Abomination Pt 1: A word study on one of today's hot-button issues.
- Jane Isley
- May 11
- 6 min read
Looking at the Old Testament.
Over time, and especially with the current drastic social changes happening in the world, the word abomination in the Bible has gone through a lot of reinterpretations and redefinitions.
And absolutely, yes, some of you will really not like me after this article, just giving you that heads up.
Let's look at what abomination means and how God feels about it.
Leviticus 18:22, where abomination (toebah, tō-w-‘ê-ḇāh, toʿevah) is used for the first time.
“Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable.”
Most Bibles translate it as “detestable,” while other translations say, “That is an evil thing to do.” “That is abhorrent.” “It is a sinful thing.” “it is repulsive.”
I will begin with Biblehub.com’s information on the word “abomination” from the book of Leviticus. I immediately see issues for those who would try to twist this word or re-explain it.
“Definition: Abomination, detestable thing. Meaning: something disgusting, an abhorrence, idolatry, an idol
Word Origin: Derived from the root תָּעַב (ta’ab), meaning “to abhor” or “to detest.”
“Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: — G946 (bdelugma): Often translated as “abomination” in the New Testament, used in contexts such as idolatry and moral corruption (e.g., Revelation 17:4–5).”
“The word conveys a strong sense of moral and spiritual repulsion.”
I see the words “detest,” “abhor,” “repulsion,” “moral corruption,” and “disgusting” in relation to this word.
But this is just one source. We all know sources aren’t always right, so let’s look at more sources and see what we find. I headed straight for some Jewish sources since it is their language, after all.
“Three Hebrew words connote abomination: תּוֹעֵבָה (toʿevah), שֶׁקֶץ (shekeẓ, sheqeẓ) or שִׁקּוּץ (shikkuẓ, shiqquẓ), and פִּגּוּל (piggul); toʿevah is the most important of this group. It appears in the Bible 116 times as a noun and 23 times as a verb and has a wide variety of applications, ranging from food prohibitions (Deut. 14:3), idolatrous practices (Deut. 12:31; 13:15), and magic (Deut. 18:12) to sex offenses (Lev. 18:22 ff.) and ethical wrongs (Deut. 25:14–16; Prov. 6:16–19). Common to all these usages is the notion of irregularity, that which offends the accepted order, ritual, or moral.” (1)
“Furthermore, Egyptian has a precise equivalent to toʿevah, and it occurs in similar contexts, e.g., “Thus arose the abomination of the swine for Horus’ sake” (for a Canaanite-Phoenician parallel, note tʿbt ʿštrt — Tabnit of Sidon (third century B.C.E.) — in Pritchard, Texts, 505). Thus the sapiential background of the term in the ancient Near East is fully attested.” (1)
Let’s keep going. Here is another Jewish source.
“Sexual transgression is particularly denounced as an Abomination (to’ebah) (Deut. xxii. 5, xxiii. 19 [18, A. V.], xxiv. 4); especially incest and unnatural offenses (Lev. xviii. and xx.): “For all these abominations have the men of the land done who were before you, and the land became defiled; lest the land vomit you out also when ye defile it” (2)
“But the word to’ebah also assumes a higher spiritual meaning and is applied also to moral iniquities:” Thou shalt not have in thine house divers measures, a great and a small. . . For all that do such things, and all that do unrighteously, are an abomination unto the Lord thy God” (2)
“These six things doth the Lord hate, yea, seven things are an abomination to him: haughty eyes; a lying tongue; hands that shed innocent blood; a heart that deviseth wicked imaginations; feet that be swift in running to mischief; a false witness that uttereth lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren” Proverbs 6:16–19 (2)
Now we’re going to pause for a second and look specifically at Proverbs 18, because I know what some will attempt with this verse, since sexual immorality isn’t explicitly mentioned.
We’re looking at the word wicked.
“Definition: Iniquity, trouble, wickedness, sorrow, idolatry, vanityMeaning: strictly nothingness, trouble, vanity, wickedness, an idol
Word Origin: Derived from an unused root meaning to pant (hence, to exert oneself, usually in vain; to come to naught)”
“Usage: The Hebrew word “aven” is often used in the Old Testament to denote iniquity or wickedness, particularly in the context of moral and spiritual corruption. It can also refer to the trouble or sorrow that results from such iniquity. […]
“Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Israel, the concept of “aven” was deeply tied to the covenant relationship between God and His people. The Israelites were called to live in obedience to God’s laws, and “aven” represented a breach of this covenant through acts of sin and idolatry.” (3)
“The Israelites were called to live in obedience to God’s laws, and “aven” represented a breach of this covenant through acts of sin and idolatry.”
Just wanted to clear that up. Let’s move on.
Here is another source.
“One of the common arguments brought against the traditional understanding of Leviticus 18:22 is the claim that the Hebrew word “toebah” (abomination) only refers to pagan temple practices and not things that are revolting in and of themselves.”
“[…] I took the time to look up every occurrence of the word “toebah” in the Bible. I found that the above claim cannot be supported by the facts and that the English term “abomination” is an accurate translation of the word “toebah.”
“These passages and many more reveal to us that the Hebrew word “toebah” does not refer to pagan temple practices as many defenders of homosexuality claim. It is true that many of the uses of “toebah” in the Bible occur within the context of pagan temple practices, but that is because many of these practices (such as tossing living children into a fire to be burned to death) are repugnant and disgusting in and of themselves. The association with paganism is incidental to the revulsion.”
“The claim that it refers to pagan temple practices is merely an ad hoc response from the modern homosexual movement to passages describing homosexual intercourse as “toebah.” In reality, these passages are claiming that such intercourse is revolting, and so it is.” (4)
And another source.
“All abominations are sins, but not every single sin (some of which are unintentional), rises to the level of being an abomination.”
“Committing abominations elicits much stronger anger, fiercer judgments, and more striking punishments from the Almighty than are seen for other forms of sin.”
“An abomination in the Biblical sense is an attitude, behavior, or lifestyle that is particularly evil and detestable in the sight of God. In fact, abominations are considered by God to be so detestable that in in order for God to maintain true righteousness, they incur His wrath and violent punishment. Abominations are attitudes, behaviors, or lifestyles that are so evil and detestable in the sight of God that they incite Him to great anger.” (Michael Lankford)”
“We can reason that the more angry He becomes, the less likely He will be to extend mercy to the violator.” (5)
End of Part 1 — Part 2 will be going into the New Testament, what Jesus said, and a few other things.
© Jane Isley
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Sources for part 1 &2:
(2) Jewish Encyclopedia ABOMINATION By: H. Pereira Mendes M.D., D.D. President of the Union of Orthodox Congregations of the United States and Canada; Rabbi of the Spanish and Portuguese Congregation, New York City.
(3) Biblehub.com Strong’s Lexicon: ’ā·wen (wicked)
(6) Jesus on Same-Sex Marriage By: Andrew Bunt
(7) Biblehub.com Strong’s Lexicon: bdelussomai (having become abominable)
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