Dictionary Article

One who foretells events; a pagan practice, soothsaying was forbidden in Israel (Dt 18:10, 14 OET DEU 18:10 · OET DEU 18:14). In Scripture, soothsaying was practiced by Balaam, Beor’s son (Jos 13:22) and King Manasseh of Judah (2 Kgs 21:6; 2 Chr 33:6); Jacob’s descendants were likened to the soothsayers of Philistia (Is 2:6); they were listed among the false prophets of Judah (Jer 27:9). During NT times, soothsaying was the source of a lucrative trade in Philippi (Acts 16:16).

Show passage in OET: DEU 18:10; DEU 18:14

OET-RV DEU 18:10

10 There mustn’t be anyone among you who passes their son or daughter through fire, or who uses divination or omens to try to tell the future, or who practices sorcery,

OET-RV DEU 18:14

14 because the groups that you’ll expel from the land rely on fortune-tellers and diviners, but your god Yahweh won’t allow you to do that.

OET-LV DEU 18:10

10 Not he _will _be _found in_you(ms) one _who_makes _pass his/its_son and_daughter _of_his in_fire one _who_divines divinations a _soothsayer and_one _who_practices _divination and_a _sorcerer.

OET-LV DEU 18:14

14 If/because the_nations the_these which you are_about _to _dispossess them to soothsayers and_near/to diviners they _listen and_you(ms) not thus he _has _permitted to/for_yourself(m) YHWH god _of_your.

Show passage in OET: JOS 13:22

OET-RV JOS 13:22

22 The Israelis also killed Bil’am (Balaam) (Be’or’s son who practiced divination) along with others.

OET-LV JOS 13:22

22 And_DOM Bilˊām the _son _of Bəˊōr the_diviner the _people _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) they _killed with_sword to their _slain _of_ones.

Show passage in OET: KI2 21:6

OET-RV KI2 21:6

6 He even sacrificed his own son as a burnt offering. He practised divination and read omens, and consulted mediums and fortune-tellers. He did so much that Yahweh had said was evil, provoking Yahweh to get angry.

OET-LV KI2 21:6

6 And_he _made _pass DOM his/its_son in_fire and_he _practiced _soothsaying and_he _practiced _divination and_he _dealt _with necromancer and_soothsayers he _increased for_doing (the)_evil in/on_both _eyes _of YHWH to_provoke_him_to _anger.

Show passage in OET: CH2 33:6

OET-RV CH2 33:6

6 and he made his sons pass through the fire in the Ben-Hinom valley, and he practiced fortune-telling and sorcery and magic, and connected with mediums and spirits. He did so much evil in Yahweh’s eyes that it provoked him into getting angry.

OET-LV CH2 33:6

6 And_he he _made _pass DOM sons _of_his in_fire in_valley _of son _of Hinnom and_he _practiced _soothsaying and_he _practiced _divination and_he _practiced _sorcery and_he _dealt _with necromancer and_soothsayer he _increased for_doing (the)_evil in/on_both _eyes _of YHWH to_provoke_him _to _anger.

Show passage in OET: ISA 2:6

OET-RV ISA 2:6

6 Yes, you’ve abandoned your people, Ya’akov’s (Jacob) descendants,
⇔ because they’re too influenced by eastern ideas
⇔ and they practice divination like the Pelishtim,
⇔ and they make deals with sons of foreigners.

OET-LV ISA 2:6

6 If/because you _have _abandoned people _of_your the _house _of Yaˊₐqoⱱ if/because they _are _full from_east and_soothsayers like_Pəlishtiy and_with_the_children _of foreigners they _clap _hands.

Show passage in OET: JER 27:9

OET-RV JER 27:9

9 so don’t you all keep listening to your ‘prophets’, and to your diviners and dreamers, and to your soothsayers and sorcerers—all those who keep telling you that you all won’t serve the Babylonian king,

OET-LV JER 27:9

9 And_you(pl) do _not listen to prophets _of_your(pl) and_near/to diviners _of_your(pl) and_near/to dreams _of_your(pl) and_near/to soothsayers _of_your(pl) and_near/to sorcerers _of_your(pl) who they are_saying to_you(pl) to_say not you(pl)_will _serve DOM the _king _of Bāⱱel.

Show passage in OET: ACT 16:16

OET-RV ACT 16:16

16 One time as we were walking to the prayer meeting, we met a female slave who was possessed by a spirit that enabled her to tell fortunes, and thanks to that, to earn a lot of money for her masters.

OET-LV ACT 16:16

16 And it _became, of _us going to the prayer place, a_ certain _servant _girl having a_ python _spirit, to _meet with _us, who fortune-telling was _bringing _about much business for _the masters of _her.

Jump to OET DEU 18:10 section. · OET DEU 18:14 section.

Jump to OET JOS 13:22 section.

Jump to OET KI2 21:6 section.

Jump to OET CH2 33:6 section.

Jump to OET ISA 2:6 section.

Jump to OET JER 27:9 section.

Jump to OET ACT 16:16 section.

Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary