Ezekiel 13:18 states:
“Thus says the Lord God: Woe to the women who sew magic charms on all wrists and make veils for the heads of people of every height to hunt souls! Will you hunt the souls of My people, and keep yourselves alive?” (Ezekiel 13:18, NKJV)
This verse is part of God’s stern rebuke against false prophets in Israel, particularly women who engaged in occult practices designed to ensnare and manipulate people’s souls. The imagery of sewing magic charms and making veils symbolizes rituals and deceptive methods used to spiritually entrap others. But what exactly does it mean to ‘hunt souls,’ and how does this concept apply today?
How Soul Capturing Happens
The Bible makes it clear that spiritual manipulation is not a mere superstition but a real phenomenon. Soul capturing can manifest in several ways:
1. Witchcraft & Occult Practices
The mention of magic charms suggests the use of spells, amulets, and rituals meant to exert control over others. These occult practices, whether ancient or modern, are designed to bind and manipulate individuals spiritually. This could involve curses, hexes, or energy harvesting, all of which aim to enslave souls to dark forces.
2. Deception & False Teachings
False prophets and spiritual leaders can manipulate people’s beliefs, drawing them away from God’s truth. By promoting counterfeit spiritual experiences, they place individuals under demonic influence. Such deception often creates spiritual blindness, preventing people from discerning truth from lies.
3. Demonic Oppression & Possession
Engagement with false spirituality can lead to demonic oppression or even possession. When people willingly or unknowingly invite spirits through practices such as spirit channeling, divination, or tantric rituals, they become susceptible to bondage. The ‘hunting’ of souls in Ezekiel 13:18 alludes to a form of enslavement where individuals are held captive by unseen forces.
4. Spiritual Covenants & Bondage
In many esoteric traditions, initiations and rituals involve making covenants with spiritual entities. Whether through secret societies, New Age practices, or Eastern mystical teachings, these agreements can lead to a loss of spiritual autonomy. Once a person has submitted to such a covenant, breaking free requires deliberate renunciation and deliverance.
5. Astral Manipulation & Soul Ties
Some occult practitioners claim to manipulate souls through astral projection, soul fragmentation, or spiritual contracts. In various traditions, gurus, shamans, and occultists believe they can bind people to themselves through these practices, much like how Ezekiel describes soul-hunting. This is particularly evident in spiritual movements that emphasize surrendering one’s will to a leader or spiritual force.
Modern Parallels to Soul Capturing
Soul capturing is not just an ancient biblical concern—it manifests today in many deceptive forms:
- New Age & Eastern Mysticism – Practices like kundalini activation, transcendental meditation, and energy healing can open doors to spiritual bondage.
- Guru-Disciple Manipulation – Certain religious teachers manipulate their followers, binding them spiritually through initiations or so-called divine empowerment.
- Dream Manipulation & Spirit Marriages – Some report experiencing spiritual entrapment through dreams, demonic visitations, or supernatural covenants formed without their full awareness.
Occult Practices Involving Soul Storage and Fragmentation
In some occult traditions, warlocks, witches, and sorcerers are believed to literally capture and store soul fragments in objects such as jars, mirrors, or enchanted vessels. These soul fragments are thought to grant power to the practitioner, providing them with increased influence, energy, or supernatural abilities. Rituals involving binding spells or soul harvesting are often performed to trap parts of a person’s essence, making them more vulnerable to manipulation or control.
Additionally, esoteric traditions describe cases where a person’s soul or a fragment of it can be lodged in another individual’s body through occult means. This is sometimes done through ritual possession, dark initiations, or astral entanglement. When this occurs, the affected individual may experience personality changes, demonic afflictions, mental instability, and a loss of spiritual autonomy. Deliverance and renunciation of these bonds through Jesus Christ is necessary to restore full spiritual freedom.
Deliverance from Soul Capturing
The Bible offers clear solutions for breaking free from spiritual bondage:
- Repentance & Renouncing Occult Practices – Turning away from all involvement in false spirituality is the first step to freedom.
- Breaking Unholy Covenants and Removing Legal Rights– Any spiritual ties made knowingly or unknowingly must be renounced in Jesus’ name.
- Prayer & Deliverance Ministry – Seeking help from mature believers in deliverance ministry can aid in breaking strongholds.
- Renewing the Mind with Scripture – Immersing oneself in God’s Word and rejecting deception replaces lies with biblical truth.
Conclusion
Ezekiel 13:18 reveals a sobering truth: the enemy actively seeks to ensnare souls through deception, witchcraft, and false spirituality. However, God’s power is greater, and through Jesus Christ, deliverance is available to all who seek it. Understanding the reality of soul capturing equips believers to discern deception, resist spiritual manipulation, and walk in true freedom.
As we navigate a world filled with false light and counterfeit spirituality, the call remains the same: hold fast to the truth of God’s Word and remain vigilant against the schemes of the enemy.
Tantric Deception 