Leviticus 20:6 · Bible study
Leviticus 20:6 Commentary: Why God Condemns Consulting Spirits
Hebrew · 8 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why does Leviticus 20:6 equate consulting mediums with prostitution?
Research Summary
- Meaning: Turning to mediums and spiritists is spiritual adultery, provoking God’s judgment and removal from the community.
- Key Words: אוב (medium/necromancer), ידעוני (wizard/spiritist), זנה (prostitute/act unfaithfully), כרת (cut off/banish).
- Main Debate: Whether “cut off” means death by human hands or divine punishment; the exact identity of the practices (necromancy vs. all divination).
- Theological Theme: Exclusive covenant loyalty to God; idolatry is a betrayal of the marriage bond.
- Best Use: Preaching on modern occult involvement, spiritual unfaithfulness, and God’s jealous love for His people.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Whoever turns to mediums or spiritists to prostitute himself with them, I will also set My face against that person and cut him off from his people.
WEB World English Bible 2000
“‘The person that turns to those who are mediums and wizards, to play the prostitute after them, I will even set my face against that person, and will cut him off from among his people.
KJV King James Version 1769
And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And the soul that turneth unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto the wizards, to play the harlot after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
`And the person who turneth unto those having familiar spirits, and unto the wizards, to go a-whoring after them, I have even set My face against that person, and cut him off from the midst of his people.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
— And the soul that turneth unto necromancers and unto soothsayers, to go a whoring after them, I will set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
The soul that shall go aside after magicians, and soothsayers, and shall commit fornication with them: I will set my face against that soul, and destroy it out of the midst of its people.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y la persona que atendiere á encantadores ó adivinos, para prostituirse tras de ellos, yo pondré mi rostro contra la tal persona, y cortaréla de entre su pueblo.
E a pessoa que der atenção a encantadores ou adivinhos, para prostituir-se atrás deles, eu porei meu rosto contra a tal pessoa, e a eliminarei dentre seu povo.
Si quelqu’ un s’ adresse aux morts et aux esprits, pour se prostituer après eux, je tournerai ma face contre cet homme, je le retrancherai du milieu de son peuple.
Wenn eine Seele sich zu den Wahrsagern und Zeichendeutern wenden wird, daß sie ihnen nachfolgt, so will ich mein Antlitz wider dieselbe Seele setzen und will sie aus ihrem Volk ausrotten.
Wanneer er een ziel is, die zich tot de waarzeggers en tot de duivelskunstenaars zal gekeerd hebben, om die na te hoereren, zo zal Ik Mijn aangezicht tegen die ziel zetten, en zal ze uit het midden haars volks uitroeien.
E se qualche persona si volge agli spiriti e agl’indovini per prostituirsi dietro a loro, io volgerò la mia faccia contro quella persona, e la sterminerò di fra il suo popolo.
Człowiek, który by się udał do czarowników, i do wieszczków, aby cudzołożył idąc za nimi, postawię twarz swoję rozgniewaną przeciwko niemu, i wytracę go z pośrodku ludu jego.
И если какая душа обратится к вызывающим мертвых и к волшебникам, чтобы блудно ходить вслед их, то Я обращу лице Мое на ту душу и истреблю ее из народа ее.
「人 偏 向 交鬼的和 行巫術的，隨他們 行邪淫，我要 向那 人 變 臉，把他 從民 中 剪除。
And whoever goes after those who make use of spirits and wonder-workers, doing evil with them, against him will my face be turned, and he will be cut off from among his people.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Leviticus 20:6
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that this verse equates turning to mediums and wizards with spiritual unfaithfulness. Gill calls it “spiritual adultery,” noting that to consult such practitioners is to forsake trust in God and attribute to them knowledge that belongs to Him alone. Keil and Delitzsch similarly state that these practices are “always closely connected with idolatry.” The phrase “play the prostitute” (Hebrew zanah) is used throughout Scripture to describe Israel’s unfaithfulness to Yahweh. The punishment “I will set my face against that person” mirrors the same language used for Molech worship in verses 3, 5, showing that God treats these sins with equal severity. The “cutting off” likely refers to divine judgment, either premature death or being cut off from the covenant community, particularly if human authorities fail to act. The Targum of Jonathan, cited by Gill, paraphrases it as “destroy him by the pestilence.” The verse thus makes plain that seeking guidance from spirits or occult sources is not a neutral act but a rejection of God’s exclusive claim on His people.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: God unequivocally forbids His people from seeking guidance from mediums or spiritists, treating it as spiritual adultery with severe consequences—whether by human justice or divine judgment.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| The prohibition of mediums and wizards | All Christians agree the text forbids consulting mediums and spiritists as an act of unfaithfulness. | Some see this as a civil/ceremonial law for Israel only; others affirm it expresses a moral command binding on believers today. |
