יִדְּעֹנִי
yid.d.o.ni
spiritist
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Hebrew word "yid.d.o.ni" (Strong's number H3049) is defined as a "spiritist." This term denotes someone who communicates with spirits, whether they be from the dead or supernatural entities. The semantic domain categorizes this word under "Death & Life," suggesting that interactions with spirits are often associated with mortality and the afterlife. The word "yid.d.o.ni" appears 11 times in the Bible, indicating its significance in ancient Hebrew culture and theology. Its range of usage includes references to individuals or groups who claim to have knowledge or powers through communication with spirits (e.g., 1 Samuel 28:3, Isaiah 8:19). In these contexts, spiritists are often portrayed as having ties to dark arts or seeking knowledge that lies beyond the boundaries of normal human understanding. Given its association with the afterlife and supernatural forces, the concept of "yid.d.o.ni" underscores the complexities and mysteries of death in ancient cultural and spiritual contexts, suggesting both fascination and trepidation around the unknown.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
11 total occurrences across the text
He also made his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom. He practiced sorcery, divination, and witchcraft, and dealt with those who had familiar spirits and with wizards. He did much evil in Yahweh’s sight, to provoke him to anger.
Isaiah 8:19When they tell you, “Consult with those who have familiar spirits and with the wizards, who chirp and who mutter,” shouldn’t a people consult with their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living?
Isaiah 19:3The spirit of Egypt will fail within it. I will destroy its counsel. They will seek the idols, the charmers, those who have familiar spirits, and the wizards.
Leviticus 19:31“ ‘Don’t turn to those who are mediums, nor to the wizards. Don’t seek them out, to be defiled by them. I am Yahweh your God.
Leviticus 20:6“ ‘The person that turns to those who are mediums and wizards, to play the prostitute after them, I will even set my face against that person, and will cut him off from among his people.
Leviticus 20:27“ ‘A man or a woman that is a medium or is a wizard shall surely be put to death. They shall be stoned with stones. Their blood shall be upon themselves.’ ”
Deuteronomy 18:11or a charmer, or someone who consults with a familiar spirit, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
1 Samuel 28:3Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had mourned for him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. Saul had sent away those who had familiar spirits and the wizards out of the land.
1 Samuel 28:9The woman said to him, “Behold, you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off those who have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land. Why then do you lay a snare for my life, to cause me to die?”
2 Kings 21:6He made his son to pass through the fire, practiced sorcery, used enchantments, and dealt with those who had familiar spirits, and with wizards. He did much evil in Yahweh’s sight, to provoke him to anger.
2 Kings 23:24Moreover Josiah removed those who had familiar spirits, the wizards, and the teraphim, and the idols, and all the abominations that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, that he might confirm the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in Yahweh’s house.