2 Kings 21:6

4 And he built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD said, In Jerusalem will I put my name.

5 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.

And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.

7 And he set a graven image of the grove that he had made in the house, of which the LORD said to David, and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever:

8 Neither will I make the feet of Israel move any more out of the land which I gave their fathers; only if they will observe to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the law that my servant Moses commanded them.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
He sacrificed his own son in the fire, practiced sorcery and divination, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did great evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.
KJV
And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.
WEB
He made his son to pass through the fire, practiced sorcery, used enchantments, and dealt with those who had familiar spirits and with wizards. He did much evil in the LORD’s sight, to provoke him to anger.
ASV
And he made his son to pass through the fire, and practised augury, and used enchantments, and dealt with them that had familiar spirits, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of Jehovah, to provoke him to anger.
DARBY
And he caused his son to pass through the fire, and used magic and divination, and appointed necromancers and soothsayers: he wrought evil beyond measure in the sight of Jehovah, to provoke him to anger.
BLB
And he made his son pass through the fire, and he practiced divination and used witchcraft and consulted a medium and spiritists. He multiplied to do evil in the eyes of YHWH, to provoke [Him] to anger.
ÅB
Han lot sin sønn gå gjennom ilden og gav seg av med å spå av skyene og å tyde varsler og fikk seg dødningemanere og sannsigere; han gjorde meget som var ondt i Herrens øyne, så han vakte hans harme.
OTB
Og han lot sin sønn gå gjennom ilden, praktiserte trolldom og brukte spådomskunst, og hadde omgang med åndemanere og spåmenn. Han gjorde mye ondt i Herrens øyne og vakte hans vrede.
B1930
Han lot sin sønn gå gjennem ilden og gav sig av med å spå av skyene og å tyde varsler og fikk sig dødningemanere og sannsigere; han gjorde meget som var ondt i Herrens øine, så han vakte hans harme.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 2 Kings 17:17

    And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.

    Read in context
  • Leviticus 19:31

    Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.

    Read in context
  • Leviticus 18:21

    And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.

    Read in context
  • 2 Kings 16:3

    But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel.

    Read in context
  • Leviticus 19:26

    Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times.

    Read in context
  • Deuteronomy 18:10–14

    There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,

    Read in context
  • 2 Chronicles 33:6

    And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 8:19

    And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?

    Read in context