Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadInternational Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Familiar
Subjects in this Topic:
fa-mil´yar: Is found as an adjective qualifying “friend†and “spirit.â€
(1) Used, in a number of Old Testament passages, of spirits which were supposed to come at the call of one who had power over them. ×וב, 'oÌ„bh, literally, something “hollowâ€; compare ×וב, 'oÌ„bh, “bottle†( the King James Version); because the voice of the spirit might have been supposed to come from the one possessed, as from a bottle, or because of the hollow sound which characterized the utterance, as out of the ground (); or, as some have conjectured, akin to ×וּב, 'uÌ„bh, “return†(νεκÏοÌμαντις, nekroÌmantis). Probably called “familiar†because it was regarded as a servant (famulus), belonging to the family (familiaris), who might be summoned to do the commands of the one possessing it. The practice of consulting familiar spirits was forbidden by the Mosaic law (; , ; ). King Saul put this away early in his reign, but consulted the witch of Endor, who “had a familiar spirit†(, , , ; ). King Manasseh fell into the same sin (; ); but Josiah put those who dealt with familiar spirits out of the land ().
It seems probable, however, that the practice prevailed more or less among the people till the exile (; ). See “Divination by the 'Ôb†in Expository Times, IX, 157; ASTROLOGY, 1; COMMUNION WITH DEMONS.
(2) “Familiars,†“familiar friend,†from ידע, yaÌ„dha‛, “to know,†hence, “acquaintance,†one intimately attached (); but more frequently of 'ĕnoÌ„sh shaÌ„loÌ„m, “man of (my or thy) peace,†that is, one to whom the salutation of peace is given (; ; ; also in , rendered “the men that were at peace with theeâ€).