Deuteronomy 18:10
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,
Original Language Analysis
לֹֽא
H3808
לֹֽא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
1 of 12
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יִמָּצֵ֣א
There shall not be found
H4672
יִמָּצֵ֣א
There shall not be found
Strong's:
H4672
Word #:
2 of 12
properly, to come forth to, i.e., appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e., find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present
מַֽעֲבִ֥יר
to pass
H5674
מַֽעֲבִ֥יר
to pass
Strong's:
H5674
Word #:
4 of 12
to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in
בְּנֽוֹ
among you any one that maketh his son
H1121
בְּנֽוֹ
among you any one that maketh his son
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
5 of 12
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
וּבִתּ֖וֹ
or his daughter
H1323
וּבִתּ֖וֹ
or his daughter
Strong's:
H1323
Word #:
6 of 12
a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)
קֹסֵ֣ם
divination
H7081
קֹסֵ֣ם
divination
Strong's:
H7081
Word #:
8 of 12
a lot; also divination (including its fee), oracle
קְסָמִ֔ים
or that useth
H7080
קְסָמִ֔ים
or that useth
Strong's:
H7080
Word #:
9 of 12
properly, to distribute, i.e., determine by lot or magical scroll; by implication, to divine
מְעוֹנֵ֥ן
or an observer of times
H6049
מְעוֹנֵ֥ן
or an observer of times
Strong's:
H6049
Word #:
10 of 12
figuratively, to act covertly, i.e., practise magic
Cross References
Leviticus 19:31Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.Leviticus 19:26Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times.Exodus 22:18Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.Isaiah 47:13Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee.Acts 19:19Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.Deuteronomy 12:31Thou 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.1 Chronicles 10:13So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it;2 Kings 21:6And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.2 Kings 17:17And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.2 Kings 16:3But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel.
Historical Context
Child sacrifice was practiced in the Valley of Hinnom (Gehenna) south of Jerusalem during the reigns of Ahaz and Manasseh (2 Kings 16:3, 21:6). Josiah's reforms destroyed these sites (2 Kings 23:10). Divination and sorcery permeated ancient Near Eastern religion—Babylonian priests read sheep livers, studied stars, and consulted spirits. Daniel's superiority to Babylonian wise men (Daniel 2) demonstrated YHWH's supremacy over occult practices.
Questions for Reflection
- How do modern equivalents—horoscopes, mediums, fortune-tellers, Ouija boards—represent the same forbidden attempt to access spiritual knowledge apart from God?
- Why is God so severe about these practices, and what does their prohibition teach about the exclusivity of biblical revelation?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire (לֹא־יִמָּצֵא בְךָ מַעֲבִיר בְּנוֹ־וּבִתּוֹ בָּאֵשׁ)—child sacrifice to Molech, where children were burned alive or passed through fire as dedication. Ma'avir ba'esh literally "causing to pass through the fire." Archaeological evidence confirms this horrific practice in Carthage (Phoenician colony) and possibly Canaan.
The list continues: or that useth divination (qosem qesamim, one who practices divination—reading omens, casting lots for occult knowledge); an observer of times (me'onen, one who observes clouds, practices astrology, reads signs in nature); an enchanter (menachesh, one who practices augury, serpent charming, seeking omens); a witch (mekhashshef, one who practices sorcery, uses spells and potions).
These practices sought knowledge and power through demonic rather than divine sources. They represented autonomy—accessing spiritual reality independently of God's authorized revelation. Leviticus 19:31 and 20:6,27 prescribe death for such practices, showing their covenant-breaking severity. Saul's consultation with the medium at Endor (1 Samuel 28) exemplified the spiritual bankruptcy these practices represent.