Why does the bible say "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live"?

Question

"Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live" , Exodus 22:18. I am a good person with a good heart. I have never intentionally harmed anyone, yet for my beliefs, I could be killed. I just don't understand why this should happen to anyone.

CupcakeTheDestroyer · Accepted Answer

The traditional commentaries interpret the verse based on Onkelos: that someone who practices witchcraft shall be executed by a Jewish court. Note the unusual wording of this commandment; usually the Torah uses the words  mot yumat  (“shall be put to death”) when prescribing the death penalty to a sin. Yet here, the Torah uses the unusual wording of  lo t’chayeh  (“do not let live”). It is explained by the Ramban that while it is a positive commandment to put a person who practices witchcraft to death, it is also a transgression of a negative commandment to allow them to continue to live. Similar wording is used when prescribing the death penalty to idol worshippers and murderers. He explains further that the longer a witch is allowed to live, the more people are misled by them, therefore it is imperative that they be put to death. Rashi mentions that the commandment applies to both men and women who practice witchcraft, but that the Torah uses feminine language because women commonly practice witchcraft more so than men. This is the traditional approach, as unsettling it might be to the modern mind, especially in a time when witchcraft has become common and trendy. It is important to mention once again that such a punishment is to be carried out by a Jewish court and NOT an individual; witnesses and testimony must be brought, and historically Jewish courts would try to turn a blind eye to such cases or find any reason at all not to put a person to death. The Talmud records that the death penalty was seldom carried out, and that a Jewish court which put more than one person to death in seven years (and according to others, seventy years) was considered a “bloodthirsty court”. To summarize: the death penalty was rarely ever decreed.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Rebellion against God: Practicing witchcraft is viewed as giving honor to Satan that belonged to God alone, making it an act of rebellion against God's sovereignty.

Spiritual danger to the community: The command was intended to protect the Israelite community from spiritual impurity and to prevent them from being led astray by false gods and spirits, especially since the community was repeatedly tempted by surrounding pagan religions.

Threat to the collective: From this perspective, allowing a witch to live was seen as a threat to the spiritual welfare of the entire congregation, a threat that needed to be eliminated to protect the community.

ohsheeT · Accepted Answer

Are you a good witch or bad witch do you bless people with your powers  First of all I'm sure the way the Bible was first written it was a good book  But in time the rich and powerful took books out of the Bible. And added things to benefit themselves and to control others.  The term witch was used for magic or sorcery but then evil , of course got involved , and then the turn witch is now looked at as evil Because of the things that they could do are the spells that they could put on people just by speaking the words Words are a spell every word that we use when we answer a question. It is a spell. We are trying to put a spell on you to make you believe this is the answer so Take that however you want I guess I look at it as a positive or negative Hey.
Look at it as if we have been lied to. For many , many years , and we should actually be telepathic , by now I look at people that call themselves. Witchas good people because they can help people In a way, if we use our words right? We are all witches, words come out of our mouth as a frequency. The higher the frequency , the more the universe is going to help those words succeed  But I look at the word witch as a positive word My close friends that are girls instead of calling them a bitch when they say something I will just look at them in smile and say you fucking witch. And then we all start laughing because they know that I'm right and what they're doing is wrong. But i'm not gonna call them a bitch But anyway , I think what you can do with that title is many positive things in this world , because you have the energy to do that , and you understand it better than most people

Static_In_The_Attic · Accepted Answer

As for me I’m a leader not a follower & as for the Bible I have never read it so I’m unable to answer your question. However I did consult with Google’s artificial intelligence & it came up with the following.

The Bible says, "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live" (Exodus 22:18) as part of the Mosaic Law, a set of civil and religious rules given to the ancient Israelites. The verse reflects the belief that witchcraft was a dangerous practice that threatened the community's spiritual purity and relationship with God by involving demonic influence or other forms of harmful magic like poison or sorcery. In its original context, it was a command for the Israelites, who had just come from a pagan society, to protect their community by eliminating such practices, which were seen as a direct defiance of God.

smølf · Answer

The verse in Exodus 22:18, “Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live,” was part of the legal code given to ancient Israel when it functioned as a theocratic nation under God’s direct rule. The laws in the Mosaic covenant were both civil and moral, meaning they governed not only personal conduct but also national justice. Practices such as witchcraft, divination, and spiritism were strictly forbidden because they involved calling upon demonic forces and rejecting Jehovah as the only true source of guidance and power (Deuteronomy 18:10-12).

In that national context, witchcraft was not seen as a personal belief but as active rebellion against God’s authority, threatening the spiritual purity and safety of the entire community. That is why it was treated as a capital offense under the Law of Moses.

However, followers of Christ today are not under the Mosaic Law. Christianity is not a theocratic nation but a spiritual way of life. Jesus taught his followers not to take vengeance or enforce religious law through violence, but to preach and show love even to enemies (Matthew 5:44, John 18:36). Judgment now belongs to God alone.

