What Does the Bible Say About Witchcraft? Scriptures, Warnings, and Prayers

Witchcraft is not a relic of the ancient world or a subject confined to folklore and fantasy. The Bible addresses it directly, repeatedly, and with striking clarity — from the explicit prohibitions of Deuteronomy 18 to the New Testament listings of witchcraft alongside the works of the flesh in Galatians 5. For believers who take Scripture seriously, this is not a topic to avoid out of discomfort or dismiss as irrelevant to modern life.

At the same time, this is a subject that requires both biblical grounding and careful discernment. Not every difficulty, conflict, or setback is the result of witchcraft — and a mature faith learns to distinguish between genuine spiritual attack, the natural consequences of living in a fallen world, and situations that require practical or professional responses. This post is designed to do both: give you a clear biblical foundation for what witchcraft is and what God says about it, and equip you with 40 powerful prayers to stand against it with confidence and authority in Christ.

What Is Witchcraft? (Biblical Definition)

The word “witchcraft” in the Bible covers a broader range of practices than the popular imagination typically suggests. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word most commonly translated as witchcraft or sorcery is kashaph — appearing in Deuteronomy 18:10, 2 Chronicles 33:6, and Nahum 3:4. It refers broadly to the practice of using occult means — spells, divination, communication with spirits — to manipulate outcomes, acquire hidden knowledge, or exercise control outside of God’s authority.

In the New Testament, the Greek word pharmakeia — translated as “witchcraft” in Galatians 5:20 — covers sorcery, magical arts, and the use of substances or rituals to manipulate spiritual forces. It is listed alongside sexual immorality, idolatry, and hatred as a “work of the flesh” — meaning it is not merely an external threat, but a spiritual orientation that can operate from within.

Perhaps the most striking biblical expansion of the concept comes from 1 Samuel 15:23, where the prophet Samuel tells King Saul: “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.” This passage broadens the concept of witchcraft beyond ritual practice to include the spirit of control, manipulation, and rebellion against God’s authority — making it relevant not only to outright occult involvement but to certain patterns of behaviour in relationships, families, and even churches where control and manipulation replace love and godly authority.

The clearest summary definition is this: witchcraft, in all its biblical forms, is any attempt to gain power, knowledge, or control through means that bypass or oppose God’s authority.

What the Bible Says About Witchcraft: Key Scriptures

Deuteronomy 18:10-12 “There shall not be found among you any one that… useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits… For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD.” This is the clearest and most comprehensive prohibition in Scripture — God lists witchcraft and all related practices as abominations, placing them entirely outside the boundaries of a life lived in relationship with Him.

1 Samuel 15:23 “Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.” God’s word to Saul after his disobedience — a sobering reminder that the spirit of witchcraft is not only found in occult practice but in deliberate, persistent rebellion against God’s authority.

Galatians 5:19-21 Witchcraft (pharmakeia) is listed among the works of the flesh alongside sexual immorality, idolatry, and hatred — practices that Paul says will prevent a person from inheriting the kingdom of God. This is a New Testament confirmation that witchcraft is not merely an Old Testament concern.

Exodus 22:18 “Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.” The severity of this Old Testament command reflects how seriously God viewed the corruption that witchcraft introduced into His covenant community — it was treated as a capital offence.

Isaiah 47:9-12 God’s word to Babylon, whose power rested partly on sorcery and witchcraft: “these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood: they shall come upon thee in their fulness for the multitude of thy sorceries, and for the great abundance of thine enchantments.” A powerful warning that witchcraft ultimately brings destruction rather than the protection or power it promises.

Micah 5:12 “I will cut off witchcrafts out of thine hand; and thou shalt have no more soothsayers.” God’s declaration that He will remove witchcraft from among His people — part of His redemptive plan to purify and restore.

Acts 19:18-19 After encountering the power of the Gospel in Ephesus, many former practitioners of occult arts “came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them.” This New Testament account models the appropriate response to past witchcraft involvement — full renunciation and removal of any associated materials.

Revelation 21:8 Among those excluded from God’s eternal kingdom are “sorcerers” (pharmakos) — a final, New Testament confirmation that unrepentant witchcraft places a person outside of God’s blessing.

