The Meaning of Exodus 22:18 Explained

Exodus 22:18

KJV: Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.

YLT: 'A witch thou dost not keep alive.

Darby: thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.

ASV: Thou shalt not suffer a sorceress to live.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Thou shalt not suffer a witch  to live. 

What does Exodus 22:18 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Exodus 22

1  Of Theft
5  Of damage
7  Of trespasses
14  Of borrowing
16  Of fornication
18  Of witchcraft
19  Of bestiality
20  Of idolatry
21  Of strangers, widows, and fatherless
25  Of usury
26  Of pledges
28  Of reverence to magistrates
29  Of the first fruits
31  Of torn flesh

What do the individual words in Exodus 22:18 mean?

A sorceress Not You shall permit to live -
מְכַשֵּׁפָ֖ה לֹ֥א תְחַיֶּֽה ס

מְכַשֵּׁפָ֖ה  A  sorceress 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Participle, feminine singular
Root: כָּשַׁף  
Sense: (Piel) to practice witchcraft or sorcery, use witchcraft.
תְחַיֶּֽה  You  shall  permit  to  live 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: חָיָה  
Sense: to live, have life, remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, live for ever, be quickened, be alive, be restored to life or health.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation