Primary Text: Deuteronomy 18:9–14 (KJV)
Central Theme: Divination is the attempt to discover hidden knowledge, determine future events, or obtain supernatural guidance through methods God has not authorized. Scripture contrasts forbidden divination with revelation originating from the LORD and calls His people to obedience, discernment, and complete dependence upon Him.
INTRODUCTION: THE DESIRE TO KNOW WHAT GOD HAS NOT REVEALED
From ancient times, humanity has sought answers to questions concerning the future.
Will a nation win a battle?
Will a king remain upon his throne?
Will a journey succeed?
Will sickness end in recovery?
What hidden circumstances lie behind a particular event?
Throughout the ancient Near East, people attempted to answer such questions through divination.
Kings employed diviners before military campaigns. Religious specialists examined omens. Some consulted the dead. Others interpreted dreams, celestial phenomena, or ritual objects.
The Bible does not deny that human beings desire knowledge of things beyond their immediate understanding.
However, it distinguishes between knowledge received through God's authorized revelation and knowledge pursued through forbidden religious practices.
This distinction is foundational to understanding Deuteronomy 18.
God did not command Israel to remain ignorant.
He gave His people His law, appointed prophets, and established means through which His will could be made known.
What He prohibited was seeking supernatural knowledge through the religious systems of the surrounding nations.
The central question is not merely whether someone claims to know the future.
It is:
Who is the source of the revelation, by what means is the knowledge being sought, and does the practice agree with the Word of God?
PART ONE: THE HEBREW MEANING OF DIVINATION
I. The Hebrew word qesem
Deuteronomy 18:10 (KJV):
"There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,"
The expression translated “useth divination” is:
קֹסֵם קְסָמִים
Qōsēm qesāmîm
One who practices divination
The expression comes from the Hebrew root:
קָסַם — qāsam (Strong's H7080)
The related noun is:
קֶסֶם — qesem (Strong's H7081)
The verb means to practice divination, while the noun refers to divination or a divinatory act.
The Hebrew expression combines a participle with a related noun, emphasizing the practice itself.
1. What is divination?
Divination is the attempt to obtain knowledge of hidden matters or future events through supernatural or omen-based methods.
The practice may involve interpreting signs, consulting spiritual intermediaries, or using ritual procedures believed to reveal otherwise inaccessible information.
2. Does divination always involve predicting the future?
No.
Although divination frequently concerns future events, it may also involve attempts to discover hidden information about present circumstances.
A person might seek an answer concerning an unknown enemy, a political decision, or the supposed cause of a misfortune.
3. Does the Hebrew word identify one specific technique?
No.
Qesem is a broad term.
It can refer to different methods of divination.
The particular procedure must be determined from the surrounding biblical context.
4. Does the existence of divination prove that diviners possess supernatural power?
No.
The Bible records the claims and activities of diviners without establishing that every claim was genuine.
Some practices involved deception, speculation, or ritual interpretation.
Scripture consistently directs attention to the authority and sovereignty of the LORD.
PART TWO: DEUTERONOMY 18 — WHY GOD FORBADE DIVINATION
II. The covenant setting
Deuteronomy 18:9 (KJV):
"When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations."
Israel was preparing to enter the land of Canaan.
The LORD warned His people against adopting the religious practices of the nations occupying the land.
1. Israel belonged to the LORD
The people were bound to Him by covenant.
Their worship and religious conduct were to reflect His holiness.
2. The surrounding nations practiced divination
Ancient Near Eastern societies possessed religious specialists who attempted to obtain knowledge through supernatural methods.
3. Israel was not to imitate their practices
The LORD commanded His people not to learn those religious customs.
4. Divination represented unauthorized spiritual inquiry
Israel was to receive divine revelation according to God's appointed means.
The prohibition therefore concerned covenant loyalty.
Deuteronomy 18:12 (KJV):
"For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee."
The word abomination translates Hebrew tôʿēbâ, describing something detestable in the LORD's sight.
The practices were condemned because they violated His commands.
PART THREE: THE DIFFERENT FORMS OF DIVINATION IN SCRIPTURE
III. Divination was not limited to one method
The Bible identifies several forbidden practices involving attempts to obtain hidden knowledge.
