When people ask what does the bible say about necromancy, they are often trying to understand whether contacting the dead—or consulting “spiritual” powers connected to the dead—is something God allows. The Scriptures we rely on are clear: God commands His people to regard not familiar spirits and to not seek after wizards. These practices are not treated as harmless curiosity; they are linked to defilement, rejection of God, and turning the heart toward deceptive influences. The Bible also warns that God will cut off those who follow these paths, and it describes the seriousness of someone holding to a familiar spirit as deserving death. Finally, Scripture connects sorcery and similar practices with ultimate judgment in the lake of fire. In other words, this is not a topic for vague spiritual debate—it is a call to seek the Lord rather than dabble in darkness.

Bible Verses

1) The Bible’s clear boundary: no consulting familiar spirits or wizards

Many people associate necromancy with dramatic myths, but the biblical emphasis is simpler: God’s people are told not to seek familiar spirits and not to seek after wizards. In Leviticus 19:31, the instruction is not presented as optional advice or cultural tradition—it is a command connected to holiness. God says, “I am the LORD your God,” meaning the reason is not human preference, but God’s authority over spiritual matters.

In Christian terms, necromancy is part of a larger category of trying to obtain spiritual information or power through forbidden channels. Leviticus describes familiar spirits and wizards as sources people pursue. That act of pursuit is the issue: it shows what the heart trusts. If we look for spiritual guidance somewhere other than God, we are training ourselves to be influenced by deception rather than instructed by truth.

This is why the Bible links these practices with being “defiled.” The danger is not only that something might go wrong; it’s that the practice itself is spiritually contaminating. The question becomes: What are you letting guide you? When someone seeks familiar spirits or wizards, they are choosing a path that rejects God’s rule.

That rejection becomes more explicit in the next verses, where God’s response to those who turn toward such practices is described as severe. The seriousness of the warning helps believers understand that God is protecting His people from spiritual bondage—not merely policing behavior.

2) Turning toward necromancy is spiritual rebellion, not neutral interest

Leviticus 20:6 describes the inner posture behind necromancy: “the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards.” The Bible does not only condemn the outward action; it names the turning of the heart. A person may claim they are seeking “answers,” but Scripture frames it as a deliberate shift away from the Lord.

The verse continues with a sobering promise: God says He will set His face against that soul and cut him off from among His people. In biblical language, God “setting His face” indicates attention, opposition, and judgment. The term “cut him off” shows that this is not treated lightly within God’s covenant community.

So what does this mean for the Christian today? It means we should evaluate any practice that attempts to reach the spiritual realm through forbidden powers. Even when such practices are marketed as entertainment, self-help, or spiritual exploration, Scripture classifies the pursuit itself as turning away from God.

Leviticus 20:27 intensifies the warning by describing a man or woman who has a familiar spirit or is a wizard as deserving death. While Christians are not under Israel’s civil laws in the same way, the moral seriousness remains. The Bible is communicating that this is not a harmless hobby; it is an allegiance conflict.

When the Bible speaks this strongly, it is not to frighten believers, but to clarify what God sees as dangerous. God’s command is ultimately protective: don’t trade God’s truth for counterfeit spiritual access.

3) Ultimate accountability: sorcery is included among the condemned

Revelation 21:8 brings the theme to its final destination. This verse lists categories of people who will have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone—the second death. Among the names in that list are sorcerers. While Revelation is not a single “necromancy definition,” it confirms that spiritual practices connected to forbidden power do not go unjudged.

For a Christian reading these warnings, Revelation provides an important spiritual lens: God is not indifferent to supernatural deception. The same God who forbids familiar spirits and wizards in the law also judges sorcerers in the final judgment. That continuity means the Bible’s moral concern is consistent across Scripture.

So, if the question is “Is consulting the dead a sin?” the safest biblical answer is yes—because the Bible directly forbids seeking familiar spirits and wizards, and it places sorcery among the condemned. The common thread is trust: are we seeking the Lord, or are we seeking spiritual manipulation?

In practical Christian language, this also affects how we handle grief and curiosity. People may feel drawn to “answers” after loss. But Scripture does not point believers toward attempting contact through forbidden methods. Instead, it urges a life of faith, repentance, and reliance on God.

The goal is not merely avoiding a checklist of sins; it is honoring God with our minds and hearts. God’s warnings are meant to redirect our seeking—away from counterfeit power and toward the living God.

Frequently Asked Questions