Bible Word Study
μαγεία
mageia · magic
μαγεία
magic
Definition
μαγεία (mageia) refers to the practice of magic, sorcery, or the use of supernatural arts, often involving spells, incantations, or rituals intended to influence events or people through occult means. In the New Testament, it specifically denotes the deceptive and spiritually dangerous practices associated with false religion and demonic influence, as seen in Acts 8:9-11 where Simon the sorcerer (μαγεύων) amazed people with his μαγεία. The term carries a uniformly negative connotation, contrasting with the genuine power of God and the Holy Spirit.
Biblical Usage
This word appears only once in the New Testament, in Acts 8:11, describing the practices of Simon in Samaria. The context is a confrontation between deceptive magical arts and the authentic apostolic power of the gospel. The usage pattern shows that μαγεία is associated with spiritual deception and is explicitly condemned as incompatible with true faith.
Etymology
Derived from the Greek μάγος (magos, G3097), meaning a magician, sorcerer, or wise man (originally referring to Persian priestly astrologers). The noun μαγεία directly denotes the art or practice of the μάγοι. The word group entered Greek from Old Persian and came to signify occult practices in the Hellenistic world.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it highlights the biblical rejection of all occult practices and the clear distinction between demonic counterfeits and God's genuine power. In Acts 8, Simon's μαγεία is confronted by the apostolic ministry of Philip, showing that the gospel displaces and exposes spiritual deception. Understanding this term enriches reading by clarifying the serious spiritual conflict between the kingdom of God and systems of magical control. In the 1st-century Greco-Roman world, μαγεία encompassed a wide range of practices—from astrology and spell-casting to ritual magic—often sought for protection, healing, or cursing. It was both feared and utilized in daily life. The biblical presentation starkly contrasts with any neutral or positive modern view of 'magic,' framing it exclusively as a dangerous, idolatrous engagement with spiritual forces opposed to God. φαρμακεία (pharmakeia, G5331) — often translated 'sorcery' or 'witchcraft,' with a stronger association with the use of drugs or potions in magical rites. μάγος (magos, G3097) — the practitioner of μαγεία, a magician or sorcerer.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Dodson Greek-English Lexicon, supplemented by STEPBible TBESG data (CC BY 4.0). Concordance and morphology data are derived from the interlinear Bible.
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]