Spirit, Familiar
Culture & Societyâš¡ IN BRIEF (SUMMARY)
In ancient Near Eastern contexts, a familiar spirit was a supernatural entity consulted by mediums for occult knowledge, a practice explicitly forbidden in biblical law as a violation of exclusive devotion to Yahweh.
What is the meaning of Spirit, Familiar in the Bible?
In ancient Near Eastern contexts, a familiar spirit was a supernatural entity consulted by mediums for occult knowledge, a practice explicitly forbidden in biblical law as a violation of exclusive devotion to Yahweh.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding this concept clarifies the strict monotheistic boundaries established in the Hebrew Bible, where consulting such spirits is equated with apostasy and a rejection of divine authority.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
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Source Attribution & Provenance
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been editorially modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and formatted for fast contextual reference.