CINXE.COM

<!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>Leviticus 20:27 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.'"</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/leviticus/20-27.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/18/03_Lev_20_27.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Leviticus 20:27 - Keep All My Decrees" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="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.'" /><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="/vmenus/leviticus/20-27.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="/bmc/leviticus/20-27.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="/leviticus/">Leviticus</a> > <a href="/leviticus/20.htm">Chapter 20</a> > Verse 27</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><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad7.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" 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="/leviticus/20-26.htm" title="Leviticus 20:26">◄</a> Leviticus 20:27 <a href="/leviticus/21-1.htm" title="Leviticus 21:1">►</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/leviticus/20.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/leviticus/20.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />&#8220&#8217A man or woman who is a medium or spiritist among you must be put to death. You are to stone them; their blood will be on their own heads.&#8217&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/leviticus/20.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />“Men and women among you who act as mediums or who consult the spirits of the dead must be put to death by stoning. They are guilty of a capital offense.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/leviticus/20.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />“A man or a woman who is a medium or a necromancer shall surely be put to death. They shall be stoned with stones; their blood shall be upon them.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/leviticus/20.htm">Berean Standard Bible</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="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/leviticus/20.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood <i>shall be</i> upon them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/leviticus/20.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />‘A man or a woman who is a medium, or who has familiar spirits, shall surely be put to death; they shall stone them with stones. Their blood <i>shall be</i> upon them.’ ”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/leviticus/20.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />‘Now a man or a woman who is a medium or a spiritist must be put to death. They shall be stoned with stones; <i>they have brought</i> their own deaths upon themselves.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/leviticus/20.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8216Now a man or a woman who is a medium or a spiritist shall surely be put to death. They shall be stoned with stones, their bloodguiltiness is upon them.&#8217&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/leviticus/20.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />‘Now a man or a woman who is a medium or a spiritist shall surely be put to death. They shall be stoned with stones, their bloodguiltiness is upon them.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/leviticus/20.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />‘Now a man or a woman who is a medium or a spiritist shall surely be put to death. They shall be stoned with stones. Their bloodguiltiness is upon them.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/leviticus/20.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />‘A man or woman who is a medium [who pretends to consult the dead] or who is a spiritist shall most certainly be put to death, and be stoned with stones; their blood is on them.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/leviticus/20.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />“A man or a woman who is a medium or a spiritist must be put to death. They are to be stoned; their death is their own fault.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/leviticus/20.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />A man or a woman who is a medium or a spiritist must be put to death. They are to be stoned; their blood is on their own hands.&#8221 <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/leviticus/20.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />A man also or a woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones; their blood shall be upon them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/leviticus/20.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />If you claim to receive messages from the dead, you will be put to death by stoning, just as you deserve. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/leviticus/20.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />A man also or a woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/leviticus/20.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />"Every man or woman who is a medium or a psychic must be put to death. They must be stoned to death because they deserve to die."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/leviticus/20.