Leviticus 19:26 — Word Study
WLCלֹ֥א תֹאכְל֖וּ עַל־ הַדָּ֑ם לֹ֥א תְנַחֲשׁ֖וּ וְלֹ֥א תְעוֹנֵֽנוּ׃
BSAYou must notlôʼ [under any circumstances] eatʼâkal▸ anything withʻal blood still in itdâm [the life-giving fluid, fresh or unbled] You must notlôʼ [refrain from] practice divinationnâchash▸ [seeking hidden knowledge, fortune-telling] orlôʼ [the occult art of] sorceryʻânan▸ [magic, enchantment]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| לֹ֥א | not | Particle |
| תֹאכְל֖וּ | you must eat | Verb, Qal, imperfect second person masculine plural |
| עַל־ | with | Preposition |
| הַדָּ֑ם | the blood | Particle, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| לֹ֥א | not | Particle |
| תְנַחֲשׁ֖וּ | you will practice divination | Verb, Piel, imperfect second person masculine plural |
| וְלֹ֥א | and not | Conjunction, particle |
| תְעוֹנֵֽנוּ׃ | you will practice soothsaying | Verb, Piel, imperfect second person masculine plural |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | You must not eat anything with blood still in it. You must not practice divination or sorcery. |
| KJV | ¶ Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times. |
| ASV | Ye shall not eat anything with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantments, nor practise augury. |
| YLT | 'Ye do not eat with the blood; ye do not enchant, nor observe clouds. |
| WEB | “‘You shall not eat any meat with the blood still in it. You shall not use enchantments, nor practice sorcery. |
| BBE | Nothing may be used for food with its blood in it; you may not make use of strange arts, or go in search of signs and wonders. |
Where they part company is in the rendering of the second part of the verse — see How Translations Differ.
The verse is structured with two main prohibitions, each clearly stated and separated for emphasis.







8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbאָכַל
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Leviticus 19:26
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Laws of Holinessgenerated
Leviticus 19:26 is part of a series of laws given to the Israelites that outline how they should live in a way that is holy and set apart for God. This verse specifically addresses dietary laws and practices that are deemed unacceptable, emphasizing the sanctity of life and the importance of avoiding occult practices. These laws are meant to guide the community in maintaining their covenant relationship with God.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leviticus 3:17 | This is a permanent statute for the generations to come, wherever you live: You must not eat any fat or any blood.” |
| 2 | Leviticus 7:26 | You must not eat the blood of any bird or animal in any of your dwellings. |
| 3 | Leviticus 17:10–14 | If anyone from the house of Israel or a foreigner living among them eats any blood, I will set My face against that person and cut him off from among his people. |
| 4 | Deuteronomy 12:23 | Only be sure not to eat the blood, because the blood is the life, and you must not eat the life with the meat. |
| 5 | Exodus 7:11 | But Pharaoh called the wise men and sorcerers and magicians of Egypt, and they also did the same things by their magic arts. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 14 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — לֹא, lo'generated
The word לֹא (lo') is a particle used to indicate negation or prohibition. It serves to clearly express that something must not be done, as in the commands given here to avoid eating blood and practicing divination.
In this verse, לֹא appears multiple times to emphasize the prohibitions placed on the Israelites, reinforcing the seriousness of these commands.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse contains two main prohibitions, each introduced by לֹא (lo'), which serves as the finite verb in this context. The first command is about dietary restrictions, and the second addresses practices related to divination and sorcery.
The structure emphasizes the dual nature of the commands: one relating to physical consumption and the other to spiritual practices, highlighting the comprehensive approach to holiness.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint uses μὴ for לֹא, maintaining the negation found in the Hebrew. This choice reflects a direct translation of the prohibition.
For the verbs, the Septuagint employs terms that align closely with the Hebrew meanings, indicating a consistent understanding of the commands against eating blood and practicing divination.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Leviticus 19:26 commands the Israelites not to eat anything with blood still in it and not to practice divination or sorcery. These laws emphasize the importance of respecting life and avoiding forbidden practices.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Eating blood is prohibited because it is considered the life force of the animal, and consuming it symbolizes a disregard for life.
Divination refers to practices aimed at predicting the future or uncovering hidden knowledge, which are discouraged in the Bible.
Yes, similar prohibitions can be found in Leviticus 3:17 and Deuteronomy 12:23.
These laws are significant as they guide the Israelites in maintaining their holiness and separation from practices that are contrary to God's will.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How can I ensure that I respect the sanctity of life in my daily choices?
- What are some modern practices that might be similar to the divination mentioned in this verse?
- How do these prohibitions reflect the relationship between God and His people?
- In what ways can I seek knowledge and guidance without resorting to forbidden practices?
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Leviticus 19:26 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleYe shall not eat [anything] with the blood,.... Or upon, over, or by the blood (s), for this law seems different from that in Genesis 9:4, and from those in Leviticus 3:17; and is variously
Read John Gill on Leviticus 19 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryYe shall not eat any thing with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times. Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood , [ `al (H5921) hadaam (H1818)] - upon the blood.
Read Robert Jamieson on Leviticus 19 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleWith the blood, i. e. any flesh out of which the blood is not first poured. See . The Jews write, that the Egyptians and other nations, when they offered sacrifices to the devils, did eat part of the sacrifices, beside the blood which was kept in basons for that end, which also they believed to be as it were the special food of the devils. Nor observe times, to wit, superstitiously, by the observation of the clouds, or stars, or otherwise, by esteeming some days lucky, others unlucky. See ,11 Es 3:7.
Read Matthew Poole on Leviticus 19 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsLeviticus 19:26 Ye shall not eat [any thing] with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times.Ver. 26. Neither shall ye use enchantment.] Or, observe fortunes, conjecture by signs of good or evil luck, as some render it.
Read John Trapp on Leviticus 19 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(26) Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood.—According to the administrators of the law during the second Temple, there are no less than five different things forbidden here. It prohibits (1) eating the flesh of a legally slaughtered animal as long as its life is not quite gone, or whilst the flesh is still trembling; (2) eating the flesh of sacrificial animals whilst the blood is still in the sprinkling bowl, and before it has been sprinkled on the altar; (3) eating the meat of mourners by the relatives when a member of the family has been publicly executed, and his blood has been shed; (4) eating anything by the judicial court on the day when their sentence of death is being executed…
Read Charles John Ellicott on Leviticus 19 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 26. Neither shall ye use enchantment] לא תנחשו lo thenachashu. Conjecture itself can do little towards a proper explanation of the terms used in this verse. נחש nachash; See Clarke on Genesis 3:1, we translate serpent, and with very little propriety; but though the word may not signify a serpent in that place, it has that signification in others. Possibly, therefore, the superstition here prohibited may be what the Greeks called Ophiomanteia, or divination by serpents. Nor observe times.] ולא תעוננו velo teonenu, ye shall not divine by clouds, which was also a superstition much in practice among the heathens, as well as divination by the flight of birds. What these prohibitions may…
Read AdamClarke on Leviticus 19 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges26. with the blood] The LXX. has here instead ‘upon the mountains,’ probably influenced by the phrase in Ezekiel 18:6; Ezekiel 22:9, which, however, according to Rob.-Sm. (Kinship, p. 312), should be assimilated to accord with Ezekiel 33:25. use enchantments] Employ divination. See e.g. Genesis 44:5, where the method was by hydromancy (Driver ad loc.). practise augury] The original meaning of the Heb. verb is uncertain, but probably its sense is to hum (as insects) or whisper (as leaves), and hence is applied to the low murmuring made by diviners. Augury in the etymological sense (inferences from marking the flight of birds) was practised in the East. See Driver, Deut. p. 225.
Read Cambridge on Leviticus 19 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleCertain pagan customs, several of them connected with magic, are here grouped together.
Read Albert Barnes on Leviticus 19 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
You must not eat anything with blood still in it. You must not practice divination or sorcery.
“‘You shall not eat any meat with the blood still in it. You shall not use enchantments, nor practice sorcery.
You must not eat anything with blood still in it. You must not practice divination or sorcery.
“‘You must not eat anything with the blood still in it. You must not practice either divination or soothsaying.
Tyndale line
¶ Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times.
Ye shall not eat anything with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantments, nor practise augury.
Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantments, nor practise augury.
Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times.
Ye shall not eat the flesh with the blood, ye shall not vse witchcraft, nor obserue times.
Strictly literal
Ye shall eat nothing with the blood. — Ye shall not practise enchantment, nor use auguries.
'Ye do not eat with the blood; ye do not enchant, nor observe clouds.
You do not eat with the blood. You do not enchant, nor observe clouds.
Ye shall not eat upon the blood; nor shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times.
Do not eat any meat with blood still in it. Do not consult spirits about the future, and do not seek to control others by supernatural powers.
From the Latin
You shall not eat with blood. You shall not divine nor observe dreams.
