Exodus 22:18
Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.
And yes, I admit this is a complete ripoff from a question I saw posted earlier.
2006-09-23 13:02:27 · 24 answers · asked by angelofdreams19881 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
No,
But he might be concerned that you may try to cast a spell upon him
Exodus 22:18 - An Analysis
One of the hobbies I have is, curiously enough, theology. A few years ago, I got into a on-line discussion with someone regarding a certain verse in the Bible, Exodus 22:18. My argument was that the verse was a mistranslation of the original Hebrew and Aramaic.
(NOTE: I have found copies of this scattered all over the web. While I don't object to them being posted, (Flattered actually!), I would like it if the people posting this would maintain credit to me and post back to my site. Thank you!)
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Here's the evidence supporting this claim:
In the King James Version, the translation of Ex. 22:18 is:
"Thou Shalt not suffer a Witch to live."
The New International Version, (a contextual translation), has it as:
"Thou shalt not suffer a sorcerer to live."
In the Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, it claims the word "witch" in hebrew as:
"3784 kashaph, a prim. root; prop. to whisper a spell, i.e. to inchant or practise magic:--sorcerer, (use) witch (-craft)."
However, in the Webster's New World Hebrew Dictionary, the term "kashaph", can be broken into two parts: a root word, "kash", meaning, "straw, herb, reed", and "hapaleh", or "casting, bringing down, using." Combined, these words translate into "using/casting herbs/straws/reeds" - one who uses herbs.
So a better translation is "one who uses/has knowledge of herbs".
Hebrew is a contextual language. Words can have a positive or negative meaning based upon context.
Kashaph is not the Hebrew term for witch. The Hebrew term for witchcraft is "keeshoof", meaning sorcery or magic. "Mekhash" means "to bewitch", and the term for a female who practices magic is "mekhashah", whereas the term for a male is "mekhashef", (the "ah" and "ef" suffix denoting gender.)
Note that none of these terms has a simular root to "kashaph". Therefore, the question is, why did a unrelated term like "kashaph" get mistakenly translated into "witch" ?? Easy, terms that denote "knowledge of herbs" have tended to get translated as "witchcraft" in theological writings for nearly 2000 years. I would not say this was malice, but rather simple ignorance.
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Now we get into the "to live" or "live" part. Strongs lists that word in Ex. 22:18 as:
"02421 chayah {khaw-yaw'} 1) to live, have life, remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, live for ever, be quickened, be alive, be restored to life or health."
Again, let's look at the Webster's New World.
Since, "ch" does get changed into a "k" in Hebrew, we'll look up the word "khay", or "khayah". Webster's gives the definition as: "living, alive, living among, dwelling, being alive, being full of life."
According to the Hebrew, as backed up by a Hebrew dictionary, the phrase cited, Ex. 22:18, uses a negative context to refer to "one who uses herbs, dwelling/living among you" - i.e. you shall not allow someone who uses herbs in a negative manner, (poisoner), to dwell among you. Which is utterly unrelated to what the KJV says. If the original texts *meant* "witch" or "witchcraft", ("mekhashah" and "keeshoof"), then *why* did it NOT use the Hebrew terms for "witch" or "witchcraft" ?? Instead, the terms it used, being unrelated to "witch" or "witchcraft", were then *mistakenly* translated as "witch" and "witchcraft".
2006-09-23 13:10:52 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, that particular passage in Exodus is incorrect in its translation to English. Its actually supposed to say "Thou shalt not suffer a poisoner to live". There are other translations for that word as well, doctor is one of them. So it could read "Thou shalt not suffer a doctor to live".
I would advise you to have your beliefs strong in your mind when you go to see him, because he is going to try to change them. He's going to ask you why you have turned away from Jesus and what kind of stuff Wiccans believe in. Best to start with the Wiccan rede and then explain the sabbats. Explain how most Christian holidays are actually variations of pagan and wiccan holidays and why the church designed there holidays around the original ones. Or why they made the virgin Mary such a predominate figure in Catholicism.
2006-09-23 20:41:11 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good Grief! Go visit your brother, if he is a Christian he will probably feel sorry for you, and might try to talk to you about your religious choices, but he will certainly not try to kill you. Christians follow Christ and his teachings, while they respect the whole Bible they mostly follow Christs teachings which are in the New Testament of the Bible not the Old Testament. Christ taught, love, tollerance, and understanding.
2006-09-23 20:12:03 · answer #3 · answered by newrabbit 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Silly.
Just make sure you don't go during any of our High Holy Christian Feast Days. Some older, more traditional Christians still roast Wiccans and other Pagans for our Christian feasts....
(j/k)
2006-09-23 20:15:29 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on what kind of Christian he is. I don't think any SANE Christian would kill you, but some hardcore fundamentalist types might try to "deprogram" or exorcise you. However, if he's the kind of Christian I am, the worst you might get is a couple of bad jokes about pointy hats and broomsticks.
2006-09-23 20:34:04 · answer #5 · answered by Schleppy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No!
The new covernant is one of love.
If he is a real Christian, he will know the authority he has in Christ. He authority over the demons thay you bring with you and, if you want freedom, he has the authority to tell them to go and make them obey. This will not kill you but set you free. Join the real power that comes from new life in Christ.
2006-09-23 20:06:41 · answer #6 · answered by jemhasb 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Be afraid very afraid, why not get him first , not kill him but a preempted strike like a very hard kick to his balls... He wouldn't have the strenght to cause you any harm then and you could have a nice visit with him... But be wary of christians, they believe Wiccan is the work of the devil..
2006-09-23 20:17:16 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
That would be really messed up... if he is a good Christian (and person in general) he will always love you as his brother! He may try to challenge your beliefs, but if he does he is most likely trying to save you from something that he truly believes will happen if you are not his religion.
2006-09-23 20:08:46 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
He will not try to kill you but I hope he does pray for you. You are headed down the wrong path may your brother show wisdom and guide you to the right path. The path that I speak of is the path of God.
2006-09-23 22:12:27 · answer #9 · answered by morris 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Um that would be a definate no I doubt the authorities would look kindly on him killing you wiccan or not.this isnt Salem any more
2006-09-23 20:11:07 · answer #10 · answered by sadistic_bondagelover 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