Biblical practice | Hebrew association | Principal activity |
|---|---|---|
Divination | Qesem | Seeking hidden knowledge through divinatory methods |
Observer of times | Meʿōnēn | Soothsaying or omen interpretation |
Enchanter | Menaḥēsh | Divination through signs or omens |
Witch | Mekaššēph | Sorcery or magical practices |
Charmer | Ḥōbēr ḥāber | Binding charms or incantations |
Familiar spirit | ʾÔb | Mediumship or consultation associated with spirits and the dead |
Wizard | Yiddeʿōnî | Forbidden occult knowledge or spirit consultation |
Necromancer | Dōrēsh ʾel-hammētîm | Seeking information from deceased persons |
These categories overlap in their historical settings.
Nevertheless, the Hebrew terms are not identical.
The diviner is associated with the broader practice of obtaining hidden knowledge through forbidden means.
The other terms may identify more particular methods or practitioners.
PART FOUR: DIVINATION IN THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST
IV. Why did kings employ diviners?
In the ancient world, kings frequently faced decisions involving war, government, agriculture, and national security.
They wanted assurance before taking action.
Some rulers employed religious specialists who interpreted omens or performed rituals believed to reveal divine intentions.
Ancient Mesopotamian sources document several kinds of divination.
1. Celestial divination
Specialists interpreted unusual heavenly phenomena as omens concerning earthly events.
2. Extispicy
Some practitioners examined the internal organs of sacrificed animals, particularly the liver, to obtain omens.
3. Dream divination
Dreams could be interpreted through established divinatory traditions.
However, Scripture also records genuine dreams given by God. Therefore, dream interpretation must be evaluated according to its source and context.
4. Object-based divination
Certain practices involved arrows, cups, or other objects used in ritual consultation.
5. Consultation of the dead
Some sought information from deceased persons through mediums.
These examples illustrate the broader historical environment.
They do not mean that every diviner practiced every method.
PART FIVE: EZEKIEL 21:21 — THE KING OF BABYLON PRACTICES DIVINATION
V. One of the clearest descriptions of divination in the Bible
Ezekiel 21:21 (KJV):
"For the king of Babylon stood at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination: he made his arrows bright, he consulted with images, he looked in the liver."
This verse is especially important because it identifies several methods used in a single setting.
The king of Babylon stood at a crossroads.
He was determining the direction of his military campaign.
1. “He made his arrows bright”
The Hebrew wording is commonly understood as referring to the shaking or manipulation of arrows as part of a divinatory procedure.
The precise ritual details are not completely explained.
Some interpreters understand this as a form of arrow divination in which arrows were used to determine a course of action.
2. “He consulted with images”
The Hebrew term is associated with teraphim, objects or images used in certain ancient religious settings.
The passage indicates that the king sought guidance through these objects.
3. “He looked in the liver”
This is a reference to liver divination.
In ancient Mesopotamia, specialists examined the liver of a sacrificed animal for signs believed to reveal divine intentions.
4. What was the king attempting to discover?
He wanted guidance concerning military action.
He stood at the crossroads, deciding which city to attack.
5. Did God approve of the divination?
No.
Ezekiel reports the practice within a prophecy of judgment.
The LORD's sovereign use of Babylon as an instrument of judgment does not mean He approved of the king's religious methods.
God can accomplish His purposes through human events without approving every action of the people involved.
PART SIX: DIVINATION AND THE KING OF BABYLON'S DECISION
VI. Ezekiel 21:22
"At his right hand was the divination for Jerusalem, to appoint captains, to open the mouth in the slaughter, to lift up the voice with shouting, to appoint battering rams against the gates, to cast a mount, and to build a fort."
The divination pointed toward Jerusalem.
1. The king sought direction
He wanted to determine the course of his military campaign.
2. Jerusalem became the target
The passage describes the military preparations that would follow.
3. God's judgment was being fulfilled
The prophecy belongs to the larger announcement of judgment against Jerusalem.
4. Divine sovereignty does not equal approval of divination
The LORD governed the outcome of history.
But the Babylonian king's use of divination remained part of his pagan religious practice.
PART SEVEN: BALAAM — DIVINATION AND THE ATTEMPT TO CURSE ISRAEL
VII. Numbers 22–24
Balaam is one of the most significant figures associated with divination in the Old Testament.
Numbers 22:7 (KJV):
"And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak."
The expression “rewards of divination” is associated with qesem.
1. Balak feared Israel
He saw Israel as a threat to Moab.
2. Balak sought Balaam
He wanted Balaam to pronounce a curse against Israel.
3. The messengers brought payment
The text identifies the payment as rewards of divination.
4. Balaam's religious background involved divinatory practices
Numbers 24:1 explicitly states that Balaam had previously sought enchantments.
5. God would not permit Balaam to reverse His blessing
Numbers 23:20 (KJV):
"Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it."