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />"Any man or woman who consults the spirits of the dead shall be stoned to death; any of you that do this are responsible for your own death." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/leviticus/20.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />"Moreover, a man or a woman who has a ritual spirit or a familiar spirit is certainly to die. They are to be stoned to death with boulders. They will continue to bear responsibility for their guilt." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/leviticus/20.htm">Majority Standard Bible</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="versiontext"><a href="/net/leviticus/20.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />"'A man or woman who has in them a spirit of the dead or a familiar spirit must be put to death. They must pelt them with stones; their blood guilt is on themselves.'" <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/leviticus/20.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />"'A man or a woman that is a medium, or is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones; their blood shall be upon them.'"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/leviticus/20.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />A man also or a woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/leviticus/20.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />“‘A man or a woman that is a medium or is a wizard shall surely be put to death. They shall be stoned with stones. Their blood shall be upon themselves.’” <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/leviticus/20.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And a man or woman, when there is a familiar spirit in them, or who [are] wizards, are certainly put to death; they stone them with stone; their blood [is] on them.” <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/leviticus/20.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And a man or woman -- when there is in them a familiar spirit, or who are wizards -- are certainly put to death; with stones they stone them; their blood is on them.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/leviticus/20.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />When a man or a woman shall be among them a necromancer, or a wizard, dying, they shall die: with stone shall they stone them: their blood is upon them.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/leviticus/20.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />A man, or woman, in whom there is a pythonical or divining spirit, dying let them die: they shall stone them: their blood be upon them. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/leviticus/20.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />A man or a woman, in whom there is an oracle-like or a divining spirit, shall be put to death. They shall stone them. So let their blood be upon them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/leviticus/20.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />A man or a woman who acts as a medium or clairvoyant shall be put to death. They shall be stoned to death; their bloodguilt is upon them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/leviticus/20.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />A man or a woman who is a medium or a wizard shall be put to death; they shall be stoned to death, their blood is upon them.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/leviticus/20.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />A man or a woman who is a diviner, or soothsayer shall surely be put to death; they shall stone them with stones; their blood shall be upon them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/leviticus/20.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And a man or a woman that has among them a necromancer or a soothsayer certainly shall be killed, and they shall stone them with stones and their blood shall be upon them.'" <div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/leviticus/20.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />A man also or a woman that divineth by a ghost or a familiar spirit, shall surely be put to death; they shall stone them with stones; their blood shall be upon them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/leviticus/20.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And <i>as for</i> a man or woman whosoever of them shall have in them a divining spirit, or be an enchanter, let them both die the death: ye shall stone them with stones, they are guilty.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/leviticus/20-27.