Bible Encyclopedia: Familiar

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

FAMILIAR

fa-mil'-yar: Is found as an adjective qualifying "friend" and "spirit."

(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. 'obh, literally, something "hollow"; compare 'obh, "bottle" (Job 32:19 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 (Isaiah 29:4); or, as some have conjectured, akin to 'ubh, "return" (nekromantis). 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 (Leviticus 19:31; Leviticus 20:6, 27 Deuteronomy 18:11). King Saul put this away early in his reign, but consulted the witch of Endor, who "had a familiar spirit" (1 Samuel 28:3, 7, 8, 9 1 Chronicles 10:13). King Manasseh fell into the same sin (2 Kings 21:6 2 Chronicles 33:6); but Josiah put those who dealt with familiar spirits out of the land (2 Kings 23:24).

It seems probable, however, that the practice prevailed more or less among the people till the exile (Isaiah 8:19; Isaiah 19:3). See "Divination by the 'Ob" in The Expositor T, IX, 157; ASTROLOGY, 1; COMMUNION WITH DEMONS.

(2) "Familiars," "familiar friend," from yadha`, "to know," hence, "acquaintance," one intimately attached (Job 19:14); but more frequently of 'enosh shalom, "man of (my or thy) peace," that is, one to whom the salutation of peace is given (Psalm 41:9 Jeremiah 20:10; Jeremiah 38:22; also in Obadiah 1:7, rendered "the men that were at peace with thee").

Edward Bagby Pollard

SPIRIT, FAMILIAR

See FAMILIAR; DIVINATION; PYTHON.

Greek

3615. oikiakos -- belonging to the household
... member of a household. From oikia; familiar, ie (as noun) relatives -- they (them)
of (his own) household. see GREEK oikia. (oikiakoi) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3615.htm - 6k

4252. Priskilla -- Priscilla, the same person as Prisca.
... Prisca, Priscilla Definition: Prisca, Priscilla, the former being the more correct
and formal name, the latter a diminutive and more familiar; a Roman lady ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4252.htm - 6k

3850. parabole -- to expose oneself to danger
... This casts additional light by using an arresting or familiar analogy, (which
is often fictitious or metaphorical, but not necessarily). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3850.htm - 7k

3880. paralambano -- to receive from
... From para and lambano; to receive near, ie Associate with oneself (in any familiar
or intimate act or relation); by analogy, to assume an office; figuratively ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3880.htm - 8k

4209. porphura -- purple fish, purple dye, purple cloth
... There were three familiar shades of purple in the ancient world: deep violet,
deep scarlet (or crimson), and deep blue (, 2, 220). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4209.htm - 7k

2239. ethos -- custom
... 2239 (from 1485 , "habit, custom") -- "familiar morals," referring to daily (moral ,
behavioral ). 2239 ("habits, regarded") only occurs in 1 Cor 15:33. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2239.htm - 7k

4519. sabaoth -- Sabaoth, ie armies
... 4519 ("the Lord of ") only occurs in Ro 9:29 and Js 4:5, and correlates
to the familiar phrase, "the Lord of " in the OT and . Word ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4519.htm - 7k

4917. sunthlao -- to crush together
... The verb means to shatter. We are familiar with an automobile that dashes against
a stone wall, a tree, or a train and the ruin that follows. (3039 ). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4917.htm - 7k

4251. Priska -- Prisca, a Christian and the wife of Aquila
... Prisca, Priscilla Definition: Prisca, Priscilla, the former being the more correct
and formal name, the latter a diminutive and more familiar; a Roman lady ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4251.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

3049. yiddeoni -- familiar spirit
... 3048, 3049. yiddeoni. 3050 . familiar spirit. Transliteration: yiddeoni Phonetic
Spelling: (yid-deh-o-nee') Short Definition: spiritists. ...
/hebrew/3049.htm - 6k

3045. yada -- to know
... 1), detected (1), directed (1), discern (2), disciplined (1), discovered (3),
distinguish (1), endowed (3), experienced (4), experiences (1), familiar friend ( ...
/hebrew/3045.htm - 8k

178. ob -- a bottle (made from animal skin), a necromancer
... 9), spirit (1), wineskins (1). bottle, familiar spirit. From the same as
'ab (apparently through the idea of prattling a father's ...
/hebrew/178.htm - 6k

