The Bible has a lot to say about sorcery, magic, astrology, and spiritual things of that nature. There’s no doubt that spiritual activity has increased in the past few years and began pouring out into the physical realm. I’ve been seeing and hearing people warn about ‘pharmakeia‘ and I didn’t know much about it. But in order to understand pharmakeia, you must learn what the Bible says about sorcery. Therefore, I looked up what the word ‘sorceries’ mean in Hebrew and Greek.
Related: Is Astrology Demonic?
All scriptures are taken from NKJV unless otherwise marked.
What Does The Word ‘Sorceries’ Mean In Hebrew?
kesheph- sorcery; to practice magic; to whisper a spell.
What Does The Word ‘Sorceries’ Mean In Greek?
mageia- ‘the magic art’. It’s used as ‘sorceries’ in Acts 8:11.
“And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time.”
– Acts 8:11
pharmakeia- the use of medicine, spells, drugs, poisoning, or witchcraft. Sorcery that included drugs was normally accompanied by incantations with the intent to appeal to demonic powers using charms, amulets, etc. Many times these drugs were used to impress the patient with the mysterious working powers of the sorcerer.
“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”
– Galatians 5:19-21 KJV
“Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.”
– Revelation 9:21 KJV
“And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.”
– Revelation 18:23 KJV
In order to give a deeper understanding of pharmakeia, the Greek word pharmakeus was used in place of the word sorcerer, poisoner, druggist, magician, or pharmacist. Pharmakeia is where we get the modern term for pharmacy.
Conclusion
In conclusion, sorcery is a form of magic. This can include casting spells, mixing and drinking potions, using pharmaceuticals as a miracle cure for illness, and consulting a demon for powers. God makes His stance against sorcery known in Galatians 5:21 by threatening those who partake in such things with not inheriting the kingdom of God.
That’s why it’s important to know what the word ‘sorceries’ means in Hebrew and Greek. If you don’t understand the term, you may end up entrapped in it yourself.
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