Deuteronomy 18:9-14

Spiritism Forbidden

9 "When you enter the land which the LORD your God gives you, you shall not learn to 1imitate the detestable things of those nations.
10 "There shall not be found among you anyone 2who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one 3who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer,
11 or one who casts a spell, 4or a medium *, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead.
12 "For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD; and 5because of these detestable things the LORD your God will drive them out before * you.
13 "6You shall be blameless before the LORD your God.
14 "For those nations, which you shall dispossess, listen to those who 7practice witchcraft and to diviners, but as for you, the LORD your God has not allowed you to do so.

Deuteronomy 18:9-14 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 7

  • 1. Deuteronomy 9:5
  • 2. Deuteronomy 12:31
  • 3. Exodus 22:18; Leviticus 19:26, 31; Leviticus 20:6; Jeremiah 27:9, 10; Malachi 3:5
  • 4. Leviticus 19:31
  • 5. Leviticus 18:24
  • 6. Genesis 6:9; Genesis 17:1; Matthew 5:48
  • 7. 2 Kings 21:6

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Lit "do according to"
  • [b]. Lit "complete, perfect;" or "having integrity"
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