| The meaning of 'cut off' | All agree it signifies a severe penalty involving separation from God's people. | Whether it refers to execution by the community (capital punishment) or divine action (e.g., pestilence, premature death, or excommunication) is framed differently across traditions. |
| The prostitution metaphor | All agree the metaphor indicates spiritual unfaithfulness to God, who is Israel's husband. | Some emphasize it as a literal comparison to cultic prostitution; others see it as a general metaphor for idolatry. |
| Applicability to Christians | Christians across traditions warn against any involvement with occult or spiritism. | The degree to which this specific Old Testament penalty applies under the New Covenant is understood differently, some see direct continuity, others see it in light of Christ's fulfillment of the Law. |
| The role of the community | The community is called to take the sin seriously and not 'hide their eyes' (v.4). | How the church should discipline believers who engage in occult practices varies across denominations. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Leviticus 20:6 sits within a section of the Holiness Code that lists capital offenses, from child sacrifice to incest and other sexual sins. This verse follows the prohibition of Molech worship (vv. 2, 5) and precedes a series of sexual prohibitions (vv. 9, 21). The placement shows that consulting spirits is treated as a form of idolatry as dangerous as sacrificing children or adultery.
The Hebrew terms have specific backgrounds. The word ov (H0178) can mean “water skin” or “bottle,” but in this context it refers to a necromancer, one who evokes the dead. The Septuagint translates it as “belly-talkers” (ἐγγαστρίμυθοι), indicating ventriloquists who seemed to speak from the ground. The word yiddeoni (H3049) comes from a root meaning “knowing,” designating one who claims special knowledge through a familiar spirit. Both appear together in Leviticus 19:31 and Deuteronomy 18:10, 11, which list forbidden divinatory practices common among the Canaanite nations.
Ancient Near Eastern literature confirms that consulting the dead and spirit mediums was widespread. Israel was called to be distinct: instead of seeking guidance from spirits, the people were to rely on God’s prophets and His law. The metaphor of prostitution (Hebrew zanah) is used repeatedly for idolatry (Exodus 34:15, 16; Numbers 15:39). It pictures God as a husband and Israel as His bride; turning to other spiritual powers is adultery. The severity of the penalty, “cut off from among his people”, reflects the gravity of the offense. Even when human courts could not or would not act, God Himself promised to intervene.
Textual Notes
The supplied commentary sources note no significant textual variants for Leviticus 20:6. The verse is consistent across the major traditions and translation bases.
Reception History
This verse has been cited throughout church history to warn against involvement with the occult. Early Christians saw it as a prohibition against consulting spirits, insisting on exclusive trust in God. During the Reformation, these texts were used in catechisms and sermons to condemn magic and divination. In modern times, the rise of spiritualism and New Age practices has brought renewed attention to this verse as a call to faithfulness. Across traditions, it is understood to prohibit any seeking of guidance from mediums or spiritists.
Preaching This Verse
Three-Point Outline
- The Prohibition: God forbids His people from seeking guidance or help from mediums, spiritists, or any occult sources. The terms “turn to” (Hebrew panah) and “go a whoring after” (Hebrew zanah) indicate a deliberate turning away from God toward other spiritual powers. This includes modern equivalents like psychics, tarot readings, and séances.
- The Metaphor: The text calls this “playing the prostitute,” exposing it as spiritual adultery. It is a violation of God’s exclusive covenant relationship with Israel, akin to breaking marriage vows. Just as a spouse who seeks intimacy elsewhere betrays trust, consulting spirits betrays God’s love and authority.
- The Consequence: God sets His face against the offender and cuts him off from His people. This phrase echoes the language used for Molech worship (Lev 20:3,5). It is both a personal judgment and a community consequence. For the believer, this underscores the seriousness of spiritual infidelity and points to the need for repentance.
Five-Point Outline
- The Gravity of Spiritual Adultery: Consulting spirits is not a minor curiosity; it is a betrayal of God as Husband of His people. The same Hebrew root zanah describes Israel’s idolatry throughout the prophets.
- The Nature of Forbidden Practices: Both necromancy (mediums, Hebrew ov) and divination (wizards, Hebrew yiddeoni) are banned. These were common in Canaan and directly opposed to trust in the living God.
- The Implications of “Cut Off”: This phrase likely means death by divine judgment or excommunication from the community. Gill’s note cites the Targum of Jonathan: “destroy him by the pestilence.”
