Leviticus 19:31 Meaning: Why God Says 'Don't Turn to Mediums and Wizards'
“‘Don’t turn to those who are mediums, nor to the wizards. Don’t seek them out, to be defiled by them. I am Yahweh your God.
Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God.
Turn ye not unto them that have familiar spirits, nor unto the wizards; seek them not out, to be defiled by them: I am Jehovah your God.
`Ye do not turn unto those having familiar spirits; and unto wizards ye do not seek, for uncleanness by them; I am Jehovah your God.
— Turn not unto necromancers and unto soothsayers; seek not after them to make yourselves unclean: I am Jehovah your God.
Meaning in one sentence
Leviticus 19:31 forbids consulting mediums and wizards.
Context
Leviticus 19 sits in the middle of the Holiness Code, a section of laws God gave Israel to set them apart from the surrounding nations. The chapter covers a wide range of daily life, from caring for the poor to honest weights and measures. Verse 31 appears right after a command to keep the Sabbath and reverence the sanctuary. The surrounding verses also warn against pagan mourning practices and child sacrifice. In this context, the prohibition against mediums and wizards is one more way Israel was called to be distinct: their guidance was to come from God alone, not from spirits or fortune-tellers. The chapter repeatedly ends each command with “I am Yahweh”, a reminder that these laws are rooted in God’s identity and their relationship with Him.
Key Words
The Hebrew word for “mediums” is ’oboth, which literally means “bottles” or “water skins.” The image is of a ventriloquist who speaks from a hollow space, as if the voice comes from a bottle or the belly. Such people claimed to contact the dead and bring messages from beyond. The second word, “wizards” (yiddeonim), comes from a root meaning “to know.” These were the “knowing ones”, fortune-tellers and soothsayers who claimed special insight into the future or hidden secrets. The verse also uses the verb “turn” (panah), which implies a deliberate change of direction. To turn to mediums is to turn away from God. And the closing phrase “I am Yahweh your God” is not just a signature. It is the reason for the command: because He alone is the source of wisdom and the one who holds our lives. Why seek a hollow voice when you can turn to the living God?
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have seen this verse as a clear prohibition against seeking supernatural knowledge from any source other than God. Early church fathers warned against consulting oracles and diviners. Reformed commentators like Matthew Henry saw the law as a safeguard against the superstitions of the heathen, directing Israel to keep the Sabbath and reverend the sanctuary instead. Methodist commentator Adam Clarke extended the prohibition to modern fortune-tellers, astrologers, and all who pretend to know what God has not revealed. The consensus holds that the command remains relevant: God’s people are called to trust Him with their unknowns and to seek wisdom from Scripture, prayer, and godly counsel rather than from spirits or occult practices.
A common misunderstanding
Some read this verse as only condemning ancient pagan rituals that have no modern equivalent. In fact, the verse addresses a human tendency that persists: wanting secret knowledge about the future or hidden guidance from spiritual sources. The specific terms (mediums and wizards) may look different today, psychics, horoscopes, tarot cards, or even certain apps, but the heart of the command still applies. God wants us to bring our uncertainties to Him, not to seek shortcuts or secret powers apart from Him.
Living This Out
You face decisions every week, some small, some heavy. Where do you instinctively turn? Maybe a friend’s opinion, a quick search, or a feeling in your gut. None of those are wrong in themselves. But this verse asks a sharper question: when you need guidance, do you go to God first, or do you look for answers from sources that claim a kind of power He hasn’t given? The command is about trust. This week, when you’re unsure, practice turning to God in a short prayer before you turn to anyone else. Say, “I am Yours. Show me what to do.” That is the turn God invites.
Main takeaway: God alone holds the future; we don't need to seek hidden knowledge from spirits or fortune-tellers when we can turn directly to Him.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God tells us not to talk to spirits or people who say they can talk to the dead. Instead, we can always talk to God. He is the one who knows everything and loves us.
For ages 9, 12
There are people who claim they can tell the future or contact spirits. God’s warning in this verse is about trust. When you have a big question or worry, who do you go to? God wants you to come to Him. He knows all about your life and He cares. You don’t need a shortcut to secret knowledge when you have a relationship with the God who holds the future.
Questions People Ask
What does 'medium' mean in the Bible?
In the Old Testament, a medium (Hebrew: 'ob) was someone who claimed to communicate with the dead or with spirits. The word literally means 'bottle' or 'water skin,' likely referring to the ventriloquist's trick of making a voice seem to come from the belly or a hollow space.
What is a wizard in the Old Testament?
The Hebrew word for wizard is yidde'oni, which means 'a knowing one.' These were fortune-tellers or soothsayers who claimed special insight into hidden things, like lost objects or future events. They were the 'cunning men' or 'wise women' of the ancient world.
Why is consulting mediums considered defiling?
The verse says seeking them out leads to being 'defiled', made unclean. In the Old Testament, defilement often meant being separated from worship and from God's presence. Consulting mediums was seen as a form of spiritual unfaithfulness, a turning away from the Lord who alone deserves our trust.
Does this verse apply to Christians today?
Most Christians see this command as still relevant. It's not just about ancient practices; it's about where we seek guidance and comfort. Consulting horoscopes, psychics, or using objects to gain hidden knowledge goes against the call to trust God with our unknowns. Instead, we are to seek wisdom from Scripture, prayer, and godly counsel.
What is the significance of 'I am Yahweh your God' at the end?
This refrain appears repeatedly in Leviticus 19. It grounds each command in God's identity and His relationship with Israel. He is not just any god; He is Yahweh, the covenant God who rescued them from Egypt. The command is not arbitrary but flows from who God is and who His people are in Him.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study