Leviticus 20 27

Leviticus 20:27 kjv

A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them.

Leviticus 20:27 nkjv

'A man or a woman who is a medium, or who has familiar spirits, shall surely be put to death; they shall stone them with stones. Their blood shall be upon them.' "

Leviticus 20:27 niv

"?'A man or woman who is a medium or spiritist among you must be put to death. You are to stone them; their blood will be on their own heads.'?"

Leviticus 20:27 esv

"A man or a woman who is a medium or a necromancer shall surely be put to death. They shall be stoned with stones; their blood shall be upon them."

Leviticus 20:27 nlt

"Men and women among you who act as mediums or who consult the spirits of the dead must be put to death by stoning. They are guilty of a capital offense."

Leviticus 20 verses

Leviticus 20 27 Meaning

Leviticus 20:27 pronounces a divine decree of capital punishment by stoning for any man or woman who practices necromancy (having a familiar spirit) or engages in wizardry. The verse declares their blood is upon themselves, indicating their personal responsibility for their transgressions, and the community is absolved of guilt in their execution. It emphasizes the extreme severity with which God views seeking spiritual guidance or power outside of Him, associating such practices with the gravest forms of rebellion against His holy sovereignty.

Leviticus 20 27 Context

Leviticus Chapter 20 serves as a "holiness code" that specifies a range of offenses carrying capital punishment within ancient Israel, emphasizing the gravity of violating God's covenant and polluting the holy community and land. This chapter directly follows specific prohibitions from previous chapters (e.g., against child sacrifice, illicit sexual relations). The listing of offenses in chapter 20 (including child sacrifice, adultery, incest, bestiality, dishonoring parents, and sorcery) underlines God's uncompromising demand for a holy people who reflect His character. In the historical and cultural context of the ancient Near East, practices like divination, necromancy, and sorcery were widespread among surrounding nations (Canaanites, Babylonians, Egyptians). These acts were often intertwined with idolatry, seeking knowledge or power from other gods or demonic entities, and manipulating supernatural forces for personal gain. God's explicit prohibition and severe penalty for these acts set Israel apart, commanding an exclusive devotion to Yahweh as the sole source of truth, power, and revelation. It served as a stark polemic against the pagan worldviews that embraced such abominations.

Leviticus 20 27 Word analysis

• A man also or woman: This highlights the equal accountability and severity of the transgression, irrespective of gender. God's law applies equally to all covenant members.
• that hath a familiar spirit: The Hebrew word is ʼōb (אוֹב), often referring to a necromancer, a medium, or a spirit of the dead called up by such a person. It denotes communication with or divination through deceased persons, or through a spirit (often believed to be a "ghost") residing within the medium. This practice directly usurped God's sole authority as the source of revelation and life. It was considered a turning away from God to a dark spiritual realm, akin to spiritual prostitution.
• or that is a wizard: The Hebrew word is yiddə‘ōnî (יִדְּעֹנִי), derived from a root meaning "to know" (ידע - yada'). It refers to one who claims to possess occult knowledge, a soothsayer, or a diviner, often associated with charms, spells, or consulting non-divine sources for hidden information. Together with "familiar spirit," it encompasses various forms of occultic practices designed to bypass God's divine communication and instead rely on illicit, demonic, or false spiritual entities.
• shall surely be put to death: The Hebrew phrase môt yûmāt (מוֹת יוּמָת) is an intensive, emphatic construction meaning "dying he shall die" or "he shall certainly be put to death." This formula explicitly mandates capital punishment, underscoring the extreme gravity and definitive nature of the judgment against this sin.
• they shall stone them with stones: Stoning was a prescribed method of capital punishment in Israel, used for offenses like idolatry, blasphemy, and gross moral impurities that threatened the community's holiness. It was typically a public act carried out by the community (Deut 13:10), symbolizing the community's rejection of the sin and its removal from their midst, thus purging the evil.
• their blood shall be upon them: The Hebrew phrase dəmêhem bām (דְמֵיהֶם בָּם) means "their blood is on them," or "their blood is their own responsibility." This declaration clarifies that the person executed for these crimes bears full personal culpability. It ensures that the community or executioners are not held guilty for shedding innocent blood, as the convicted person has brought the judgment upon themselves through their own sin. This absolves the community, maintaining its purity and obedience to God's command.

Words-Group by Words-Group Analysis

• "A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard": This collective phrase defines the scope of forbidden spiritual activity. It targets any individual engaging in what is essentially channeling or consulting occult powers, indicating that God views all forms of illicit spiritual seeking, regardless of method or specific title, as equally egregious and subject to the same severe judgment. It leaves no room for ambiguous interpretation regarding interaction with spiritual entities outside of God's direct revelation.
• "shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them.": This three-part pronouncement outlines the verdict, the method of execution, and the theological justification. The emphatic sentence of death underscores divine wrath against spiritual rebellion. The public stoning ritual served as both a purification act for the community and a deterrent. The final phrase, "their blood shall be upon them," signifies that their fate is the direct consequence of their personal, defiling actions, not the fault of those carrying out God's just decree. It reaffirms God's righteousness and the individual's accountability.

Leviticus 20 27 Bonus section

The severe judgment prescribed in this verse (and indeed throughout Leviticus 20) is deeply connected to the concept of 'cultic pollution' in ancient Israelite thought. Sins like necromancy were not merely personal offenses; they were seen as contaminating the land itself, making it "vomit out" its inhabitants (Lev 18:25, 28). The act of capital punishment, particularly stoning, served as a means of 'cutting off' the source of contamination and purging the evil from the community and the land, thus preserving the nation's ability to remain in covenant relationship with a holy God. The Old Testament consistently presents a clear, unequivocal ban on spiritualism because it fundamentally undermines God's authority and invitation to direct fellowship (cf. 1 Sam 28 for the disastrous outcome for Saul). It compels the covenant people to rely solely on Yahweh for revelation and power, through His chosen prophets, priests, and eventually, His Son, Jesus Christ, who is the ultimate embodiment of divine revelation (Heb 1:1-2).

Leviticus 20 27 Commentary

Leviticus 20:27 delivers a resolute divine verdict against all forms of spiritualism and necromancy. It is a profound declaration of God's jealousy for exclusive worship and His abhorrence of anything that usurps His role as the sole source of divine wisdom and power. Engaging with "familiar spirits" or becoming a "wizard" was considered spiritual adultery—turning away from the one true God to seek illicit knowledge or power from demonic forces or deceased individuals. Such practices deeply defiled both the individual and the community, bringing spiritual corruption and direct rebellion against God's holy character. The penalty of death by stoning highlighted the extreme danger and offense these practices posed to Israel's unique covenant relationship with God and their call to be a holy nation. This law not only protected Israel from spiritual deception and demonic influence but also preserved the purity of their worship. While the physical capital punishment is specific to the Old Covenant, the underlying principle remains eternally true: God's people are to have no fellowship with the works of darkness, seeking truth and guidance only from Him through His revealed Word and Spirit. The New Testament reaffirms the condemnation of such practices as works of the flesh and demonic strongholds, warning against their practitioners' ultimate exclusion from God's presence.