bibliomancy

divination

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 16, 2026

Quick Summary

Bibliomancy is a form of divination that involves using books, most commonly sacred texts like the Bible, to foretell the future. This practice involves opening a book to a random page and interpreting the first words or passage that catch the eye as a message pertaining to one's future. While often associated with religious texts, bibliomancy can be performed with any book, such as a dictionary. Divination itself encompasses a wide range of practices aimed at discovering future events or hidden knowledge, often through various devices and interpretations.1234

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

4 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

magic
Medieval Europe
Another Christianized practice, bibliomancy (divination through the random selection of a biblical text), was codified in the 11th-century Divinatory Psalter of the Orthodox Slavs. Although co-opted and condemned by Christian leaders of this period, magic survived in a complex relationship with the dominant religion. Similar acculturation processes occurred…
Read More
Another Christianized practice, bibliomancy (divination through the random selection of a biblical text), was codified in the 11th-century Divinatory Psalter of the Orthodox Slavs. Although co-opted and condemned by Christian leaders of this period, magic survived in a complex relationship with the dominant religion. Similar acculturation processes occurred…
Read More