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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0;"/><title>Topical Bible: Bewitch</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/topical/b/bewitch.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/newtopical.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/topical/vmenus/galatians/3-1.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/bmcde/b/bewitch.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/topical/">Topical</a> > Bewitch</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/topical/b/bewilderment.htm" title="Bewilderment">◄</a> Bewitch <a href="/topical/b/bewitched.htm" title="Bewitched">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse">Jump to: <a href="#isb" title="International Standard Bible Encyclopedia">ISBE</a> • <a href="#web" title="Webster's Dictionary">Webster's</a> • <a href="#cnc" title="Multiversion Concordance">Concordance</a> • <a href="#thes" title="Bible Thesaurus">Thesaurus</a> • <a href="#grk" title="Strong's Greek Concordance">Greek</a> • <a href="#lib" title="Library">Library</a> • <a href="#sub" title="Subtopics">Subtopics</a> • <a href="#rel" title="Related Terms">Terms</a></div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><a name="te" id="te"></a><div class="vheading2">Topical Encyclopedia</div><b>Definition and Context</b> <br>The term "bewitch" refers to the act of casting a spell over someone or enchanting them, often with the intent to deceive or manipulate. In biblical contexts, bewitchment is associated with sorcery, magic, and practices that are contrary to the worship and obedience of the one true God. The Bible consistently condemns such practices as they lead people away from God's truth and into spiritual bondage.<br><br><b>Biblical References</b> <br>The concept of bewitchment is most explicitly mentioned in the New Testament, particularly in the writings of the Apostle Paul. In <a href="/galatians/3.htm">Galatians 3:1</a> , Paul addresses the Galatian church with a rhetorical question: "O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes, Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified." Here, Paul uses the term "bewitched" to describe how the Galatians have been led astray from the gospel of Christ by false teachings, emphasizing the spiritual deception involved.<br><br><b>Old Testament Context</b> <br>While the specific term "bewitch" is not used in the Old Testament, the practice of sorcery and magic, which are closely related, is explicitly condemned. In <a href="/deuteronomy/18-10.htm">Deuteronomy 18:10-12</a> , God commands the Israelites: "Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells... Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD." This passage highlights the seriousness with which God views such practices, as they are seen as direct rebellion against His authority and a reliance on powers other than His.<br><br><b>New Testament Warnings</b> <br>In addition to Galatians, the New Testament contains further warnings against practices associated with bewitchment. <a href="/acts/8-9.htm">Acts 8:9-24</a> recounts the account of Simon the Sorcerer, who practiced magic in Samaria and amazed the people. When Simon attempts to buy the power of the Holy Spirit from the apostles, Peter rebukes him, saying, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!" (<a href="/acts/8-20.htm">Acts 8:20</a>). This account illustrates the incompatibility of sorcery with the Christian faith and the dangers of attempting to manipulate spiritual truths for personal gain.<br><br><b>Theological Implications</b> <br>From a theological perspective, bewitchment represents a form of spiritual deception that can lead individuals away from the truth of the gospel. It is often associated with false teachings and ideologies that contradict the core tenets of Christianity. The Bible's condemnation of such practices underscores the importance of discernment and faithfulness to God's Word.<br><br><b>Practical Considerations</b> <br>Christians are called to be vigilant against any form of spiritual deception, including bewitchment. <a href="/ephesians/6-11.htm">Ephesians 6:11</a> advises believers to "Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes." This includes being grounded in Scripture, maintaining a strong prayer life, and seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit to discern truth from falsehood.<br><br>In summary, the biblical perspective on bewitchment is one of caution and condemnation, urging believers to remain steadfast in their faith and to avoid any practices that would lead them away from the truth of God's Word.<a name="web" id="web"></a><div class="vheading2">Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary</div>1. (<I>v. t.</I>) To gain an ascendency over by charms or incantations; to affect (esp. to injure) by witchcraft or sorcery.