ENCHANTER. A person who influences people or things through charms, enchantments, and spells. (For broader issues relating to magic and sorcery, see Magic and Sorcery, Magician.)

The work of the enchanter is universal. Although practice of the art was forbidden to the Hebrews (Deut 18:10, 11), the OT shows acquaintance with several kinds of charming. Snake charming (לָחַשׁ, H4317) is referred to (Eccl 10:11; Jer 8:17; cf. also Isa 3:3). Etymological evidence suggests that the snake was originally charmed by whispering or some similar noise. The Heb. root “to bind” (חבר) occurs both as a noun meaning “charm” and as a verb meaning “to bind with a charm” (Ps 58:5; cf. Deut 18:11; Isa 47:9, 12).

In addition, Heb. נַ֨חַשׁ׃֙, is tr. “enchantment” (Num 23:23; in 24:1 the same word is properly tr. “omens,” RSV; “enchantments” in KJV). “Charmers” (Isa 19:3, KJV; RSV uses “sorcerers”) tr. a Heb. word of uncertain meaning (אִטִּ֔ים).

One Aram. word, אָשַׁ֥ף, is regularly tr. as “enchanter” in the RSV (KJV tr. “astrologers”; e.g. Dan 2:10). The word occurs twice as a loan word in Heb. portions of Daniel (Dan 1:20; 2:2).

The NT texts refer to broader issues of magic, sorcery, and swindling; rather than to the more specific issue of enchantment.

(For Bibliography, see Magic and Sorcery, Magician.)