Leviticus 20:27 Meaning: The Serious Call to Trust Only God
“‘A man or a woman that is a medium or is a wizard shall surely be put to death. They shall be stoned with stones. Their blood shall be upon themselves.’”
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.
A man also or a 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.
`And a man or woman--when there is in them a familiar spirit, or who are wizards--are certainly put to death; with stones they stone them; their blood is on them.'
And if there be a man or a woman in whom is a spirit of Python or of divination, they shall certainly be put to death: they shall stone them with stones; their blood is upon them.
Meaning in one sentence
Understand why God commanded the death penalty for mediums in Leviticus 20:27 and what it means for Christians today.
Context
The final verse of Leviticus 20 lands like a heavy stone. This chapter has laid out penalties for serious sins that defile the community. It began with child sacrifice and covered forbidden relationships. Now, almost as an afterthought, it returns to the subject of mediums and wizards. Earlier in the chapter (v6) God said He would cut off anyone who turned to them. Here, the medium or wizard themselves is not left out. The surrounding verses stress that Israel must be holy because God is holy, set apart from other nations who practiced these things. This command protected Israel's exclusive relationship with God.
Key Words
Two Hebrew words name the forbidden practice. Ov (H0178) is usually translated “medium” or “familiar spirit.” The word may picture a hollow bottle, something that contains a spirit. A medium was someone who housed a ghost or demon, speaking for the dead. Yiddeoni (H3049) comes from a word meaning “to know.” It is a “knower”, someone who claims secret knowledge about the future or the hidden world. Both words describe reaching into a realm God had sealed. The verse also uses the phrase “their blood shall be upon them.” This is not a curse. It declares that the person bears full responsibility for their own death. The community that executes the sentence is not guilty of murder. The responsibility rests on the one who violated God’s boundary.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions agree that occult involvement is serious sin, but they differ on how this law applies today. The Catholic Church has taught that necromancy violates the First Commandment, we are to worship God alone. Protestant Reformers like Matthew Henry saw the penalty as removing a dangerous temptation from Israel. Many modern Christians read the verse as part of the Old Testament civil law, not a mandate for today’s governments. Some Pentecostal and Evangelical believers treat it as a warning about spiritual realities, without calling for the death penalty. What all hold in common is the conviction that seeking guidance from spirits or the dead is a betrayal of trust in the living God.
A common misunderstanding
A common misreading is that this verse gives Christians permission to execute anyone involved in the occult today. In fact, the civil law of Israel was specific to that theocracy. Christians have consistently read this as a call to avoid occult practices entirely, not as a license for vigilante justice. The penalty belongs to a particular time and place. The principle of exclusive trust in God remains.
Living This Out
You may feel a pull toward things that promise hidden knowledge, horoscopes, tarot, a psychic reading. This verse confronts that pull with a stark choice. It asks whether you trust God enough to let Him be your only source of guidance and protection. This week, when you are anxious about the future, notice where you turn. If it is not to God, gently turn back. That is what holiness looks like in ordinary days.
Main takeaway: God calls His people to find all their answers in Him, not in forbidden spiritual powers.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God wants us to talk to Him when we are scared or need help. He does not want us to look for answers from pretend spirits or magic.
For ages 9, 12
In the Old Testament, God gave Israel strict rules to keep them close to Him. The people around them tried to talk to dead people or spirits for guidance. God said that was like turning away from Him. Today, we might be tempted by horoscopes or psychics. But God wants us to trust Him alone, because He loves us and knows what is best.
Questions People Ask
Does this verse mean Christians should execute witches today?
No. The civil law of Israel was for the nation as a theocracy. Christians today apply the principle of avoiding occult practices, not the penalty. Our laws are different under the new covenant.
What does 'familiar spirit' mean in the King James Version?
The Hebrew word is 'ov', which likely refers to a spirit of a dead person. The medium claimed to control or consult that spirit. Modern translations often use 'medium' to make it clearer.
Why is the punishment for mediums and wizards so harsh in Leviticus?
Because it was an act of idolatry, turning away from the living God to seek knowledge from spirits. It threatened Israel's exclusive covenant with God and led people into the abominable practices of the surrounding nations.
Does this verse apply to things like Ouija boards or tarot cards?
Many Christians see these as modern forms of divination that open people to spiritual harm. The principle of this verse is to trust God alone for guidance and to avoid anything that claims to reveal hidden knowledge outside of Him.
What should I do if I have already experimented with the occult?
Turn to God in prayer and ask for forgiveness. He is merciful. You can also speak to a pastor or trusted Christian friend. The point of this law was never to condemn you forever, but to call you back to exclusive trust in God.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study