EXP:A Brief Word Study on "Witch/Witchcraft/Witchcrafts"  by Dave Geauvreau

   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.
