Charles Ellicott Commentary Exodus 22:18

"Thou shalt not suffer a sorceress to live." — Exodus 22:18 (ASV)

Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. —The word translated “witch” in this passage is the feminine singular of the word rendered as “sorcerers” in Exodus 7:11, and means “a mutterer of charms.” The use of the feminine form can only be accounted for by supposing that, in practice, witchcraft was at that time mainly professed by women. Whether “witches” had actual help from evil spirits, or only professed to work magical effects with their help, the sin against God was the same. Jehovah was renounced, and a power other than His was invoked and upheld. Witchcraft was as much rebellion against God as idolatry or blasphemy, and deserved the same punishment.