Abomination (Bible)


Abomination is an English term used to translate the Biblical Hebrew terms shiqquts and ', which are derived from ', or the terms, ' or ' or . An abomination in English is that which is exceptionally loathsome, hateful, sinful, wicked, or vile. The term is translated abomination by almost all translations of the Bible. The similar words,, and, are almost exclusively used to refer to unclean animals.
The common but slightly different Hebrew term,, is also translated as abomination in the Authorized King James Version, and sometimes in the New American Standard Bible. Many modern versions of the Bible translate it detestable; the New American Bible translates it loathsome. It is mainly used to denote idolatry; and in many other cases it refers to inherently evil things such as illicit sex, lying, murder, deceit, etc.; and for unclean foods.

Analysis of the term

Shiqquts

Shiqquts is used in the following ways:
  1. In prophecies in, it is generally interpreted as referring to the fearful calamities that were to fall on the Jews in the time of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, saying, "And they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate." Jerome, and most of the Christian fathers, suppose that the reference is to Antiochus as the type of Antichrist, and that the description passes from the type to the antitype. Idolatry is presented as the chief sin in the Bible, and shiqquts is often used to describe such.
  2. In his campaign of Hellenization, Antiochus caused an altar to be erected on the altar for burnt-offerings of the Second Temple, on which pig sacrifices were offered to Zeus Olympios.. Following the wording of, this may have been the abomination of desolation of Jerusalem.
  3. sinful sacrifices
  4. idolatry
  5. witchcraft
The word is used with reference to:
  1. seafood that lacks fins and scales
  2. all insects except for locust, crickets and grasshoppers
  3. eagles, ossifrage, and the osprey
  4. other biblically unclean animals or touching certain things,
Consequently, these animals were unclean and therefore eating them was forbidden. The exception is, where those who eat unclean insects are made abominable.
is rendered in the KJV as follows:
  1. abominable
  2. abomination
  3. abhorred
  4. detest

Tōʻēḇā

Tōʻēḇā is used in the following ways:
  1. Every shepherd was "an abomination" unto the Egyptians.
  2. Pharaoh was so moved by the fourth plague, that while he refused the demand of Moses, he offered a compromise, granting to the Israelites permission to hold their festival and offer their sacrifices in Egypt. This permission could not be accepted, because Moses said they would have to sacrifice "the abomination of the Egyptians".
  3. lists seven things which are also abominations: "haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are swift in running to mischief, a false witness who utters lies, and one who spreads strife among brothers."
Tōʻēḇā is also used in Jewish scriptures to refer to:
  1. idolatry or idols
  2. illicit sex
  3. illicit marriage
  4. a man "lying with a man as with a woman"
  5. temple prostitution
  6. offerings from the above
  7. child sacrifice to Molech
  8. cross-dressing
  9. cheating in the market by using rigged weights
  10. dishonesty
  11. pride
  12. unclean animals
  13. stealing, murder, and adultery, breaking covenants
  14. usury, making unethical or immoral monetary loans that unfairly enrich the lender, oppressing the poor and needy, etc.
Tâ‛ab is rendered the following ways in the KJV
  1. abhor, 9 Deu 7:26, Deu 23:7, Job 9:31, Job 30:10, Psa 5:6, Psa 119:163, Amo 5:10, Mic 3:9;
  2. abominable, 6 1Ch 21:6, Job 15:16, Psa 53:1, Isa 14:19, Eze 16:52;
  3. abhorred, 3 Job 19:19, Psa 106:40, Eze 16:25;
  4. abhorreth, 2 Psa 107:18, Isa 49:7;
  5. abominably, 1 1Ki 21:26;
  6. committed, 1 Eze 16:52.