Topical Encyclopedia
Diviners, in the biblical context, are individuals who claim to possess the ability to foresee or predict future events, often through supernatural means. The practice of divination is mentioned numerous times throughout the Bible, and it is consistently portrayed in a negative light, as it is associated with pagan practices and a reliance on powers other than God.
Old Testament ReferencesThe Old Testament contains several references to diviners and the practice of divination. In
Deuteronomy 18:10-12, the Israelites are explicitly warned against engaging in such practices: "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 abominations the LORD your God is driving out the nations before you."
The prohibition against divination is part of a broader command to avoid all forms of occult practices, which were common among the surrounding nations. The Israelites were called to be distinct and to rely solely on God for guidance and revelation.
In
1 Samuel 28, King Saul seeks out a medium at Endor to summon the spirit of the prophet Samuel. This act of desperation occurs after God has stopped answering Saul through traditional means such as dreams, the Urim, or prophets. Saul's consultation with the medium is portrayed as a grave sin, leading to his downfall.
Prophetic CondemnationThe prophets of Israel frequently condemned diviners and false prophets. In
Jeremiah 14:14, the Lord declares, "The prophets are prophesying lies in My name. I did not send them, nor did I command them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a false vision, worthless divination, the deceit of their own minds." This passage highlights the deceitful nature of divination and the danger it poses to the people of God.
Similarly,
Ezekiel 13:6-7 criticizes those who claim to have divine insight without having received a true vision from God: "They see false visions and speak lying divinations. They claim, ‘Thus declares the LORD,’ when the LORD has not sent them; yet they wait for the fulfillment of their message. Have you not seen a false vision and spoken a lying divination when you proclaim, ‘Thus declares the LORD,’ even though I have not spoken?"
New Testament ContextIn the New Testament, the practice of divination is also addressed. In
Acts 16:16-18, Paul encounters a slave girl in Philippi who has a spirit of divination and earns a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. Paul, troubled by her persistent declarations, commands the spirit to leave her in the name of Jesus Christ, and she is immediately freed from the spirit. This incident underscores the power of Christ over demonic forces and the rejection of divination as a legitimate source of knowledge.
Theological ImplicationsFrom a theological perspective, divination is seen as a direct challenge to the sovereignty and authority of God. It represents a human attempt to gain control over the future and to access knowledge that is reserved for God alone. The Bible consistently calls believers to trust in God's providence and to seek His will through prayer, Scripture, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, rather than through forbidden practices like divination.
ConclusionThe biblical stance on diviners and divination is clear: such practices are condemned as abominations and are incompatible with a life of faith and obedience to God. Believers are called to rely on God's wisdom and revelation, rejecting any form of occultism or reliance on supernatural powers outside of the divine.
Strong's Hebrew
7080. qasam -- to practice divination... 7079, 7080. qasam. 7081 . to practice divination. Transliteration: qasam
Phonetic Spelling: (kaw-sam') Short Definition:
diviners.
...1505. gezar -- to cut, determine
... 1504, 1505. gezar. 1506 . to cut, determine. Transliteration: gezar Phonetic
Spelling: (ghez-ar') Short Definition:diviners. Word...
6049a. anan -- to practice soothsaying
... root Definition to practice soothsaying NASB Word Usagediviners' (1), fortune-tellers
(1), practice witchcraft (1), practiced witchcraft (2), practices...
Library
Rebellion of Attalus and his General Heraclean; and How He...
... He was deceived by the representations of somediviners, who assured him that he
would be able to conquer Africa without a battle; he disobeyed Alaric, who...
Prophets and the Prophet
... For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times,
and untodiviners: but as for thee, the Lord thy God hath not suffered thee so...
O what Amazement Befel the Evil One, of a Sudden, My Brethren...
... For lo! the Chaldeans with the soothsayers, and lo! the wizards: with thediviners
they are smitten and the priests, with all evil ones!"16....
The Last King of Judah
... their deliverance near. "Let not your prophets and yourdiviners, that be
in the midst of you, deceive you," he urged. Jeremiah 29...
The Life, Education, and Training of Julian, and his Accession to...
... It is asserted that he was first secretly led to renounce the religion of his fathers
by his intercourse withdiviners; for when the resentment of Constantius...
1 Thessalonians ii. 12-Sep
... many advise thee to have recourse todiviners; but thou, from fear of God, because
it is forbidden, choosest rather not to receive thy money than to disobey God...
A Short-Lived Peace
... These were the magicians,diviners, fortune-tellers, all the servants of idolatry
who had risen up at Julian's bidding and were swarming in Alexandria as...
Professions of Some Kinds Allied to Idolatry. Of Astrology in...
... After the Gospel, you will nowhere find either sophists, Chaldeans, enchanters,
diviners, or magicians, except as clearly punished....
Of the Exposition of the Resurrection, the Judgment, and Other...
... fraudulent, gamesters, adulterers, fornicators, lovers of public spectacles, wearers
of unholy charms, sorcerers, astrologers, ordiviners practising any sort...
The Son in Union with the Father in the Creation of all Things...
... Accordingly He says, concerning the Son, immediately afterwards: "Who else is it
that frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and makethdiviners mad, turning...
Thesaurus
Diviners (14 Occurrences)...Diviners (14 Occurrences).
... 1 Samuel 6:2 The Philistines called for the priests and
the
diviners, saying, "What shall we do with the ark of Yahweh?
...Dreams (34 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 27:9 But as for you, don't you listen to your prophets, nor to yourdiviners,
nor to your dreams, nor to your soothsayers, nor to your sorcerers, who...
Divination (25 Occurrences)
... Of false prophets (Deuteronomy 18:10, 14; Micah 3:6, 7, 11), of necromancers (1
Samuel 28:8), of the Philistine priests anddiviners (1 Samuel 6:2), of Balaam...
Observers (5 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 18:14 For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers
of times, and untodiviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not...
Soothsayers (16 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 18:14 For these nations, that thou shalt dispossess, hearken unto them
that practise augury, and untodiviners; but as for thee, Jehovah thy God...
Soothsayer (4 Occurrences)
... 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, ie, "diviners of the...
Lip (20 Occurrences)
... The prophet calls upon all seers anddiviners, to whom God has refused the knowledge
of the future, to cover their lips in shame and confusion (Micah 3:7). HLE...
Clouds (99 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 18:14 for these nations whom thou art possessing, unto observers of
clouds, and untodiviners, do hearken; and thou -- not so hath Jehovah thy God...
Liars (14 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 44:25 who frustrates the signs of the liars, and makesdiviners mad; who
turns wise men backward, and makes their knowledge foolish; (WEB KJV ASV DBY...
Ga'al (8 Occurrences)
... 37 Ga'al spoke again and said, "Look, men are coming down from the center of the
land, and one company is coming from the direction of theDiviners' Oak." (DBY...
Resources
Does the Bible say anything about clairvoyance? | GotQuestions.orgWhat were the emerods God afflicted the Philistines with in 1 Samuel 5? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is a medium? | GotQuestions.orgBible Concordance •
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