What does the Bible say about witchcraft?

from the old testament

• Witchcraft is explicitly forbidden as rebellion against God. Practices like divination, sorcery, spiritism, and consulting the dead are condemned as detestable to God. These practices are tied to rejecting God’s authority and seeking spiritual power apart from Him (Deuteronomy 18:10–12; Leviticus 19:31; Leviticus 20:6).
• God’s people are called to rely on Him alone for guidance. The issue with seeking omens or spiritual knowledge outside of God is that it is not just curiosity—it is dependence on false spiritual sources instead of Him (Isaiah 8:19–20)
• Witchcraft is associated with deception and spiritual corruption. It is grouped with practices that distort truth and lead people away from God and is portrayed as spiritually dangerous and incompatible with covenant faithfulness (1 Samuel 15:23).
• God actively judged occult practices when they infiltrated Israel. For example, King Saul’s consultation of a medium leads to his downfall (1 Samuel 28:7–19; 2 Kings 21:6).
• God’s power is greater than occult practices, so why consult sinful spiritual forces (see Exodus 7:11–12)?

from the new testament

• Witchcraft is included among works of the “flesh” opposed to the Spirit. It is grouped with idolatry, sexual immorality, and rebellion against God and presented as incompatible with life that walks by the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:19–21).
• Occult practices are linked to spiritual darkness. Believers are warned to have nothing to do with the “unfruitful works of darkness” because these practices are tied to demonic influence or deception (Ephesians 5:11).
• In Acts 19:18— 19, new believers publicly abandoned magical and occult practices as part of their repentance, showing a clear break with their former lives.
• True spiritual authority and power come from God, not human manipulation or secret knowledge. Jesus and the apostles demonstrate authority over evil spiritual forces, showing God's superiority (Luke 10:17–20; Acts 8:9–23).
• The New Testament repeatedly warns against deceptive spiritual influences that lead people away from truth. Discernment is required to test spiritual claims (1 John 4:1; 2 Corinthians 11:14–15).

implications for today

Witchcraft is often more subtle in how it pulls people in than most realize. It rarely begins with someone trying to reject God outright—it usually starts with curiosity, a desire for control, or the appeal of hidden knowledge that promises answers when life feels uncertain. Whether it shows up in horoscopes, tarot cards, “manifestation” practices, spirit communication, or casual fascination with the occult, the Bible consistently describes it as turning to spiritual sources outside of God for guidance, power, or identity. What seems harmless or intriguing is actually a distortion of truth and is based on something that not only cannot truly speak truth or give life, but it also leads to your demise.

At its core, witchcraft is not just “spooky spirituality” but a rival way of seeking direction and control apart from God. God treats it seriously because it shifts trust away from the One who is faithful, true, and good toward spiritual counterfeits that deceive and enslave rather than lead to life. This is why God consistently warns His people away from it—not to restrict curiosity but to protect hearts from being drawn into deception.

This is also why we should not “experiment with” or casually explore witchcraft—it is connected to spiritual darkness that pulls people away from truth rather than toward it. The danger is not just in obvious extremes but in how easily small compromises in what we seek spiritual insight from can shift our dependence away from God without us noticing. And in the end, it leads to darkness, deception, and demise. That’s why believers are repeatedly called to reject these practices completely, not because God is withholding something good but because He is guarding something better.

Does that mean we should stay away from stories like Harry Potter that include magic or witchcraft themes? Not necessarily—but it does mean we should be wise and discerning about what shapes our imagination, where we are seeking power and wisdom from, and whether something is drawing us toward curiosity about darkness or anchoring us more deeply in what is true and good in God. Real spiritual life is not found in secret systems or mystical shortcuts but in knowing and trusting God, who always speaks truth and leads His people in light, not confusion.