You open your Bible, running your fingers over the worn cover as you have done thousands of times before. Today, as you prepare to read God’s Word, a question weighs on your mind that you’ve been meaning to research further – what does the Bible say about palm readers and palmistry?
As a dedicated Christ-follower, you want to make sure your beliefs and practices align with Scripture. The rise in popularity of new age practices like palm reading has you curious about what God thinks.
So you sit down, pray for guidance, and open your Bible to dig deeper into this topic. By the end of your study, you’ll have a clear understanding of the biblical perspective on palm readers and palmistry.
Key Takeaways:
- Palmistry is closely associated with divination, which the Bible condemns
- Attempting to gain hidden knowledge through palm readings goes against trusting in God
- Practices like palmistry often rely on sorcery, astrology, and magic – all forbidden in Scripture
- Consulting palm readers amounts to relying on false prophets that predict based on their own power
- God warns His people to avoid the deceitful falsehoods of palm readers
- The Bible urges complete reliance on the all-knowing God versus palm readers’ supposed insights
With those conclusions in mind, let’s explore what God’s inerrant Word reveals about palmistry and those who practice it.
Palmistry’s Connection to Divination
As you start reading up on palmistry, also called palm reading, chiromancy, or chirology, you first note its strong ties to divination. Palm readers believe they can gain insight into a person’s character, life path, and future by interpreting the lines, shapes, and patterns on the palms.
But does this practice align with biblical truth? A look at the verses below helps you conclude decisively – no.
“Do not practice divination or sorcery.” (Leviticus 19:26 NKJV)
“There shall not be found among you anyone who…practices divination or tells fortunes.” (Deuteronomy 18:10 NKJV)
“…false prophets…who prophesy lying dreams…who tell them and lead My people astray by their lies and recklessness.” (Jeremiah 23:32 NKJV)
Divination refers to gaining hidden knowledge, especially of the future, by the interpretation of omens, signs, supernatural powers, or the will of gods. It encompasses astrology, channeling spirits, interpreting omens, and palmistry.
But the Bible clearly prohibits divination and other occult practices. God’s people must reject anything involving mystic powers outside of His sovereign will.
Trusting in God Versus Gaining Hidden Knowledge
As a follower of Christ, you’ve developed an intimate relationship with Him. You’ve learned to trust in God completely versus striving for control over your circumstances.
But the desire for hidden knowledge apart from God seems inherent to human nature. That temptation exists for you as well.
Palm readers prey upon that vulnerability, making authoritative-sounding predictions to give people a false sense of certainty.
However, the Bible says such desire for special insights apart from God’s will is futile:
“Do not…seek out mediums and necromancers, who whisper and mutter.” (Isaiah 8:19 NKJV)
“…those who practice divination…trust in empty, worthless things that do not profit.” (Jeremiah 29:8-9 NKJV)
Rather than chase empty revelations, you must continue to trust fully in the Lord:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5 NKJV)
“…in Him we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:28 NKJV)
God wants you to rely on Him, not palm readers’ deceptive claims. Their predictions come from evil sources, not the one true God.
What’s Behind Palmistry’s Power: Sorcery, Astrology and Magic
At first glance, palmistry seems harmless. But a deeper look reveals what truly empowers palm readers – sources condemned by God’s Word.
For example, astrology underlies many palmistry predictions. Astrological readings are based on the occult practice of divination.
“Stand fast now in your enchantments and in your many sorceries…Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, and the monthly prognosticators stand up and save you from what shall come upon you.” (Isaiah 47:12-13 NKJV)
Palm lines are believed to correspond to planets, revealing how astrological influences will impact someone. But as Isaiah warns, astrology cannot protect people from God’s sovereign plans.
Sorcery also enables palm readers’ craft. Sorcery refers to magical practices and witchcraft derived from evil powers.
“As for the person who turns to mediums and to spiritists…I will also set My face against that person and will cut him off from among his people.” (Leviticus 20:6 NKJV)
Power from spirits and demons drives the ritual of palm reading. It leads people away from God’s truth, not towards it.
Magic spells and charms further equip palm readers. But again, Scripture forbids these practices:
“There shall not be found among you anyone…who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells…” (Deuteronomy 18:10-11 NKJV)
The spirit world stands behind palm readers’ trade. As God’s child, you must reject these evil influences.
Palm Readers as False Prophets
Palm readers act as false prophets by claiming to predict the future from their own mystical insights. However, true prophets hear from God alone:
“I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran. I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.” (Jeremiah 23:21 NKJV)
These deceitful seers trust in their own minds versus the Lord:
“Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing.” (Ezekiel 13:3 NKJV)
“…prophesy out of their own heart…follow their own spirit.” (Ezekiel 13:2-3 NKJV)
Unlike God’s prophets who always speak the truth, palm readers share Satan’s lies:
“Because you have spoken falsehood and seen lies, therefore behold, I am against you, declares the Lord God.” (Ezekiel 13:8 NKJV)
As Christ’s follower, you must rely on His true messengers alone.
God Warns Against Palm Readers’ Deceptions
Why does the Bible so consistently condemn divination, sorcery, false prophets, and the other foundations of palmistry? Because God protects you from such deception.
Consider God’s warning not to “learn the way of the nations” that rely on palm readers and astrologers:
“Then you will look for light, but there will be only gloom and deep darkness. You will be led into deep darkness.” (Isaiah 8:20 NKJV)
Without God’s truth, the falsehoods of palm readers leave people in shadow:
“They will all be ashamed because of their idols when they bring them into the houses and say to a tree, ‘You are my father,’ and to a stone, ‘You gave me birth.’ For they have turned their back to Me and not their face.” (Jeremiah 2:27 NKJV)
God lovingly calls you away from palm readers’ mystic claims back to your Heavenly Father.
Complete Reliance on God Instead of Palm Readers
With all you’ve read so far, you realize consulting palm readers goes directly against God’s Word. His Scriptures urge relying fully on the Lord instead.
As Christ’s follower, you’ve experienced a personal relationship with the one true, all-powerful God. Through His Spirit, you understand His will as revealed in the Bible.
You have no need for palm readers’ counterfeit insights. The Scriptures advise:
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV)
“Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save.” (Psalm 146:3 NKJV)
“Stop trusting in mere humans, who have but a breath in their nostrils. Why hold them in esteem?” (Isaiah 2:22 NKJV)
Instead, you can freely petition your Heavenly Father for guidance:
“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16 NKJV)
“Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” (Jeremiah 33:3 NKJV)
Rather than turn to palm readers’ occult insights, you follow God’s way of wisdom, truth and life.
In Summary: God’s Word Rejects Palmistry’s Dark Arts
In your comprehensive study, you’ve discovered a unified biblical perspective against palm readers and their practices. Above all, you’ve deepened your trust in the all-sufficient God.
By denouncing divination, sorcery, false prophets, and occult mystic powers, Scripture leaves no room for palm readers in the life of a Christ-follower.
Rather than be led astray, you choose to rely completely on the living God. You reject palmistry’s vain falsehoods for the security of God’s perfect will.
As Psalm 1:1-2 declares:
“Blessed is the one…[whose] delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season.” (NKJV)
By taking God’s Word to heart over palmistry’s empty promises, you remain rooted in His truth. You bear the fruit of walking in His light rather than the darkness of occult practices.
Now that you’ve completed this thorough study, you are fully equipped to discern the unbiblical origins of palm readers and palmistry. More than that, you’re emboldened to share God’s perspective with other believers.
You now have the knowledge to steer them away from palm reading’s deception and point them back to the Word of Life. As Christ said:
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12 NKJV)
