Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Leviticus 20:27
A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood [shall be] upon them.
27. See on Lev 19:31. This supplementary precept is not identical with the earlier one. Here the subject is the person within whom the discarnate spirit is supposed to be working (lit. ‘when there is in them an’ b or a familiar spirit’), while in Lev 20:6 it is the person who makes application to such for assistance.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 27. A familiar spirit] A spirit or demon, which, by magical rites, is supposed to be bound to appear at the call of his employer. See Clarke on Ge 41:8; “Ex 7:11“; “Ex 7:22“; And see Clarke’s notes “Ex 7:25“; and “Le 19:31“.
FROM the accounts we have of the abominations both of Egypt and Canaan, we may blush for human nature; for wherever it is without cultivation, and without the revelation of God, it is every thing that is vile in principle and detestable in practice. Nor would any part of the habitable globe materially differ from Egypt and Canaan, had they not that rule of righteousness, the revealed LAW of God, and had not life and immortality been brought to light by the GOSPEL among them. From these accounts, for which we could easily find parallels in ancient Greece and Italy, we may see the absolute need of a Divine revelation, without which man, even in his best estate, differs little from the brute.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
A man also or a woman that hath a familiar spirit,…. Or the spirit of Python or divination, see Le 19:31; such as the damsel had in Ac 16:16; a woman is here particularly mentioned, though before included in the above law; because, as Aben Ezra says, such sort of practices were more frequently committed by women; to which Maimonides l adds another reason, because men have a natural clemency towards the female sex, and are not easily prevailed upon to put them to death; therefore the law says, “thou shall not suffer a witch to live”,
Ex 22:18;
or that is a wizard; a knowing one, who pretends to a great deal of knowledge of things; as of lost or stolen goods, and even knowledge of things future, and imposes upon persons, and cheats them of their money they give for information: such
shall surely be put to death: and not spared through favour and affection: the death they are to be put to follows:
they shall stone them with stones; until they are dead; of the manner of stoning, [See comments on Ac 7:58];
their blood [shall be] upon them: they are worthy of death, and they shall suffer it: this phrase following upon the former, the Jews m gather from hence, that, wherever it is used, it is to be understood of stoning; [See comments on Le 20:9].
l Moreh Nevochim, par. 3. c. 37. m Torat Cohanim in Yalcut in loc.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
But because Israel was called to be the holy nation of Jehovah, every one, ether man or woman, in whom there was a heathenish spirit of soothsaying, was to be put to death, viz., stoned (cf. Lev 19:31), to prevent defilement by idolatrous abominations.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
Verse 27:
Le 19:31 forbids consulting spirit mediums, witches, or any who deal with the occult. Le 20:6 prescribes the penalty for those who consult them: excommunication from Israel’s society. The present text pronounces the death penalty for all who are practitioners of the occult.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
WARNING AGAINST UNFAITHFULNESS 20:27
TEXT 20:27
27
A man also or a woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones; their blood shall be upon them.
THOUGHT QUESTIONS 20:27
468.
Isnt this verse out of place? Should it follow Lev. 20:6?
469.
Show a possible connection to Lev. 20:26.
PARAPHRASE 20:27
A medium or a wizardwhether man or womanshall surely be stoned to death. They have caused their own doom.
COMMENT 20:27
It is suggested that the first word of Lev. 20:27 could be but a man, etc. In this way we could see the connection of the verses. Because Israel is Gods holy nation such a sin could not be permitted. The wizard usurps the position of God. To Him alone is the future known. In Lev. 19:31 the consulting of such persons is forbidden. In Lev. 20:6 God sets His face against them; in this verse the physical punishment is made known. Women are included in this verse because they were so frequently involved. Cf. Exo. 22:28; 1Sa. 28:7; Act. 16:16.
FACT QUESTIONS 20:27
479.
How relate this verse to the previous section?
480.
Why was this such a serious sin?
481.
Why mention women?
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
(27) A man also or woman.Better, And a man or a woman. The departure from the literal translation of the conjunction in the Authorised version is both unnecessary and obscures the meaning of the sentence. It ought rather to be translated but; that is, but because the Israelites are Gods holy ones, therefore every man or woman who pretends to disclose future events by means of necromancy, thus usurping the functions of God, is to be stoned to death. The case of these necromancers is here repeated, because in Lev. 19:31 the consulting them only is forbidden, and in the sixth verse of this chapter the penalty for consulting them is set forth, whilst in the passage before us the penalty is enacted which the persons themselves who are convicted of practising these secret arts are to suffer. The woman is here expressly added, both because this art seems to have been principally followed by women (Exo. 22:28; 1Sa. 28:7; Act. 16:16), and because men would naturally be inclined to treat women more mercifully.
Their blood shall be upon them.That is, they have brought it upon themselves to be killed. (See Lev. 20:9.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
REFLECTIONS
As there is no part of scripture but what, under divine teaching, will become profitable, so here is opened to us much profit, much improvement, and a continual source for thanksgiving. My soul, I charge it upon thee, while reading the dreadful effects of sin, in the blinded ignorance of other nations, who sacrifice even their offspring to Moloch, that thou learn to esteem thy mighty privileges. Corrupt and fallen nature is the same in all; and but for the distinguishing mercy of a gracious GOD, thou mightest have been like them, sacrificing to devils, and not to GOD; or under the fears and misgivings of a wounded conscience, offering even to the GOD of heaven the fruit of thy body for the sin of thy soul! Oh! what everlasting praise do I owe to thee, Almighty GOD, FATHER, SON, and HOLY GHOST, in that thou hast both taught me the evil of sin, and the sure way of deliverance from it. LORD, grant that I may have grace to adorn the doctrine of GOD my Saviour in all things; and as I am graciously taught that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of CHRIST and of GOD: may I have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them; and be enabled by the SPIRIT, so to mortify the deeds of the body, that I may present myself a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to GOD, which is my reasonable service.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Lev 20:27 A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood [shall be] upon them.
Ver. 27. That both a familiar spirit. ] As Paracelsus had one confined to the pummel of his sword, or else Erastus belies him.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
familiar spirit. See note on Lev 19:31.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
a familiar: Lev 20:6, Lev 19:31, Exo 22:18, Deu 18:10-12, 1Sa 28:7-9
their blood: Lev 20:9
Reciprocal: Lev 20:2 – the people Lev 24:14 – let all the Deu 13:10 – stone him 1Sa 15:23 – witchcraft 1Sa 28:3 – put away 2Sa 1:16 – Thy blood 2Ki 23:24 – that he might Eze 18:13 – blood Mal 3:5 – the sorcerers
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Lev 20:27. A man or a woman that hath a familiar spirit, shall surely be put to death They that are in league with the devil have in effect made a covenant with death; and so shall their doom be.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Lev 20:27. This warning against witchcraft should properly follow Lev 20:6 (cf. Lev 19:31).