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H3049 H3049
Conj-w | N-ms  |  11× in 1 sense
Familiar spirit, spiritist — one who conjures the dead or channels occult knowledge; always condemned
The noun יִדְּעֹנִי (yiddoni) designates a practitioner of divination who claims esoteric knowledge through contact with the spirit world. Etymologically linked to the root ידע ('to know'), the term suggests one who 'knows' by supernatural or forbidden means. It appears almost invariably paired with אוֹב ('medium, necromancer'), forming a stock phrase for condemned occult consultation. The Mosaic law explicitly prohibits turning to yiddonim (Lev 19:31; 20:6, 27; Deut 18:11), and the reforms of both Saul (1 Sam 28:3, 9) and Josiah (2 Kgs 23:24) included their expulsion. Isaiah 8:19 and 19:3 depict such consultation as the antithesis of seeking YHWH.

Senses
1. familiar spirit, spiritist, medium A spiritist, familiar spirit, or wizard — a person (or the spirit they channel) who claims occult knowledge, especially through communication with the dead. Nearly always paired with אוֹב (medium/necromancer) as a hendiadys for forbidden divination. Condemned in Leviticus 19:31; 20:6, 27 and Deuteronomy 18:11; purged by Saul (1 Sam 28:3, 9) and Josiah (2 Kgs 23:24). Isaiah contrasts consulting yiddonim with seeking God (Isa 8:19; 19:3). Spanish 'adivino/espiritista,' English 'spiritist/familiar spirit,' and German 'Wahrsager' all attempt to render a culturally specific term. 11×
RELIGIOUS_LIFE Religious Activities Divination Practitioners
AR["ال-عَرَّافِينَ", "العرّافينَ", "العَرَّافِينَ", "الْجَانِّ", "الْعَرَّافِينَ", "عَرَّافٌ", "وَ-عَرَّافًا", "وَعَرَّافِينَ"]·ben["-দৈবজ্ঞদের", "এবং-জ্ঞানীর", "এবং-ভূতুড়ে", "ও-মৃতদের-সাথে-কথা-বলাকারী", "ভবিষ্যদ্বক্তাদের", "ভূতুড়েদের", "মন্ত্রবিদদের", "মায়াবী", "মায়াবীদের"]·DE["[הידענים]", "[וידעוני]", "der-spiritists", "oder-familiar-Geist", "spiritist", "und-spiritists"]·EN["and-spiritist", "and-spiritists", "or-familiar-spirit", "spiritist", "the-spiritists"]·FR["[הידענים]", "[וידעוני]", "et-spiritists", "le-spiritists", "ou-familiar-esprit", "spiritist"]·heb["ה-ידעוני", "ה-ידעונים", "ה-ידענים", "ו-ידעוני", "ו-ידעונים", "ידעני"]·HI["और-जानने-वाली-आत्मा", "और-जानने-वाले", "जअदुगरोन", "जादूगरों", "जानने-वाली-आत्माओं-से", "जाननेवाला", "जाननेवालों", "वे-यिद्देओनी", "ह-यिद्देओनीम-को"]·ID["ahli-ahli-sihir", "dan-ahli-sihir", "dan-penyihir", "dan-peramal-roh", "para-penenung", "para-tukang-tenung", "peramal", "peramal-peramal", "roh-peramal"]·IT["[הידענים]", "[וידעוני]", "e-spiritisti", "il-spiritisti", "il-spiritists", "o-familiar-spirito", "spiritist"]·jav["akathah", "dukun", "jinèng", "lan-dukun", "lan-tukang-ramal", "para-ahli-roh", "tiyang-peramal", "tukang-ramal", "tukang-tenung", "wong-pinter"]·KO["그-박수를", "그-점쟁이들", "그리고-신접에게", "그리고-영매를", "박수들을", "박수를", "박수하는-자들을", "술사들", "점쟁이"]·PT["adivinho", "e-adivinho", "e-feiticeiros", "e-médium", "os-adivinhos", "os-feiticeiros"]·RU["волшебников", "знахарей", "знахарство", "знахарям", "и-волшебника", "и-знахарей", "и-знахаря", "чародеям"]·ES["adivino", "los-adivinos", "o-adivino", "y-adivino", "y-adivinos"]·SW["au-wajuaji", "mchawi", "na-wachawi", "wachawi", "wapiga-ramli", "wyidּwoniy"]·TR["bilicilere", "cinci-hoca-ruhu", "cinci-hokalara", "cinleri-", "falcilara", "falcıları", "ve-cin-biliciye", "ve-cin-çağıranlar", "ve-cinci"]·urd["اور-جاننے-والے", "اور-جانکار-سے", "اور-جنات", "جادوگر", "جادوگروں", "جادوگروں-کی", "جادوگروں-کے", "جناتوں", "فالگیروں"]

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
יִדְּעֹנִי n.m. familiar spirit (proposes either as knowing, wise (acquainted with secrets of unseen world), Ew vielwisserisch; or as intimate acquaintance of soothsayer, v. RS JPh. xiv. 1885. 127)—abs. יִדְּעֹנִי Dt 18:11 + 2 times; pl. יִדְּעֹנִים 1 S 28:3 + 6 times; הַיִּדְּעֹנִי מִן 1 S 28:9, read הַיִּדְּעֹנִים מִן (v. 𝔊 Th We Klo Dr); familiar spirit, always ‖ אוֹב, אֹבוֹת 1 S 28:3, 9 Is