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I am the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/leviticus/19.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />“Do not defile yourselves by turning to mediums or to those who consult the spirits of the dead. I am the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/leviticus/19.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />“Do not turn to mediums or necromancers; do not seek them out, and so make yourselves unclean by them: I am the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/leviticus/19.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />You must not turn to mediums or spiritists; do not seek them out, or you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/leviticus/19.htm">King James Bible</a></span><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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/leviticus/19.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />‘Give no regard to mediums and familiar spirits; do not seek after them, to be defiled by them: I <i>am</i> the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/leviticus/19.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />‘Do not turn to mediums or spiritists; do not seek them out to be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/leviticus/19.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8216Do not turn to mediums or spiritists; do not seek them out to be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/leviticus/19.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />‘Do not turn to mediums or spiritists; do not seek them out to be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/leviticus/19.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />‘Do not turn to mediums or spiritists; do not seek them out to be defiled by them. I am Yahweh your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/leviticus/19.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />‘Do not turn to mediums [who pretend to consult the dead] or to spiritists [who have spirits of divination]; do not seek them out to be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/leviticus/19.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />“Do not turn to mediums or consult spiritists, or you will be defiled by them; I am the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/leviticus/19.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Do not turn to mediums or consult spiritists, or you will be defiled by them; I am Yahweh your God.&#8221 <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/leviticus/19.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Turn ye not unto them that have familiar spirits, nor unto the wizards; seek them not out, to be defiled by them: I am Jehovah your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/leviticus/19.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Don't make yourselves disgusting to me by going to people who claim they can talk to the dead. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/leviticus/19.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Turn ye not unto them that have familiar spirits, nor unto the wizards; seek them not out, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/leviticus/19.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />"Don't turn to psychics or mediums to get help. That will make you unclean. I am the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/leviticus/19.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />"Do not go for advice to people who consult the spirits of the dead. If you do, you will be ritually unclean. I am the LORD your God. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/leviticus/19.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />"You are to consult neither mediums nor familiar spirits. You are never to seek them—you'll just be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/leviticus/19.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />You must not turn to mediums or spiritists; do not seek them out, or you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/leviticus/19.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Do not turn to the spirits of the dead and do not seek familiar spirits to become unclean by them. I am the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/leviticus/19.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />"'Do not turn to spirits of the dead, and do not inquire of familiar spirits, to be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/leviticus/19.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/leviticus/19.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />“‘Don’t turn to those who are mediums, nor to the wizards. Don’t seek them out, to be defiled by them. I am Yahweh your God. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/leviticus/19.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />You do not turn to those having familiar spirits, and you do not seek for wizards, to become unclean by them; I [am] your God YHWH.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/leviticus/19.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> Ye do not turn unto those having familiar spirits; and unto wizards ye do not seek, for uncleanness by them; I am Jehovah your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/leviticus/19.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Ye shall not turn to necromancers, and to wizards ye shall not seek, to be defiled by them: I Jehovah your God.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/leviticus/19.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />31Go not aside after wizards, neither ask any thing of soothsayers, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/leviticus/19.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Do not turn aside to astrologers, nor consult with soothsayers, so as to be polluted through them. I am the Lord your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/leviticus/19.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Do not turn to ghosts or consult spirits, by which you will be defiled. I, the LORD, am your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/leviticus/19.