And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.

LEVITICUS 20:6KJV
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Leviticus 20:6 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 20:6 mean?

Leviticus 20:6 warns that anyone who seeks out people with "familiar spirits" or "wizards"—those who claim to communicate with the dead or practice occult magic—will be rejected by God and separated from the community. The verse makes clear that turning to these practices is a serious offense with severe consequences.

In this verse, God is speaking to the Israelites through Moses, setting boundaries for their spiritual life as they form a distinct community. The language emphasizes that seeking supernatural guidance outside of God is considered spiritual unfaithfulness, using strong terms to show that such actions break trust with God and the people. The consequence is not just personal but communal, as the offender is to be "cut off" from among the people.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 20:6

  • "soul" (נֶפֶשׁ, nephesh): This word refers to the whole person, not just an immaterial soul. The warning applies to anyone, regardless of status.
  • "turneth" (פָּנָה, panah): This verb means to turn or direct oneself toward something, showing an intentional seeking out of forbidden practices.
  • "whoring" (זָנָה, zanah): This word is often used for unfaithfulness in relationships, especially in a spiritual sense. Here, it paints seeking occult practices as betraying God, similar to marital unfaithfulness.
  • "cut him off" (כָּרַת, karath): This phrase means to remove or separate someone from the community, showing the seriousness of the offense and its impact on group identity.

Why Leviticus 20:6 matters

  • Leviticus 20:6 clarifies that seeking supernatural help outside of God was not just discouraged but treated as a betrayal, using language of unfaithfulness to make the point vivid.
  • The verse highlights that the consequences are both spiritual (God "sets his face against" the person) and social (being "cut off" from the people), showing the deep connection between faith and community in ancient Israel.
  • This warning fits into a larger section where God is setting Israel apart from surrounding nations, stressing that their spiritual practices must be different and loyal to Him alone.

Where else these words appear

“wizards” Hebrew H3049 · used in 11 verses

  • Leviticus 19:31 Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.
  • 1 Samuel 28:3 Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.
  • 2 Kings 23:24 Moreover the workers with familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the images, and the idols, and all the abominations that were spied in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, did Josiah put away, that he might perform the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the LORD.

“spirits” Hebrew H178 · used in 16 verses

  • Leviticus 19:31 Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.
  • 1 Samuel 28:8 And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee.
  • 2 Chronicles 33:6 And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.

“after” Hebrew H413 · used in 37 verses

  • Genesis 1:9 And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.
  • Exodus 8:25 And Pharaoh called for Moses and for Aaron, and said, Go ye, sacrifice to your God in the land.
  • 1 Samuel 4:21 And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband.

“whoring” Hebrew H2181 · used in 82 verses

  • Genesis 34:31 And they said, Should he deal with our sister as with an harlot?
  • 1 Chronicles 5:25 And they transgressed against the God of their fathers, and went a whoring after the gods of the people of the land, whom God destroyed before them.
  • Ezekiel 16:31 In that thou buildest thine eminent place in the head of every way, and makest thine high place in every street; and hast not been as an harlot, in that thou scornest hire;