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Bible Gateway Reports Searches for ‘Sorcery’ Showed Largest Increase in 2021

Photo by NordWood Themes on Unsplash

Bible Gateway Reports Searches for ‘Sorcery’ Showed Largest Increase in 2021

By Movieguide® Staff

In 2021, words like “sorcery” and “sorceries” had the most significant increase in searches on Bible Gateway, a study resource used by millions of people. 

According to the platform’s “2021 In Review,” there are over 700,000 words in the Bible. However, keyword searches for “sorcery” and “sorceries ” increased by 193% this year.  

“The topics people search the Bible for on Bible Gateway are always interesting but this year may be the most intriguing,” the review states. 

Bible Gateway, which provides the Greek translations of the words, said that there was an interest in “pharmakeia” that most likely contributed to the steep rise. 

The Greek word “pharmakeia” appears in Galatians 5:20 and is translated by the Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary of the New Testament as an “employment of drugs for any purpose; sorcery, magic, enchantment.” 

“Pharmakeia is where we get our word pharmacy from,” Bible Gateway Senior Director Stephen Smith told Premier Christian News. “The terms themselves are actually not related, but I think that heightened interest in this word has led to additional heightened interest in searches for sorcery.”

Other increases included “slow to anger” and “abounding in love,” which both rose 169% compared to 2020. 

According to Bible Gateway, they had 3 million searches every day in 2021. 

With the increased interest in “sorcery” and “sorceries,” it is paramount that parents and children use media discernment as the media promotes it nonchalantly.  

As Movieguide® previously reported:

From ghost obsessions in major movies to seances in streaming shows to #WitchTok on social media, a disturbing new trend shows the occult is gaining popularity in mainstream media.

“I think that witchcraft has always been present in media. Every single movie that we saw as children, there was always that wicked person that would use magic or spells and things like that to try to destroy the hero,” says Jeannie Ortega-Law, a pop-star-turned-minister who wrote about her experience with the occult in her book, What Is Happening To Me? “Now what’s different than when we were growing up is it’s celebrated. Witches are now the main character. It’s not just the supporting role. Years ago, we had an understanding that some of these witches and then people in cartoons that were evil, they were evil. We understood that we were told it was evil, and now it’s glamorized.” …

Movieguide® defines an occult worldview as the belief in occult powers and bringing them under human control, usually through occult means (e.g., occult rituals or witchcraft).

With searches for sorcery on the rise, let’s pray that people find their answers in the Bible and not on social media.

Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.


Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.