<p>2. (<I>v. t.</I>) To charm; to fascinate; to please to such a degree as to take away the power of resistance; to enchant.<a name="isb" id="isb"></a><div class="vheading2">International Standard Bible Encyclopedia</div><span class="encheading">BEWITCH</span><p>be-wich' (existemi): There are two Greek words in the New Testament translated "bewitch." The one given above (<a href="/acts/8-9.htm">Acts 8:9, 21</a> the King James Version "bewitched," the Revised Version (British and American) "amazed") has reference to the work of Simon Magus. It means "to be out of one's mind," "to astonish," "to overwhelm with wonder." The other word, baskaino (<a href="/galatians/3-1.htm">Galatians 3:1</a>), means "to fascinate by false representation." It is by this means the apostle complains they have been led to accept a teaching wholly contrary to the gospel of Christ. Both these words reveal to us something of the difficulty the early teachers had to eradicate the idea so widely held by the Jews and Egyptians especially, that there were certain powers, dark and mysterious, which by certain occult forces they could control. For a long time this had to be contended with as one of the corrupt practices brought into the church by the converts, both from Judaism and heathenism. These words have a reference to the evil eye which for centuries was, and even today is, an important factor in the life of the people of the East. <a href="/1_timothy/6-20.htm">1 Timothy 6:20</a> is a reference to this thought and explains the word "science" (the King James Version) as there used.<br><br>See <a href="../d/divination.htm">DIVINATION</a>; <a href="../e/evil.htm">EVIL EYE</a>; SORCERY; SUPERSTITION.<br><br>Jacob W. Kapp<p><a name="grk" id="grk"></a><div class="vheading2">Greek</div><a href="/greek/940.htm"><span class="l">940. baskaino -- to slander, hence by ext. to <b>bewitch</b></span></a> <br><b>...</b> to <b>bewitch</b>. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: baskaino Phonetic Spelling:<br> (bas-kah'-ee-no) Short Definition: I give the evil eye to, fascinate, <b>bewitch</b> <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/940.htm</font><font color="#ff6600" size="-1"> - 7k</font><p><a href="/greek/1839.htm"><span class="l">1839. existemi -- to displace, to stand aside from</span></a> <br><b>...</b> lost His senses (1). amaze, make astonished, <b>bewitch</b>, wonder. From ek and histemi;<br> to put (stand) out of wits, ie Astound, or (reflexively <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1839.htm</font><font color="#ff6600" size="-1"> - 8k</font><a name="lib" id="lib"></a><div class="vheading2">Library</div><p><a href="/library/unknown/the_acts_of_philip/acts_of_saint_philip_the.htm"><span class="l">Acts of Saint Philip the Apostle when He Went to Upper Hellas.</span></a> <br><b>...</b> Dost thou then, said Philip, believe in Jesus? The high priest says: You do<br> not think, do you, that you can <b>bewitch</b> me, and persuade me? <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/...//christianbookshelf.org/unknown/the acts of philip/acts of saint philip the.htm</font><p><a href="/library/kleiser/fifteen_thousand_useful_phrases/section_iv_impressive_phrases.htm"><span class="l">Impressive Phrases</span></a> <br><b>...</b> character, disposition, temperament, and reputation. charm, fascinate, <b>bewitch</b>,<br> and captivate. cheap, inexpensive, inferior, and common. <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../kleiser/fifteen thousand useful phrases/section iv impressive phrases.htm</font><p><a href="/library/tertullian/_on_the_flesh_of_christ/chapter_ii_marcion_who_would_blot.htm"><span class="l">Marcion, who Would Blot Out the Record of Christ's Nativity, is <b>...</b></span></a> <br><b>...</b> [6960] Let that old woman also hold her tongue, lest she should <b>bewitch</b> the child."<br> [6961] After such a fashion as this, I suppose you have had, O Marcion, the <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../tertullian/ on the flesh of christ/chapter ii marcion who would blot.htm</font><p><a href="/library/miller/the_city_of_delight/chapter_xix_the_false_prophet.htm"><span class="l">The False Prophet</span></a> <br><b>...</b> Behold, she was wise enough to educate a barbarous nation, beautiful enough to <b>bewitch</b><br> potentates"for a time"strong enough to take a city; yet Hesper, who <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../miller/the city of delight/chapter xix the false prophet.htm</font><p><a href="/library/brown/christ_the_way_the_truth_and_the_life/recommendation.htm"><span class="l">Recommendation.</span></a> <br><b>...