Deuteronomy 18:10 (KJV)

What does Deuteronomy 18:10 mean?

Deuteronomy 18:10 warns the Israelites not to practice certain forbidden rituals, including sacrificing children by fire, using divination, or engaging in various forms of magic and witchcraft. The verse lists specific practices that God tells the people to avoid as they enter the land of Canaan.

In this verse, Moses is speaking to the Israelites as they prepare to settle in the Promised Land. He is giving them laws meant to set them apart from the nations around them, many of whom practiced these rituals. The verse is part of a larger section where Moses explains what kinds of religious practices are unacceptable for God’s people.

The Hebrew behind Deuteronomy 18:10

• The word "pass" (עָבַר, avar) means to cross over or pass through. In this context, it refers to the act of making a child "pass through the fire," which was a ritual associated with child sacrifice in some ancient cultures.
• "Divination" (קָסַם, qasam) refers to seeking knowledge of the future or hidden things through supernatural means. This word covers a range of fortune-telling practices that were common among Israel’s neighbors.
• "Observer of times" (עָנַן, anan) is often understood as someone who tries to tell the future by interpreting omens or signs in the natural world, like the stars or weather.
• "Enchanter" (נָחַשׁ, nachash) points to someone who uses spells or incantations, often to influence events or people.
• "Witch" (כָּשַׁף, kashaf) refers to someone who practices sorcery or magic, attempting to manipulate spiritual forces.

Why Deuteronomy 18:10 matters

• Deuteronomy 18:10 clarifies that the Israelites were to have no part in the religious practices of the surrounding nations, especially those involving child sacrifice or attempts to control the spiritual world through magic.
• The verse helps explain why these practices were so strongly condemned: they were both morally wrong (such as child sacrifice) and spiritually misleading, turning people away from trusting God.
• This command fits into a broader theme in Deuteronomy, where Moses emphasizes that Israel’s relationship with God should be different from the religions of other peoples, focusing on trust and obedience rather than manipulation or superstition.