While the Bible still condemns all forms of witchcraft and occult practices as being in opposition to God, it does not authorize any human to punish or harm others for it. The command in Exodus applied only within the nation of Israel, not to Christians or to modern governments. Today, our task is to avoid such practices ourselves and leave judgment in God’s hands.

FreyaRed · Answer

"Witches" undermined dogmas of the church. Mostly being witches were accused woman who performed abortions and traditional herb medication, church was always very obsessive about female genitals and prosecuted pagan beliefs.
You could be a good human being, but if people in Clergy considered you as threat for their narrative or you were attractive and you said fu... off to someone who had power or was influential, well, the burning stake was entertainment for the masses and it needed a victim from time to time.

strateguy632 · Answer

Whoa! Your "quote" doesn't match your picture, bible never said "burn a witch" period. Even the quote is in negative form, not any action. I understand you are a witch.

The PROBLEM with real magic is changing form to "cheat" in marriage, despite "consent" and "no pain" this is still bad. Also traditionally, from the time of the exodus until balaam, magic got cancelled so balaam and balak magician were powerless.

Also from a practical stand point, we mortals could not capture a REAL sorceress... therefore if we did capture a witch, she must not be a real magician! THIS idea was presented in a harry potter film, said: when witches "let themselves get captured" because "she can protect herself" .

AMS700CX4u2 · Answer

While living in Massachusetts, I met a pastor who ministered to a Church in Salem, Mass noted for a strong Wichen population. He said that many of his congregants were Wichen but strong Christians. What is even more striking is that most of the female Wichens began their Journey to seek revenge on spousal abusers. Of course, Christianity, demands that forgiveness is administered as one is forgiven. It took time for the grudge to subside. But isn't that what Christianity is about. Christians need to be thankful that we are not held to Old Testament standards. They wanted no one residing with them that believed in any other Deity or any form of Necromancy. They did not want anyone to cause God to leave them.

Berethor · Answer

"The Warriors of the Inquisition are yours to command." - Grey Knights

The Bible consider all Witches to be Wicked, but you Hot so how can you be Evil? myself I don't believe in Supernatural Stuff, and most Western Countries are Secular nowadays. :)

https://allthetropes.org/wiki/Wicked_Witch

https://allthetropes.org/wiki/Hot_Witch

https://www.youtube.com/embed/ilSDgI1JONw

AviatorTom · Answer

I have no idea but here's wheat Microsoft Copilot AI says...

The phrase "thou shalt not suffer a witch to live" comes from Exodus 22:18 in the Bible, which commands that a sorceress should not be allowed to live. This reflects the severity of witchcraft as a capital offense in ancient Israel, as it was seen as a threat to the spiritual and communal integrity of the nation. The commandment emphasizes the importance of maintaining moral and religious purity within the community.

Darklydarkened · Answer

It's all about an idea in early judaism the ability to connect with divine was reserved to rabbi. It later developed with gnosticism and became more democratic, but Chritian church wanted themselves as the only authority about anything supernatural and women were flat out banned from it

Societies usually change through women for some reason. Whenever someone wants a tyranny, they start with women.

Jackblue · Answer

Actually for the first few centuries of Christianity, the Church believed that verse no longer applied. Their consensus was that baptism protected Christians from witchcraft so there was no need to worry about hunting witches down. That began to change in the High Middle Ages when witchcraft trials started.

BarryLiverstone · Answer

Cross references:   warns, “Do not turn to mediums or familiar spirits,” while   calls sorcery “detestable.” These passages show a consistent biblical stance against occult practice.

purplepoppy · Answer

I don't know but interestingly the Church pretty much ignored witches up until all the trials started. There's even records of clergymen praising them for helping with ailments.

loveslongnails · Answer

The Bible says a lot of things; that doesn't mean you should live by all of it. The Bible also says a man can sell his daughter as a slave. Are you loving that one?

genericname85 · Answer

cause the bible is ultimately a political tool that needs mechanisms to get rid of people. cause that's sometimes necessary if you want to controll a population politically.

aceleon · Answer

either a translation mistake or it is corrupted by humans.

Tamera952 · Answer

The buy-bull says a lot of stupid stuff. It’s from the Bronze Age, who fuc*ing knows.

Lliam · Answer

Because the ancient Hebrews were primitive, superstitious, misogynistic barbarians.

Jennz6 · Answer

@randomgirl42  I don’t understand everything but I keep reading my Bible

slatyb · Answer

WGAF about old superstitious nonsense? Witches aren't real.

Staximus · Answer

It's not the 1600's anymore. Anybody who is not a dumbass knows there's good witches too

Agape93 · Answer

Because they think it's the devils work.

AngryCarl2 · Answer

That's a head scratcher. Fortunately witches don't exist so the injunction is rendered moot.

exitseven · Answer

Have you turned anyone into a newt lately?

TonyMetal___86 · Answer

Why would you be killed for your beliefs?

beefcakebradybatson · Answer

Then why are Karoline Leavitt Trump's Press Secretary and Kristi Noem Secretary Of State?

Richardjd · Answer

Read a different fictional book

Still-alive · Answer

You're saying you're a witch?

Why does the bible say "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live"?

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