While the word "witch" does appear in most English translations of the Bible, its appearance is an error of misunderstanding. The "Witches" mentioned in the Bible are not the same type of practitioners as European Witches. In other words, the concept of a Witch in ancient Hebrew culture is not the same concept of a Witch in European culture and history. It is important to note that the word "Witch" does not appear in Hebrew culture, but is an erroneous translation into English of the Hebrew or Aramaic words kasaph and ob. The word ob indicated a person who could evoke the spirits of the dead and foretell the future [Actually, ob refers to the spirit of the dead and not to someone who could summon up that spirit. A woman who could call up the spirits of the dead was actually called a ba’alat (ba’alt means “mistress”) ob. The word kasaph [technically, "mekashshefim" or כָּשַׁף] indicated a person who assassinated others using poison.
But doesn’t the Bible say, … ? Many people will bring up the Biblical injunction against witchcraft (and Paganism) by quoting Exodus, chapter 22: 18 in the King James Version. “Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live!” In the Hebrew Bible, this would be Exodus 22: 17 and reads “Thou shalt not suffer a sorceress to live (יז מְכַשֵּׁפָה, לֹא תְחַיֶּה.).
But what does that verse actually say?
In the original Hebrew, the word, “witch”, is not actually used. Rather, the Hebrew word, “mekhashepha”, is found. This is the word which has been mistranslated into witch! In all actuality, what the verse should read is “Thou shalt not suffer a poisoner to live” or “Thou shalt not suffer an herbalist who uses their cuttings for evil purposes to live”.
Additionally, it may be argued that the verse is not referring to Israeli herbalists, but to PAGAN herbalists as a way to keep the Israelis a separate people! Jewish magical texts have existed for centuries and are nothing new. What appears to be anathema to the Hebrew scriptures are foreign magical practices and beliefs—and this actually makes sense when you remember that:
The Jews had been enslaved in Egypt and, when they came to what is now Israel, they were attempting to lay their claim to these land and establish their own kingdom and national identity
While slaves in Egypt, they would have witnessed the magics of the court magicians—and were determined not to have the same in their society!
I do have to remind you that many churches and other religious groups try to warn their members and followers away from certain practices that may be related to New Age studies, such as astrology,
Tarot, and crystals. Their reasoning for this (and there is actually some truth in this) is that these studies can lead a person into Paganism, Witchcraft, and/or Wicca.] But the Witch as a cultural figure (as viewed by Europeans) was not known in Hebrew culture. The erroneous translation of ob and kasaph into "Witch" occurred in the King James Bible, which is perhaps the poorest English translation that exists in circulation today. When we consider that neither the concept nor the word Witch was known or used in biblical text, we can say that Witches and Witchcraft are literally not addressed in the Bible. Instead, what's being addressed in the Bible is the spirit medium and conjurer of the dead [the ba’alat ob].