Deuteronomy 18:9-12

Abominable Practices

9 "When you come into the land that the LORD your God is giving you, 1you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations.
10 There shall not be found among you anyone 2who burns his son or his daughter as an offering,[a] anyone who 3practices divination or 4tells fortunes or interprets omens, or 5a sorcerer
11 or a charmer or 6a medium or a necromancer or 7one who inquires of the dead,
12 8for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD. And 9because of these abominations the LORD your God is driving them out before you.

Deuteronomy 18:9-12 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 18

This chapter gives an account of the provision made for the priests and Levites, with the reason of it, De 18:1-5, of allowance of a country Levite to minister at Jerusalem, and take his portion with the rest, De 18:6-8, and of several persons of bad practices not to be suffered among the people of Israel, De 18:9-14, and of an extraordinary prophet that should be raised up among them, to whom they should hearken, or it would be the worse for them, De 18:15-19, but a false prophet was to be put to death, of whom a sign is given by which he might be known, De 18:20-22.

Cross References 9

  • 1. Deuteronomy 12:29-31; See Leviticus 18:26-30
  • 2. See Leviticus 18:21
  • 3. 2 Kings 17:17
  • 4. See Leviticus 19:26
  • 5. [Exodus 22:18]
  • 6. See Leviticus 19:31
  • 7. [1 Samuel 28:7]
  • 8. Deuteronomy 22:5; Deuteronomy 25:16
  • 9. See Deuteronomy 9:4

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Hebrew makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.