Topical Encyclopedia
The term "magical" in the context of the Bible refers to practices and beliefs associated with the use of supernatural powers or forces, often in opposition to the will and commandments of God. The Bible consistently condemns such practices, associating them with paganism, idolatry, and rebellion against God.
Old Testament ReferencesIn the Old Testament, magical practices are often linked with the nations surrounding Israel, who engaged in various forms of divination, sorcery, and witchcraft. The Israelites were explicitly warned against adopting these practices. In
Deuteronomy 18:10-12 , God commands, "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 narrative of King Saul consulting the witch of Endor in
1 Samuel 28 illustrates the dangers and futility of seeking guidance through forbidden magical means. Saul's actions are portrayed as a desperate and faithless attempt to gain insight, ultimately leading to his downfall.
New Testament ReferencesIn the New Testament, magical practices are similarly condemned.
Acts 8:9-24 recounts the account of Simon the Sorcerer, who practiced magic in Samaria and amazed the people. When Simon attempted to buy the power of the Holy Spirit from the apostles, Peter rebuked him, saying, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!" (
Acts 8:20). This account underscores the incompatibility of magical practices with the true faith and the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 19:19 describes the conversion of many in Ephesus who practiced magic: "A number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver" . This public renunciation of magic signifies a turning away from former ways and a commitment to the teachings of Christ.
Theological ImplicationsFrom a theological perspective, magical practices are seen as attempts to manipulate spiritual forces for personal gain, bypassing the sovereignty and authority of God. Such practices are often rooted in a desire for power, control, or forbidden knowledge, which are contrary to the humility and trust in God that Scripture advocates.
The Bible's condemnation of magic is part of a broader rejection of idolatry and false worship. By engaging in magical practices, individuals place their trust in created things rather than the Creator, violating the first commandment to have no other gods before the LORD (
Exodus 20:3).
ConclusionThe biblical stance on magical practices is clear and unequivocal. Throughout Scripture, such practices are associated with rebellion against God and are consistently condemned. Believers are called to trust in God's wisdom and power, rejecting any form of magic or divination that seeks to usurp His rightful place as the sovereign Lord of all creation.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
a.) Pertaining to the hidden wisdom supposed to be possessed by the Magi; relating to the occult powers of nature, and the producing of effects by their agency.
2. (a.) Performed by, or proceeding from, occult and superhuman agencies; done by, or seemingly done by, enchantment or sorcery. Hence: Seemingly requiring more than human power; imposing or startling in performance; producing effects which seem supernatural or very extraordinary; having extraordinary properties; as, a magic lantern; a magic square or circle.
Greek
5331. pharmakeia -- the use of medicine, drugs or spells... enchantment. 5331 (from , "administer drugs") -- properly, drug-related sorcery,
like the practice of
magical-arts, etc. (AT Robertson).
...4021. periergos -- overly careful, curious, meddling, subst. a...
... busybody. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: periergos Phonetic Spelling:
(per-ee'-er-gos) Short Definition: a busybody, curious,magical Definition: of...
5333. pharmakos -- a poisoner, sorcerer, magician
... properly, a sorcerer; used of people using and "religious incantations" to drug
people into living by their -- like havingmagical (supernatural) powers to...
Strong's Hebrew
2791. cheresh -- silently, secretly... cunning, secretly From charash;
magical craft; also silence -- cunning, secretly.
see HEBREW charash. 2790b, 2791. cheresh. 2791a . Strong's Numbers.
7080. qasam -- to practice divination
... A primitive root; properly, to distribute, ie Determine by lot ormagical scroll;
by implication, to divine -- divine(-r, -ation), prudent, soothsayer, use...
2748. chartom -- an engraver, writer
... magician. From the same as cheret; a horoscopist (as drawingmagical lines or circles)
-- magician. see HEBREW cheret. 2747, 2748. chartom. 2749 ....
Library
As to Your Other Matter, How this Language of theMagical Working...
