φαρμακεία

From the study of Revelation 18:23

Range of meaning

From pharmakon, which could mean a drug, medicine, poison, potion, dye or magic charm: any substance thought to have hidden power. Pharmakeia meant using such things, either as medicine (rarely, in earlier Greek) or, far more often in this period, as poisoning and magic: love-potions, curse-brews, spells and enchantments. Medicine, poison and magic overlapped in the ancient mind, so the word sits where 'drugging' and 'bewitching' meet.

Against the English

'Sorcery' (KJV, BSB, WEB, ESV), 'witchcraft', or 'magic spell' (NIV). All are fair. 'Sorcery' loses the overtone of drugs and potions, the sense of a substance that gets into someone and takes control of their mind.

How it drifted

Modern English 'sorcery' suggests fantasy wizards or occult ritual. The word's link to drugs is also sometimes pushed the other way, onto modern pharmacies (see the popular-drift note).

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Greek Old Testament (the Septuagint, or LXX) it is used for the Egyptian magicians' secret arts (Exod 7:11, 22) and for Babylon's 'enchantments' (Isa 47:9, 12, a passage Rev 18 echoes closely). Nahum 3:4 calls Nineveh a prostitute and 'mistress of sorceries' who 'sells nations' by them. Paul lists it next to idolatry among the works of the flesh (Gal 5:20). Roman law joined poisoners and sorcerers under one heading (the veneficium of the Lex Cornelia, 81 BC). The Latin Vulgate translates it here with veneficiis, 'poisonings, sorceries'.

From the study of Galatians 5:20

Range of meaning

From φάρμακον (pharmakon), which meant any drug: a medicine, a poison, a dye, a potion, or a magic charm. Ancient people did not clearly separate these. The same herb could heal, kill or be used in a spell. Pharmakeia is the practice of using pharmaka: (1) giving drugs or medicine (rare and neutral); (2) poisoning; (3) most often, magic and sorcery done with potions, incantations and charms.

Against the English

KJV and YLT "witchcraft"; BSB, WEB and ESV "sorcery"; Vulgate veneficia ("poisonings, sorceries"). "Sorcery" is closest. "Witchcraft" can call up broomsticks or modern Wicca, neither of which is in view. The word is not about pharmacies or prescription medicine.

How it drifted

The English word "pharmacy" comes from the same Greek root. Many people reason backward from that: since pharmakeia sounds like "pharmacy," Paul must be condemning drugs. But a word's later English descendant does not tell us what it meant in the first century.

Used elsewhere in the period

LXX Exodus 7:11, 22 and 8:7, for the "secret arts" of Pharaoh's magicians. Isaiah 47:9, 12, for Babylon's enchantments. Wisdom of Solomon 12:4 and 18:13, for Canaanite "works of sorcery." Revelation 9:21 and 18:23 ("by your sorcery all nations were deceived"), with sorcerers listed beside idolaters in 21:8 and 22:15. Didache 2:2 and 5:1 list it beside murder and idolatry. Positively, Sirach 38:4 says "the Lord created medicines (pharmaka) from the earth." Magical papyri, curse tablets and the burned magic books of Ephesus (Acts 19:19) show how common such practice was in Asia Minor.