Original Word: קָסַם
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: qacam
Pronunciation: kah-sahm'
Phonetic Spelling: (kaw-sam')
KJV: divine(-r, -ation), prudent, soothsayer, use (divination)
NASB: diviners, divination, divine, diviner, conjure, divining, practice
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. (properly) to distribute, i.e. determine by lot or magical scroll
2. (by implication) to divine

diviner prudent, soothsayer, use divination

A primitive root; properly, to distribute, i.e. Determine by lot or magical scroll; by implication, to divine -- divine(-r, -ation), prudent, soothsayer, use (divination).

Word Origin
denominative verb from qesem
Definition
to practice divination
NASB Translation
conjure (1), divination (2), divine (2), diviner (2), diviners (7), divining (1), practice (1), practiced (1), use (1), uses (1), utter...divinations (1).

קָסַם verb denominative practise divination; —

Qal Imperfect, 3 masculine plural יִקְסְמוּ 2 Kings 17:17, יִקְסֹ֑מוּ Micah 3:11; 2feminine singular תִּקְסַמְנָה Ezekiel 13:23; Imperative feminine singular קָסֳמִי 1 Samuel 28:8 Qr (Kt קסומי); Infinitive construct קְסֹם Micah 3:8 (Buhl קֶסֶם), קְסָםֿ Ezekiel 21:26; Ezekiel 21:34 קְסָ֯וםֿ Ezekiel 21:28 (read קֶסֶם Co Buhl), especially Participle קֹסֵם Deuteronomy 18:10; Isaiah 3:2, etc.; —

1 of diviners of the nations, Balaam, Joshua 13:22 (D), Philist 1 Samuel 6:2 ("" כהנים), Babylonian Isaiah 44:25 ("" חכמים) Ezekiel 21:26 compare שׁוא׳ק Ezekiel 21:28 (but read קֶסֶם), + Isaiah 2:6 (insert probably קֹסְמִים, > קֶסֶם, or מִקְסָם; see קֶדֶם 1b); of Can. necromancers בָּאוֺב 1 Samuel 28:8; "" מְעֹנְנִים Deuteronomy 18:14; of Ammonites כָּזָכ ׳ק Ezekiel 21:34 (+ ל person).

2 false prophets of Israel "" חזה Micah 3:6 (? קֶסֶם; "" חזון) Micah 3:7; Isaiah 3:2 (+ נביא; compare Isaiah 3:3), "" נביאים Jeremiah 27:9; Jeremiah 29:8, בְּכֶסֶף Micah 3:11, "" חזה שׁקר Zechariah 10:2; "" ׃חזה שׁוא ׳ק קֶסֶם Ezekiel 13:23 (but see קֶסֶם), כָּזָב ׳ק Ezekiel 13:9; Ezekiel 22:28,+ Ezekiel 13:6 (read וְקָֽסְמוּ or [Co Berthol] infinitive absolute וְקָסֹם, Vrss. Toy).

3 קְסָמִים ׳ק prohibited Deuteronomy 18:10; 2 Kings 17:17

Overview

The verb קָסַם occurs twenty-two times, always describing the pursuit or practice of pagan divination. Scripture presents this activity as an illicit attempt to obtain guidance apart from the revelation of the LORD, and therefore as a grave threat to covenant faithfulness.

Representative Passages

• Deuteronomy 18:10 – “Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, practices witchcraft.”
• Joshua 13:22 – “Along with the others, the Israelites put to the sword Balaam son of Beor, who practiced divination.”
• 1 Samuel 28:8 – Saul, disguised, seeks a medium and says, “Consult a spirit for me; conduct a divination for me...”
• Ezekiel 21:21 – “For the king of Babylon stands at the fork of the road... he shakes the arrows, consults the idols, and looks at the liver.”
• Micah 3:11 – “Her prophets practice divination for money, yet they lean on the LORD and say, ‘Is not the LORD among us?’”

Old Testament Distribution

1. Torah (Deuteronomy 18:10, 18:14) – categorical prohibition.
2. Historical Books (Joshua 13:22; 1 Samuel 6:2; 1 Samuel 28:8; 2 Kings 17:17) – records of Israel’s contact with or lapse into divination.
3. Major Prophets (Isaiah 3:2; 44:25; Jeremiah 27:9; 29:8; Ezekiel 13:9, 13:23; 21:21, 21:23, 21:29; 22:28) – sustained prophetic denunciation.
4. Minor Prophets (Micah 3:6-7, 3:11; Zechariah 10:2) – exposure of false leaders who mix Yahwistic language with pagan techniques.

Historical and Cultural Setting

Divination permeated the surrounding cultures of Egypt, Canaan, Mesopotamia, and later Persia. Common methods included hepatoscopy (liver inspection), arrow casting, cup omens, astrological charts, and necromancy. Kings consulted diviners before battle, farmers before planting, and families before major decisions. Israel’s neighbors viewed these rites as normal diplomacy with the gods; Scripture views them as spiritual adultery (2 Kings 17:17).

