Familiar
Familiar
FAMILIAR.The expression familiar spirit was taken into the AV [Note: Authorized Version.] from the Geneva Version, as the trans. of Heb. obh. See Magic, etc. The word is also used as a subst. in Jer 20:10 All my familiars watched for my halting (RV [Note: Revised Version.] familiar friends, Heb. men of my place).
Fuente: Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
Familiar
fa-milyar: Is found as an adjective qualifying friend and spirit.
(1) Used, in a number of Old Testament passages, of spirits which were supposed to come at the call of one who had power over them. , ‘obh, literally, something hollow; compare , ‘obh, bottle (Job 32:19 the King James Version); because the voice of the spirit might have been supposed to come from the one possessed, as from a bottle, or because of the hollow sound which characterized the utterance, as out of the ground (Isa 29:4); or, as some have conjectured, akin to , ‘ubh, return (, nekromantis). Probably called familiar because it was regarded as a servant (famulus), belonging to the family (familiaris), who might be summoned to do the commands of the one possessing it. The practice of consulting familiar spirits was forbidden by the Mosaic law (Lev 19:31; Lev 20:6, Lev 20:27; Deu 18:11). King Saul put this away early in his reign, but consulted the witch of Endor, who had a familiar spirit (1Sa 28:3, 1Sa 28:7, 1Sa 28:8, 1Sa 28:9; 1Ch 10:13). King Manasseh fell into the same sin (2Ki 21:6; 2Ch 33:6); but Josiah put those who dealt with familiar spirits out of the land (2Ki 23:24).
It seems probable, however, that the practice prevailed more or less among the people till the exile (Isa 8:19; Isa 19:3). See Divination by the ‘Ob in Expository Times, IX, 157; ASTROLOGY, 1; COMMUNION WITH DEMONS.
(2) Familiars, familiar friend, from , yadha, to know, hence, acquaintance, one intimately attached (Job 19:14); but more frequently of ‘enosh shalom, man of (my or thy) peace, that is, one to whom the salutation of peace is given (Psa 41:9; Jer 20:10; Jer 38:22; also in Oba 1:7, rendered the men that were at peace with thee).
Fuente: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Familiar
1Sa 28:7 (a) It was generally thought that certain witches, necromancers, soothsayers, magicians and astrologers were in intimate association with certain spirits in the other world. This group of people taught that those with whom they communicated in the other world would listen to their call and come back to earth with a message. These folk claimed to be able to reach out into eternity and call for the appearance of anyone they desired. It was a devilish program which was condemned severely by GOD. The Lord said, “Should the living seek to the dead?” Isa 8:19. We cannot be on familiar terms with anyone who has died except our Lord JESUS CHRIST for He came back from the dead and called on us to have fellowship with Him.