</b> As they determine to know some other thing than Christ and him crucified; so with<br> the enticing words of man's wisdom they <b>bewitch</b> men into a disobedience to <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../brown/christ the way the truth and the life/recommendation.htm</font><p><a href="/library/methodius/the_banquet_of_the_ten_virgins_or_concerning_chastity/chapter_v_the_reward_of_virginity.htm"><span class="l">The Reward of virginity.</span></a> <br><b>...</b> Go, lightly leaving on one side the fascinations and the pleasures of life, which<br> confuse and <b>bewitch</b> the soul; and thus shall ye attain the promises, "This I <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../chapter v the reward of virginity.htm</font><p><a href="/library/calvin/the_institutes_of_the_christian_religion/chapter_4_the_knowledge_of.htm"><span class="l">The Knowledge of God Stifled or Corrupted, Ignorantly or <b>...</b></span></a> <br><b>...</b> sober inquiry, because, arrogating to themselves more than they have any title to<br> do, they of their own accord court darkness, nay, <b>bewitch</b> themselves with <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 4 the knowledge of.htm</font><p><a href="/library/clement/the_stromata_or_miscellanies/chapter_vii_what_sort_of_prayer.htm"><span class="l">What Sort of Prayer the Gnostic Employs, and How it is Heard by <b>...</b></span></a> <br><b>...</b> therefore, to the pleasures of sight, nor the various pleasures which are found<br> in other enjoyments, as costly incense and odours, which <b>bewitch</b> the nostrils <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../clement/the stromata or miscellanies/chapter vii what sort of prayer.htm</font><p><a href="/library/clement/the_stromata_or_miscellanies/chapter_x_to_act_well_of.htm"><span class="l">To Act Well of Greater Consequence than to Speak Well.</span></a> <br><b>...</b> by words and deeds; but we must repudiate entirely the art of wrangling and sophistry,<br> since these sentences of the sophists not only <b>bewitch</b> and beguile the <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../clement/the stromata or miscellanies/chapter x to act well of.htm</font><p><a href="/library/palgrave/the_treasury_of_sacred_song/cxlvii_resolution_the_song_of.htm"><span class="l">Resolution: the Song of Hylobaris Concerning Divine Providence</span></a> <br><b>...</b> O Cave of horror black as pitch! Dark den of Spectres that <b>bewitch</b>. The<br> weaken'd phansy, sore affright. With the grim shades of grisly Night. <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../palgrave/the treasury of sacred song/cxlvii resolution the song of.htm</font><a name="thes" id="thes"></a><div class="vheading2">Thesaurus</div><a href="/topical/b/bewitch.htm"><span class="l"><b>Bewitch</b> (1 Occurrence)</span></a><br><b>...</b> Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. <b>BEWITCH</b>. <b>...</b> See DIVINATION; EVIL EYE; SORCERY;<br> SUPERSTITION. Jacob W. Kapp. Multi-Version Concordance <b>Bewitch</b> (1 Occurrence). <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/b/bewitch.htm - 8k</font><p><a href="/topical/w/witch.htm"><span class="l">Witch (2 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> versiera. 6. (n.) The stormy petrel. 7. (vt) To <b>bewitch</b>; to fascinate; to<br> enchant. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. EN-DOR, WITCH OF. <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/w/witch.htm - 24k</font><p><a href="/topical/b/bewilderment.htm"><span class="l">Bewilderment (7 Occurrences)</span></a><br><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/b/bewilderment.htm - 8k</font><p><a href="/topical/o/overlook.htm"><span class="l">Overlook (7 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> 3. (vt) To inspect; to examine; to look over carefully or repeatedly. 4. (vt) To<br> look upon with an evil eye; to <b>bewitch</b> by looking upon; to fascinate. <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/o/overlook.htm - 9k</font><p><a href="/topical/t/thoughtless.htm"><span class="l">Thoughtless (17 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> Galatians 3:1 O thoughtless Galatians, who did <b>bewitch</b> you, not to obey the truth --<br> before whose eyes Jesus Christ was described before among you crucified? <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/t/thoughtless.htm - 10k</font><p><a href="/topical/d/described.htm"><span class="l">Described (16 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> Galatians 3:1 O thoughtless Galatians, who did <b>bewitch</b> you, not to obey the truth --<br> before whose eyes Jesus Christ was described before among you crucified? <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/d/described.htm - 11k</font><p><a href="/topical/p/paradise.htm"><span class="l">Paradise (6 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> 5. (n.) A churchyard or cemetery. 6. (vt) To affect or exalt with visions of felicity;<br> to entrance; to <b>bewitch</b>. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. PARADISE. <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/p/paradise.htm - 16k</font><p><a href="/topical/b/bewitched.htm"><span class="l">Bewitched (3 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of <b>Bewitch</b>. Multi-Version Concordance<br> Bewitched (3 Occurrences). Acts 8:9 But there was a certain <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/b/bewitched.htm - 7k</font><p><a href="/topical/s/spell.htm"><span class="l">Spell (2 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> 9. (vt) To tell; to relate; to teach. 10. (vt) To put under the influence of a spell;<br> to affect by a spell; to <b>bewitch</b>; to fascinate; to charm. 11. <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/s/spell.htm - 8k</font><p><a href="/topical/w/witchcraft.htm"><span class="l">Witchcraft (8 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> The verb "<b>bewitch</b>" occurs in Acts 8:9, 11 the King James Version (of Simon Magus<br> bewitching the people) and in Galatians 3:1 ("O foolish Galatians, who hath <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/w/witchcraft.htm - 23k</font><p><a name="res" id="res"></a><div class="vheading2">Resources</div><a href="https://clyx.com/term/bewitch.htm">Bewitch: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com</a><br /><br /><a href="/concordance/">Bible Concordance</a> • <a href="/dictionary/">Bible Dictionary</a> • <a href="/encyclopedia/">Bible Encyclopedia</a> • <a href="/topical/">Topical Bible</a> • <a href="/thesaurus/">Bible Thesuarus</a></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="cnc" id="cnc"></a><div class="vheading2">Concordance</div><span class="encheading">Bewitch (1 Occurrence)</span><p><span class="rtext"><a href="/galatians/3-1.htm">Galatians 3:1</a></span><br />Foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you not to obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was openly set forth among you as crucified?<br /><span class="source">(Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)</span><a name="sub" id="sub"></a><div class="vheading2">Subtopics</div><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/b/bewitch.htm">Bewitch</a></p><a name="rel" id="rel"></a><div class="vheading2">Related Terms</div><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/b/bewitch.htm">Bewitch (1 Occurrence)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/b/bewray.htm">Bewray (1 Occurrence)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/v/vividly.htm">Vividly (1 Occurrence)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/e/evidently.htm">Evidently (4 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/m/magus.htm">Magus</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/p/publicly.htm">Publicly (31 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/p/portrayed.htm">Portrayed (3 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/b/beforetime.htm">Beforetime (21 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/sophistry.htm">Sophistry (2 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/senseless.htm">Senseless (22 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/w/witchcraft.htm">Witchcraft (8 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/r/regard.htm">Regard (230 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/o/openly.htm">Openly (52 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/c/crucified.htm">Crucified (42 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/w/witch.htm">Witch (2 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/f/foolish.htm">Foolish (259 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/g/galatians.htm">Galatians (2 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/o/obey.htm">Obey (219 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/g/giving.htm">Giving (611 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/o/o.htm">O (1414 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/c/cross.htm">Cross (157 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/simon.htm">Simon (75 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/e/epistle.htm">Epistle (13 Occurrences)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/topical/b/bewilderment.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Bewilderment"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Bewilderment" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/topical/b/bewitched.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Bewitched"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Bewitched" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div> <div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"><script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; 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