Lexical Summary
kashaph: To practice sorcery, to use witchcraft
Original Word:כָּשַׁף
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:kashaph
Pronunciation:kah-shaf'
Phonetic Spelling:(kaw-shaf')
KJV: sorcerer, (use) witch(-craft)
NASB:sorcerers, practiced sorcery, sorcerer, sorceress
Word Origin:[a primitive root]
1. (properly) to whisper a spell, i.e. to inchant or practise magic
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
sorcerer, use witchcraft
A primitive root; properly, to whisper a spell, i.e. To inchant or practise magic -- sorcerer, (use) witch(-craft).
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origindenominative verb from
keshephDefinitionto practice sorcery
NASB Translationpracticed sorcery (1), sorcerer (1), sorcerers (3), sorceress (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
(Assyrian
kašâpu, id.); —
Perfect3masculine singular: 2Chronicles 33:6 (of Manasseh); elsewhere only
Participle as substantive masculine singular
sorcerer, in Israel,
Deuteronomy 18:10 (following ); feminine singular =
sorceressExodus 22:17 (E); masculine plural
Malachi 3:5 (named with adulterers and falseswearers); of diviners, or astrologers in Egypt ( q. v.)
Exodus 7:11 (P; "" ); in Babylon
Daniel 2:2 (+ , , ).
Topical Lexicon
Concept and Scopeכָּשַׁף denotes the practice of manipulating spiritual powers through occult rituals, incantations, and secret arts. In Scripture it is never presented as morally neutral; it is a hostile counterfeit to divine revelation that seeks knowledge or power apart from the covenant LORD.
Biblical Distribution
The root appears six times, strategically placed at decisive moments in Israel’s history:
•Exodus 7:11 – Egypt’s court magicians oppose Moses.
•Exodus 22:18 – Israel’s civil law proscribes sorcery with the death penalty.
•Deuteronomy 18:10 – Moses’ farewell sermon forbids sorcery as part of broader occult practices.
•2 Chronicles 33:6 – King Manasseh embraces sorcery, precipitating Judah’s downfall.
•Daniel 2:2 – Babylonian sorcerers fall short before the God-given wisdom of Daniel.
•Malachi 3:5 – Post-exilic prophecy warns that unrepentant sorcerers will face swift judgment.
Sorcery in the Ancient Near East
Ancient texts from Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Canaan reveal vast corpora of spells, amulets, and priestly guilds devoted to magic. These practices sought to coerce or placate deities, heal disease, or harm enemies. Israel’s neighbors considered sorcery a respected science; Scripture, by contrast, treats it as rebellion against the sovereign Creator.
The Exodus Confrontation
“Then Pharaoh also summoned the wise men and sorcerers, and the magicians of Egypt, by their secret arts, did the same things” (Exodus 7:11). The first contest in the plagues narrative establishes sorcery as a counterfeit power quickly eclipsed by Yahweh’s supremacy. The episode illustrates that miraculous signs alone cannot authenticate God’s messengers; true authority rests on the source, not merely the spectacle.
Covenantal Prohibitions
“You must not allow a sorceress to live” (Exodus 22:18). The severity of the sanction underscores covenant purity.Deuteronomy 18:10 embeds the ban within a litany of pagan abominations, contrasting them with the prophetic office (Deuteronomy 18:15). God’s people are to receive guidance through inspired proclamation, not occult manipulation.
Royal Apostasy and National Decline
Manasseh “practiced sorcery, divination, and witchcraft, and consulted mediums and spiritists” (2 Chronicles 33:6). His reign epitomizes political leadership that substitutes pagan techniques for reliance on the LORD. The Chronicler draws a straight line from such practices to divine wrath and subsequent exile, instructing later generations to avoid repeated folly.
Wisdom Literature Contrast
InDaniel 2:2 the Babylonian “magicians, astrologers, sorcerers, and Chaldeans” confront a dream that only the God of Heaven can reveal. The narrative elevates revelatory wisdom above occult expertise, affirming the exclusivity of divine disclosure.
Prophetic Exposure and Eschatological Judgment
“I will be swift to testify against sorcerers” (Malachi 3:5). Post-exilic Israel still battled hidden occultism. The prophet links sorcery with social injustices, suggesting a common root of covenant infidelity. The coming Messenger of the covenant (Malachi 3:1) will purge both priesthood and populace.
Theological Significance
1. Exclusive Lordship: Sorcery rejects the sufficiency of God’s word and seeks autonomy.
2. Counterfeit Power: Miraculous signs can originate from ungodly sources; discernment depends on fidelity to revelation (seeDeuteronomy 13:1-4).
3. Corporate Holiness: Toleration of occultism jeopardizes the entire community; hence the stringent legal penalties.
4. Eschatological Justice: Final judgment will expose and punish all forms of occult rebellion (Revelation 21:8).
Practical Ministry Implications
• Pastoral care must address occult backgrounds with clear teaching on Christ’s supremacy and the need for repentance.
• Spiritual warfare is conducted through prayer, Scripture, and obedience, not ritual power struggles.
• Discipleship includes cultivating reliance on the Holy Spirit’s guidance rather than illicit spiritual shortcuts.
• Church discipline may be necessary when believers covertly engage in sorcery-related practices (Acts 19:18-20 supplies a New Testament precedent of public renunciation).
Christological Fulfillment and New Testament Continuity
The cross disarms “the rulers and authorities” (Colossians 2:15), rendering occult powers ultimately impotent. Simon Magus’s confrontation with Peter (Acts 8) and the condemnation of “pharmakoi” in Revelation confirm that the prohibition transcends covenants. Believers now participate in Christ’s victory, awaiting the day when all sorcerers unrepentant will face the Judge who declares, “Outside are the dogs and sorcerers” (Revelation 22:15).
In every era כָּשַׁף represents humanity’s attempt to seize control of the unseen realm; Scripture counters with the call to submit to the One true Sovereign whose word is sufficient and whose power is unrivaled.
Forms and Transliterations
בַּֽמְכַשְּׁפִים֙ במכשפים וְֽכִשֵּׁ֔ף וְלַֽמְכַשְּׁפִ֑ים וְלַֽמְכַשְּׁפִים֙ וּמְכַשֵּֽׁף׃ וכשף ולמכשפים ומכשף׃ מְכַשֵּׁפָ֖ה מכשפה bam·ḵaš·šə·p̄îm bamchashsheFim bamḵaššəp̄îm mə·ḵaš·šê·p̄āh mechashsheFah məḵaššêp̄āh ū·mə·ḵaš·šêp̄ umechashShef ūməḵaššêp̄ vechishShef velamchashsheFim wə·ḵiš·šêp̄ wə·lam·ḵaš·šə·p̄îm wəḵiššêp̄ wəlamḵaššəp̄îm
Links
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