Bible Dictionary

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Familiar spirit

Angels & Spiritual Beings • Old Testament
A familiar spirit refers to a spirit associated with a sorcerer or necromancer who claimed to communicate with the dead. Scripture condemns consulting such spirits and forbids divination and necromancy.
Biblical Usage
Scripture condemns consulting familiar spirits and associates the practice with sorcery, divination, and necromancy. Such practices are forbidden in the law and condemned in the prophetic writings.
Scripture References
Deuteronomy 18:11 2 Kings 21:6 2 Chronicles 33:6 Leviticus 19:31 Leviticus 20:6 Isaiah 8:19 Isaiah 29:4 Leviticus 20:27 1 Samuel 28:8 Acts 16:16