Leviticus 19:31

Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God.

Leviticus 19:31 (KJV)

Context

Leviticus is the third book of the Old Testament. It records the laws God gave to Israel through Moses. Leviticus 19 gathers many commands about holy living. Verse 31 stands inside this collection, often called the Holiness Code. God tells His people not to turn to those who have familiar spirits and not to seek after wizards. The command is direct and absolute.

Familiar spirits were understood as spirits or demons that spoke through a person and gave hidden information. The Hebrew word behind this phrase is related to a word meaning “bottles,” possibly because diviners used bottles or sat on them during their practices. Wizards were people who practiced divination, sorcery, or other occult arts. Both groups claimed access to knowledge or power beyond normal human ability.

Meaning

The word “regard” means to turn toward, pay attention to, or consult. God forbids His people from giving any attention to those who claim contact with such spirits. The phrase “neither seek after” makes the prohibition even stronger. It is not enough to avoid these people; Israel must not even look for them or request their services.

God gives the reason for this command: “to be defiled by them.” Contact with familiar spirits and wizards made a person unclean. This defilement was not only outward or ceremonial. It polluted the heart and broke the bond of loyalty between Israel and God. The person who sought such guidance treated God as if He were not enough.

The verse ends with the divine name: “I am the LORD your God.” This is not a casual closing phrase. It is the foundation of the whole command. Because the LORD is their God, Israel must not seek direction from any other source. His identity demands their exclusive trust and worship.

Biblical connections

This prohibition agrees with the wider teaching of the Old Testament. Deuteronomy 18:10-12 lists divination, witchcraft, and consulting the dead as practices the LORD hates. The same passage explains that these customs belonged to the nations Israel was about to drive out. God’s people were to be different. They were to listen to His prophets and trust His word.

The New Testament carries the same warning. In Acts 16:16-18, Paul commands a spirit of divination to leave a slave girl. He does not use her predictions for his own benefit. His action shows that the church must reject every form of occult power. The principle remains unchanged: God alone gives true guidance.

Application

Believers today face many forms of occult practice. These include consulting mediums, psychics, fortune-tellers, and spiritists. They also include astrology, séances, and attempts to contact the dead. The command in Leviticus 19:31 still applies. God’s people must not turn to these sources for answers or direction.

Instead, trust in God alone. Prayer, reading Scripture, and seeking wise counsel from mature believers are the proper ways to find guidance. These practices honor God and keep the heart clean. They also build a habit of dependence on Him rather than on hidden powers.

Be alert to spiritual influences that seem harmless. Some forms of entertainment or self-help may quietly encourage curiosity about the occult. The principle is simple: if a practice seeks knowledge or power apart from God, it leads away from Him. Avoid it before it takes hold.

Reflection

This verse calls for a decision about loyalty. The LORD identifies Himself as “your God.” That relationship is personal and covenantal. He has revealed Himself in His Word and in His Son. No spirit, wizard, or medium can offer what He gives freely.

When temptation to seek hidden knowledge arises, remember who God is. He is the LORD, the covenant God of His people. He has promised to guide those who trust Him. Turning to any other source is not only dangerous; it is a failure to honor His name. Let this verse renew a simple commitment: seek God first, and let Him be the only source of wisdom and truth.