... [Way-2-107] As to your other matter, how this language of themagical working
of the will? As to your other matter, how this language...
In Opposition to those who Foolishly Imagine that Christ Converted...
... the harmony of the gospels.Book I. Chapter XI."In Opposition to Those Who Foolishly
Imagine that Christ Converted the People to Himself byMagical Arts. 17....
System of the Magicians; Incantations of Demons; SecretMagical...
... Book IV. Chapter XXVIII. "System of the Magicians; Incantations of Demons;
SecretMagical Rites. ... And (the sorcerer), taking...
The Heresy of Carpocrates; Wicked Doctrines Concerning Jesus...
... Book VII. Chapter XX."The Heresy of Carpocrates; Wicked Doctrines Concerning
Jesus Christ; PractiseMagical Arts; Adopt a Metempsychosis....
The Divination by a Cauldron; Illusion of Fiery Demons; Specimen...
... Book IV. Chapter XXXV."The Divination by a Cauldron; Illusion of Fiery Demons;
Specimen of aMagical Invocation. But neither shall...
Theophilus. ...
... Theophilus. As to your first matter, concerningmagical eyes; I should have thought
the thing plain enough already. But you may understand it thus....
And Here, My Friend, You have an Easy Entrance into the True...
... easy entrance into the true meaning of many important passages in the books of Jacob
Behmen, like those that follow: "All," says he, "ismagical; the eternity...
Menander the Sorcerer.
... he taught that no one could gain the mastery over the world-creating angels themselves
[817] unless he had first gone through themagical discipline imparted...
For this Magic Power of Everything, that Works in all Nature and...
... First, how I am to understand our author, when he says, "Here the reader must have
magical eyes"; and, "This or that hath amagical understanding." And...
And it is not we Alone who Speak of Wicked Demons...
... For this is the method they adopt, in order by means of incantations andmagical
arts to invoke the demons, and induce them to further their wishes....
Thesaurus
Magical (1 Occurrence)...Magical (1 Occurrence). Acts 19:19 Many of those who practiced
magical arts brought
their books together and burned them in the sight of all.
...Charm (5 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) A word or combination of words sung or spoken in the practice of magic;
amagical combination of words, characters, etc.; an incantation....
Magician (5 Occurrences)
... MAGIC IN THE BIBLE 1. Hostility to Magic 2. Potency ofMagical Words 3. Influence
of Charms V.MAGICAL TERMS USED IN THE BIBLE 1. Divination 2. Sorcery 3...
Magic (12 Occurrences)
... Allmagical arts were distinctly prohibited under penalty of death in the Mosaic
law.... 2. (a.) Alt. ofMagical. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. MAGIC; MAGICIAN....
Witchcraft (8 Occurrences)
... The Hebrew word is in both cases the participle of the verb (kishsheph), denoting
"to practice themagical article." See MAGIC, V, 2. In the first passage...
Witch (2 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) One who practices the black art, or magic; one regarded as possessing
supernatural ormagical power by compact with an evil spirit, esp....
Exorcism
... ek'-sor-siz'-m, ek'-sor-sist (Exorkistes, from exorkizo, "to adjure" (Matthew
26:63)): 1. Definition: One who expels demons by the use ofmagical formulas....
Exorcist (1 Occurrence)
... ek'-sor-siz'-m, ek'-sor-sist (Exorkistes, from exorkizo, "to adjure" (Matthew
26:63)): 1. Definition: One who expels demons by the use ofmagical formulas....
Devils (48 Occurrences)
... says: "Divine unto me by the 'obh and bring me up whomsoever I shall name unto thee."
The expression "divine by" clearly points to somemagical object used in...
Demons (54 Occurrences)
... says: "Divine unto me by the 'obh and bring me up whomsoever I shall name unto thee."
The expression "divine by" clearly points to somemagical object used in...
Resources
What should be the Christian view of Harry Potter? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the Egyptian Book of the Dead? | GotQuestions.orgWhat are the Christian themes in Prince Caspian? | GotQuestions.orgMagical: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