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Do not turn to mediums or wizards; do not seek them out, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/leviticus/19.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />You shall not go after diviners, neither after the soothsayers, nor shall you consult them to be defiled by them; I am the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/leviticus/19.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Do Not go after necromancers and soothsayers and you shall not inquire of them lest you will be defiled by them; I AM LORD JEHOVAH your God.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/leviticus/19.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Turn ye not unto the ghosts, nor unto familiar spirits; seek them not out, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/leviticus/19.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />Ye shall not attend to those who have in them divining spirits, nor attach yourselves to enchanters, to pollute yourselves with them: I am the Lord your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/leviticus/19-31.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=5213" 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/19.htm">Keep My Decrees</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">30</span>You must keep My Sabbaths and have reverence for My sanctuary. I am the LORD. <span class="reftext">31</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/408.htm" title="408: ’al- (Adv) -- Not (a subjective neg.). A negative particle; not; once as a noun, nothing.">You must not</a> <a href="/hebrew/6437.htm" title="6437: tip̄·nū (V-Qal-Imperf-2mp) -- To turn. A primitive root; to turn; by implication, to face, i.e. Appear, look, etc.">turn</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’el- (Prep) -- To, into, towards. ">to</a> <a href="/hebrew/178.htm" title="178: hā·’ō·ḇōṯ (Art:: N-mp) -- From the same as 'ab; properly, a mumble, i.e. A water skin; hence a necromancer.">mediums</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: wə·’el- (Conj-w:: Prep) -- To, into, towards. ">or</a> <a href="/hebrew/3049.htm" title="3049: hay·yid·də·‘ō·nîm (Art:: N-mp) -- Familiar spirit. From yada'; properly, a knowing one; specifically, a conjurer; a ghost.">spiritists;</a> <a href="/hebrew/1245.htm" title="1245: tə·ḇaq·šū (V-Piel-Imperf-2mp) -- To seek. A primitive root; to search out; by implication, to strive after.">do not seek them out,</a> <a href="/hebrew/408.htm" title="408: ’al- (Adv) -- Not (a subjective neg.). A negative particle; not; once as a noun, nothing."></a> <a href="/hebrew/2930.htm" title="2930: lə·ṭā·mə·’āh (Prep-l:: V-Qal-Inf:: 3fs) -- To be or become unclean. A primitive root; to be foul, especially in a ceremial or moral sense.">or you will be defiled</a> <a href="/hebrew/ḇā·hem (Prep:: 3mp) -- ">by them.</a> <a href="/hebrew/589.htm" title="589: ’ă·nî (Pro-1cs) -- I. Contracted from 'anokiy; I.">I</a> <a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh (N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">am the LORD</a> <a href="/hebrew/430.htm" title="430: ’ĕ·lō·hê·ḵem (N-mpc:: 2mp) -- Plural of 'elowahh; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used of the supreme God">your God.</a> </span><span class="reftext">32</span>You are to rise in the presence of the elderly, honor the aged, and fear your God. I am the LORD.…<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="/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="/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="/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="/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="/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/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="/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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/10-20.htm">1 Corinthians 10:20-21</a></span><br />No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to be participants with demons. / You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot partake in the table of the Lord and the table of demons too.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ephesians/5-11.htm">Ephesians 5:11-12</a></span><br />Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. / For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_timothy/4-1.htm">1 Timothy 4:1</a></span><br />Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons,</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/leviticus/19-26.htm">Leviticus 19:26</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 20:6,7,27</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="/exodus/22-18.htm">Exodus 22:18</a></b></br> Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/leviticus/18-27.htm">Defiled</a> <a href="/jude/1-5.htm">Familiar</a> <a href="/isaiah/19-3.htm">Ghosts</a> <a href="/jeremiah/27-9.htm">Mediums</a> <a href="/isaiah/19-3.htm">Necromancers</a> <a href="/leviticus/19-23.htm">Regard</a> <a href="/exodus/8-7.htm">rs</a> <a href="/leviticus/19-18.htm">Seek</a> <a href="/micah/5-12.htm">Soothsayers</a> <a href="/isaiah/19-3.htm">Spiritists</a> <a href="/genesis/26-35.htm">Spirits</a> <a href="/leviticus/19-29.htm">Turn</a> <a href="/leviticus/19-7.htm">Unclean</a> <a href="/leviticus/18-23.htm">Uncleanness</a> <a href="/leviticus/19-26.htm">Use</a> <a href="/leviticus/18-24.htm">Ways</a> <a href="/isaiah/19-3.htm">Wizards</a> <a href="/exodus/9-11.htm">Wonder-Workers</a> <a href="/leviticus/19-28.htm">Yourselves</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/leviticus/20-3.htm">Defiled</a> <a href="/leviticus/20-6.htm">Familiar</a> <a href="/isaiah/8-19.htm">Ghosts</a> <a href="/leviticus/20-6.htm">Mediums</a> <a href="/1_samuel/28-3.htm">Necromancers</a> <a href="/leviticus/21-8.htm">Regard</a> <a href="/2_kings/17-10.htm">rs</a> <a href="/numbers/10-33.htm">Seek</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/18-14.htm">Soothsayers</a> <a href="/leviticus/20-6.htm">Spiritists</a> <a href="/leviticus/20-6.htm">Spirits</a> <a href="/leviticus/25-13.htm">Turn</a> <a href="/leviticus/20-3.htm">Unclean</a> <a href="/leviticus/22-3.htm">Uncleanness</a> <a href="/leviticus/19-35.htm">Use</a> <a href="/leviticus/20-4.htm">Ways</a> <a href="/leviticus/20-6.htm">Wizards</a> <a href="/leviticus/20-6.htm">Wonder-Workers</a> <a href="/leviticus/20-7.htm">Yourselves</a><div class="vheading2">Leviticus 19</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/leviticus/19-1.htm">A repetition of various laws</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/19.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/19.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>You must not turn to mediums or spiritists;</b><br>This command is part of the Holiness Code, a section of Leviticus that outlines how the Israelites are to live as God's holy people. Mediums and spiritists were individuals who claimed to communicate with the dead or with spirits, practices common in the surrounding pagan cultures. The prohibition against turning to them underscores the importance of relying solely on God for guidance and wisdom. In <a href="/deuteronomy/18-10.htm">Deuteronomy 18:10-12</a>, similar prohibitions are given, emphasizing that such practices are detestable to the Lord. The Israelites were to be distinct from other nations, who often engaged in these practices as part of their religious rituals.<p><b>do not seek them out,</b><br>Seeking out mediums or spiritists implies an active pursuit of forbidden knowledge or power. This phrase highlights the intentionality behind such actions, warning against the temptation to explore the occult. In <a href="/1_samuel/28.htm">1 Samuel 28</a>, King Saul seeks out a medium, which ultimately leads to his downfall, illustrating the dangers of disobedience to God's commands. The act of seeking them out is a direct violation of trust in God's provision and guidance.<p><b>or you will be defiled by them.</b><br>Defilement in the biblical context often refers to a state of impurity that separates individuals from God. Engaging with mediums or spiritists would spiritually contaminate the Israelites, making them unfit for worship and breaking their covenant relationship with God. This defilement is not just a personal issue but affects the community's holiness. In the New Testament, believers are reminded in <a href="/2_corinthians/6-14.htm">2 Corinthians 6:14-18</a> to separate themselves from unbelievers and practices that lead to spiritual impurity.<p><b>I am the LORD your God.</b><br>This declaration serves as a reminder of the covenant relationship between God and the Israelites. It reinforces God's authority and the reason for obedience to His commands. The phrase "I am the LORD your God" is a recurring motif in Leviticus, emphasizing God's sovereignty and the call for His people to be holy as He is holy (<a href="/leviticus/19-2.htm">Leviticus 19:2</a>). It also points to the exclusivity of worship and allegiance due to God alone, prefiguring the ultimate fulfillment of God's revelation in Jesus Christ, who is the way, the truth, and the life (<a href="/john/14-6.htm">John 14:6</a>).<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 common among pagan cultures and were strictly forbidden by God.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_israelites.htm">The Israelites</a></b><br>The chosen people of God to whom the laws in Leviticus were given. They were called to be holy and set apart from the surrounding nations.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_lord.htm">The LORD (Yahweh)</a></b><br>The covenant God of Israel, who commands His people to follow His statutes and remain pure.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/m/mount_sinai.htm">Mount Sinai</a></b><br>The place where God gave the Law to Moses, including the instructions found in Leviticus.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/m/moses.htm">Moses</a></b><br>The prophet and leader of Israel who received the Law from God and communicated it to the people.<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 defile. Engaging with mediums and spiritists compromises spiritual purity and allegiance to God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/trust_in_god_alone.htm">Trust in God Alone</a></b><br>Seeking guidance from mediums indicates a lack of trust in God. Believers are encouraged to rely on God’s wisdom and guidance through prayer and Scripture.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_danger_of_spiritual_deception.htm">The Danger of Spiritual Deception</a></b><br>Engaging with the occult opens individuals to spiritual deception and bondage. Christians are called to discernment and to avoid practices that lead away from God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_sufficiency_of_scripture.htm">The Sufficiency of Scripture</a></b><br>The Bible provides all the guidance needed for life and godliness. Believers should turn to Scripture for direction rather than seeking forbidden spiritual practices.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/w/witness_to_the_world.htm">Witness to the World</a></b><br>By rejecting occult practices, Christians bear witness to the power and sufficiency of God, setting an example of faithfulness to a watching world.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_leviticus_19.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Leviticus 19</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_defines_a_medium.htm">What defines a medium?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/bible's_view_on_praying_to_the_dead.htm">What does the Bible say about praying to the dead?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_are_familiar_spirits.htm">What are familiar spirits?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_the_bible_say_on_exorcism.htm">What does the Bible say about Christian exorcism?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/leviticus/19.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(31) <span class= "bld">Regard not.</span>--Better, <span class= "ital">Turn ye not unto, </span>as the Authorised Version renders this very phrase in <a href="/leviticus/19-4.htm" title="Turn you not to idols, nor make to yourselves molten gods: I am the LORD your God.">Leviticus 19:4</a>.<p><span class= "bld">Them that have familiar spirits.