5532. cakan -- to be of use or service, benefit
... A primitive root; to be familiar with; by implication, to minister to, be serviceable
to, be customary -- acquaint (self), be advantage, X ever, (be, (un ...
/hebrew/5532.htm - 5k

7965. shalom -- completeness, soundness, welfare, peace
... shaw-lome'}; from shalam; safe, ie (figuratively) well, happy, friendly; also
(abstractly) welfare, ie Health, prosperity, peace -- X do, familiar, X fare ...
/hebrew/7965.htm - 6k

5234. nakar -- to regard, recognize
... 1), acknowledge (3), acknowledges (1), discern (1), distinguish (1), distinguishes
(1), examine (1), examine and see (1), examined (1), familiar (1), know (2 ...
/hebrew/5234.htm - 6k

441. alluwph -- tame
... Or (shortened) talluph {al-loof'}; from 'alph; familiar; a friend, also gentle;
hence, a bullock (as being tame; applied, although masculine, to a cow); and so ...
/hebrew/441.htm - 5k

Library

A Refutation of this Dogma on the Ground of Familiar Human ...
... II."From the Books on Nature. II. A Refutation of This Dogma on the Ground
of Familiar Human Analogies. How, shall we bear with ...
/.../dionysius/the works of dionysius/ii a refutation of this.htm

"Moreover, it Will be Worth While to Relate Also Some of his ...
... Dialogues of Sulpitius Severus. Chapter X. "Moreover, it will be worth while
to relate also some of his familiar sayings� "Moreover ...
/.../severus/life and writings of sulpitius severus /chapter x moreover it will.htm

That the Figure Synecdoche, in which the Part Stands for the Whole ...
... Book VI. Chapter XXIII. That the figure Synecdoche, in which the part stands
for the whole, is very familiar to the Holy Scripture. ...
/.../cassian/the seven books of john cassian /chapter xxiii that the figure.htm

The Lord Our Shepherd
... Those texts with which we have been familiar from our childhood, which we learned
in the nursery at our mother's knee, which were used by those who loved us to ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/smith/the god of all comfort/chapter 4 the lord our.htm

Old Testament Hymns
... References to their use appear throughout the New Testament and are familiar to
all. ... is the familiar Benedictus es, Domine; and the second part,. ...
/.../christian hymns of the first three centuries/ii old testament hymns.htm

The Power of Diligence
... It seems to me very like Peter that there should be so much in this letter about
the very commonplace and familiar excellence of diligence. ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture ephesians peter/the power of diligence.htm

The Meal at Emmaus
... with which more than one of the Evangelists describes the miraculous feeding of
the four and the five thousand; and it was the old familiar act, expressed by ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/the meal at emmaus.htm

Salvation: Grace: Faith
... a dreary sermon. But the more familiar a word is, the more likely are common
ideas about it to be hazy. We substitute acquaintance ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture ephesians peter/salvation grace faith.htm

New Testament Hymns
... recalled. Some passages are considered parts of familiar pieces otherwise
unknown. ... Homer. To the Hellenized orient it was familiar. ...
/.../christian hymns of the first three centuries/iii new testament hymns.htm

Conflict and Comfort.
... We discern something of this opposition in the well-known words, "We wrestle"
(Ephesians 6:12); and the words of the hymn are as true as they are familiar". ...
/.../thomas/the prayers of st paul/vi conflict and comfort.htm

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Familiar spirit

Sorcerers or necormancers, who professed to call up the dead to answer questions, were said to have a "familiar spirit" (Deuteronomy 18:11; 2 Kings 21:6; 2 Chronicles 33:6; Leviticus 19:31; 20:6; Isaiah 8:19; 29:4). Such a person was called by the Hebrews an 'ob, which properly means a leathern bottle; for sorcerers were regarded as vessels containing the inspiring demon. This Hebrew word was equivalent to the pytho of the Greeks, and was used to denote both the person and the spirit which possessed him (Leviticus 20:27; 1 Samuel 28:8; Comp. Acts 16:16). The word "familiar" is from the Latin familiaris, meaning a "household servant," and was intended to express the idea that sorcerers had spirits as their servants ready to obey their commands.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (a.) Of or pertaining to a family; domestic.

