D. A. Waite, Sr., General Editor of The DEFINED King James Bible, and his son, D. A. Waite, Jr. defined "familiar spirit(s)" in a way that neutralizes the Bible's warning about familiar spirits and the dire consequences of having one or being involved with those who have them. They accomplished this by causing the reader to believe there is no definite meaning for the term, "familiar spirits" even though the Bible definitely defines this term.

Here is how The Bible For Today defined "familiar spirit(s)":

familiar spirit(s) - demon(s) supposed to be in association with or under the power of a man (emphasis mine)

For the sake of illustration, compare The Bible For Today's definition for "familiar spirit(s)" with a definition for a fabled creature: Loch Ness monster:

Loch Ness monster - a large aquatic animal supposed to resemble a serpent or plesiosaur of Loch Ness in Scotland (emphasis mine) (1)

Notice the word, "supposed," is used in the definition for Loch Ness monster. It is not certain if the Loch Ness monster exists or not; thus the reason for the word, "supposed" in its definition.

Supposed means "accepted or believed as true, without positive knowledge." According to The Bible For Today, there is no definitive definition of familiar spirits!

My question is this: If The Bible For Today editors really don't know what familiar spirits are, why did they "define" this term at all?

If The Bible For Today did not select the term, "familiar spirits" to "define," they would not have had the opportunity to define it in such a way that questions what the Bible plainly says about familiar spirits. This is one more example of the change that is being accomplished with The DEFINED King James Bible.

Scriptures D. A. Waite, Jr. Had to Ignore to Come up With His Doubtful Definition

Note: D. A. Waite, Jr. not only ignored the Bible's clear, in-context definition for "familiar spirit," he also falsely restricted those who can have familiar spirits to the male gender. The King Bible says that a man or a woman can have a familiar spirit:

A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them. (Leviticus 20:27)

There are several verses in Scripture  that mention "mediums" (witches who use familiar spirits to divine the future and channel information) but I am not citing them in this article because I want you to focus on the information contained in some King James Bible verses that contain the words, "familiar spirit(s) that D. A. Waite Jr. ignored in order to come up with his false definition. 

My comments are in blue:

familiar spirit 

Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor. (1 Sam. 28:7)

Saul sought for a woman who had a familiar spirit. Saul sought her out because he wanted information that could only be obtained by evil spirits/devils. (God would not answer him at this point, nor God's holy prophets.)

And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee. (1 Sam. 28:8)

Saul asked the woman (a witch) to divine unto him by the familiar spirit. (Samuel did actually appear, but it was only because God caused this to happen. Witches cannot use devils to bring back a person's spirit from the dead.)

 So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it; (1 Chron. 10:13) 

Saul died because he asked counsel of one who had a familiar spirit. This woman was definitely in association with a familiar spirit; it was under her control and she divined with it.

And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger. (2 Chron. 33:6)

This verse says he "dealt with (took action with) a familiar spirit."

And thou shalt be brought down, and shalt speak out of the ground, and thy speech shall be low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be, as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust. (Isaiah 29:4)

familiar spirits 

Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God. Lev. 19:32

The Bible warns God's people to regard not those that have familiar spirits.

And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people. Lev. 20:6

Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. Deut. 18:11

It is an abomination to consult with familiar spirits. Familiar spirits are devils that can be consulted with or questioned. This is what mediums do.

Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land. 1 Sa. 28:3   

And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die? 1 Sa. 28:9

. . . those that have familiar spirits. Having familiar spirits means one is in association with spirits that wizards use. Spirits that wizards use are devils.

And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger. 2 Kings 21:6 He dealt with familiar spirits and wizards.

Notice how often familiar spirits are mentioned in conjunction with wizards.

Moreover the workers with familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the images, and the idols, and all the abominations that were spied in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, did Josiah put away, that he might perform the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the LORD. 2 Kings 23:24

. . . workers with familiar spirits . . . Familiar spirits definitely work with witches and wizards. What kind of spirits do witches work with? devils.

And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? Isa. 8:19

And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will destroy the counsel thereof: and they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards. Isa. 19:3

Review

The Bible For Today's false, watered down definition for "familiar spirits" nullifies the King James Bible's clear warning against familiar spirits. Whose purpose does this serve? It serves Satan's purpose. The DEFINED King James Bible Does Not Define "the devil" as Satan either.

Notes:

(1) definition for Loch ness monster: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Loch+Ness+monster

complete list of articles:  DEFINED King James Bible: Definitions For Change Index Page