</span>--This phrase represents the single word <span class= "ital">oboth </span>in the original, and the translators of our Authorised Version by adopting it implied that those who practised this craft were supposed to be attended by an invisible spirit who was subject to their call to supply them with supernatural information. According to the authorities during the second Temple it denotes one who has a spirit speaking from under his arm-holes, or chest, with a hollow voice, as if it came out of a bottle, which is the meaning of <span class= "ital">ob </span>in <a href="/job/32-19.htm" title="Behold, my belly is as wine which has no vent; it is ready to burst like new bottles.">Job 32:19</a>. They identified it with the spirit of Python, by which the ancient Chaldee Version renders it.<p><span class= "bld">Neither seek after wizards.</span>--The expression "wizard," which in old English denotes "wise man," "sage," is almost the exact equivalent of the word in the original. These cunning men pretended to tell people their fortunes, where their lost property was to be found, &c. According to ancient tradition, these wizards took in their mouth a bone of a certain bird called <span class= "ital">yadu?, </span>burned incense, thus producing fumes which sent them off into an ecstacy, and then foretold future events. Hence their name, <span class= "ital">yidonee, </span>as it is in the original. It occurs eleven times in the Bible, and always together with the word translated "familiar spirit."<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/leviticus/19.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 31.</span> - This verse contains a prohibition of all dealings with those <span class="cmt_word">that have familiar spirits</span> or are <span class="cmt_word">wizards</span>. The punishment of such persons is appointed in the next chapter. Both in the Old and the New Testament, the real existence of evil spirits and their power of communicating with the human spirit is assumed. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/leviticus/19-31.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">אַל־</span> <span class="translit">(’al-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_408.htm">Strong's 408: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not</span><br /><br /><span class="word">turn</span><br /><span class="heb">תִּפְנ֤וּ</span> <span class="translit">(tip̄·nū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6437.htm">Strong's 6437: </a> </span><span class="str2">To turn, to face, appear, look</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶל־</span> <span class="translit">(’el-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> </span><span class="str2">Near, with, among, to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">mediums</span><br /><span class="heb">הָאֹבֹת֙</span> <span class="translit">(hā·’ō·ḇōṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine plural<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">וְאֶל־</span> <span class="translit">(wə·’el-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> </span><span class="str2">Near, with, among, to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">spiritists;</span><br /><span class="heb">הַיִּדְּעֹנִ֔ים</span> <span class="translit">(hay·yid·də·‘ō·nîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine plural<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">do not seek them out,</span><br /><span class="heb">תְּבַקְשׁ֖וּ</span> <span class="translit">(tə·ḇaq·šū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1245.htm">Strong's 1245: </a> </span><span class="str2">To search out, to strive after</span><br /><br /><span class="word">or you will be defiled</span><br /><span class="heb">לְטָמְאָ֣ה</span> <span class="translit">(lə·ṭā·mə·’āh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2930.htm">Strong's 2930: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be or become unclean</span><br /><br /><span class="word">by them.</span><br /><span class="heb">בָהֶ֑ם</span> <span class="translit">(ḇā·hem)</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 /><br /><span class="word">I</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲנִ֖י</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·nî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_589.htm">Strong's 589: </a> </span><span class="str2">I</span><br /><br /><span class="word">am the LORD</span><br /><span class="heb">יְהוָ֥ה</span> <span class="translit">(Yah·weh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> </span><span class="str2">LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel</span><br /><br /><span class="word">your God.</span><br /><span class="heb">אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃</span> <span class="translit">(’ĕ·lō·hê·ḵem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_430.htm">Strong's 430: </a> </span><span class="str2">gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/leviticus/19-31.htm">Leviticus 19:31 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/leviticus/19-31.htm">Leviticus 19:31 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/leviticus/19-31.htm">Leviticus 19:31 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/leviticus/19-31.htm">Leviticus 19:31 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/leviticus/19-31.htm">Leviticus 19:31 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/leviticus/19-31.htm">Leviticus 19:31 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/leviticus/19-31.htm">Leviticus 19:31 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/leviticus/19-31.htm">Leviticus 19:31 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/leviticus/19-31.htm">Leviticus 19:31 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/leviticus/19-31.htm">Leviticus 19:31 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/leviticus/19-31.htm">OT Law: Leviticus 19:31 Don't turn to those who are mediums (Le Lv Lev.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/leviticus/19-30.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Leviticus 19:30"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Leviticus 19:30" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/leviticus/19-32.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Leviticus 19:32"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Leviticus 19:32" /></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>