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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//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" /><title>Exodus 22:18 You must not allow a sorceress to live.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/exodus/22-18.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/9/02_Exo_22_18.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Exodus 22:18 - Laws of Social Responsibility" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="You must not allow a sorceress to live." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script 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frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/exodus/22-17.htm" title="Exodus 22:17">◄</a> Exodus 22:18 <a href="/exodus/22-19.htm" title="Exodus 22:19">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/exodus/22.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/exodus/22.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />&#8220Do not allow a sorceress to live.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/exodus/22.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />“You must not allow a sorceress to live.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/exodus/22.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />“You shall not permit a sorceress to live.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/exodus/22.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />You must not allow a sorceress to live.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/exodus/22.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/exodus/22.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />“You shall not permit a sorceress to live.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/exodus/22.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />“You shall not allow a sorceress to live.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/exodus/22.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220You shall not allow a sorceress to live.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/exodus/22.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“You shall not allow a sorceress to live.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/exodus/22.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />“You shall not allow a sorceress to live.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/exodus/22.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />“You shall not allow a woman who practices sorcery to live.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/exodus/22.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />“Do not allow a sorceress to live.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/exodus/22.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />You must not allow a sorceress to live.&#8221 <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/exodus/22.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Thou shalt not suffer a sorceress to live.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/exodus/22.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Death is the punishment for witchcraft. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/exodus/22.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Thou shalt not suffer a sorceress to live.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/exodus/22.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />"Never let a witch live.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/exodus/22.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />"Put to death any woman who practices magic. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/exodus/22.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />"You are not to allow a sorceress to live.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/exodus/22.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />You must not allow a sorceress to live.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/exodus/22.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />"You must not allow a sorceress to live. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/exodus/22.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />"You shall not allow a sorceress to live.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/exodus/22.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/exodus/22.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />“You shall not allow a sorceress to live. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/exodus/22.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />You do not keep a witch alive.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/exodus/22.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> 'A witch thou dost not keep alive.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/exodus/22.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Thou shalt not preserve alive a sorceress.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/exodus/22.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Wizards thou shalt not suffer to live. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/exodus/22.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />You shall not permit practitioners of the black arts to live.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/exodus/22.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />You shall not let a woman who practices sorcery live.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/exodus/22.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />You shall not permit a female sorcerer to live.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/exodus/22.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />You shall not suffer a witch to live.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/exodus/22.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />You shall not let a sorcerer live.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/exodus/22.