What Does the Bible Say About Ghosts?

Many people are curious about what, if anything, the Bible has to say about ghosts. The Bible only mentions ghosts a handful of times. However, the Bible contains multiple mentions of mediums and spiritists who consult the "spirits of the dead," which would be the same thing as ghosts. The Bible is clear that contacting the "spirits of the dead" is a bad idea and even offers some insight into why.

Identification

The word "ghost" is only used in the Bible a handful of times in the following passages: Is. 29:14; Matt. 14:26; Mark 6:49; and Luke 24:37-39. Two of the references involve seeing Jesus walking on the water through a storm. The disciples believed they were seeing a ghost rather than Jesus actually walking on the water. The last reference was when the disciples saw Jesus after the resurrection. They thought he was ghost, but he let them touch him, and then he ate with them.

Effects

The most direct reference to a ghost in the Bible refers to the "spirit" of the prophet Samuel. King Saul wanted advice from Samuel's spirit, so he went to a medium and asked her to "Bring up Samuel." Saul knew it was Samuel when the woman described him. Samuel asked Saul why he "disturbed" him by "bringing him up" and then prophesied that Saul and his sons would die the next day. The prophecy came true.

Considerations

The prophet Isaiah gives some insight into why the Bible does not want us seeking the counsel of ghosts. In Isaiah 8:19, the Bible points out that God's people should be inquiring of God when they have questions. The Bible asks, "Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?" Saul consulted the dead (the prophet Samuel) for advice about his situation, and he was dead the next day. According to I Chron. 10:13-14, Saul's decision to consult a ghost was one of the reasons that Saul died.

Significance

God is more powerful than ghosts. The dead do not have the power to control what happens with the living, but God does. The Bible points out that God is the one who has the power to derail the plans of man. In Is. 19:3, the Bible points out that the Egyptians would consult the idols and spirits of the dead, but they would lose heart because God would "bring their plans to nothing."

Warning

The Bible speaks strongly against using mediums and spiritists to contact ghosts (consult the dead). The Bible calls it "destable" for a person to be a medium or spiritist who consults the dead. See Deut. 18:9-12. The penalty in the Bible for being a medium or spiritist was being put to death by stoning. See Lev. 20:27. The penalty for consulting a medium or spiritist was to be cut off from God's people. See Lev. 20:6.

Resources

• Saul and the Witch of Endor