A diviner, in biblical terms, refers to an individual who practices divination, the attempt to gain insight into future events or hidden knowledge through supernatural means. The practice of divination is explicitly condemned in the Bible, as it is seen as an attempt to circumvent God's sovereign will and authority.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, divination is associated with various practices, including interpreting omens, consulting spirits, and using objects like rods or arrows to predict the future. The Hebrew word for diviner is "קֹסֵם" (qosem), and it is often mentioned alongside other forbidden practices such as witchcraft and sorcery.

The Law of Moses strictly prohibits divination. In Deuteronomy 18:10-12 , it is written: "Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, practices divination or conjury, interprets omens, practices sorcery, casts spells, consults a medium or spiritist, or inquires of the dead. For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable things the LORD your God is driving out the nations before you."

The narrative of Balaam, found in Numbers 22-24, provides a notable example of a diviner. Although Balaam is initially portrayed as a prophet, his use of divination and his subsequent actions reveal the dangers of compromising with pagan practices. Despite being warned by God, Balaam's heart is swayed by the promise of reward, illustrating the moral and spiritual pitfalls associated with divination.

Prophetic Condemnation

The prophets of Israel consistently condemned divination as a practice that led people away from trusting in God. In Isaiah 44:25 , God declares His power over false prophets and diviners: "who foils the signs of false prophets and makes fools of diviners, who confounds the wise and turns their knowledge into nonsense." This underscores the futility and deception inherent in divination, contrasting it with the true wisdom and revelation that come from God alone.

Jeremiah also speaks against diviners, warning the people not to be deceived by their false visions and dreams. In Jeremiah 27:9 , he states: "So do not listen to your prophets, diviners, dreamers, soothsayers, or sorcerers who say to you, ‘You will not serve the king of Babylon.’"

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the practice of divination continues to be rejected. Acts 16:16-18 recounts the account of a slave girl in Philippi who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much profit by fortune-telling. The Apostle Paul, recognizing the spirit as demonic, commands it to leave her in the name of Jesus Christ, demonstrating the authority of Christ over such practices.

The New Testament further emphasizes the sufficiency of Christ and the Holy Spirit for guidance and revelation, leaving no room for divination. Believers are encouraged to seek wisdom and understanding through prayer and the study of Scripture, relying on the Holy Spirit for discernment.

Theological Implications

From a theological perspective, divination is seen as a direct challenge to the sovereignty and omniscience of God. It represents a human attempt to control or predict the future apart from divine revelation. The Bible consistently calls believers to trust in God's providence and to seek His will through prayer and obedience to His Word.

In summary, the practice of divination is consistently condemned throughout Scripture as incompatible with faith in the one true God. It is portrayed as a deceptive and dangerous practice that leads individuals away from reliance on God's wisdom and guidance.1. (n.) One who professes divination; one who pretends to predict events, or to reveal occult things, by supernatural means.

2. (n.) A conjecture; a guesser; one who makes out occult things.

DIVINE; DIVINER

di-vin, di-vin'-er. See AUGURY; ASTROLOGY; DIVINATION.

4436. puthon -- Python, a mythical serpent slain by Apollo ...
... Putho (the name of the region where Delphi, the seat of the famous oracle, was located);
a Python, ie (by analogy, with the supposed diviner there) inspiration ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4436.htm - 6k7080. qasam -- to practice divination
... Word Origin denominative verb from qesem Definition to practice divination NASB
Word Usage conjure (1), divination (2), divine (2), diviner (2), diviners (7 ...
/hebrew/7080.htm - 6k

148. adargazar -- a counselor
... judge. (Aramaic) from the same as 'iddar, and gzar; a chief diviner, or astrologer --
judge. see HEBREW 'iddar. see HEBREW gzar. 147, 148. adargazar. 149 . ...
/hebrew/148.htm - 6k

But You Will Perhaps Say that the King was a Diviner. ...
... Book V. 4 But you will perhaps say that the king was a diviner.? But you
will perhaps say that the king was a diviner. Could he ...
/.../the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/4 but you will perhaps.htm

