μᾰγ-εύω G3096
practicing magic, performing sorcery
This participle describes someone actively engaged in practicing magic or sorcery. It denotes the ongoing activity of a magician or sorcerer employing supernatural or occult techniques. Acts 8:9 introduces Simon with this participle, identifying him as one who had been practicing magic in the city and amazing the Samaritan people.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Acts 8:9 presents Simon as a man who had been practicing magic in Samaria, astonishing the population and claiming to be someone great. The multilingual evidence (practicing-magic, practicando-magia, pratiquer-la-magie) emphasizes the active, ongoing nature of his sorcery. This characterization sets up the dramatic contrast when Simon encounters genuine apostolic power and seeks to purchase the Holy Spirit's gifts. 1×
AR["يَسْحَرُ"]·ben["জাদু-করতে"]·DE["μαγεύων"]·EN["practicing-magic"]·FR["pratiquer-la-magie"]·heb["מְכַשֵּׁף"]·HI["जादू-करता-था"]·ID["mempraktikkan-sihir"]·IT["praticare-la-magia"]·jav["sihir,"]·KO["마법하며"]·PT["praticando-magia"]·RU["волшебствующий"]·ES["practicando-magia"]·SW["akifanya-uchawi"]·TR["büyücülük-yaparak"]·urd["جادو-کرتا-ہوا"]
Related Senses
H3548 1. priest, cultic officiant (750×)G5547 1. Christ, Messiah, Anointed One (540×)H5030 1. Prophet, divine spokesperson (317×)H5930a 1. burnt offering (sacrifice) (286×)H3881 1. Levites (priestly class) (283×)G4396 1. prophet, spokesperson of God (146×)H6944 1. sanctuary, holy place (129×)G0749 1. high priest, chief priest (123×)H6944 2. holiness, sacredness (abstract quality) (123×)G5330 1. Pharisee (99×)G4336 1. pray to God (86×)H6944 3. holy things, sacred offerings (plural) (86×)H3722a 1. make ritual atonement (Piel) (85×)H6912 1. bury (Qal active) (82×)H6419 1. pray (Hitpael) (80×)H6944 4. holiness (with possessive pronoun) (77×)H6942 1. sanctify, consecrate (Piel factitive) (76×)H2930a 1. Qal: be/become unclean (75×)H7819a 1. slaughter an animal (Qal active) (72×)H1486 1. lot (object cast for decisions) (71×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
μᾰγ-εύω, to be a Magus or skilled in Magian lore, Refs 1st c.AD+ __II use magic arts, Refs 5th c.BC+ __III transitive, bewitch, e.g. by philtres, Refs 3rd c.AD+:—passive, Refs 4th c.BC+ __III.2 call forth by magic arts, ἔμψυχα Refs 1st c.BC+