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Thou shalt not suffer a sorceress to live.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/exodus/22.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />Ye shall not save the lives of sorcerers.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/exodus/22-18.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kVae3PiKqhs?start=5629" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/exodus/22.htm">Laws of Social Responsibility</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">17</span>If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, the man still must pay an amount comparable to the bridal price of a virgin. <span class="reftext">18</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">You must not</a> <a href="/hebrew/3784.htm" title="3784: mə·ḵaš·šê·p̄āh (V-Piel-Prtcpl-fs) -- To practice sorcery. A primitive root; properly, to whisper a spell, i.e. To inchant or practise magic.">allow a sorceress</a> <a href="/hebrew/2421.htm" title="2421: ṯə·ḥay·yeh (V-Piel-Imperf-2ms) -- To live, to revive. A primitive root; to live, whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive.">to live.</a> </span><span class="reftext">19</span>Whoever lies with an animal must surely be put to death.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/leviticus/20-27.htm">Leviticus 20:27</a></span><br />A man or a woman who is a medium or spiritist must surely be put to death. They shall be stoned; their blood is upon them.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/18-10.htm">Deuteronomy 18:10-12</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/28-3.htm">1 Samuel 28:3-9</a></span><br />Now by this time Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had removed the mediums and spiritists from the land. / The Philistines gathered together and camped at Shunem, while Saul gathered all Israel and camped at Gilboa. / When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid and trembled violently. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/21-6.htm">2 Kings 21:6</a></span><br />He sacrificed his own son in the fire, practiced sorcery and divination, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did great evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/33-6.htm">2 Chronicles 33:6</a></span><br />He sacrificed his sons in the fire in the Valley of Ben-hinnom. He practiced sorcery, divination, and witchcraft, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did great evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/micah/5-12.htm">Micah 5:12</a></span><br />I will cut the sorceries from your hand, and you will have no fortune-tellers.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nahum/3-4.htm">Nahum 3:4</a></span><br />because of the many harlotries of the harlot, the seductive mistress of sorcery, who betrays nations by her prostitution and clans by her witchcraft.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/8-19.htm">Isaiah 8:19</a></span><br />When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists who whisper and mutter, shouldn’t a people consult their God instead? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/47-12.htm">Isaiah 47:12-13</a></span><br />So take your stand with your spells and with your many sorceries, with which you have wearied yourself from your youth. Perhaps you will succeed; perhaps you will inspire terror! / You are wearied by your many counselors; let them come forward now and save you—your astrologers who observe the stars, who monthly predict your fate.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/27-9.htm">Jeremiah 27:9-10</a></span><br />But as for you, do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your interpreters of dreams, your mediums, or your sorcerers who declare, ‘You will not serve the king of Babylon.’ / For they prophesy to you a lie that will serve to remove you from your land; I will banish you and you will perish.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/8-9.htm">Acts 8:9-24</a></span><br />Prior to that time, a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and astounded the people of Samaria. He claimed to be someone great, / and all the people, from the least to the greatest, heeded his words and said, “This man is the divine power called the Great Power.” / They paid close attention to him because he had astounded them for a long time with his sorcery. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/13-6.htm">Acts 13:6-11</a></span><br />They traveled through the whole island as far as Paphos, where they found a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, / an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, a man of intelligence, summoned Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. / But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/galatians/5-19.htm">Galatians 5:19-21</a></span><br />The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; / idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, / and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/21-8.htm">Revelation 21:8</a></span><br />But to the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/22-15.htm">Revelation 22:15</a></span><br />But outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">You shall not suffer a witch to live.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/leviticus/19-26.htm">Leviticus 19:26,31</a></b></br> Ye shall not eat <i>any thing</i> with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/leviticus/20-6.htm">Leviticus 20:6,27</a></b></br> And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/18-10.htm">Deuteronomy 18:10,11</a></b></br> There shall not be found among you <i>any one</i> that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, <i>or</i> that useth divination, <i>or</i> an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, … </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/exodus/22-4.htm">Alive</a> <a href="/exodus/21-22.htm">Allow</a> <a href="/exodus/8-18.htm">Arts</a> <a href="/exodus/22-14.htm">Death</a> <a href="/exodus/21-35.htm">Live</a> <a href="/exodus/3-19.htm">Permit</a> <a href="/revelation/22-15.htm">Powers</a> <a href="/exodus/8-18.htm">Secret</a> <a href="/isaiah/57-3.htm">Sorceress</a> <a href="/exodus/12-23.htm">Suffer</a> <a href="/jude/1-7.htm">Unnatural</a> <a href="/genesis/42-23.htm">Using</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/18-10.htm">Witch</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/leviticus/10-16.htm">Alive</a> <a href="/leviticus/2-13.htm">Allow</a> <a href="/leviticus/19-26.htm">Arts</a> <a href="/exodus/22-19.htm">Death</a> <a href="/exodus/23-31.htm">Live</a> <a href="/numbers/35-6.htm">Permit</a> <a href="/psalms/47-9.htm">Powers</a> <a href="/numbers/5-13.htm">Secret</a> <a href="/isaiah/57-3.htm">Sorceress</a> <a href="/leviticus/2-13.htm">Suffer</a> <a href="/leviticus/18-23.htm">Unnatural</a> <a href="/exodus/38-8.htm">Using</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/18-10.htm">Witch</a><div class="vheading2">Exodus 22</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/22-1.htm">Of Theft</a></span><br><span class="reftext">5. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/22-5.htm">Of damage</a></span><br><span class="reftext">7. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/22-7.htm">Of trespasses</a></span><br><span class="reftext">14. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/22-14.htm">Of borrowing</a></span><br><span class="reftext">16. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/22-16.htm">Of fornication</a></span><br><span class="reftext">18. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/22-18.htm">Of witchcraft</a></span><br><span class="reftext">19. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/22-19.htm">Of bestiality</a></span><br><span class="reftext">20. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/22-20.htm">Of idolatry</a></span><br><span class="reftext">21. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/22-21.htm">Of strangers, widows, and fatherless</a></span><br><span class="reftext">25. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/22-25.htm">Of usury</a></span><br><span class="reftext">26. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/22-26.htm">Of pledges</a></span><br><span class="reftext">28. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/22-28.htm">Of reverence to magistrates</a></span><br><span class="reftext">29. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/22-29.htm">Of the first fruits</a></span><br><span class="reftext">31. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/22-31.htm">Of torn flesh</a></span><br></div></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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In the context of the Mosaic Law, commands were given to maintain the holiness and purity of the community. The imperative nature of this command underscores the importance of obedience to God's laws as a means of preserving the covenant relationship between God and His people.<p><b>a sorceress</b><br>The term "sorceress" refers to a woman who practices witchcraft or engages in occult activities. In the ancient Near Eastern context, sorcery was often associated with attempts to manipulate spiritual forces for personal gain or to harm others. Such practices were common among the surrounding pagan nations and were seen as a direct challenge to the sovereignty of God. The prohibition against sorcery is consistent with other biblical passages that condemn occult practices (e.g., <a href="/deuteronomy/18-10.htm">Deuteronomy 18:10-12</a>, <a href="/leviticus/19-31.htm">Leviticus 19:31</a>). The focus on a "sorceress" specifically may reflect the prevalence of women in these roles in ancient cultures.<p><b>to live</b><br>The command to not allow a sorceress to live highlights the severity of the offense in the eyes of God. In the theocratic society of ancient Israel, certain sins were considered capital offenses because they threatened the spiritual and communal integrity of the nation. The death penalty for sorcery underscores the belief that such practices were not merely personal sins but acts that could lead the community away from God. This reflects the broader biblical theme of the necessity of purging evil from among God's people to maintain holiness (see <a href="/deuteronomy/13-5.htm">Deuteronomy 13:5</a>). While the New Testament does not prescribe the same civil penalties, it continues to warn against engaging in occult practices (e.g., <a href="/galatians/5-19.htm">Galatians 5:19-21</a>, <a href="/acts/19-19.htm">Acts 19:19</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/m/moses.htm">Moses</a></b><br>The leader of the Israelites who received the Law from God, including the commandment in <a href="/exodus/22-18.htm">Exodus 22:18</a>.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/i/israelites.htm">Israelites</a></b><br>The chosen people of God, to whom the laws in Exodus were given as they journeyed from Egypt to the Promised Land.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/s/sorceress.htm">Sorceress</a></b><br>A woman who practices sorcery or witchcraft, which was strictly forbidden in Israelite society as it was seen as a rebellion against God.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/m/mount_sinai.htm">Mount Sinai</a></b><br>The place where Moses received the Law from God, including the commandments found in <a href="/bsb/exodus/22.htm">Exodus 22</a>.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/c/canaan.htm">Canaan</a></b><br>The land promised to the Israelites, where they were to establish a society based on God's laws, free from pagan practices like sorcery.