Signs of a Witchcraft Attack (Spiritual Discernment)

Many believers associate the following patterns with potential witchcraft attacks — particularly when they arise suddenly, without clear natural cause, and cluster together in the same season:

1. Sudden, unexplained mental confusion or heaviness — a fog over the mind that makes thinking, praying, or reading Scripture unusually difficult.
2. Repeated accidents or near-misses in a short period, suggesting something beyond ordinary misfortune.
3. Sudden breakdown of healthy relationships without a clear trigger or reasonable explanation.
4. Unexplained physical symptoms or health decline — especially when medical investigation returns no clear diagnosis.
5. Targeted financial attacks — sudden loss, theft, or inexplicable financial reversal following a period of progress.
6. Nightmares involving specific people, rituals, shrines, or being pursued or attacked by known individuals.
7. A feeling of being spiritually monitored or followed — a persistent sense of surveillance or exposure in the spirit.
8. Sudden and unusual loss of passion for prayer, worship, or Scripture — a spiritual dryness that descends without an obvious cause.
9. Strange occurrences around the home — unusual animals appearing repeatedly, objects moved or disturbed, or a general atmosphere of unease or oppression.
10. Sudden and intense marital or family conflict — particularly when it appears disproportionate to the triggering circumstances.
11. A sense of invisible resistance against specific areas of life — career, ministry, relationships — that feels targeted rather than general.
12. Feeling spiritually weakened immediately after contact with a specific person — loss of peace, clarity, or energy following an encounter.

An important note on discernment: Every item on this list also has natural explanations — stress, illness, relationship dynamics, financial mismanagement, or sleep disorders can produce many of the same experiences. Mature spiritual discernment means honestly evaluating both the spiritual and the natural dimensions, seeking godly counsel, and pursuing appropriate medical or professional help alongside prayer. Not every difficulty is a witchcraft attack — but when multiple signs cluster together without natural explanation, prayer and spiritual warfare are appropriate responses.

How Witchcraft Operates Spiritually

Understanding how witchcraft operates helps believers pray more specifically and effectively against it. Scripture and sound biblical teaching suggest it generally works through the following means:

Through spoken words and curses. Proverbs 18:21 establishes that “death and life are in the power of the tongue.” Witchcraft frequently operates through deliberately spoken curses — words of harm, failure, or death declared over a person with spiritual intent.

Through objects or items placed near a person. Acts 19:19 records the burning of occult items — implying that physical objects can carry spiritual associations. Unusual items found in or near a home or workplace, particularly those that cannot be accounted for, may warrant prayer and removal.

Through covenants made on a person’s behalf. As with generational curses and evil altars, witchcraft can operate through covenants entered into by ancestors or others on a person’s behalf without their knowledge.

Through the spirit of manipulation and control in relationships. 1 Samuel 15:23 connects witchcraft to the spirit of control — meaning that emotionally or spiritually manipulative relationships can carry a witchcraft dimension, particularly when they are designed to isolate, dominate, or diminish.

Through deliberate targeting by a practitioner. In some cases, a person who practises witchcraft may direct specific attacks — through rituals, objects, or curses — against an individual, particularly one who is growing in influence, faith, or ministry.

Discernment caveat: Not every manipulative relationship or difficult person is “witchcraft” in a literal sense — most conflict has ordinary human roots. This category should be approached with wisdom and pastoral guidance rather than suspicion toward every difficult person in your life.

Scriptures to Pray Against Witchcraft

Isaiah 54:17 “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper” — the foundational declaration against every spiritual weapon, including witchcraft.

Luke 10:19 “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy” — Christ’s own declaration of the authority believers carry over demonic and occult forces.

Colossians 2:15 “Having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them” — the cross as the decisive defeat of every spiritual power, including witchcraft.

Romans 8:31 “If God be for us, who can be against us?” — a declaration of God’s absolute supremacy over every opposing force.

2 Corinthians 10:4 “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds” — establishing that spiritual strongholds, including witchcraft, are dismantled through spiritual means.

40 Powerful Prayers Against Witchcraft

(Pray these with authority, grounded in Scripture and faith in Christ’s finished work)

Breaking Witchcraft Words and Curses (1–10)

1. Father, I cancel every word spoken against my life through witchcraft, in Jesus’ name.
2. I break every curse released through sorcery, divination, or enchantment over my life, in Jesus’ name.
3. Every witchcraft word spoken to limit, delay, or destroy my destiny, be nullified by the blood of Jesus.
4. I declare that no weapon formed against me through witchcraft shall prosper, according to Isaiah 54:17.
5. Father, reverse every evil declaration made against my health, finances, and relationships, in Jesus’ name.
6. Every curse spoken against my home and family through witchcraft, be broken today, in Jesus’ name.
7. I silence every witchcraft voice speaking against my progress and advancement, in Jesus’ name.
8. Father, let every word of death spoken over my life be replaced by Your word of life and blessing.
9. I break the power of every incantation, spell, or enchantment targeting my mind, in Jesus’ name.
10. Every evil covenant made against me through witchcraft words, be dissolved by the blood of Jesus.

