In the Bible, a soothsayer is typically understood as a person who practices divination or seeks to predict the future, often through supernatural means. Such individuals are generally condemned in scripture, as seen in passages like Deuteronomy 18:10-12, where the practice is associated with idolatry and forbidden by God.
Scripture
9 “When you come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations.”
10 There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer.
11 or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead,
12 For whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord. And because of these abominations the Lord your God is driving them out before you.
13 You shall be blameless before the Lord your God.
14 For these nations, which you are about to dispossess, listen to fortune-tellers and to diviners. But as for you, the Lord your God has not allowed you to do this.
Biblical Meaning of Soothsayer Explained
The term “soothsayer” in the Bible refers to individuals who engage in divination, a practice disallowing reliance on God’s sovereignty and guidance. In Deuteronomy 18:10-12, soothsaying is condemned alongside other forms of divination such as witchcraft, enchantments, and necromancy, all of which stem from attempts to manipulate or foresee the future outside of divine revelation. This teaching underscores a fundamental principle in biblical theology: the rejection of any attempts to seek knowledge or foresight through means that are not aligned with God’s will. Instead, the faithful are urged to rely on prayer, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and the wisdom found in Scripture to navigate their futures.
Moreover, the presence of soothsayers highlights a broader issue of idolatry and the pursuit of false security—seeking answers in unholy methods rather than trusting in God’s providence. This is further echoed in Isaiah 47:12-13, where God taunts Babylon’s astrologers and soothsayers, emphasizing their inability to provide true wisdom or protection. The consistent biblical stance against soothsayers serves as a reminder that seeking knowledge apart from God leads to spiritual ruin and estrangement from Him. Ultimately, the biblical rejection of soothsaying illustrates the call to place faith in God alone, who offers guidance and reveals His will through His Word and His Spirit, thwarting any allure of consulting alternative supernatural forces.
The practice of soothsaying is viewed not only as a rejection of God’s authority but also as a manifestation of humanity’s ongoing struggle with faith and trust. Throughout the biblical narrative, instances where individuals sought counsel from soothsayers underscore the recurring theme of turning away from divine guidance. For example, the story of King Saul highlights this tension. In his desperation, Saul consults a medium in Endor, seeking guidance after God had turned away from him due to his disobedience. This episode starkly contrasts the rightful reliance on God for direction, ultimately illustrating the futility and peril of seeking wisdom from worldly sources cloaked in the guise of mysticism.
Additionally, the prophetic literature often addresses the futility of soothsaying in the context of false prophets who mislead the people into believing they hold the answers to their futures. Prophets like Jeremiah exhort the people to shun such practices, calling attention to the emptiness they provide compared to the truth and clarity found in God’s Word. This condemnation of soothsayers highlights a biblically endorsed worldview that promotes seeking truth through God’s revealed knowledge rather than through deceptive channels. The consistent admonition against these practices serves not only as a warning but also as an invitation to pursue a deeper and more abiding relationship with God, where true wisdom and insight are offered freely to those who seek Him sincerely.
The Role of Soothsayers in Ancient Cultures
In biblical times, soothsayers were often seen as individuals who claimed to possess the ability to predict the future or interpret omens. This role was significant in ancient cultures, where people sought guidance and reassurance in uncertain times. The reliance on soothsayers reflects a broader human desire for control over the unknown and a quest for divine insight, often leading to a conflict between faith in God and reliance on human intermediaries.
The Conflict Between Divine Guidance and Human Wisdom
The presence of soothsayers in the biblical narrative highlights a tension between seeking divine guidance and relying on human wisdom. The Bible often portrays soothsaying as a practice that diverts individuals from true faith in God. This conflict serves as a reminder of the importance of discerning spiritual truth and the dangers of turning to false prophets or practices that undermine one’s relationship with the divine.
The Consequences of Seeking Forbidden Knowledge
Soothsaying is often associated with forbidden practices that are condemned in the biblical text. Engaging with soothsayers can lead to spiritual consequences, as it may involve turning away from God’s commandments. This theme underscores the broader biblical message about the importance of obedience to God and the potential pitfalls of seeking knowledge or insight outside of divine revelation.
How to Seek God’s Will for Your Life
Seeking God’s will for your life is a deeply personal journey that requires both patience and openness. Start by immersing yourself in prayer and scripture, as these are the primary ways God communicates with us. Ask Him to reveal His plans for you, and be ready to listen—sometimes His answers come in the quiet moments or through the wise counsel of others. Surround yourself with a community of believers who can support and guide you, as their insights can often illuminate paths you might not see on your own. Remember, seeking God’s will isn’t just about making big decisions; it’s about cultivating a daily relationship with Him, allowing His love and purpose to shape your choices and actions. Trust that as you draw closer to Him, He will guide your steps, even if the path isn’t always clear.
Bible References to Soothsayers and Divination:
Leviticus 19:26-31: 26 “You shall not eat any flesh with the blood in it. You shall not interpret omens or tell fortunes.