Simplified
Don't eat meat with blood in it. Don't use fortune-telling or witchcraft.
Nothing may be used for food with its blood in it; you may not make use of strange arts, or go in search of signs and wonders.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree closely, with all eight words matched in meaning. The Samaritan Pentateuch differs slightly by using the word תעננו (appear) instead of תְעוֹנֵֽנוּ, indicating a variation in the understanding of the term for soothsaying.
לֹ֥א תֹאכְל֖וּ עַל־ הַדָּ֑ם לֹ֥א תְנַחֲשׁ֖וּ וְלֹ֥א תְעוֹנֵֽנוּ׃
8 of the 8 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
לא תאכלו על הדם ולא תנחשׁו ולא תעננו
1 word differs from the Masoretic Text: תעננו (appear)
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Leviticus 19:26
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'
לֹא or לוֹא adv. not
base
H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not
3808 lo' lo
or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often
used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,
ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,
no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out
of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +
of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.
לֹא (lo) — not.
1) not, no
1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)
1b) not (with modifier-negation)
1c) nothing (subst)
1d) without (with particle)
1e) before (of time)
Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
Part — ParticleHTn
אָכַל (akal) means 'to eat' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including literal consumption by humans and animals, as well as figurative uses like devouring by fire or destruction. It can describe actions such as feeding or causing to eat, and it also appears in contexts of oppression and destruction. The verb has various forms, indicating different subjects and nuances.
אָכַל 806 vb. eat
Qal
eat, human subject
of beasts, birds, etc., eat, devour
fig. of fire, devour, consume
of sword, devour, slay
in genl., devour, consume, destroy
fig. of oppression, devour the poor
Niph.
be eaten by man
be devoured by fire, consumed
be wasted, destroyed, of flesh
Pu. be consumed
Hiph.
cause to eat, feed with
cause to devoure, obj. sword
base
H398 אָכַל eat .. eat, human subject
. of beasts, birds, etc., eat, devour
. fig. of fire, devour, consume
. of sword, devour, slay
. in genl., devour, consume, destroy
. fig. of oppression, devour the poor
. . be eaten by man
. be devoured by fire, consumed
. be wasted, destroyed, of flesh
. be consumed
. . cause to eat, feed with
. cause to devoure, obj. sword
398 'akal aw-kal'
a primitive root; to eat (literally or figuratively):--X at
all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up),
feed (with), food, X freely, X in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay)
meat, X quite.
אָכַל (a.khal) — to eat.
1) to eat, devour, burn up, feed
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to eat (human subject)
1a2) to eat, devour (of beasts and birds)
1a3) to devour, consume (of fire)
1a4) to devour, slay (of sword)
1a5) to devour, consume, destroy (inanimate subjects - ie, pestilence, drought)
1a6) to devour (of oppression)
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be eaten (by men)
1b2) to be devoured, consumed (of fire)
1b3) to be wasted, destroyed (of flesh)
1c) (Pual)
1c1) to cause to eat, feed with
1c2) to cause to devour
1d) (Hiphil)
1d1) to feed
1d2) to cause to eat
1e) (Piel)
1e1) consume
Aramaic equivalent: a.khal (אֲכַל "to devour" H0399)
V-Qal-Imperf-2mp — Verb · Qal · imperfect second person masculine pluralHVqi2mp
The Hebrew word עַל (*al*) is a preposition meaning 'upon' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including 'on account of,' 'beside,' 'above,' and 'against.' It can indicate physical placement, emotional burdens, or duties imposed on a person. The entries also note its use in idiomatic expressions and with verbs of motion. There is a mention of its function as a conjunction in certain contexts.
כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as
base
עַל, עָ֑ל
subst. height
As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against
Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed
—
of clothing, etc., which any one wears
With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it
Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him
Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him
על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him
חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)
H5921a עַל, עָ֑ל . As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against . Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed . — . of clothing, etc., which any one wears
. With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it
. Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him
. Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him
. על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him
. חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)
5921 `al al
properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the
singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a
particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always
in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great
variety of applications (as follow):--above, according
to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because
of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both
and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in
(that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-)on, over, than,
through(-out), to, touching, X with.
see HEBREW for 05920
עַל (al) — upon.
prep
1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against
1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards
1b) above, beyond, over (of excess)
1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence)
1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition)
1e) over (of suspension or extension)
1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity)
1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion)
1h) to (as a dative)
[כִּי] עַל [כֵּן] ([ki] al [ken]) — as.
conj
Prep — PrepositionHR
דָּם (dam) means 'blood' and refers to the blood of both humans and animals. It is often associated with death, particularly when shed, and can also figuratively denote the juice of grapes or bloodshed. The term carries religious significance and is used in various contexts, including references to guilt and innocence.
דָּם 300 n.m. blood
blood of man or animal
usually blood become visible
blood used with religious significance
fig. of wine
base
H1818 דָּם blood
1818 dam dawm
from 1826 (compare 119); blood (as that which when shed
causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of
the grape; figuratively (especially in the plural) bloodshed
(i.e. drops of blood):--blood(-y, -guiltiness, (-thirsty), +
innocent.
see HEBREW for 01826
see HEBREW for 0119
דָּם (dam) — blood.
1) blood
1a) of wine (fig.)
Art | N-ms — Particle · noun common masculine singular absoluteHTd/Ncmsa
blud (dam, probably from 'adham "to be red"; haima): Used in the Old Testament to designate the life principle in either animal or vegetable, as the blood of man or the juice of the grape (Le 17:11, et al.); in the New Testament for the blood of an animal, the atoning blood of Christ, and in both Old Testament and New Testament in a figurative sense for bloodshed or murder (Ge 37:26; Ho 4:2; Re 16:6).
1. Primitive Ideas:
Although the real function of the blood in the human system was not fully known until the fact of its circulation was established by William Harvey in 1615, nevertheless from the earliest times a singular mystery has been attached to it by all peoples. Blood…
Blood
(1.) As food, prohibited in Gen. 9:4, where the use of animal food is first allowed. Comp. Deut. 12:23; Lev. 3:17; 7:26; 17:10-14. The injunction to abstain from blood is renewed in the decree of the council of Jerusalem (Acts 15:29). It has been held by some, and we think correctly, that this law of prohibition was only ceremonial and temporary; while others regard it as still binding on all. Blood was eaten by the Israelites after the battle of Gilboa (1 Sam. 14:32-34).
(2.) The blood of sacrifices was caught by the priest in a basin, and then sprinkled seven times on the altar; that of the passover on the…
To blood is ascribed in Scripture the mysterious sacredness which belongs to life, and God reserved it to himself when allowing man the dominion over and the use of the lower animals for food. Thus reserved, it acquires a double power: (1) that of sacrificial atonement; and (2) that of becoming a curse when wantonly shed, unless duly expiated. (Genesis 9:4; Leviticus 7:26; 17:11-13)
The life of all animals was regarded as especially in the blood, which was a sacred and essential part of the sacrifices offered to God, Heb 9:22. It was solemnly sprinkled upon the altar and the mercy seat, "for it is the blood that maketh atonement for the soul," Le 17:1-16 the life of the victim for the life of the sinner. It was therefore most sacredly associated with the blood of the Lamb of God which "cleanseth us from all sin," Eph 1:7 1Jo 1:7. Hence the strict prohibition renewed in Ac 15:29. In direct opposition to this are the heathen customs of drinking the blood of animals and even of men- of eating raw flesh, with the blood, and even fresh cut from the living…
לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'
לֹא or לוֹא adv. not
base
H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not
3808 lo' lo
or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often
used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,
ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,
no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out
of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +
of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.
לֹא (lo) — not.
1) not, no
1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)
1b) not (with modifier-negation)
1c) nothing (subst)
1d) without (with particle)
1e) before (of time)
Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
Part — ParticleHTn
נָחַשׁ (nachash) is a Hebrew verb primarily meaning to practice divination or observe signs. It is built from a root that conveys the idea of whispering a magic spell. The entries indicate its use in contexts related to fortunetelling and learning from experience, particularly in the Piel form, which emphasizes the act of divining.
[נָחַשׁ] vb. only Pi. practice divination, divine, observe signs
base
H5172 [נָחַשׁ] only Pi. practice divination, divine, observe signs
5172 nachash naw-khash'
a primitive root; properly, to hiss, i.e. whisper a (magic)
spell; generally, to prognosticate:--X certainly, divine,
enchanter, (use) X enchantment, learn by experience, X indeed,
diligently observe.
נָחַשׁ (na.chash) — to divine.
1) to practice divination, divine, observe signs, learn by experience, diligently observe, practice fortunetelling, take as an omen
1a) (Piel)
1a1) to practice divination
1a2) to observe the signs or omens
V-Piel-Imperf-2mp — Verb · Piel · imperfect second person masculine pluralHVpi2mp
div-i-na'-shun:
1. Definition
2. Kinds of Divination
3. Fundamental Assumption in Divination
4. Legitimate and Illegitimate Divination
5. The Bible and Divination
6. Modes of Divination Mentioned in the Bible:
Those Approved and Those Condemned
7. Terms Used in the Old Testament in Connection with Divination
8. Divination and Prophecy
LITERATURE
1. Definition:
Divination is the act of obtaining secret knowledge, especially that which relates to the future, by means within the reach almost exclusively of special classes of men.
2. Kinds of Divination:
Of this there are two main species:
(1) artificial,
(2) inspirational, or, as it was called in ancient times (Cicero, Lord Bacon, etc.), natural divination.
Artificial divination depends on the skill of the agent in reading and in interpreting certain signs called omens. See AUGURY. In inspirational or natural divination the agent is professedly under the…
Divination
Of false prophets (Deut. 18:10, 14; Micah 3:6, 7, 11), of necromancers (1 Sam. 28:8), of the Philistine priests and diviners (1 Sam. 6:2), of Balaam (Josh. 13:22). Three kinds of divination are mentioned in Ezek. 21:21, by arrows, consulting with images (the teraphim), and by examining the entrails of animals sacrificed. The practice of this art seems to have been encouraged in ancient Egypt. Diviners also abounded among the aborigines of Canaan and the Philistines (Isa. 2:6; 1 Sam. 28). At a later period…
is a "foretelling future events, or discovering things secret by the aid of superior beings, or other than human means." It is used in Scripture of false systems of ascertaining the divine will. It has been universal in all ages, and all nations alike civilized and savage. Numerous forms of divination are mentioned, such as divination by rods, (Hosea 4:12) divination by arrows, (Ezekiel 21:21) divination by cups, (Genesis 44:5) consultation of teraphim, (1 Samuel 15:23; Ezekiel 21:21; Zechariah 10:2) [TERAPHIM]; divination by the liver, (
The Eastern people were fond of divination, magic, and the pretended art of interpreting dreams and acquiring a knowledge of futurity. When Moses published the law, this disposition had long been common in Egypt and the neighboring countries; and to correct the Israelites inclination to consult diviners, wizards, fortune-tellers, and interpreters of dreams, it was forbidden them under very severe penalties, and the true spirit of prophecy was promised to them as infinitely superior, Ex 22:18 Le 19:26,31 20:27. Those were to be stoned who pretended to have a familiar spirit, or the spirit of divination, De 18:9-12; and the prophecies are full of invectives against the Israelite who consulted such, as well as against false…
לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'
לֹא or לוֹא adv. not
base
H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not
3808 lo' lo
or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often
used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,
ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,
no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out
of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +
of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.
לֹא (lo) — not.
1) not, no
1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)
1b) not (with modifier-negation)
1c) nothing (subst)
1d) without (with particle)
1e) before (of time)
Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
Conj | Part — Conjunction · particleHC/Tn
עָנַן (anan) is a Hebrew verb that primarily means 'to cloud' and is derived from the root for 'cloud' (עָנָן). It has a figurative sense of practicing magic or soothsaying, indicating a covert action. The word appears in contexts related to bringing clouds and is associated with divination practices.
[עָנַן] vb. denom. Pi. Inf. cstr. sf. c. acc. cogn. Gn 9:14 (P) when I bring clouds, etc.
ref
[עָנַן] vb. Pō‛. practise soothsaying
base
H6049a עָנַן vb. denom. Pi. Inf. cstr. sf. c. acc. when I bring clouds, etc. H6049b עָנַן Pō‛. practise soothsaying
6049 `anan aw-nan'
a primitive root; to cover; used only as a denominative from
6051, to cloud over; figuratively, to act covertly, i.e.
practise magic:--X bring, enchanter, Meonemin, observe(-r of)
times, soothsayer, sorcerer.
see HEBREW for 06051
עָנַן (a.nan) — to cloud.
(Piel) to make appear, produce, bring (clouds)
עָנַן (a.nan) — to divine.
1) (Poel) to practise soothsaying, conjure
1a) to observe times, practice soothsaying or spiritism or magic or augury or witchcraft
1b) soothsayer, enchanter, sorceress, diviner, fortuneteller, barbarian, Meonenim (participle)
עָנַן (a.nan) — Diviners' (Oak).
This name means soothsaying or augury
V-m-Imperf-2mp — Verb · Piel · imperfect second person masculine pluralHVpi2mp