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/u/understanding_the_context.htm">Understanding the Context</a></b><br>The command in <a href="/exodus/22-18.htm">Exodus 22:18</a> must be understood within the context of ancient Israel, where sorcery was associated with idolatry and rebellion against God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_holiness_and_purity.htm">God's Holiness and Purity</a></b><br>The prohibition against sorcery underscores God's desire for His people to be holy and set apart, avoiding practices that lead them away from Him.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_danger_of_sorcery.htm">The Danger of Sorcery</a></b><br>Sorcery is seen as a direct challenge to God's authority and a reliance on powers other than God, which is why it was so severely punished.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/m/modern-day_applications.htm">Modern-Day Applications</a></b><br>While the cultural context has changed, the principle remains: Christians are called to avoid practices that draw them away from God and to rely solely on Him for guidance and power.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/spiritual_warfare.htm">Spiritual Warfare</a></b><br>Believers are reminded that there is a spiritual battle, and they must be vigilant against influences that oppose God's will, using the armor of God as described in <a href="/bsb/ephesians/6.htm">Ephesians 6</a>.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_exodus_22.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Exodus 22</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/bible's_view_on_witchcraft.htm">What does the Bible say about witchcraft?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_exodus_22_18_fit_with_modern_rights.htm">Exodus 22:18: How can the command “Do not allow a sorceress to live” be reconciled with modern standards of religious freedom and human rights? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_the_bible_say_on_witchcraft.htm">What does the Bible say about witchcraft?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what's_the_bible's_view_on_witchcraft.htm">What is the Bible's stance on witchcraft?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/exodus/22.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(18) <span class= "bld">Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.</span>--The word translated "witch" in this passage is the feminine singular of that rendered by "sorcerers" in <a href="/exodus/7-11.htm" title="Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.">Exodus 7:11</a>, and means "a mutterer of charms." The use of the feminine form can only be accounted for by supposing that, practically, witchcraft was at the time mainly professed by females. Whether "witches" had actual help from evil spirits, or only professed to work magical effects by their aid, the sin against God was the same. Jehovah was renounced, and a power other than His invoked and upheld. Witchcraft was as much rebellion against God as idolatry or blasphemy, and deserved the same punishment.<span class= "bld"><p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/exodus/22.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 18.</span> - <span class="accented">Law against witchcraft</span>. Witchcraft was professedly a league with powers in rebellion against God. How far it was delusion, how far imposture, how far a real conspiracy with the powers of evil, cannot now be known. Let the most rationalistic view be taken, and still there was in the practice an absolute renunciation of religion, and of the authority of Jehovah. Wizards (<a href="/leviticus/19-31.htm">Leviticus 19:31</a>) and witches were, therefore, under the Jewish theocracy, like idolaters and blasphemers, to be put to death. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/exodus/22-18.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">You must not</span><br /><span class="heb">לֹ֥א</span> <span class="translit">(lō)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">allow a sorceress</span><br /><span class="heb">מְכַשֵּׁפָ֖ה</span> <span class="translit">(mə·ḵaš·šê·p̄āh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Piel - Participle - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3784.htm">Strong's 3784: </a> </span><span class="str2">To whisper a, spell, to inchant, practise magic</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to live.</span><br /><span class="heb">תְחַיֶּֽה׃</span> <span class="translit">(ṯə·ḥay·yeh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2421.htm">Strong's 2421: </a> </span><span class="str2">To live, to revive</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/exodus/22-18.htm">Exodus 22:18 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/exodus/22-18.htm">Exodus 22:18 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/exodus/22-18.htm">Exodus 22:18 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/exodus/22-18.htm">Exodus 22:18 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/exodus/22-18.htm">Exodus 22:18 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/exodus/22-18.htm">Exodus 22:18 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/exodus/22-18.htm">Exodus 22:18 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/exodus/22-18.htm">Exodus 22:18 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/exodus/22-18.htm">Exodus 22:18 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/exodus/22-18.htm">Exodus 22:18 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/exodus/22-18.htm">OT Law: Exodus 22:18 You shall not allow a sorceress (Exo. Ex) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/exodus/22-17.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Exodus 22:17"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Exodus 22:17" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/exodus/22-19.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Exodus 22:19"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Exodus 22:19" /></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="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>