SOS Discipline - Daily Proverb and Red Letter Reader
You can’t escape the storm. You can endure in peace. cf Pr. 10:25
What is given is for giving. cf Mt. 10:8
The wise hide their wisdom in plain sight. cf Sun Tzu 6.24
From Today’s Stack
Magic in Deut 18
Moses' outline of oracular magic forbidden in the Kingdom.
1. Child Sacrifice (עבר בנו באש, avar beno ba'esh)
KJ: pass through fire
PIE Root: *per- (to bring forth)
Etymology: The Hebrew phrase "עבר בנו באש" (avar beno ba'esh) means "to make one's son or daughter pass through the fire," referring to the practice of child sacrifice.
Latin: Sacrificium Infantis
Better Latin: Transitus Ignis (passing through fire)
Unique Greek Category: Threnomancy
Germanic English: Child Sacrifice
Modern English: Abortion
2. Divination (קסם, qesem)
KJ: practice witchcraft
PIE Root: *kes-/*kres- (to cut, separate)
Etymology: The Hebrew word "קסם" (qesem) derives from the root meaning to "cut" or "divide." It originally referred to the practice of divining by casting lots or cutting objects to interpret signs.
Latin: Divinatio
Better Latin: Sectio (cutting)
Unique Greek Category: Schizomancy
Germanic English: Fortune-Telling
Modern English: Blood Magic
3. Astrology (מעונן, me'onen)
KJ: soothsaying
PIE Root: *meue- (to move, change)
Etymology: The Hebrew word "מעונן" (me'onen) refers to the practice of predicting the future by observing signs in the celestial bodies.
Latin: Nubes Divinatio
Better Latin: Observatio Nubes
Unique Greek Category: Aeromancy
Germanic English: Future-Telling
Modern English: Horoscopes
4. Augury (נחש, nachash)
KJ: interpret omens
PIE Root: *snēg- (snake)
Etymology: The Hebrew word "נחש" (nachash) means "to whisper" or "to hiss."
Latin: Serpentis Divinatio
Better Latin: Serpens Auscultatio (snake listening)
Unique Greek Category: Drakomancy
Germanic English: Snake-Handling
Modern English: Parseltongue
5. Incanting (כשף, kashaph)
KJ: sorcery
PIE Root: *kek- (to speak, call out)
Etymology: The Hebrew word "כשף" (kashaph) means "to mutter."
Latin: Veneficium
Better Latin: Murmuratio / Incantatio
Unique Greek Category: Goemancy
Germanic English: Witchcraft
Modern English: Incantantations
6. Spellbinding (חבר חבר, chaver chaver)
KJ: conjuring spells
PIE Root: *kēi- (to bind, tie)
Etymology: The Hebrew phrase "חבר חבר" (chaver chaver) means "to bind a spell."
Latin: Incantatio
Better Latin: Ligatio (binding)
Unique Greek Category: Katadesmancy
Modern English: Tying Weaves
7. Warlockery (שאל אוב, shoel ov) KJ: medium
PIE Root: *wek- (to speak)
Etymology: The Hebrew phrase "שאל אוב" (shoel ov) refers to one who consults spirits of the dead, often through a ritualistic process.
Latin: Medium
Better Latin: Consultatio Spirituum (spirit consulting)
Unique Greek Category: Psychomancy
Germanic English: Spirit-Caller
Modern English: Witchdoctor
8. Clairvoyance (ידעוני, yide'oni)
KJ: spiritist
PIE Root: *gno- (to know)
Etymology: The Hebrew word "ידעוני" (yide'oni) refers to one who claims to have familiar spirits or can predict the future through spiritual means.
Latin: Spiritista
Better Latin: Cognitio Spirituum (spirit knowledge)
Unique Greek Category: Daimonomancy
Germanic English: Spirit-Knower
Modern English: Warlock
9. Necromancy (דרש אל המתים, darash el hametim)
KJ: calls up the dead
PIE Root: *mor-/*mr̥- (death)
Etymology: The Hebrew phrase "דרש אל המתים" (darash el hametim) means "to inquire of the dead."
Latin: Necromantia
Better Latin: Mortuis quaerens (inquiring of the dead)
Unique Greek Category: Necromancy
Germanic English: Talking to Ghosts
Modern English: Seances
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