What does the Bible say about mediums and psychics?
The Bible forbids consulting mediums, psychics and the dead (Deuteronomy 18:10-12): God wants his people to seek guidance from him and his Word. The text is clear about the practice; toward people, it asks Christians to explain their faith with gentleness and respect.
There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.
The fullest list in the Bible: divination, omens, witchcraft, charms, “a consulter with familiar spirits” and “a necromancer”, one who consults the dead. These were practices of the surrounding nations, and the ban comes with a reason: God’s people were to listen to the prophet he would raise up (18:15).
Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.
The command is not to turn to mediums and wizards, and the reason is at the end of the verse: “I am the LORD your God”. The issue is whom you turn to for guidance.
And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
Pressed to consult those who speak with the dead, Isaiah asks whether a people should seek “for the living to the dead?” The way is back “To the law and to the testimony” — to what God has already said.
And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets. Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.
With no answer from God, King Saul seeks out a medium at Endor — the very practice he had driven out of the land (28:3). The Bible records it as part of his downfall, and later says Saul died also for consulting the medium (1 Chronicles 10:13-14).
Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
In the story Jesus told of the rich man and Lazarus, the rich man asks for someone to return from the dead to warn his brothers. The answer: “They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.” God’s word is enough; a message from beyond would not convince those who will not listen to it.
And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.
A slave girl with a spirit of divination earned money for her owners — and said true things about Paul. Even so, he cast the spirit out in the name of Jesus: being right does not prove a source is from God, and the girl, who was being exploited, was set free from it.
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
The tone for the whole conversation: Christians give the reason for their hope “with meekness and fear” — gentleness and respect. Disagreeing with a belief never gives license to insult those who hold it.
Here the Christian churches agree: Catholics, Orthodox and Protestants all reject consulting mediums and the dead. But people who visit a medium or a psychic are neighbors, not enemies, and many countries protect freedom of religion by law. The Bible forbids a practice; it does not license mockery, fear or hostility toward those who follow it. Many people go to a medium because they miss someone who has died: what the church owes them first is comfort, presence and the hope of the resurrection.
Frequently asked questions
Is it a sin to consult a medium, psychic or fortune-teller?
The Bible treats it as something God forbids his people (Deuteronomy 18:10-12; Leviticus 19:31), because it means seeking guidance and the future apart from him. If you have done it, there is no need to live in fear: the way back is the same as for any sin — admit it, ask forgiveness and seek God again (1 John 1:9).
Can we talk to people who have died?
The Bible forbids trying (Deuteronomy 18:11; Isaiah 8:19) and never presents the dead as guides for the living: in the story of the rich man and Lazarus, no one goes back to warn the family (Luke 16:29-31). It also says we die once, and after that comes judgment (Hebrews 9:27) — which is why Christian faith does not teach reincarnation. The hope for those who have lost someone is reunion in the resurrection (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14).
Did Saul really speak with Samuel’s spirit?
There are two main readings. Many understand that God allowed, as an exception, Samuel himself to appear: the text calls him Samuel, the medium cries out when she sees him (1 Samuel 28:12) and the message of judgment comes true. Others understand it was a deceiving spirit posing as him. In both readings the Bible condemns the consultation, and the night ends in ruin for Saul.
Does the Bible say anything about numerology?
The word does not appear. The Bible uses numbers symbolically — seven, twelve, forty — but never teaches working out anyone’s destiny from numbers or dates. Trying to read the future from signs and calculations comes close to the divination and omen-reading forbidden in Deuteronomy 18:10.