2. (a.) Closely acquainted or intimate, as a friend or companion; well versed in, as any subject of study; as, familiar with the Scriptures.

3. (a.) Characterized by, or exhibiting, the manner of an intimate friend; not formal; unconstrained; easy; accessible.

4. (a.) Well known; well understood; common; frequent; as, a familiar illustration.

5. (a.) Improperly acquainted; wrongly intimate.

6. (n.) An intimate; a companion.

7. (n.) An attendant demon or evil spirit.

8. (n.) A confidential officer employed in the service of the tribunal, especially in apprehending and imprisoning the accused.

Thesaurus

Familiar (35 Occurrences)
...Familiar spirit. ... 2. (a.) Closely acquainted or intimate, as a friend or companion;
well versed in, as any subject of study; as, familiar with the Scriptures. ...
/f/familiar.htm - 22k

Wizards (10 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 20:27 And a man or woman -- when there is in them a familiar spirit, or
who 'are' wizards -- are certainly put to death; with stones they stone them ...
/w/wizards.htm - 10k

Spiritists (8 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 19:31 Turn ye not unto the ghosts, nor unto familiar spirits; seek them
not out, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God. (See NAS NIV). ...
/s/spiritists.htm - 9k

Mediums (10 Occurrences)
... in his own city. Saul had put away those who had familiar spirits, and the
wizards, out of the land. (See NAS RSV NIV). 1 Samuel 28 ...
/m/mediums.htm - 10k

Devils (48 Occurrences)
... is evident, but it is implied in the English version of a number of passages by
the terms "one who has" or "those who have" "familiar spirits" (Leviticus 19:31 ...
/d/devils.htm - 31k

Demons (54 Occurrences)
... is evident, but it is implied in the English version of a number of passages by
the terms "one who has" or "those who have" "familiar spirits" (Leviticus 19:31 ...
/d/demons.htm - 34k

Divined (6 Occurrences)
... in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits,
and the wizards, out of the land. (See JPS). 2 Kings 21:6 ...
/d/divined.htm - 8k

En-dor (3 Occurrences)
... Here dwelt the woman who had a familiar spirit, whom Saul consulted on the night
before the battle of Gilboa (1 Samuel 28:7). Here also, according to Psalm 83 ...
/e/en-dor.htm - 11k

Endor (3 Occurrences)
... Here dwelt the woman who had a familiar spirit, whom Saul consulted on the night
before the battle of Gilboa (1 Samuel 28:7). Here also, according to Psalm 83 ...
/e/endor.htm - 12k

With (66342 Occurrences)
... is evident, but it is implied in the English version of a number of passages by
the terms "one who has" or "those who have" "familiar spirits" (Leviticus 19:31 ...
/w/with.htm - 20k

Bible Concordance

Familiar (35 Occurrences)

John 9:8 His neighbours, therefore, and the other people to whom he had been a familiar object because he was a beggar, began asking, "Is not this the man who used to sit and beg?"
(WEY)

Acts 26:3 who are so familiar with all the customs and speculations that prevail among the Jews; and for this reason, I pray you, give me a patient hearing.
(WEY RSV)

Romans 6:19 your human infirmity leads me to employ these familiar figures--and just as you once surrendered your faculties into bondage to Impurity and ever-increasing disregard of Law, so you must now surrender them into bondage to Righteousness ever advancing towards perfect holiness.
(WEY)

Jude 1:5 I desire to remind you--although the whole matter is already familiar to you--that the Lord saved a people out of the land of Egypt, but afterwards destroyed those who had no faith.
(WEY)

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.
(KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT)

Leviticus 20:6 And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.
(KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT)

Leviticus 20:27 A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them.
(KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT)

Deuteronomy 18:11 or a charmer, or a consulter with a familiar spirit, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT)

1 Samuel 28:3 Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. Saul had put away those who had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT)

1 Samuel 28:7 Then said Saul to his servants, "Seek me a woman who has a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her." His servants said to him, "Behold, there is a woman who has a familiar spirit at Endor."
(WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT)

1 Samuel 28:8 Saul disguised himself, and put on other clothing, and went, he and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, "Please divine to me by the familiar spirit, and bring me up whoever I shall name to you."
(WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT)

