Abomination

An abomination is an act, person, or thing that is hateful or completely unacceptable. In the Bible, this idea comes from God’s holiness and the standards he gives his people. The Old Testament often describes abominations as “hateful,” “disgusting,” “unclean,” or “rejected.”

There are four major Hebrew words translated “abomination.” The one most frequently used indicates violation of an established custom or ritual. This violation brings the judgment of God. Examples range from defective sacrifices (Deuteronomy 17:1) to magic and divination (Deuteronomy 18:12) or idolatrous practices (2 Kings 16:3). A second Hebrew word refers to the meat of certain kinds of animals that was ritually defiling, whether touched or eaten (Leviticus 11:10–13). A third word designates three-day-old sacrificial meat (Leviticus 7:18). A fourth word refers almost only to idolatrous objects of pagan origin (Jeremiah 4:1; 7:30).

Apart from the specialized usage of “abomination of desolation,” the Greek word for “abomination” is used infrequently in the New Testament (Luke 16:15; Romans 2:22; Titus 1:16; Revelation 17:4–5; 21:8, 27) and is translated by many English words. The primary connotation is anything that is abhorrent to a holy God.

See also Abomination of Desolation; Regulations Concerning Cleanness and Uncleanness; Dietary Laws (After Moses).