To answer your good question, let us look at a few instances where familiar spirits are mentioned.

  • Leviticus 19:31, “Regard not them that have FAMILIAR SPIRITS, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.”
  • 2 Chronicles 33:6, “And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a FAMILIAR SPIRIT, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.”
  • Isaiah 19:3, “And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will destroy the counsel thereof: and they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have FAMILIAR SPIRITS, and to the wizards.” 

This phrase is used several other times in the Old Testament.  From the uses we have looked at, we see they are considered together with wizards, witchcraft, and charmers.  We can already determine the negativity associated with familiar spirits.  Leviticus 19:31 warns us of their defiling properties. 

In other Bible translations, these familiar spirits are referred to as mediums, psychics, and astrologers.  We also see that consulting them is forbidden by the Lord…these people who pretend to make revelations through the help of supernatural powers. This would be on a par with those who have a ‘spirit of divination’ as found in Deuteronomy 18:10, “There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth DIVINATION, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch.”  We also read about a lady in the New Testament with a spirit of divination.  Acts 16:16 tells us, “And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a SPIRIT OF DIVINATION met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying.”

These people with familiar spirits or with a spirit of divination either pretend to have an ability to see and speak of the unknown, or they are possessed by demons.  These things are contrary to the mind of God and He instructs us to stay away from such persons.  We see this is against the mind of God, when in Acts 16:18 the Apostle drive the spirit from this young lady.  That says, “And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.”  (CC)  (733.4)