The LORD's covenant purpose prevailed.
PART EIGHT: NUMBERS 23:23 — NO DIVINATION AGAINST JACOB
VIII. God's covenant blessing cannot be overturned by Balaam
Numbers 23:23 (KJV):
"Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought!"
This verse contrasts divinatory attempts with God's sovereign blessing.
1. “No enchantment against Jacob”
Balaam could not overturn God's declared purpose.
2. “Neither is there any divination against Israel”
The attempt to use divination against Israel could not accomplish Balak's objective.
3. “What hath God wrought!”
The emphasis is upon the LORD's action.
4. Does this mean Israel could never experience judgment?
No.
Israel later experienced judgment because of covenant disobedience.
The verse specifically concerns the inability of Balaam's divinatory attempts to overturn the blessing God had declared in that setting.
The principle is God's supremacy over human attempts at spiritual manipulation.
PART NINE: DIVINATION AND REBELLION — 1 SAMUEL 15:23
IX. Why did Samuel compare rebellion with witchcraft?
1 Samuel 15:23 (KJV):
"For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king."
The word translated witchcraft in this verse is qesem, meaning divination.
It is not the same Hebrew word translated witch in Deuteronomy 18:10.
1. Saul had disobeyed God's commandment
The LORD had commanded Saul concerning Amalek.
Saul did not fully obey.
2. Saul attempted to justify his conduct
He appealed to religious sacrifice.
3. Samuel emphasized obedience
1 Samuel 15:22 (KJV):
"And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams."
4. Rebellion was compared to divination
The comparison demonstrates the seriousness of rejecting God's authority.
5. The verse does not mean every disobedient act is literally a divinatory ritual
Samuel is making a theological comparison.
Both rebellion and forbidden divination represent rejection of God's authority.
Saul wanted to retain the appearance of worship while refusing the obedience God required.
PART TEN: SAUL'S LATER CONSULTATION OF A MEDIUM
X. 1 Samuel 28
The tragedy of Saul's life becomes even more apparent in 1 Samuel 28.
The man whom Samuel had rebuked for rebellion later sought a medium.
1. Saul had previously removed mediums and wizards
1 Samuel 28:3 records that he had put them away from the land.
2. Saul became afraid of the Philistines
He faced a military crisis.
3. Saul sought an answer from the LORD
But the LORD did not answer him through dreams, Urim, or prophets.
4. Saul turned to a forbidden practitioner
He asked his servants to find a woman with a familiar spirit.
5. Saul attempted to consult Samuel after his death
He sought information through a practice prohibited by the law.
6. The result was judgment
1 Chronicles 10:13–14 identifies Saul's consultation of the medium as part of his transgression.
The narrative reveals the danger of seeking supernatural answers without submitting to God's Word.
PART ELEVEN: DIVINATION AND FALSE PROPHECY
XI. Jeremiah 14:14
"Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart."
This verse is crucial for understanding the relationship between divination and false prophecy.
1. The prophets claimed divine authority
They spoke as though their messages came from the LORD.
2. God denied sending them
The LORD declared that He had not commanded them.
3. Their messages included false divination
The word qesem appears in this context.
4. Their claims were deceptive
The passage identifies their messages as lies and the deceit of their hearts.
5. The central issue was unauthorized revelation
A person may claim to speak for God while delivering a message that God has not given.
This is why spiritual claims must be tested.
PART TWELVE: EZEKIEL 13 — FALSE VISIONS AND LYING DIVINATION
XII. Ezekiel 13:6–7
Ezekiel 13:6 (KJV):
"They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The LORD saith: and the LORD hath not sent them: and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word."
The false prophets claimed that their messages originated from the LORD.
But God had not sent them.
1. They claimed divine revelation
2. Their visions were false
3. Their divination was deceptive
4. They encouraged false confidence
5. The LORD condemned their claims
Ezekiel 13:9 (KJV):
"And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD."
The passage emphasizes God's judgment against those who falsely claim divine authority.
PART THIRTEEN: DIVINATION FOR MONEY
XIII. Micah 3:11
"The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, Is not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us."
Micah condemns religious and political corruption.
1. Judges accepted rewards
Justice was corrupted.
2. Priests taught for hire
Religious instruction was influenced by financial interests.
3. Prophets divined for money
Spiritual messages were associated with payment.
4. The leaders still claimed God's presence
They assumed that the LORD would protect them.
5. God condemned their conduct
The passage demonstrates the danger of using religious authority for personal gain.
This does not mean every minister who receives financial support is practicing divination.
The issue is corrupt religious conduct and the misuse of spiritual authority.
PART FOURTEEN: THE GREEK WORD FOR DIVINATION IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
XIV. Acts 16:16
Acts 16:16 (KJV):
"And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:"
The Greek expression translated “spirit of divination” is:
πνεῦμα πύθωνα
Pneuma pythōna
Literally: A Python spirit
The word Python was associated in Greek religious tradition with Delphi and the oracle of Apollo.
In Acts 16, the expression refers to a spirit associated with divination.
1. The young woman practiced soothsaying
She was associated with predictions or supernatural pronouncements.
2. Her masters profited financially
Luke explicitly states that her activities brought them considerable gain.
3. Paul confronted the spirit
Acts 16:18 (KJV):
"And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour."
4. The deliverance occurred through the authority of Jesus Christ
Paul did not use a divinatory ritual.
He commanded the spirit in the name of Jesus Christ.
5. The financial interests of her masters were disrupted
Acts 16:19 records that her masters saw their hope of gain was gone.
The passage contrasts exploitation through soothsaying with the authority of Jesus Christ.
PART FIFTEEN: WHY DID THE SPIRIT SPEAK ABOUT PAUL AND HIS COMPANIONS?
XV. Acts 16:17
"The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation."
This verse raises an important question.
The statement appears to identify Paul and his companions accurately.
Why, then, did Paul command the spirit to depart?
1. An apparently accurate statement does not establish divine authorization
A message may contain factual information without originating from an approved spiritual source.
2. The source matters
The young woman was described as possessing a spirit of divination.
3. The context matters
Her activities were connected with soothsaying and financial exploitation.
4. The authority of Jesus Christ matters
Paul did not accept the spirit as a legitimate witness to his ministry.
The passage demonstrates that truth must not be evaluated merely by the appearance of extraordinary knowledge.
PART SIXTEEN: DIVINATION AND THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
XVI. The difference between forbidden divination and divine revelation
1 Corinthians 12:8–10 identifies spiritual gifts including wisdom, knowledge, prophecy, and discerning of spirits.
These gifts are not equivalent to divination.
1. The source
The gifts originate with the Holy Spirit.
Forbidden divination seeks knowledge through unauthorized methods.
2. The authority
The Holy Spirit distributes gifts according to His will.
1 Corinthians 12:11 (KJV):
"But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will."
3. The purpose
The gifts are given for the edification of the church.
1 Corinthians 12:7 (KJV):
"But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal."
4. The standard
Spiritual claims must be tested according to Scripture.
1 John 4:1 commands believers not to believe every spirit but to test the spirits.
5. The central distinction
The Holy Spirit is not controlled through magical techniques.
His gifts are not obtained through divinatory rituals.
They operate according to divine will.
PART SEVENTEEN: CAN A DIVINER MAKE AN ACCURATE PREDICTION?
XVII. Deuteronomy 13:1–3
Deuteronomy 13 warns Israel concerning a prophet or dreamer whose sign or wonder comes to pass but who then encourages the people to follow other gods.
The passage is significant because it demonstrates that an extraordinary sign does not automatically establish divine approval.
1. Accuracy alone is not the final test
2. The message must agree with God's revealed commandments
3. The source and purpose must be examined
4. The people must remain faithful to the LORD
The biblical standard is broader than whether a prediction appears successful.
A person who leads others away from the LORD must not be accepted as a true messenger of God.
PART EIGHTEEN: DIVINATION AND THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD
XVIII. Isaiah 44:25
"That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;"
The LORD declares His supremacy over false claims of supernatural knowledge.
1. God frustrates deceptive signs
2. God exposes false wisdom
3. God governs history
4. Human divination cannot overturn His purposes
The believer's confidence must rest in God's sovereignty rather than fear of alleged occult power.
PART NINETEEN: THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SEEKING GOD AND SEEKING DIVINATION
XIX. The verb dāraš — to seek
The Hebrew verb dāraš can mean to seek or inquire.
Scripture uses it in contexts involving the legitimate seeking of the LORD.
It also appears in expressions concerning forbidden consultation.
The act of seeking information is not inherently sinful.
The issue is the object and method of the inquiry.
1. Seeking the LORD
The believer seeks God through prayer, obedience, and His revealed Word.
2. Seeking forbidden spiritual intermediaries
Divination attempts to obtain supernatural knowledge through methods God has prohibited.
3. Seeking wisdom
Scripture encourages believers to seek wisdom.
James 1:5 (KJV):
"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."
The believer is called to seek wisdom from God.