1 Samuel 28:9 The woman said to him, "Behold, you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off those who have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land. Why then do you lay a snare for my life, to cause me to die?"
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT)

1 Kings 9:27 Hiram sent in the navy his servants, sailors who had knowledge of the sea, with the servants of Solomon.
(See RSV)

2 Kings 10:11 So Jehu struck all that remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, with all his great men, his familiar friends, and his priests, until he left him none remaining.
(WEB JPS ASV RSV)

2 Kings 21:6 He made his son to pass through the fire, and practiced sorcery, and used enchantments, and dealt with those who had familiar spirits, and with wizards: he worked much evil in the sight of Yahweh, to provoke him to anger.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT)

2 Kings 23:24 Moreover those who had familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the teraphim, and the idols, and all the abominations that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, did Josiah put away, that he might confirm the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of Yahweh.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT)

1 Chronicles 10:13 So Saul died for his trespass which he committed against Yahweh, because of the word of Yahweh, which he didn't keep; and also because he asked counsel of one who had a familiar spirit, to inquire thereby,
(WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT)

2 Chronicles 33:6 He also made his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom; and he practiced sorcery, and used enchantments, and practiced sorcery, and dealt with those who had familiar spirits, and with wizards: he worked much evil in the sight of Yahweh, to provoke him to anger.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT)

Job 19:14 My relatives have gone away. My familiar friends have forgotten me.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT)

Job 19:19 All my familiar friends abhor me. They whom I loved have turned against me.
(WEB ASV)

Job 24:17 For the morning is to them all as the shadow of death; for they are familiar with the terrors of the shadow of death.
(DBY NAS)

Psalms 41:9 Yes, my own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, who ate bread with me, has lifted up his heel against me.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)

Psalms 55:13 But it was you, a man like me, my companion, and my familiar friend.
(WEB JPS ASV DBY YLT NAS RSV)

Psalms 88:8 Thou hast put my familiar friends far from me; thou hast made me an abomination unto them: I am shut up, and I cannot come forth.
(DBY)

Psalms 88:18 Lover and associate hast thou put far from me: my familiar friends are darkness.
(DBY)

Psalms 139:3 You keep watch over my steps and my sleep, and have knowledge of all my ways.
(See NIV)

Proverbs 16:28 A perverse man scattereth abroad strife; And a whisperer separateth chief friends.
(See JPS YLT)

Proverbs 17:9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; But he that harpeth on a matter separateth chief friends.
(See JPS YLT)

Isaiah 8:19 When they tell you, "Consult with those who have familiar spirits and with the wizards, who chirp and who mutter:" shouldn't a people consult with their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living?
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT)

Isaiah 19:3 The spirit of Egypt will fail in its midst. I will destroy its counsel. They will seek the idols, the charmers, those who have familiar spirits, and the wizards.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT)

Isaiah 29:4 You will be brought down, and will speak out of the ground. Your speech will mumble out of the dust. Your voice will be as of one who has a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and your speech will whisper out of the dust.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Isaiah 53:3 Men made sport of him, turning away from him; he was a man of sorrows, marked by disease; and like one from whom men's faces are turned away, he was looked down on, and we put no value on him.
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 20:10 For I have heard the defaming of many, terror on every side. Denounce, and we will denounce him, say all my familiar friends, those who watch for my fall; perhaps he will be persuaded, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS RSV)

Jeremiah 38:22 behold, all the women who are left in the king of Judah's house shall be brought forth to the king of Babylon's princes, and those women shall say, Your familiar friends have set you on, and have prevailed over you: now that your feet are sunk in the mire, they are turned away back.
(WEB JPS ASV DBY)

Micah 7:5 Believe ye not in a companion, put not confidence in a familiar friend: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom.
(DBY JPS)

Subtopics

Familiar

Familiar Spirits

Familiar Spirits: Consulting of, Forbidden

Familiar Spirits: Those Who Consulted, to be Cut off

Familiar Spirits: Those Who Consulted: Saul

Familiar Spirits: Vain

Familiars

Related Terms

Wizards (10 Occurrences)

Spiritists (8 Occurrences)

Mediums (10 Occurrences)