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 Exchaustive 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 participail 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 Exchaustive 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 mainfestations 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 Exchaustive 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.

Dave Geauvreau, a servant of Jesus Christ.


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