PART TWENTY: DIVINATION AND THE HUMAN DESIRE TO CONTROL THE FUTURE
XX. The deeper spiritual issue
Divination often reflects the human desire for certainty.
People want to know what will happen.
They want to avoid danger.
They want to control outcomes.
They want assurance before making decisions.
But Scripture teaches that the future belongs to God.
Proverbs 27:1 (KJV):
"Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth."
The believer is not promised complete knowledge of the future.
The believer is called to trust the LORD.
Proverbs 3:5–6 (KJV):
"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."
PART TWENTY-ONE: TWELVE PRINCIPLES ABOUT DIVINATION
1. The Hebrew word qesem refers to divination.
2. Divination involves attempts to obtain hidden knowledge through forbidden methods.
3. The practice was common in the ancient Near East.
4. God prohibited Israel from adopting divinatory practices.
5. The king of Babylon used divination before military action.
6. Balaam was associated with divination and enchantments.
7. Balaam could not overturn God's covenant blessing upon Israel.
8. Samuel compared Saul's rebellion with divination.
9. False prophets sometimes used divination while claiming to speak for the LORD.
10. The young woman in Acts 16 possessed a spirit of divination and was exploited for financial gain.
11. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are not equivalent to forbidden divination.
12. The believer's confidence must rest in the LORD and His revealed Word.
PART TWENTY-TWO: QUESTIONS FOR INTENSIVE BIBLE STUDY
What does the Hebrew word qesem mean?
What is the difference between qāsam and qesem?
Why did God forbid Israel from practicing divination?
What forms of divination existed in the ancient Near East?
What methods did the king of Babylon use in Ezekiel 21:21?
Why did Balak seek Balaam?
What does Numbers 23:23 reveal about God's sovereignty?
Why did Samuel compare rebellion with divination?
What does Jeremiah 14:14 teach about false prophecy?
Why did God condemn the prophets who practiced lying divination?
What does Micah 3:11 reveal about financial corruption and spiritual authority?
What is the meaning of the Greek expression pneuma pythōna?
Why did Paul command the spirit of divination to depart from the young woman?
What distinguishes the gifts of the Holy Spirit from divination?
Why is an apparently accurate prediction insufficient to establish divine authorization?
How does Deuteronomy 13 provide a standard for testing spiritual claims?
Why must believers trust God rather than seek control over the future?
CONCLUSION: DIVINATION CANNOT REPLACE THE REVELATION OF GOD
Divination is the attempt to obtain hidden knowledge or determine future events through forbidden spiritual methods.
The Hebrew word qesem identifies the practice in Deuteronomy 18.
God prohibited Israel from adopting the divinatory customs of the surrounding nations.
The biblical record reveals divination among pagan kings, religious specialists, and false prophets.
The king of Babylon used divination to determine military action.
Balaam was associated with divination but could not overturn God's blessing.
False prophets employed lying divination while claiming divine authority.
The New Testament records the deliverance of a young woman from a spirit of divination through the authority of Jesus Christ.
Throughout Scripture, the central distinction remains clear.
Forbidden divination attempts to obtain supernatural knowledge through unauthorized means. Divine revelation originates with God and remains subject to His sovereign will.
The believer is therefore called to seek the LORD, obey His Word, exercise spiritual discernment, and trust Him with the future.
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, we acknowledge that You alone are the true and living God.
You are sovereign over heaven and earth.
You know the end from the beginning.
You are the source of wisdom, knowledge, and understanding.
Father, deliver us from deception, false doctrine, superstition, and every practice that contradicts Your Word.
Teach us to seek Your face rather than forbidden spiritual knowledge.
Grant us discernment through Your Holy Spirit.
Strengthen our faith and establish us in sound doctrine.
May we never seek supernatural guidance apart from Your authority.
We thank You for Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
May our hearts remain wholly devoted to You.
In Jesus' mighty name, Amen.
An In-Depth and Intensive Biblical Exposition | King James Version | Hebrew and Greek Word Studies | Ancient Near Eastern History | Covenant Theology | Spiritual Discernment
Supporting Scriptures: Genesis 30:27; Genesis 44:5, 15; Leviticus 19:26, 31; Numbers 22–24; Deuteronomy 13:1–5; 1 Samuel 15:22–23; 1 Samuel 28; 2 Kings 17:17; Isaiah 44:25; Jeremiah 14:14; Ezekiel 13:6–9; Ezekiel 21:21–23; Micah 3:6–11; Acts 16:16–18; 1 Corinthians 12:7–11; 1 John 4:1.