Destroying Witchcraft Operations and Objects (11–20)

11. Father, expose and destroy every witchcraft operation targeting my life, in Jesus’ name.
12. I command fire from heaven to consume every evil altar erected against me, in Jesus’ name.
13. Every witchcraft object planted in or near my home or workplace, be exposed and rendered powerless.
14. Father, destroy every instrument being used against me in any witchcraft ritual, in Jesus’ name.
15. I break every point of contact between my life and any witchcraft practitioner targeting me.
16. Every coven, gathering, or meeting assembled against my destiny, be scattered, in Jesus’ name.
17. Father, let every witchcraft network working against me be dismantled by Your power.
18. I command every evil pot, charm, or object assigned against me to lose its power completely.
19. Every witchcraft mirror used to monitor my life, be shattered, in Jesus’ name.
20. Father, let the fire of the Holy Spirit destroy every witchcraft stronghold over my life and family.

Protection Against Witchcraft Attack (21–30)

21. Father, cover me and my family with the blood of Jesus as a shield against witchcraft.
22. I declare that no witchcraft attack shall penetrate the covering of God over my life.
23. Lord, let Your angels encamp around me and every member of my household, according to Psalm 91:11.
24. I put on the full armour of God today as protection against every witchcraft arrow, according to Ephesians 6:11.
25. Father, give me discernment to recognize witchcraft operations before they take root, in Jesus’ name.
26. I close every door in my life that witchcraft may be attempting to enter through, in Jesus’ name.
27. Father, protect my mind from every witchcraft-induced confusion, heaviness, or oppression.
28. I declare that every witchcraft attack against my sleep and rest is cancelled, in Jesus’ name.
29. Lord, protect my finances from every witchcraft-driven loss, theft, or sudden reversal.
30. Every witchcraft arrow fired at my marriage and family relationships, be returned to sender, in Jesus’ name.

Restoration and Total Freedom (31–40)

31. Father, restore everything that witchcraft has stolen from me — time, health, resources, and relationships.
32. I receive complete freedom from every witchcraft influence over my life, in Jesus’ name.
33. Lord, heal every damage done to my mind, body, or spirit through witchcraft attack.
34. I declare that I am delivered from every witchcraft bondage by the power of Christ’s finished work.
35. Father, replace every effect of witchcraft in my life with Your blessing and peace.
36. I receive a fresh start in every area that witchcraft has touched, in Jesus’ name.
37. Lord, restore the years and opportunities that witchcraft operations have delayed or stolen.
38. Father, let my total deliverance from witchcraft be a testimony that glorifies Your name.
39. I declare complete victory over every witchcraft operation, past and present, in Jesus’ name.
40. Thank You, Father, for the authority You have given me in Christ over all the power of the enemy (Luke 10:19).

A Short Declaration Prayer

Heavenly Father, I stand today in the authority of Jesus Christ — the One who triumphed over every principality and power through the cross. I declare that no witchcraft operation, curse, or spiritual attack has any power over my life. I am covered by the blood of Jesus, filled with the Holy Spirit, and armed with the Word of God. Every witchcraft assignment against me is cancelled. I walk in freedom and victory today, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Bible say about witchcraft? The Bible consistently prohibits witchcraft in all its forms — from Deuteronomy 18’s comprehensive list of forbidden occult practices to Galatians 5’s inclusion of witchcraft (pharmakeia) among the works of the flesh. Scripture frames witchcraft as any attempt to gain power, knowledge, or control outside of God’s authority, and calls believers to renounce and resist it entirely.

Can a Christian be affected by witchcraft? Many believers hold that while a Christian’s spirit is sealed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13), their soul, body, and circumstances can still be targeted by witchcraft attacks — just as Job, a righteous man, was subjected to spiritual attack. The appropriate response is not fear but faith-filled, authoritative prayer, as outlined in this post.

How do I know if I’m under a witchcraft attack? Signs may include sudden unexplained confusion, repeated accidents, targeted relationship breakdowns, unusual nightmares, or loss of passion for prayer — particularly when these cluster together without a clear natural explanation. However, discernment is essential: many of these experiences also have natural or medical causes, and it’s wise to evaluate both dimensions honestly and seek appropriate help alongside prayer.

What should I do if I have previously been involved in witchcraft? Acts 19:18-19 provides the biblical model: confess, renounce, and remove. Confess past involvement to God, verbally renounce every practice, covenant, or exposure, and remove any associated objects or materials. Many also find it helpful to pray through the specific prayer points above, seek pastoral support, and establish a consistent prayer and Scripture-reading routine going forward.