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/NWs_V1RyMFo?start=5534" 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/leviticus/20.htm">Keep All My Decrees</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">26</span>You are to be holy to Me because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be My own. <span class="reftext">27</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/376.htm" title="376: wə·’îš (Conj-w:: N-ms) -- Man. Contracted for 'enowsh; a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term.">A man</a> <a href="/hebrew/176.htm" title="176: ’ōw- (Conj) -- Or. Presumed to be the constructive or genitival form of -av; short for 'avvah; desire; hence or, also if.">or</a> <a href="/hebrew/802.htm" title="802: ’iš·šāh (N-fs) -- Woman, wife, female. Feminine of 'iysh or 'enowsh; irregular plural, nashiym; a woman.">a woman</a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî- (Conj) -- That, for, when. "></a> <a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: yih·yeh (V-Qal-Imperf-3ms) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass.">who is</a> <a href="/hebrew/ḇā·hem (Prep:: 3mp) -- "></a> <a href="/hebrew/178.htm" title="178: ’ō·wḇ (N-ms) -- From the same as 'ab; properly, a mumble, i.e. A water skin; hence a necromancer.">a medium</a> <a href="/hebrew/176.htm" title="176: ’ōw (Conj) -- Or. Presumed to be the constructive or genitival form of -av; short for 'avvah; desire; hence or, also if.">or</a> <a href="/hebrew/3049.htm" title="3049: yid·də·‘ō·nî (N-ms) -- Familiar spirit. From yada'; properly, a knowing one; specifically, a conjurer; a ghost.">spiritist</a> <a href="/hebrew/4191.htm" title="4191: mō·wṯ (V-Qal-InfAbs) -- To die. A primitive root: to die; causatively, to kill.">must surely</a> <a href="/hebrew/4191.htm" title="4191: yū·mā·ṯū (V-Hofal-Imperf-3mp) -- To die. A primitive root: to die; causatively, to kill.">be put to death.</a> <a href="/hebrew/68.htm" title="68: bā·’e·ḇen (Prep-b, Art:: N-fs) -- A stone. From the root of banah through the meaning to build; a stone."></a> <a href="/hebrew/7275.htm" title="7275: yir·gə·mū (V-Qal-Imperf-3mp) -- To stone, kill by stoning. A primitive root; to cast together, i.e. To lapidate.">They shall be stoned;</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’ō·ṯām (DirObjM:: 3mp) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/1818.htm" title="1818: də·mê·hem (N-mpc:: 3mp) -- Blood. From damam; blood of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of the grape; figuratively bloodshed.">their blood</a> <a href="/hebrew/bām (Prep:: 3mp) -- ">is upon them.’”</a> </span><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="/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="/exodus/22-18.htm">Exodus 22:18</a></span><br />You must not allow a sorceress to live.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/28-7.htm">1 Samuel 28:7-9</a></span><br />Then Saul said to his servants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, so I can go and consult her.” “There is a medium at Endor,” his servants replied. / So Saul disguised himself by putting on different clothes, and he set out with two of his men. They came to the woman at night, and Saul said, “Consult a spirit for me. Bring up for me the one I name.” / But the woman replied, “Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has killed the mediums and spiritists in the land. Why have you set a trap to get me killed?”<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="/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/19-3.htm">Isaiah 19:3</a></span><br />Then the spirit of the Egyptians will be emptied out from among them, and I will frustrate their plans, so that they will resort to idols and spirits of the dead, to mediums and spiritists.<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="/acts/16-16.htm">Acts 16:16-18</a></span><br />One day as we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl with a spirit of divination, who earned a large income for her masters by fortune-telling. / This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation!” / She continued this for many days. Eventually Paul grew so aggravated that he turned and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” And the spirit left her at that very moment.<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="/1_chronicles/10-13.htm">1 Chronicles 10:13-14</a></span><br />So Saul died for his unfaithfulness to the LORD, because he did not keep the word of the LORD and even consulted a medium for guidance, / and he failed to inquire of the LORD. So the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.<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="/ezekiel/13-18.htm">Ezekiel 13:18-23</a></span><br />and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: Woe to the women who sew magic charms on their wrists and make veils for the heads of people of every height, in order to ensnare their souls. Will you ensnare the souls of My people but preserve your own? / You have profaned Me among My people for handfuls of barley and scraps of bread. By lying to My people who would listen, you have killed those who should not have died and spared those who should not have lived. / Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: See, I am against the magic charms with which you ensnare souls like birds, and I will tear them from your arms. So I will free the souls you have ensnared like birds. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/8-9.htm">Acts 8:9-11</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.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">A man also or woman that has a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be on them.</p><p class="hdg">a familiar</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/leviticus/20-6.htm">Leviticus 20:6</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="/leviticus/19-31.htm">Leviticus 19:31</a></b></br> Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I <i>am</i> the LORD your God.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/22-18.htm">Exodus 22:18</a></b></br> Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.