Biblical Theology of Divination

1. A counterfeit source of knowledge: Divination offers “guidance” without covenant submission (contrast Numbers 22–24 where Balaam’s attempts are overruled by God).
2. An idolatrous trust: To divine is to exchange dependence on God’s revealed word for manipulation of unseen powers (Isaiah 44:25).
3. A marker of judgment: Persistent use signals impending exile (Jeremiah 27:9); God “frustrates the signs of false prophets and makes fools of diviners” (Isaiah 44:25).
4. A challenge met by prophetic truth: True prophets speak as moved by the Spirit; their words require no ritual manipulation (Micah 3:8).

Contrasts with Legitimate Means of Guidance

• Urim and Thummim: sanctioned priestly lots under God’s sovereign control, not magical manipulation.
• Prophetic revelation: initiated by the LORD, not sought by ritual.
• Scripture: the enduring standard that renders divination unnecessary.

Consequences for Practitioners and Hearers

• Judicial removal from the covenant community (Deuteronomy 18:10-12).
• Military defeat and exile (2 Kings 17:17-18).
• Personal shame and darkness (Micah 3:6-7).
• Final exposure when the LORD “annuls the divination” (Ezekiel 13:23).

Christological and Redemptive Connections

The coming of Christ—the incarnate Word—renders every attempt at illicit revelation both futile and redundant. At the Transfiguration the Father commands, “Listen to Him!” (Matthew 17:5), elevating divine speech through the Son above every other claim to hidden knowledge. The New Testament continues the Old Testament stance by treating sorcery and divination as “works of the flesh” (Galatians 5:20) destined for final judgment (Revelation 22:15).

Ministry Implications Today

1. Discernment: Teach believers to test every claim of supernatural insight against Scripture.
2. Holiness: Warn against modern equivalents—horoscopes, psychic readings, occult games, channeling, certain “spiritual” therapies.
3. Evangelism: Present the sufficiency of Christ as Prophet, Priest, and King to seekers drawn to occult guidance.
4. Pastoral care: Offer repentance and deliverance prayers for those leaving occult practices, grounding them in scriptural assurance.
5. Worship: Center corporate gatherings on the public reading and exposition of Scripture, the divinely authorized source of guidance.

Key Takeaways

קָסַם signifies more than a neutral cultural custom; it embodies rebellion against the voice of the LORD. From the Torah’s prohibition to the prophets’ denunciations, Scripture consistently warns that divination leads to deception, judgment, and death. The answer to humanity’s longing for direction is not secret arts but the open Word of God fulfilled in Jesus Christ and preserved in Scripture.

בִּקְסָם־ בקסם־ הַקֹּ֣סְמִ֔ים הַקּוֹסֵ֑ם הקוסם הקסמים וְהַקֹּסְמִ֣ים וְהַקּֽוֹסְמִים֙ וְלַקֹּֽסְמִים֙ וְקֹֽסְמֵיכֶ֑ם וְקֹסְמִ֖ים וְקֹסְמִ֥ים וְקֹסֵ֥ם וַיִּקְסְמ֥וּ והקוסמים והקסמים ויקסמו ולקסמים וקסם וקסמיכם וקסמים יִקְסֹ֑מוּ יקסמו כִּקְסָם־ כקסם־ לִקְסָם־ לקסם־ מִקְּסֹ֑ם מקסם נָ֥א נא קְסָמִ֔ים קֹֽסְמֵיכֶ֗ם קֹסְמִ֖ים קָֽסֳמִי־ קסמי־ קסמיכם קסמים שָׁוְא֙ שוא תִקְסַ֣מְנָה תקסמנה biksom biq·sām- biqsām- hakkoSem hakKoseMim haq·qō·sə·mîm haq·qō·w·sêm haqqōsəmîm haqqōwsêm kesaMim kiksom kiq·sām- kiqsām- kosemeiChem koseMim kosomi liksom liq·sām- liqsām- mikkeSom miq·qə·sōm miqqəsōm na nā qā·so·mî- qāsomî- qə·sā·mîm qəsāmîm qō·sə·mê·ḵem qō·sə·mîm qōsəmêḵem qōsəmîm šāw shaV tikSamnah ṯiq·sam·nāh ṯiqsamnāh vaiyikseMu vehakkoseMim vehakkosMim vekoSem vekosemeiChem vekoseMim velakkoseMim way·yiq·sə·mū wayyiqsəmū wə·haq·qō·sə·mîm wə·haq·qō·ws·mîm wə·laq·qō·sə·mîm wə·qō·sə·mê·ḵem wə·qō·sə·mîm wə·qō·sêm wəhaqqōsəmîm wəhaqqōwsmîm wəlaqqōsəmîm wəqōsêm wəqōsəmêḵem wəqōsəmîm yikSomu yiq·sō·mū yiqsōmūInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts