A Brief Word Study on "Witch/Witchcraft/Witchcrafts"
1 Sam. 15:23 To obey is better than sacrifice and to hearken that the
fat of rams. For rebellion is as the SIN of WITCHCRAFT.
Witch
Ex. 22:18 - 3784
De. 18:10 - 3784
Witchcraft
1 Sa. 15:23 - 7081
2 Chr. 33:6 - 3784
Gal. 5:20 - 5331
Witchcrafts
2 Ki. 9:22 - 3785
Mic. 5:12 - 3785
Nah. 3:4 - 3785
WITCH
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
3784 - Hebrew - Kashaph, English - Witch
prop. to whisper a spell, i.e. to inchant or practice magic :-
Sorcerer, (use) witch (-craft).
Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament
3784/1051 - Hebrew - Kashaph, English - Witch
This verb and its related nouns mean the same as the Akkadian
"Kasapu" and the Ugaritic "Ktp" (sorcery). It occurs six times, in
the Piel stem only. The participial form is used five times.
The pharaoh of the exodus had those who practiced this variety of
the occult in his retinue of advisers (Exodus 7:11). They are
grouped with the "hakamim" (wise men) and "hartummim" (magicains,
q.v.).
These sorcerers were outlawed in Israel. In Exodus 22:17 the
feminine form appears (MeKashshepa) and in the long list of Deut
18:10 the masculine (MeKashshep). The penalty was death.
Among the sins of King Manasseh was witchcraft (2 Chronicles
33:6). This is the only occurrence of the finite verb form.
Another occurrence of the participle is in Dan 2:2. Like the
pharaoh, King Nebuchadnezzar summoned his "sorcerers" along with his
"magicians" (hartummim), enchanters ('ashshapim, q.v.), and
Chaldeans (kasdim).
Malachi saw these sorcerers being judged in the end along with
adulterers, liars, and oppressors of widows, orphans, and foreigners
(Malachi 3:5).
WITCHCRAFT
Strong's Exchaustive Concordance
7081 - Hebrew - Qesem, English - Witchcrafts.
from 7080; a lot; also divination (includ. its fee), oracle :-
(reward of) divination, divine sentence, witchcraft.
Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament
7081/2044a - Hebrew - Qesem
Divination, witchcraft, sorcery, fortunetelling, omen, lot, oracle,
decision.
The exact meaning of this variety of occultism is unknown. that
fact accounts for the variety of translations. The account in Ezk
21:21-22 [H 27-28] is the only clue to exactly how "qesem" may have
been practiced. Shaking or flinging down arrows, consulting
teraphim, and hepatoscopy (looking at the liver) may be
subcategories of qesem. In any event, vers 22 [H 28] uses qesem as
if it were one of the arrows to be thrown down. In fact, the NEB
translates the word as "augur's arrow" and the NAB as "divining
arrow." The JB uses "omen" and "lot" in these two verses.
Another interesting use of qesem is at Num 22:7, where the word
seems to indicate a "reward" or "fee" for "divination" (Berkeley
Version, sorcery; Amplified, foretelling; NEB, augury) to be paid to
Balaam. Later in that account (Num 23:23) qesem is parallel to
nahash (cf. 2 Kings 17:17). In Jer. 14:14 it is parallel to "lying
vision," "a thing of nought," and "self-deceit" (cf. Ezk 13:6, 23).
1 Sam. 15:23
To obey is better than sacrifice
and to hearken that the fat of rams.
For rebellion is as the sin of Witchcraft.
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
7080 - Hebrew - Qasam
a prim. root; prop. to distribute, i.e. determine by lot or magical
scroll; by impl. to divine :- divine (-r, -ation), prident,
soothsayer, use [divination].
5331 - Greek - pharmakeia, English - Witchcraft
from 5332; medication ("pharmacy"), i.e. (by extens.) magic (lit. or
fig.) :- Sorcery, withchcraft.
5332 - Greek - pharmakeus from pharmkon
(a drug, i.e. spellgiving potion); a druggist ("pharmacist") or
poisoner, i.e. (by extens.) a magician :- sorcerer.
5333 - Greek - pharmakos
the same as 5332 :- sorcerer.
Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament
7080/2044 - Hebrew - Qasam
practice divination.
Denominative verb.
Like the noun qesem, this verb describes some variety of
divination. And as with all other manifestations of the occult,
this practice was outlawed in Israel and spoken of with scorn.
The participal form appears in the long list of such practices in
Deuteronomy 18 (vv. 10, 14).
Balaam was such a "soothsayer" or "diviner." Both the participal
and nominal forms are used in connection with him (Num 22:7; 23:23;
Josh 13:22).
Saul commanded the woman at En-dor to "divine" for him with 'ob
(q.v.) in 1 Sam 6:2 in reference to the Philistine "diviners" and 2
Kings 17:17, a list of Israelite offenses which prompted God to
exile them.
The major prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel and the minor
prophets Micah and Zechariah all mention qasam in a derogatory
sense.
WITCHCRAFTS
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
3785 - Hebrew - Keshep, English - Witchcrafts
from 3784; magic :- Sorcery, witchcraft.
Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament
3785/1051a - Hebrew - Keshep, English - Witchcrafts
Witchcraft, sorcery, soothsayer, spell.
This masculine noun occurs six times in the Old Testament, always in
the plural (2 Kings 9:22; Isa. 47:9, 12; Mic. 5:12 [H 11]; Nah. 3:4 twice).
Note:
This is not a definitive work on Witch or Witchcraft by any stretch of
the imagination. This is only put up to give a start to those who seek the
truth. If you read the verses given in the study above you will find that
the practices such as divination, astrology, tarot cards, spells, potions,
etc. all fall under the term witchcraft and the users are called witches.
There is no such thing in God's sight as a good witch or a bad witch
as they are ALL an abomination in His sight. God calls those those who are
into such practices to repent (turn away from) their evil practices and
confess their sins to Him, and commit themselves to following Jesus Christ,
and He WILL save them. In spite of our evil deeds, God desires to forgive
us and come to us and heal us of our sins. That is the glorious Gospel
news. Jesus died that we would be forgiven as He paid the penalty of our
sins, and He arose from the dead on the third day to show that He had the
power over sin and death, as Jesus was and is and forever will be, God
Almighty.
If you have any questions, please feel free to leave me a message and I
can get in touch with you or just leave you a return message if you prefer.
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