</p><p class="hdg">their blood</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/leviticus/20-9.htm">Leviticus 20:9</a></b></br> For every one that curseth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death: he hath cursed his father or his mother; his blood <i>shall be</i> upon him.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/leviticus/20-19.htm">Blood</a> <a href="/leviticus/20-16.htm">Bloodguiltiness</a> <a href="/leviticus/20-20.htm">Death</a> <a href="/leviticus/19-26.htm">Divination</a> <a href="/genesis/44-5.htm">Divineth</a> <a href="/leviticus/20-6.htm">Familiar</a> <a href="/genesis/49-33.htm">Ghost</a> <a href="/leviticus/20-16.htm">Heads</a> <a href="/leviticus/20-8.htm">Makes</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/10-13.htm">Medium</a> <a href="/exodus/35-31.htm">Spirit</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/18-11.htm">Spiritist</a> <a href="/leviticus/20-6.htm">Spirits</a> <a href="/leviticus/20-2.htm">Stone</a> <a href="/exodus/21-32.htm">Stoned</a> <a href="/leviticus/20-2.htm">Stones</a> <a href="/leviticus/20-16.htm">Surely</a> <a href="/leviticus/20-6.htm">Use</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/18-11.htm">Wizard</a> <a href="/leviticus/20-6.htm">Wizards</a> <a href="/acts/13-8.htm">Wonder-Worker</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/leviticus/25-49.htm">Blood</a> <a href="/numbers/35-27.htm">Bloodguiltiness</a> <a href="/leviticus/22-8.htm">Death</a> <a href="/numbers/22-7.htm">Divination</a> <a href="/1_samuel/28-7.htm">Divineth</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/18-11.htm">Familiar</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/18-11.htm">Ghost</a> <a href="/leviticus/21-5.htm">Heads</a> <a href="/leviticus/21-9.htm">Makes</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/18-11.htm">Medium</a> <a href="/numbers/5-14.htm">Spirit</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/18-11.htm">Spiritist</a> <a href="/numbers/16-22.htm">Spirits</a> <a href="/leviticus/24-14.htm">Stone</a> <a href="/leviticus/24-14.htm">Stoned</a> <a href="/leviticus/21-20.htm">Stones</a> <a href="/leviticus/24-16.htm">Surely</a> <a href="/leviticus/21-18.htm">Use</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/18-11.htm">Wizard</a> <a href="/1_samuel/28-3.htm">Wizards</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/18-10.htm">Wonder-Worker</a><div class="vheading2">Leviticus 20</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/leviticus/20-1.htm">Of him who gives his seed to Moloch</a></span><br><span class="reftext">4. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/leviticus/20-4.htm">Of him who favors such an one</a></span><br><span class="reftext">6. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/leviticus/20-6.htm">Of going to wizards</a></span><br><span class="reftext">7. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/leviticus/20-7.htm">Of sanctification</a></span><br><span class="reftext">9. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/leviticus/20-9.htm">Of him who curses his parents</a></span><br><span class="reftext">11. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/leviticus/20-11.htm">Of incest</a></span><br><span class="reftext">13. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/leviticus/20-13.htm">Of sodomy</a></span><br><span class="reftext">15. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/leviticus/20-15.htm">Of bestiality</a></span><br><span class="reftext">18. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/leviticus/20-18.htm">Of uncleanness</a></span><br><span class="reftext">22. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/leviticus/20-22.htm">Obedience is required with holiness</a></span><br><span class="reftext">27. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/leviticus/20-27.htm">Wizards must be put to death</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'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/leviticus/20.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/leviticus/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/leviticus/20.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>A man or a woman who is a medium or spiritist</b><br>In ancient Israel, mediums and spiritists were individuals who claimed to communicate with the dead or with spirits. This practice was strictly forbidden as it was seen as an abomination to God (<a href="/deuteronomy/18-10.htm">Deuteronomy 18:10-12</a>). The cultural context of the time included widespread pagan practices among neighboring nations, which often involved necromancy and divination. The Israelites were called to be set apart and not to engage in such practices, which were considered to lead people away from reliance on God.<p><b>must surely be put to death.</b><br>The death penalty for mediums and spiritists underscores the severity with which God viewed these practices. This command reflects the holiness code in Leviticus, which emphasizes purity and the need to remove sin from the community. The death penalty served as a deterrent and a means to maintain the spiritual integrity of the nation. This reflects the broader biblical theme of the wages of sin being death (<a href="/romans/6-23.htm">Romans 6:23</a>).<p><b>They shall be stoned;</b><br>Stoning was a common method of execution in ancient Israel, symbolizing communal participation in the judgment. It was a public act, serving as a warning to others. The community's involvement in the execution highlighted the collective responsibility to uphold God's laws. This method of execution is also seen in other instances of capital punishment in the Old Testament, such as in the case of blasphemy (<a href="/leviticus/24-14.htm">Leviticus 24:14</a>).<p><b>their blood is upon them.’”</b><br>This phrase indicates that the responsibility for the death lies with the offenders themselves. It implies that they have brought the punishment upon themselves through their actions. This concept of personal responsibility is echoed in <a href="/ezekiel/18-20.htm">Ezekiel 18:20</a>, which states that the soul who sins shall die. It also reflects the principle of justice in the Mosaic Law, where individuals are accountable for their own sins.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/m/mediums_and_spiritists.htm">Mediums and Spiritists</a></b><br>Individuals who claim to communicate with the dead or spirits. In ancient Israel, these practices were strictly forbidden as they were seen as attempts to bypass God's authority and guidance.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/a/ancient_israel.htm">Ancient Israel</a></b><br>The context of this command is within the covenant community of Israel, where God established laws to maintain holiness and purity among His people.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/s/stoning.htm">Stoning</a></b><br>A form of capital punishment used in ancient Israel, symbolizing the community's role in upholding God's laws and purging evil from among them.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/h/holiness_and_separation.htm">Holiness and Separation</a></b><br>God calls His people to be holy and separate from practices that are contrary to His will. Engaging in or tolerating occult practices undermines our relationship with God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/a/authority_of_god.htm">Authority of God</a></b><br>Seeking guidance from mediums or spiritists is a rejection of God's authority and provision. Believers are encouraged to seek wisdom and direction from God alone.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/community_responsibility.htm">Community Responsibility</a></b><br>The command to stone those who practice divination highlights the community's role in maintaining purity and obedience to God's laws. Today, this translates to holding one another accountable in love and truth.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/spiritual_discernment.htm">Spiritual Discernment</a></b><br>Christians are called to discern the spirits and teachings they encounter, ensuring they align with biblical truth and the Holy Spirit's guidance.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/repentance_and_restoration.htm">Repentance and Restoration</a></b><br>While the Old Testament law prescribed death, the New Testament offers hope through repentance and restoration in Christ. Believers should seek forgiveness and turn away from sinful practices.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_leviticus_20.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Leviticus 20</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_lev_20_27_align_with_1_sam_28.htm">In Leviticus 20:27, how does the death sentence for mediums and spiritists reconcile with the Bible’s own instances of sanctioned supernatural encounters (e.g., 1 Samuel 28)?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_the_bible_say_on_child_sacrifice.htm">What does the Bible say about child sacrifice?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/does_stoning_contradict_'do_not_kill'.htm">Does the prescribed stoning for blasphemy (Leviticus 24:14) contradict the Sixth Commandment against killing (Exodus 20:13)?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what's_the_bible's_view_on_necromancy.htm">What is the Bible's stance on necromancy?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/leviticus/20.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(27) <span class= "bld">A man also or woman.</span>--Better, <span class= "ital">And a man or a woman. </span>The departure from the literal translation of the conjunction in the Authorised version is both unnecessary and obscures the meaning of the sentence. It ought rather to be translated "but;" that is, but because the Israelites are God's holy ones, therefore every man or woman who pretends to disclose future events by means of necromancy, thus usurping the functions of God, is to be stoned to death. The case of these necromancers is here repeated, because in <a href="/leviticus/19-31.htm" title="Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.">Leviticus 19:31</a> the consulting them only is forbidden, and in the sixth verse of this chapter the penalty for consulting them is set forth, whilst in the passage before us the penalty is enacted which the persons themselves who are convicted of practising these secret arts are to suffer. The woman is here expressly added, both because this art seems to have been principally followed by women (<a href="/exodus/22-28.htm" title="You shall not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of your people.">Exodus 22:28</a>; <a href="/1_samuel/28-7.htm" title="Then said Saul to his servants, Seek me a woman that has a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that has a familiar spirit at Endor.">1Samuel 28:7</a>; <a href="/acts/16-16.htm" title="And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:">Acts 16:16</a>), and because men would naturally be inclined to treat women more mercifully.