27 You shall not round off the hair on your temples or mar the edges of your beard.
28 You shall not make any cuts on your body for the dead or tattoo yourselves: I am the Lord.
29 “Do not profane your daughter by making her a prostitute, lest the land fall into prostitution and the land become full of depravity.
30 You shall keep my Sabbaths and reverence my sanctuary: I am the Lord.
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.
Isaiah 8:19-22: 19 And when they say to you, “Inquire of the mediums and the necromancers who chirp and mutter,” should not a people inquire of their God? Should they inquire of the dead on behalf of the living?
20 To the teaching and to the testimony! If they will not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn.
21 They will pass through the land, greatly distressed and hungry. And when they are hungry, they will be enraged and will speak contemptuously against their king and their God, and turn their faces upward.
22 And they will look to the earth, but behold, distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish. And they will be thrust into thick darkness.
Micah 5:10-15: 10 And in that day, declares the Lord,
I will cut off your horses from among you
and will destroy your chariots.
11 And I will cut off the cities of your land and throw down all your strongholds.
12 And I will cut off sorceries from your hand, and you shall have no more tellers of fortunes;
13 Your carved images I will also cut off,
and your pillars from among you;
and you shall bow down no more
to the work of your hands.
14 And I will root out your Asherah images from among you and destroy your cities.
15 And I will execute vengeance in anger and fury on the nations that did not obey.
2 Kings 21:1-9: 1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hephzibah.
2 And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to the despicable practices of the nations whom the Lord drove out before the people of Israel.
3 For he rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had destroyed, and he erected altars for Baal and made an Asherah, as Ahab king of Israel had done, and worshiped all the host of heaven and served them.
4 And he built altars in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, “In Jerusalem will I put my name.”
5 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord.
6 And he burned his son as an offering and used fortune-telling and omens and dealt with mediums and necromancers. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger.
7 And the carved image of Asherah that he had made he set in the house of which the Lord said to David and to Solomon his son, “In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my name forever.
8 And I will not cause the feet of Israel to wander anymore out of the land that I gave to their fathers, if only they will be careful to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the Law that my servant Moses commanded them.”
9 But they did not listen, and Manasseh led them astray to do more evil than the nations had done whom the Lord destroyed before the people of Israel.
Jeremiah 27:9-10: 9 So do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your dreamers, your fortune-tellers, or your sorcerers, who are saying to you, ‘You shall not serve the king of Babylon.’
10 For they prophesy a lie to you, to remove you far from your land, and that I should drive you out, and you should perish.
Acts 16:16-18: 16 As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling.
17 She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.”
18 And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.
Daniel 2:27-28: 27 Daniel answered the king and said, “No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers can show to the king the mystery that the king has asked,”
28 but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days.
1 Samuel 28:3-20: 3 Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had put the mediums and the necromancers out of the land.
4 And the Philistines assembled and came and encamped at Shunem. And Saul gathered all Israel, and they encamped at Gilboa.
5 When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly.
6 And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets.
7 Then Saul said to his servants, “Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “Behold, there is a medium at En-dor.”
8 So Saul disguised himself and put on other garments and went, he and two men with him. And they came to the woman by night. And he said, “Divine for me by a spirit and bring up for me whomever I shall name to you.”
9 The woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and the necromancers from the land. Why then are you laying a trap for my life to bring about my death?”
10 But Saul swore to her by the Lord, “As the Lord lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing.”
11 Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” He said, “Bring up Samuel for me.”
12 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul.”
13 The king said to her, “Do not be afraid. What do you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I see a god coming up out of the earth.”
14 He said to her, “What is his appearance?” And she said, “An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped in a robe.” And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and paid homage.
15 Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” Saul answered, “I am in great distress, for the Philistines are warring against me, and God has turned away from me and answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have summoned you to tell me what I should do.”
16 And Samuel said, “Why then do you ask me, since the Lord has turned from you and become your enemy?
17 The Lord has done to you as he spoke by me, for the Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David.
18 Because you did not obey the voice of the Lord and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Amalek, therefore the Lord has done this thing to you this day.
19 Moreover, the Lord will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me. The Lord will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines.
20 Then Saul fell at once full length on the ground, filled with fear because of the words of Samuel. And there was no strength in him, for he had eaten nothing all day and all night.
2 Chronicles 33:1-6: 2 And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord drove out before the people of Israel.
2 And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord drove out before the people of Israel.
3 For he rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had broken down, and he erected altars to the Baals, and made Asherahs, and worshiped all the host of heaven and served them.
4 And he built altars in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, “In Jerusalem shall my name be forever.”
5 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord.
6 And he burned his sons as an offering in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, and used fortune-telling and omens and sorcery, and dealt with mediums and with necromancers. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger.
Rev. François Dupont is a dedicated church minister with a wealth of experience in serving spiritual communities. With a calm and serene demeanor, he has been devoted to sharing the message of love, compassion, and tolerance for over two decades. Through his thoughtful sermons, compassionate counseling, and unwavering support, Rev. Dupont has touched the lives of countless individuals, allowing them to find solace and strength during difficult times. His serene presence and deep understanding of the human condition make him a trusted guide for those seeking spiritual nourishment and guidance.