Mitzvah —
63
Not to mutter incantations
This page is incomplete.
Help complete the
Mitzvah Minute website.
Do a Mitzvah — Join us in building a living digital Beit Midrash — your partnership makes it possible.
-
וְחֹבֵ֖ר חָ֑בֶר וְשֹׁאֵ֥ל אוֹב֙ וְיִדְּעֹנִ֔י וְדֹרֵ֖שׁ אֶל־הַמֵּתִֽים׃ - פָּרָשַׁת שׁוֹפְטִים
-
Deuteronomy 18:11 - "or a charmer, a pithom sorcerer, a yido'a sorcerer, or a necromancer."
This Mitzvah's Summary
מִצְוָה עֲשֵׂה - Positive Commandment
מִצְוָה לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה - Negative Commandment
Idolatry – עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה
It is forbidden to recite incantations or charms as a way of bringing about healing, protection, or influence over events.
This mitzvah prohibits chover chaver — uttering magical formulas, incantations, or charms that claim to control people, animals, or nature through words. Rambam defines this as one who recites chants thinking they have intrinsic power, a form of falsehood and avodah zarah. The Talmud lists numerous examples, from whispering spells over wounds to chanting at snakes and scorpions. While medicine and prayer are permitted, using “magical words” to manipulate reality is forbidden. Sefer HaChinuch explains that such practices undermine emunah by placing trust in human-created formulas instead of Hashem’s providence.
Commentary & Classical Explanation:
- Rambam (Hilchot Avodat Kochavim 11:12–13): Defines a charmer as one who recites incantations, whether for healing, fear, or magical effect; even if mixed with truth, it is forbidden.
- Rambam (Sefer HaMitzvot, Lo Ta’aseh 33): Counts chover chaver as a separate prohibition.
- Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 253): Explains that this mitzvah uproots superstition, guiding Israel to seek Hashem alone.
- Talmud (Sanhedrin 67b): Lists examples of forbidden incantations, such as whispering spells over wounds, snakes, or scorpions.
- Rashi (Deut. 18:11): Defines chover chaver as someone who gathers animals or effects change through whispered spells.
- Ramban (Deut. 18:11): Notes that such practices are linked to idolatrous cults, even if they seem harmless.
- Midrash (Sifrei Devarim §171): Connects charms with rebellion against Torah wisdom.
Contrast with…
- Mitzvah 62 (Not to Engage in Astrology): Astrology attributes influence to stars, while Mitzvah 63 involves manipulation through words and chants.
- Mitzvah 67 (Not to Perform Acts of Magic): Incantations are verbal manipulation, sorcery involves actions and rituals.
Parallel to…
- Psalm 58:6: “Their poison is like the poison of a serpent; like the deaf adder that stops its ear” — linked by the Sages to charms against snakes.
- Jeremiah 10:5: Rebukes idolatry, describing its rituals as powerless, paralleling the futility of incantations.
Commentaries
(Source: Chabad.org)
Applying this Mitzvah Today
“Energy Words” and Magical Chants
- Rambam (Avodat Kochavim 11:12) forbids attributing power to words themselves. Modern equivalents include chanting “magic words” to heal, ward off evil, or gain success.
Amulets with Incantations
- Talmud (Sanhedrin 67b) warns against reciting charms over animals or wounds. Today, carrying written spells or “protective amulets” with magical formulas repeats the same violation.
Mantras and New Age Rituals
- Sefer HaChinuch (253) stresses emunah must rest in Hashem alone. While mindfulness and meditation for calm are permissible, mantras or chants claiming supernatural power are forbidden.
“Hexes,” “Curses,” and Online Witchcraft
- Ramban (Deut. 18:11) links charms with idol practices. Modern curses shared in online communities or neo-pagan groups are continuations of forbidden lachash.
Pop Culture Influence
- Movies and games normalize “spells,” but halacha distinguishes between fiction/entertainment and belief. Practicing or believing in real-world chanting for influence is prohibited.
Healthy Alternatives — Prayer and Torah Words
- Rambam emphasizes that healing must rely on natural medicine and tefillah, not spells. Reciting Tehillim or prayers, when done with kavannah as supplication to Hashem, is permitted and holy — the true alternative to incantations.
Notes on this Mitzvah's Fundamentals
Idolatry – עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה
- Rambam (Hilchot Avodat Kochavim 11:12–13) equates incantations with avodah zarah, as they ascribe power to empty words instead of Hashem. Sefer HaChinuch warns such charms lead directly toward idolatrous habits.
Speech – דָּבָר
- Rashi (Deut. 18:11) explains charms involve whispered words; this mitzvah regulates speech by rejecting any belief in verbal magic. The Torah sanctifies words through prayer, not incantations.
Thought – מַחֲשָׁבָה
- Ramban highlights that even believing in harmless spells corrupts one’s mindset, as it attributes causality to false sources. This mitzvah redirects thought toward Torah’s wisdom.
Faith – אֱמוּנָה
- Sefer HaChinuch (253) teaches that muttering charms destroys emunah. By rejecting them, Israel reaffirms trust in Hashem alone.
Reverence – יִרְאַת שָׁמַיִם
- Midrash (Sifrei Devarim §171) condemns charms as rebellion. Observing this mitzvah redirects awe away from occult power to Heaven alone.
Holiness – קְדֻשָּׁה
- Rambam emphasizes that Israel achieves holiness through mitzvot and tefillah, not superstition. Rejecting incantations separates Israel as a holy people.
Between a person and G-d – בֵּין אָדָם לְמָקוֹם
- This mitzvah regulates how we seek divine help. Rambam contrasts charms (false reliance) with prayer (true reliance), showing the covenant with Hashem is rooted in truth.
%201.webp)
.webp)
