"Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live." (Exodus 22:18)?

Question

can someone please explain this?

Answer 1

It's a mistranslation. The original Hebrew says that a "poisoner," as in gossiper, shall not be tolerated. The word witch was placed into that verse during the King James translation. King James had an intense hatred for witches, and he used every chance he had to spread his venom among his followers. Hence, his translation of the Holy Scriptures is considered flawed by true scholars.

Answer 2

A lot of people seem to believe that quite literally. They're also the ones who don't know that King James changed that from the original verse - "Thou shalt not suffer a poisoner to live." King James was terrified of witches. Not sure why he wasn't terrified of poisoners, but apparently witches are scarier to some people than people who like using strychnine and arsenic to kill people.

Answer 3

It was a "law" written by a priestly caste to maintain control over a group of tribes.

They wanted permission to kill people who questioned them, so they wrote what they wanted "God" to say.

There is also the less culturally relavant way to look at it.
A witch is a person (poisoner or assasin) who wants to get something for less than it s worth. Lke selling "fortunes" at the faire. Don't buy into those sorts of things. Banish the thoughts of reading the future and fixing things with "spells". Just follow what you know within you is the correct path.

Answer 4

It's a mistranslation used for politic purposes to control the people and spread fear,King James hated commoners and the old ways, Hitler used the same ta tic, its being used today and killed 20 million Jews ,"god" doesn't Hate" Mankind invented Hate ,for what re son Control. plain and simple....

Answer 5

It means exactly what it says, as a practical matter. It's the reason Christians have been killing witches a lot longer than they haven't been killing them.

Answer 6

An injunction given to a people called out to be a holy nation to be preserved for the purpose of producing the Redeemer of all mankind.

Witchcraft being a particularly pernicious and dangerous and defiling sin that certainly brings God's wrath and judgement, it must be dealt with the severity that it deserved, especially since those very people had been particularly blessed with especial revelation and service.

Perfectly right and correct, as all God's merciful provsions for the benefit of mankind are.

Consider that for the want of such a commandment your own opportunity for salvation could have been lost.

Answer 7

Old Testament rule, that was countermanded by the New Testament. Jesus died for the sins of man, so we are just as good as Christians. So where's the beef?

Answer 8

Explain it? Ok, God does not like witchcraft and in the old Mosaic Law it was an offense punishable by death. God has not changed His mind on what He thinks of witchcraft, He still hates it, however, the Lord is not willing any should perish but all come to repentance. God bless

Answer 9

Yeh, Exodus 22:16 - 21 is pretty strong, huh? It's God outlining to Moses the Social Responsibilities of the people that were just freed.

Pretty much it means to put the witch to death. God does not entertain nor condone sorcery. Which pretty much describes what will happen to them in the end as well.

katiefish <><

Answer 10

In the days of OT and living under the OT before Jesus' Resurrection, that was the rule of the day for practicing Jews/Hebrews. The death penalty was routinely given for sins of major types in the days of the OT. Today is the day of salvation for all witches who choose to repent in the days of NT, after Jesus' resurrection. Choose ye this day who you will serve.