<p><span class= "bld">Their blood shall be upon them.</span>--That is, they have brought it upon themselves to be killed. (See <a href="/leviticus/20-9.htm" title="For every one that curses his father or his mother shall be surely put to death: he has cursed his father or his mother; his blood shall be on him.">Leviticus 20:9</a>.) . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/leviticus/20.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 27.</span> - Those that deal in witchcraft are to be stoned. <p> <p> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/leviticus/20-27.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">A man</span><br /><span class="heb">וְאִ֣ישׁ</span> <span class="translit">(wə·’îš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_376.htm">Strong's 376: </a> </span><span class="str2">A man as an individual, a male person</span><br /><br /><span class="word">or</span><br /><span class="heb">אֽוֹ־</span> <span class="translit">(’ōw-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_176.htm">Strong's 176: </a> </span><span class="str2">Desire, if</span><br /><br /><span class="word">a woman</span><br /><span class="heb">אִשָּׁ֗ה</span> <span class="translit">(’iš·šāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_802.htm">Strong's 802: </a> </span><span class="str2">Woman, wife, female</span><br /><br /><span class="word">who is</span><br /><span class="heb">יִהְיֶ֨ה</span> <span class="translit">(yih·yeh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1961.htm">Strong's 1961: </a> </span><span class="str2">To fall out, come to pass, become, be</span><br /><br /><span class="word">a medium</span><br /><span class="heb">א֛וֹב</span> <span class="translit">(’ō·wḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_178.htm">Strong's 178: </a> </span><span class="str2">A bottle (made from animal skin), a necromancer</span><br /><br /><span class="word">or</span><br /><span class="heb">א֥וֹ</span> <span class="translit">(’ōw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_176.htm">Strong's 176: </a> </span><span class="str2">Desire, if</span><br /><br /><span class="word">a spiritist</span><br /><span class="heb">יִדְּעֹנִ֖י</span> <span class="translit">(yid·də·‘ō·nî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3049.htm">Strong's 3049: </a> </span><span class="str2">A knowing one, a conjurer, a ghost</span><br /><br /><span class="word">must surely</span><br /><span class="heb">מ֣וֹת</span> <span class="translit">(mō·wṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4191.htm">Strong's 4191: </a> </span><span class="str2">To die, to kill</span><br /><br /><span class="word">be put to death.</span><br /><span class="heb">יוּמָ֑תוּ</span> <span class="translit">(yū·mā·ṯū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hofal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4191.htm">Strong's 4191: </a> </span><span class="str2">To die, to kill</span><br /><br /><span class="word">They shall be stoned;</span><br /><span class="heb">יִרְגְּמ֥וּ</span> <span class="translit">(yir·gə·mū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7275.htm">Strong's 7275: </a> </span><span class="str2">To cast together, to lapidate</span><br /><br /><span class="word">their blood</span><br /><span class="heb">דְּמֵיהֶ֥ם</span> <span class="translit">(də·mê·hem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1818.htm">Strong's 1818: </a> </span><span class="str2">Blood, of man, an animal, the juice of the grape, bloodshed</span><br /><br /><span class="word">[is] upon them.’”</span><br /><span class="heb">בָּֽם׃</span> <span class="translit">(bām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/.htm">Strong's Hebrew</a> </span><span class="str2"></span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/leviticus/20-27.htm">Leviticus 20:27 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/leviticus/20-27.htm">Leviticus 20:27 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/leviticus/20-27.htm">Leviticus 20:27 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/leviticus/20-27.htm">Leviticus 20:27 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/leviticus/20-27.htm">Leviticus 20:27 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/leviticus/20-27.htm">Leviticus 20:27 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/leviticus/20-27.htm">Leviticus 20:27 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/leviticus/20-27.htm">Leviticus 20:27 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/leviticus/20-27.htm">Leviticus 20:27 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/leviticus/20-27.htm">Leviticus 20:27 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/leviticus/20-27.htm">OT Law: Leviticus 20:27 A man or a woman that (Le Lv Lev.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/leviticus/20-26.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Leviticus 20:26"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Leviticus 20:26" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/leviticus/21-1.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Leviticus 21:1"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Leviticus 21:1" /></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>