Leviticus 19:31

31 “ ‘Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God.

Leviticus 19:31 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
31 Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.
English Standard Version (ESV)
31 "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.
New Living Translation (NLT)
31 “Do not defile yourselves by turning to mediums or to those who consult the spirits of the dead. I am the LORD your God.
The Message Bible (MSG)
31 "Don't dabble in the occult or traffic with mediums; you'll pollute your souls. I am God, your God.
American Standard Version (ASV)
31 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.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
31 "Don't turn to psychics or mediums to get help. That will make you unclean. I am the LORD your God.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
31 "Do not turn to mediums or consult spiritists, or you will be defiled by them; I am the Lord your God.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
31 " 'Do not look for advice from people who get messages from those who have died. Do not go to people who talk to the spirits of the dead. If you do, they will make you "unclean." I am the LORD your God.

Leviticus 19:31 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 19:31

Regard not them that have familiar spirits
The word used signifies "bottles", and that sort of diviners here intended go by this name, either because what they sat on when they divined was in the form of a bottle, or they divined by one, or they were swelled and inflated as bottles when they delivered out their answers, or spoke as out of a bottle or hollow place; hence they are called masters or mistresses of the bottle: they seem to be the same with the ventriloquists, and so the Septuagint version here calls them; such whose voice seemed to come out of their bellies, and even the lower parts of them; and such was the Pythian prophetess at Delphos, and very probably the maid in the times of the apostles, who had a spirit of divination, or of Python, ( Acts 16:16 ) ; and so the words may be rendered here, "look not to the Python" F14, or those who have the spirit of Python; so Jarchi from the Misnah F15 interprets the word here used, "Baal Ob" or the master of the bottle, this is Python, one that speaks from under his arm holes: neither seek after wizards;
such as pretend to a great deal of knowledge, as the word signifies; such as are called cunning men, who pretend to know where lost or stolen goods are, and to tell people their fortunes, and what will befall them hereafter: to be defiled by them;
for by seeking to them, and believing what is said by them, and trusting thereunto, and expecting events answerable to their predictions, they would be guilty of a gross sin, and so bring pollution and guilt on them; according to the Jewish canons F16, such sort of persons as are cautioned against were to be stoned, and they that consulted them to be reproved; I [am] the Lord your God;
who only is to be regarded and sought unto for advice and assistance; see ( Isaiah 8:19 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F14 (tbah la wnpt la) "ne respiciatis ad Pythonas", Montanus; so Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.
F15 Misn. Sanhedrin, c. 7. sect. 7.
F16 lbid.

Leviticus 19:31 In-Context

29 “ ‘Do not degrade your daughter by making her a prostitute, or the land will turn to prostitution and be filled with wickedness.
30 “ ‘Observe my Sabbaths and have reverence for my sanctuary. I am the LORD.
31 “ ‘Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God.
32 “ ‘Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the LORD.
33 “ ‘When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them.

Cross References 2

  • 1. S Exodus 22:18; 1 Samuel 28:7-20; 1 Chronicles 10:13
  • 2. Leviticus 20:6; 2 Kings 21:6; 2 Kings 23:24; Isaiah 8:19; Isaiah 19:3; Isaiah 29:4; Isaiah 47:12; Isaiah 65:4
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