King James Bible Dictionary

1. The rendering of Hebrew latim_ or _lehatim, which means "something covered," "muffled up;" secret arts, tricks (Exodus 7:11, 22; 8:7, 18), by which the Egyptian magicians imposed on the credulity of Pharaoh.

2. The rendering of the Hebrew keshaphim, "muttered spells" or "incantations," rendered "sorceries" in Isaiah 47:9, 12, i.e., the using of certain formulae under the belief that men could thus be bound.

3. Hebrew lehashim, "charming," as of serpents (Jeremiah 8:17; comp. Psalms 58:5).

4. Hebrew nehashim, the enchantments or omens used by Balaam (Numbers 24:1); his endeavouring to gain omens favourable to his design.

5. Hebrew heber (Isaiah 47:9, 12), "magical spells." All kinds of enchantments were condemned by the Mosaic law (Leviticus 19:26; Deuteronomy 18:10-12). (See DIVINATION.)

The words so translated have several signification: the practice of secret arts, (Exodus 7:11,22; 8:7); "muttered spells," (2 Kings 9:22; Micah 5:12) the charming of serpents, (Ecclesiastes 10:11) the enchantments sought by Balaam, (Numbers 24:1) the use of magic, (Isaiah 47:9,12) Any resort to these methods of imposture was strictly forbidden in Scripture, (Leviticus 19:26; Isaiah 47:9) etc.; but to eradicate the tendency is almost impossible, (2 Kings 17:17) and we find it still flourishing at the Christian era. (Acts 13:6,8)