And we do not Ask the Question, "How Shall we Go to God?" as ...
... eyes, of ears, and of hands, which have nothing but the name in common with the
bodily organs; and what is more wonderful, they speak of a diviner sense, which ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/origen/origen against celsus/chapter xxxiv and we do.htm

'According To' --I.
... Thus to principalities and powers, a diviner height in the loftiness, and a diviner
depth in the condescension, and a diviner tenderness in the love, and a ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture ephesians peter/according toi.htm

How John was a Witness of Christ, and Specially of "The Light. "
... And John's testimony precedes also the second and diviner coming of Christ, for
we read, [4774] "If ye will receive it, this is Elijah which is to come. ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of john/30 how john was a.htm

Scripture Contains Many Contradictions, and Many Statements which ...
... we apply this to the bodily part of Him; but the self-same statement is untrue if
we understand His being born of the seed of David of His diviner power; for ...
/.../4 scripture contains many contradictions.htm

The Objects of Prayer
... Samuel. Diviner had been the offspring begotten by Hezekiah's mind than
that which was begotten of the material seed of his body. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/origen/origen on prayer/chapter xi the objects of.htm

The Gethsemane Prayer
... The same was law of His praying. Conformity, to live one with God, is a far higher
and diviner life than to live simply in submission to God. ...
/.../bounds/the reality of prayer/xii the gethsemane prayer.htm

Heart's-Ease
... me that no man lives at his best to whom life is not becoming better and better,
always aware of greater and greater forces, capable of diviner and diviner ...
//christianbookshelf.org/brooks/hearts-ease/hearts-ease.htm

The Way of Life and the Way of Death.
... Be not a diviner, for that leads to idolatry; [3402] for says Samuel, "Divination
is sin;" [3403] and, "There shall be no divination in Jacob, nor soothsaying ...
/.../various/constitutions of the holy apostles/sec i on the two ways.htm

Fourth Tractate. Our Tutelary Spirit.
... are fettered to the lower; it is as if we gave forth from it some emanation towards
that lower, or, rather some Act, which however leaves our diviner part not ...
/.../plotinus/the six enneads/fourth tractate our tutelary spirit.htm

Diviner (3 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. DIVINE; DIVINER. di-vin, di-vin'-er. See AUGURY;
ASTROLOGY; DIVINATION. Multi-Version Concordance Diviner (3 Occurrences). ...
/d/diviner.htm - 7k

Diviner's (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Diviner's (1 Occurrence). Hosea 4:12 My people consult
with their wooden idol, and answer to a stick of wood. ...
/d/diviner's.htm - 6k

Diviners (14 Occurrences)

/d/diviners.htm - 11k

Witch (2 Occurrences)
... events. It is not to be credited that the saintly Samuel was actually summoned
from his rest by the spells of a professional diviner. ...
/w/witch.htm - 24k

En-dor (3 Occurrences)
... events. It is not to be credited that the saintly Samuel was actually summoned
from his rest by the spells of a professional diviner. ...
/e/en-dor.htm - 11k

Endor (3 Occurrences)
... events. It is not to be credited that the saintly Samuel was actually summoned
from his rest by the spells of a professional diviner. ...
/e/endor.htm - 12k

Augur (1 Occurrence)
... 2. (n.) An official diviner who foretold events by the singing, chattering, flight,
and feeding of birds, or by signs or omens derived from celestial phenomena ...
/a/augur.htm - 7k

Augury (5 Occurrences)
... It is this higher and more spiritual mode of divining that obtained most largely
among the Greeks, whose chief word for diviner implies this. ...
/a/augury.htm - 17k

Divination (25 Occurrences)
... In inspirational or natural divination the agent is professedly under the immediate
influence of some spirit or god who enables the diviner to see the future ...
/d/divination.htm - 45k

Divinely (11 Occurrences)

/d/divinely.htm - 10k

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