Leviticus 20:6

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Leviticus 20:6 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And the soul that turneth unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto the wizards, to play the harlot after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And the soul that turneth unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto the wizards, to play the harlot after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.
Leviticus 20:6 — American Standard Version

Context — Leviticus 20

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
6And the soul that turneth unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto the wizards, to play the harlot after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“The soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, etc.] The man or woman that has respect unto them, seeks after them, and inquires of them, in order to get knowledge of things: and after wizards who pretend to tell fortunes, and discover lost and stolen goods, (see Gill on “<031931>Leviticus 19:31”); to go a whoring after them; for to consult them is to forsake the Lord, and have recourse to Satan and his instruments; to relinquish their trust in God, and put confidence in them, and attribute such things to them as only belong to God, even the knowledge of things future; and this is to commit idolatry, which is spiritual adultery: I will even set my face against that soul; show…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“To go a whoring - To seek counsel or help from them. Leviticus 20:8”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“familiar: Lev 20:27, Lev 19:26, Lev 19:31; Deu 18:10-14; Isa 8:19 go: Exo 34:15, Exo 34:16; Num 15:39; Psa 73:27; Eze 6:9; Hos 4:12 cut him: Ch1 10:13, Ch1 10:14; In the days of Moses, superstition was almost the sensus communis of the human race, which then made severe punishment necessary. by means of the Christian dispensation such errors are now exploded, the cultivation of philosophy and natural history having harmonised and contributed their feebler share of light, so that we no longer have to deplore mischiefs occasioned by the silly curiosity attempting to unfold future events. Leviticus 20:7”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“He would also do the same to every soul that turned to familiar spirits and necromantists ( Lev 19:31, cf. Exo 22:17), "to go a whoring after them," i.e., to make himself guilty of idolatry by so doing, such practices being always closely connected with idolatry. Leviticus 20:7”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification