Witchcraft
Question
Shalom, My name is Martin and I am from England. I am studying the Torah/Old Testament KJV Bible and it states "Thou shall not suffer a witch". I am sure it would be different in Hebrew as the phrase in the KJV Bible feels wrong and out of place. Please could you confirm what is actually said in Hebrew and what it actually means? Thank you for your time. Martin
Answer
Shalom!
Thank you for your question.
The verse in question is probably better translated as “Do not let a witch live.” The ban on witchcraft applies to both men and women (even though the Hebrew original is written in the feminine).
We are taught that there are 10 types of witchcraft and sorcery, such as “an enchanter who enchants, a soothsayer, a diviner, a sorcerer, one who casts spells, or one who consults ghosts or familiar spirits, or one who inquires of the dead.” Each of these are a type of forbidden magic, fortune telling, and consulting the dead.
When implemented in Talmudic times, the punishment was death by the sword.
Source
Sanhedrin 67a