Divination, the practice of seeking knowledge or guidance through supernatural means, is mentioned throughout the Bible. God’s Word provides clear instructions about avoiding such practices and relying solely on Him for guidance. Below are powerful themes related to divination and relevant Bible verses that address this topic.
Also Read: Bible Verses About Rebuking Spirits
God’s Command Against Divination
Scripture explicitly forbids divination, sorcery, and other occult practices. These acts demonstrate a lack of trust in God’s sovereignty and provision. Here are verses that emphasize God’s commands regarding divination:
Deuteronomy 18:10-12
“For example, never sacrifice your son or daughter as a burnt offering. And do not let your people practice fortune-telling, or use sorcery, or interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft, or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord.”
Leviticus 19:31
“Do not defile yourselves by turning to mediums or to those who consult the spirits of the dead. I am the Lord your God.”
Micah 5:12
“I will put an end to all witchcraft, and there will be no more fortune-tellers.”
Isaiah 8:19
“Someone may say to you, ‘Let’s ask the mediums and those who consult the spirits of the dead. With their whisperings and mutterings, they will tell us what to do.’ But shouldn’t people ask God for guidance? Should the living seek guidance from the dead?”
Acts 19:19
“A number of them who had been practicing sorcery brought their incantation books and burned them at a public bonfire. The value of the books was several million dollars.”
Trust in God Alone
Divination often stems from a desire to control the future or gain hidden knowledge. God calls His people to place their trust in Him and His plan alone. Consider these verses:
Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”
Isaiah 26:3
“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!”
Psalm 37:5
“Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.”
Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
Matthew 6:33
“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”
Divination as a Rebellion Against God
Engaging in divination is seen as rebellion against God’s authority. It shifts focus from His guidance to human or spiritual manipulation. The Bible strongly warns against this rebellion:
1 Samuel 15:23
“Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the command of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.”
2 Kings 21:6
“Manasseh also sacrificed his own son in the fire. He practiced sorcery and divination, and he consulted with mediums and psychics. He did much that was evil in the Lord’s sight, arousing his anger.”
Galatians 5:19-21
“When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.”
Acts 13:6-10
“Afterward they traveled from town to town across the entire island until finally, they reached Paphos, where they met a Jewish sorcerer, a false prophet named Bar-Jesus. He had attached himself to the governor, Sergius Paulus, who was an intelligent man. The governor invited Barnabas and Saul to visit him, for he wanted to hear the word of God. But Elymas, the sorcerer (as his name means in Greek), interfered and urged the governor to pay no attention to what Barnabas and Saul said. He was trying to keep the governor from believing. Saul, also known as Paul, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he looked the sorcerer in the eye. Then he said, ‘You son of the devil, full of every sort of deceit and fraud, and enemy of all that is good! Will you never stop perverting the true ways of the Lord?'”
Revelation 22:15
“Outside the city are the dogs—the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idol worshipers, and all who love to live a lie.”
God’s Sovereignty Over Knowledge
God alone possesses perfect knowledge and wisdom. He reveals truth according to His will, making divination unnecessary and sinful. The following verses affirm His sovereignty:
Isaiah 46:9-10
“Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me. Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish.”
Daniel 2:20-22
“Praise the name of God forever and ever, for he has all wisdom and power. He controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the scholars. He reveals deep and mysterious things and knows what lies hidden in darkness, though he is surrounded by light.”
Psalm 139:1-4
“O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord.”
1 Corinthians 2:10-11
“But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit.”
Job 12:13
“But true wisdom and power are found in God; counsel and understanding are his.”
Freedom Through Christ
In Christ, believers are freed from sin and the need for practices like divination. His sacrifice offers us the ultimate source of wisdom and guidance. These verses highlight our freedom in Christ:
Colossians 2:8
“Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.”
Galatians 5:1
“So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.”
John 8:36
“So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.”
2 Corinthians 3:17
“For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
Ephesians 1:7-8
“He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.”
Judgment for Those Who Practice Divination
Those who practice divination face God’s judgment, as such actions are in direct disobedience to His commands. The Bible provides solemn warnings about the consequences of engaging in divination:
Revelation 21:8
“But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars—their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
Jeremiah 14:14
“Then the Lord said, ‘These prophets are telling lies in my name. I did not send them or tell them to speak. I did not give them any messages. They prophesy visions and revelations they have never seen or heard. They speak foolishness made up in their own lying hearts.'”
Zechariah 10:2
“Household gods give worthless advice, fortune-tellers predict only lies, and interpreters of dreams pronounce falsehoods that give no comfort. So my people are wandering like lost sheep; they are attacked because they have no shepherd.”
Malachi 3:5
“At that time I will put you on trial. I am eager to witness against all sorcerers and adulterers and liars. I will speak against those who cheat employees of their wages, who oppress widows and orphans, or who deprive the foreigners living among you of justice, for these people do not fear me,’ says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.”
Isaiah 47:12-14
“Now use your magical charms! Use the spells you have worked at all these years! Maybe they will do you some good. Maybe they can make someone afraid of you. All the advice you receive has made you tired. Where are all your astrologers, those stargazers who make predictions each month? Let them stand up and save you from what the future holds. But they are like straw burning in a fire; they cannot save themselves from the flame.”
Hope and Guidance Through God’s Word
Instead of seeking knowledge through forbidden means, believers are encouraged to turn to God’s Word, which provides wisdom, hope, and guidance for every situation in life. Here are verses that remind us to rely on His Word:
Psalm 119:105
“Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.”
2 Timothy 3:16-17
“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.”
Joshua 1:8
“Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.”
Proverbs 4:20-22
“My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body.”
Hebrews 4:12
“For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.”
Also Read: Bible Verses About Waking up Spiritually
What Does the Bible Say About Divination
The Bible speaks clearly about divination, and it is consistently presented as something that God forbids. Divination refers to attempts to gain hidden knowledge or predict the future through supernatural means apart from God. This can include practices like consulting spirits, using charms, interpreting omens, or other forms of seeking guidance outside of prayer and the Word of God.
In the Old Testament, God warned His people, the Israelites, not to engage in divination. In Deuteronomy 18:10-12, it says, “Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells.” These practices are described as detestable to God because they reflect a lack of trust in Him and His plan. God desires His people to rely on Him for wisdom, guidance, and understanding.
In the New Testament, divination is also condemned. In Acts 16:16-18, Paul encounters a slave girl who had a spirit of divination. While she made money for her owners by fortune-telling, Paul cast out the spirit in the name of Jesus Christ, showing that such practices are not from God.
The Bible encourages believers to seek guidance from God through prayer, Scripture, and the Holy Spirit. Trusting in God’s wisdom and timing shows faith in His sovereignty. Divination is not only forbidden but also dangerous, as it can lead people away from God and into spiritual harm. Christians are called to rely fully on God for their lives.