k

Kirjath-huzoth (1 Occurrence)
... It was probably from the summit of Attarus, the high place near the city, that the
soothsayer first saw the encampments of Israel. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/k/kirjath-huzoth.htm - 7k

Kirjathhuzoth (1 Occurrence)
... It was probably from the summit of Attarus, the high place near the city, that the
soothsayer first saw the encampments of Israel. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/k/kirjathhuzoth.htm - 7k

Urim (8 Occurrences)
... the function of the priests as the mouthpiece of Yahweh, as well as with the ceremonial
side of the service (Exodus 28:30; compare Arabic kahin, "soothsayer"). ...
/u/urim.htm - 21k

Jambres (2 Occurrences)
... and anachronisms. They are to the effect that Jannes and Jambres were
sons of Balaam, the soothsayer of Pethor. Notwithstanding ...
/j/jambres.htm - 11k

Jannes (2 Occurrences)
... and anachronisms. They are to the effect that Jannes and Jambres were
sons of Balaam, the soothsayer of Pethor. Notwithstanding ...
/j/jannes.htm - 10k

Inquireth (7 Occurrences)
... Inquireth (7 Occurrences). Deuteronomy 18:11 or a charmer, or one that inquireth
of a spirit of Python, or a soothsayer, or one that consulteth the dead. (DBY). ...
/i/inquireth.htm - 8k

Thummim (6 Occurrences)
... the function of the priests as the mouthpiece of Yahweh, as well as with the ceremonial
side of the service (Exodus 28:30; compare Arabic kahin, "soothsayer"). ...
/t/thummim.htm - 22k

Practiced (22 Occurrences)
... Joshua 13:22 The children of Israel alse killed Balaam also the son of Beor, the
soothsayer, with the sword, among the rest of their slain. (See NIV). ...
/p/practiced.htm - 13k

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