Soothsayer

6 sources

Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature by John Kitto (1856)

[DIVINATION]

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary by American Tract Society (1859) ↑

See SORCERER.\par

Smith's Bible Dictionary by William Smith (1863) ↑

Soothsayer. See Divination.

New and Concise Bible Dictionary by George Morrish (1899) ↑

See DIVINATION.

Dictionary of the Bible by James Hastings (1909) ↑

SOOTHSAYER.—See Magic Divination and Sorcery.

Aquifer Open Bible Dictionary by Mission Mutual, adapted from the Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary (2023)

One who foretells events; a pagan practice, soothsaying was forbidden in Israel (Dt 18:10, 14). In Scripture, soothsaying was practiced by Balaam, Beor’s son (Jos 13:22) and King Manasseh of Judah (2 Kgs 21:6; 2 Chr 33:6); Jacob’s descendants were likened to the soothsayers of Philistia (Is 2:6); they were listed among the false prophets of Judah (Jer 27:9). During NT times, soothsaying was the source of a lucrative trade in Philippi (Acts 16:16).

See also Magic; Sorcery.