Sorcerer

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

1: Μάγος (Strong'S #3097 — Noun Masculine — magos — mag'-os )

(a) "one of a median caste, a magician:" see WISE; (b) "a wizard, sorcerer, a pretender to magic powers, a professor of the arts of witchcraft,"  Acts 13:6,8 , where Bar-Jesus was the Jewish name, Elymas, an Arabic word meaning "wise." Hence the name Magus, "the magician," originally applied to Persian priests. In the Sept., only in  Daniel 2:2,10 , of the "enchanters," RV (AV, "astrologers"), of Babylon. The superior Greek version of Daniel by Theodotion has it also at 1:20; 2:27; 4:7; 5:7,11,15.

2: Φάρμακος (Strong'S #5333 — Adjective — pharmakos — far-mak-os' )

an adjective signifying "devoted to magical arts," is used as a noun, "a sorcerer," especially one who uses drugs, potions, spells, enchantments,  Revelation 21:8 , in the best texts (some have pharmakeus), and  Revelation 22:15 .

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

One who practised sorcery; nearly synonymous with magician, soothsayer, or wizard. This was a class of persons who dealt in incantations and divinations, and boasted of a power, in consequence of their deep science and by means of certain rites, to evoke the spirits of the dead from their gloomy abodes, and compel them to disclose information on subjects beyond the reach of human powers.

They pretended also that, by means of certain herbs and information on subjects beyond the reach of human powers. They pretended also that, by means of certain herbs and incantations, they were able to expel demons,  Acts 13:6,8 . Those persons also who devoted themselves to the general studies above mentioned, often abused their knowledge and deceived the common people, by pretending to foretell the destinies of men from the motions and appearances of the planets and stars, and to cure diseases by repeating certain phrases, etc. Of this class appears to have been Simon the sorcerer, mentioned in  Acts 8:9,11 . Females who practised such arts were called sorceresses and witches,  Malachi 3:5   Revelation 22:15 . See Divination , Enchantments , and Magic .

Easton's Bible Dictionary

In  Daniel 2:2 it is the rendering of the Hebrew mekhashphim, i.e., mutterers, men who professed to have power with evil spirits. The practice of sorcery exposed to severest punishment (  Malachi 3:5;  Revelation 21:8;  22:15 ).

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Sorcerer. See Divination .

King James Dictionary

Sor'Cerer, L sors, lot. A conjurer an enchanter a magician. The Egyptian sorcerers contended with Moses.

Holman Bible Dictionary

Divination And Magic

Webster's Dictionary

(n.) A conjurer; an enchanter; a magician.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

See DIVINATION.

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

[DIVINATION]