Leviticus 19:31

My Notes

What Does Leviticus 19:31 Mean?

God prohibits two forms of occult consultation: "familiar spirits" (ovoth — mediums, necromancers, those who communicate with the dead) and "wizards" (yidde'onim — spiritists, those who claim supernatural knowledge). The prohibition's basis: consulting them produces defilement, and God's identity is the reason for the restriction: "I am the LORD your God."

The word "regard" (panah — to turn toward, to face, to give attention to) describes the initial posture: even turning toward these practitioners begins the defilement. You don't have to complete the consultation to be affected. The turning of your attention in their direction is itself the problem.

The defilement (tame — ritual impurity, contamination, unfitness for God's presence) is the consequence of seeking spiritual information from unauthorized sources. The knowledge they provide may be real (the medium at En-dor actually summoned Samuel, 1 Samuel 28). But the source makes the knowledge defiling rather than enlightening.

Reflection Questions

• 1.Where are you 'turning toward' unauthorized spiritual sources — even just facing their direction with curiosity?
• 2.Why does God prohibit even the orientation (regard/facing) toward mediums, not just the consultation?
• 3.How does 'I am the LORD your God' function as the reason (not just the authority) for the prohibition?
• 4.What does consulting alternative spiritual sources say about your assessment of God's sufficiency?

Devotional

Don't turn toward them. Don't seek them out. Don't let the curiosity become the consultation. God prohibits even the facing — the turning of your attention in the direction of mediums and spiritists.

The word "regard" means to turn your face toward. Before you consult, before you pay, before you sit in the medium's chair — the turning of your attention is where the defilement begins. God doesn't wait for the full session to pronounce the contamination. The moment you orient yourself toward an unauthorized spiritual source, the defilement starts.

The prohibition covers both types of occult practitioner: the medium (who communicates with the dead) and the spiritist (who claims supernatural knowledge from spiritual sources). Together they cover every avenue of unauthorized spiritual information. Whether you're trying to contact the dead or access hidden knowledge, the answer is the same: don't.

The closing phrase — "I am the LORD your God" — is the reason, not just the authority. God doesn't just say "don't do this because I said so." He says "don't do this because I am the LORD your God." The identity of your God is the reason the other sources are off-limits. If I am your God, you don't need another spiritual information source. My guidance is sufficient. My voice is accessible. My Spirit provides what the medium counterfeits.

The defilement isn't arbitrary religious rule-making. It's the contamination that comes from redirecting your spiritual trust. Every consultation with a medium is an implicit statement: God's voice isn't enough. I need another source. And that statement — that God's guidance is insufficient — is the defilement.

What unauthorized spiritual source are you turning toward? And is God's voice really not enough?

Commentary

Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.

Cross References

Related passages throughout Scripture