where god says he forbids praying to the dead

The clearest Bible passages people cite are Deuteronomy 18:10–12 , which forbids consulting mediums or “inquiring of the dead,” and Leviticus 19:31 , which tells people not to turn to mediums or spiritists. A related example is 1 Samuel 28 , where Saul seeks a medium and is condemned for it.

What those verses mean

These texts do not use the exact modern phrase “praying to the dead,” but they do forbid trying to contact or seek guidance from the dead. In the biblical framework, prayer is directed to God, not departed people.

Common Christian reading

Many Christian teachers also point to Hebrews 9:27 to argue that death is followed by judgment, so prayer does not change a person’s state after death. They also emphasize Matthew 6:9 and Philippians 4:6 as examples of prayer being addressed to God.

Simple answer

So, if you mean “where does God forbid praying to the dead,” the most direct places are Deuteronomy 18:10–12 and Leviticus 19:31 , with 1 Samuel 28 as the narrative warning example.

If you want, I can also show the exact wording of those verses in a specific Bible translation.