- The Call to Holiness: Verse 7 immediately follows: “Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be holy; for I am Yahweh your God.” The prohibition is rooted in God’s holy character and His desire for His people to reflect Him.
- The Hope of Redemption: While the penalty is severe, the gospel shows that Christ bore the curse for us (Galatians 3:13). For the believer, there is forgiveness and cleansing through confession and faith.
Illustration Hooks
- A church member casually checks their horoscope every morning, not seeing the conflict with trusting God’s guidance.
- A growing trend among young adults treating tarot and spirit guides as “harmless fun” exposes the need for discernment.
- When a friend visits a psychic for advice about a job, it may seem practical, but it quietly replaces faith in God’s wisdom.
Questions Your Congregation Is Asking
- What is wrong with consulting a medium if it comforts me about a deceased loved one?
- Are horoscopes and psychics just entertainment? Where is the line?
- Does this verse apply to Christians today, or was it only for Israel under the Old Covenant?
Leading a Discussion
This small group guide helps explore Leviticus 20:6 and its implications for exclusive loyalty to God. The verse uses strong language, “playing the prostitute” and “cut off”, to show the seriousness of seeking spiritual guidance outside of God. The goal is not fear but a deeper understanding of God’s covenant love and the call to holiness.
Discussion Questions
- Read Leviticus 19:31 alongside Leviticus 20:6. Why do you think God repeats this prohibition multiple times in the Law?
- The metaphor of prostitution is used for idolatry. What does this reveal about God’s relationship with His people?
- How does the context of Molech worship (vv. 2-5) help you understand how seriously God takes seeking guidance from spirits?
- In what ways might modern culture tempt believers to turn to “spiritual” sources other than God?
- What does it mean that God says “I will set my face against that person”? How does this contrast with the gospel promise of God’s face turned toward us in Christ?
- How can a church counsel someone who has dabbled in the occult, in light of God’s holiness and grace?
- What practical steps can you take this week to guard against any form of spiritual disloyalty?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Exodus 34:15 | “Don’t make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, lest they play the prostitute after their gods, and sacrifice to their gods, and one call you and you eat of his sacrifice; |
| Exodus 34:16 | and you take of their daughters to your sons, and their daughters play the prostitute after their gods, and make your sons play the prostitute after their gods. |
| Leviticus 19:26 | “‘You shall not eat any meat with the blood still in it. You shall not use enchantments, nor practice sorcery. |
| Leviticus 19:31 | “‘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. |
| Leviticus 20:27 | “‘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.’” |
| Numbers 15:39 | It shall be to you for a fringe, that you may see it, and remember all Yahweh’s commandments, and do them; and that you don’t follow your own heart and your own eyes, after which you used to play the prostitute; |
| Deuteronomy 18:10 | There shall not be found with you anyone who makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who tells fortunes, or an enchanter, or a sorcerer, |
| Deuteronomy 18:14 | For these nations that you shall dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery and to diviners; but as for you, Yahweh your God has not allowed you so to do. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke does not explain the phrase here but directs the reader to his notes on passages where familiar spirits are discussed at greater length. He treats the meaning as already established in those earlier comments.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible Schools note directs readers to Leviticus 19:31 for an explanation of the terms familiar spirits and wizards. It does not offer its own definition here but treats the earlier passage as the primary location for understanding these practices.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes stress that consulting spirits or soothsayers amounts to spiritual adultery, a betrayal of the covenant relationship with God. The punishment is severe: God personally sets His face against that person and cuts them off from His people.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill stresses that consulting mediums or fortune-tellers is not just a minor sin but an act of idolatry, spiritual adultery that ascribes to Satan's servants the divine power of foreknowledge. God responds with the same severity as toward child sacrifice to Molech, threatening to cut off the offender, even by pestilence if the community fails to act.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch views consulting mediums and spiritists as a form of idolatry, not a separate offense. The phrase "going a whoring after them" indicates this is spiritual unfaithfulness, since such practices are always bound up with false worship and betrayal of God.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange argues this chapter is not an appendix to earlier laws but introduces a new foundation: the holy land itself must be kept pure. He sees the land as a living entity that can revolt and spue out its inhabitants if defiled. He also classifies the sins into three grades: devilish, brutal, and carnal.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Matthew Henry stresses that God's repeated command against sacrificing children to Molech shows how seriously He takes this sin. The repetition itself is not vain; it is meant to make the people pay closer attention and understand that what God says twice must be vital for their safety.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley reads "go a whoring" not as literal unfaithfulness but as a metaphor for seeking counsel or help from other sources instead of God. For him, the core sin is spiritual reliance on anything outside the Lord.