Isithunywa: meaning in English, in the Bible and in dreams

Biblical meaning from Hearing God's Voice in Dreams by Apostle Nicholas V. Mbanjwa

Also: Messenger spirit, Umoya wesithunywa, Isiphika, Izithunywa, Ithunywa, Isthunywa

What does isithunywa mean?

Isithunywa (isiZulu/isiXhosa) means “one who is sent”: a messenger. The plural is izithunywa.

In the Bible, the role of a messenger from God belongs exclusively to the holy angels, who worship and serve the one true God alone and never promote ancestor veneration. Where isithunywa operates alongside ancestor veneration and familiar spirits, it is understood biblically to be a deceiving spirit, for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14).

In a dream, isithunywa is recognised by markers such as blue-and-white or yellow candles, instructions about water, salt or ritual cleansing, and colourful or cheetah-patterned garments. The full meaning, the markers and how to respond follow below.

What it means in a dream

A spirit believed in some African religious traditions to carry messages from God to people. In biblical Christianity this role belongs exclusively to the holy angels, who worship and serve the one true God alone and never promote ancestor veneration or syncretistic worship.

Within syncretistic traditions, isithunywa is regarded as a messenger spirit that coexists with ancestor veneration, particularly in some Zionist, Apostolic and indigenous prophetic churches where Christian terminology is blended with traditional religious practice.

From a biblical perspective isithunywa is understood to be a demonic spirit, because it operates alongside familiar spirits believed to impersonate the dead and participates in practices Scripture condemns. Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

It is also associated with some sangomas. Some practitioners claim to operate with both an idlozi and an isithunywa (ukukhushulelwa idlozi nesithunywa), performing ukuphahla, maintaining an indumba, and leading or participating in a church at the same time — illustrating the syncretism between traditional religion and Christianity.

⚠ When it is a warning

Syncretism
Ancestor veneration
Idolatry
Consulting familiar spirits or spirits that operate alongside them
Worship of spirits and of creation instead of God
Spiritual deception and corruption
Exchanging the worship due to God for the worship of demons

How to tell the difference

IDENTIFYING MARKERS IN A DREAM: the giving or lighting of blue-and-white or yellow candles; praying before such candles; or receiving instructions concerning water, salt, milk, isiwasho or ritual cleansing. Garments are often colourful or multicoloured, or predominantly yellow and red, sometimes with spotted patterns resembling a cheetah. Traditional attire such as an isiphika (short cape or shoulder cloth) may appear. Animal imagery or clothing patterned after the cheetah, lion or other wild animals is frequently associated with wilderness or mountain spirits, commonly linked to isithunywa traditions. Where a dream involves these practices or symbols, the response is to reject every form of syncretism, renounce involvement, and command them to depart in the name of Jesus Christ. For those in Christ, such spirits cannot establish a covenant, because Christ's covenant already secures the believer. They may only seek a spiritual influence, deceptive agreement or foothold through temptation, deception or unrepented sin, which may provide an occasion for oppression, though never for overturning Christ's covenant.

Scripture

“‘Don’t turn to those who are mediums, nor to the wizards. Don’t seek them out, to be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God.
Leviticus 19:31 (WEB)

“‘The person that turns to those who are mediums and wizards, to play the prostitute after them, I will even set my face against that person, and will cut him off from among his people.
Leviticus 20:6 (WEB)

“‘A man or a woman that is a medium or is a wizard shall surely be put to death. They shall be stoned with stones. Their blood shall be upon themselves.’”
Leviticus 20:27 (WEB)

¹⁰There shall not be found with you anyone who makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who tells fortunes, or an enchanter, or a sorcerer, ¹¹or a charmer, or someone who consults with a familiar spirit, or a wizard, or a necromancer. ¹²For whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD. Because of these abominations, the LORD your God drives them out from before you.
Deuteronomy 18:10-12 (WEB)

When they tell you, “Consult with those who have familiar spirits and with the wizards, who chirp and who mutter,” shouldn’t a people consult with their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living?
Isaiah 8:19 (WEB)

See also: Matthew 12:43-45; 2 Corinthians 11:14-15; Colossians 2:18; Hebrews 9:27