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Abomination (Bible)

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This entry incorporates text from the public domain Easton's Bible Dictionary, originally published in 1897.

Abomination is an English term used to translate the Biblical term תֹּועֵבָה tōʻēḇā or to'ba (noun) or ta'ab (verb).

The term in English signifies that which is exceptionally loathsome, hateful, wicked, or vile. In Biblical terms to'ba does not carry the same sense of exceptionalism as the English term. It simply signifies that which is forbidden or unclean according to the religion.

Linguistically it is therefore close in meaning to the Polynesian term taboo or ta'pu, signifying that which is forbidden, should be left alone and not touched, or (for some items) brings death by the act of touching.

This article examines the term as it is used in English translations of the Bible, and also the actual senses of the words which are being translated into this term in English.

Contents

Analysis of the term

Elisabeth Anne Kellogg commentsCopyright compliance: "(c) Copyright 2004 Elisabeth Anne Kellogg, all rights reserved. You are expressly granted permission to copy this article provided you do not modify any portion of the text, including this copyright notice." [link] on the Hebrew meaning of the term:

"Of the various activities labeled as to'ba in the Old Testament the most common is idolatry in Leviticus 7:25-26; Deuteronomy 13:14; 17:4; 27:15; 1 Kings 14:24; 21:26; Jeremiah 44:4 and numerous other verses. Among other cultic acts that are to'ba are sacrificing blemished animals (Deuteronomy 17:1), dedicating children to Molech, using mediums and magic (Deuteronomy 18:9-14), and using a prostitute's wages to make an offering at the temple (Deuteronomy 23:18). Also to'ba are the sacrifices of the wicked (Proverbs 15:8; 21:27) and the prayers of the lawless (Proverbs 28:9) and allowing the uncircumcised to enter the sanctuary (Ezekiel 44:6-7; see also Acts 21:28). A broad range of sexual and non-sexual activities are labeled as to'ba, from incest, bestiality and adultery to practicing polygamy with sisters (but not polygamy in general), marrying a divorced woman (Deuteronomy 24:4) and having sex during a woman's menstrual period (Leviticus 18:6-30; Leviticus 20:1-27). Other to'ba acts include cursing your father or mother (Leviticus 18:6-30; Leviticus 20:1-27) and using dishonest weights and measures (Deuteronomy 25:13-16; Proverbs 11:1; 20:10,23). The shedding of blood, lying and stealing are labeled to'ba (Proverbs 6:16-19; Jeremiah 7:9-10; Ezekiel 18:10-13; 22:6-12). Even King David's census was ta'ab (1 Ch 21:6).
While some will point out that homosexuality and cross-dressing are in the same category as incest and bestiality, it should be noted that so are divorced people who remarry, those who have sex during menstruation and children who fight with their parents. In fact it seems that any uncleanness, any violation of Jewish Law, can be considered to'ba...
Abomination in the Biblical sense of the word refers to:

  1. Every shepherd was "an abomination" unto the Egyptians ([Genesis 46:34]). This aversion to shepherds, such as the Hebrews, arose probably from the fact that Upper and Lower Egypt had formerly been held in oppressive subjection by the Hyksos (a tribe of nomad shepherds), who had only recently been expelled, and partly also perhaps from this other fact that the people of Egypt detested the nomadic habits of these wandering shepherds.
  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" ([Exodus 8:26]); i.e., the cow or ox, which all the Egyptians held as sacred, and which they regarded it as sacrilegious to kill.
  3. In Daniel's prophecies in [Daniel 11:31], it is generally interpreted as referring to the fearful calamities that were to fall on the Jews in the time of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, says, "And they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate."
  4. In his campaign of Hellenization, Antiochus caused an altar to be erected on the altar of burnt-offering of the Second Temple, on which sacrifices were offered to Jupiter Olympus. (Comp. 1 Maccabees [1:57]). Following the wording of [Daniel 9:27], this was the abomination of desolation of Jerusalem. In [Matthew 24:15], the reference is probably to the image-crowned standards which the Romans set up at the east gate of the temple (A.D. 70), and to which they paid idolatrous honours. "Almost the entire religion of the Roman camp consisted in worshipping the ensign, swearing by the ensign, and in preferring the ensign before all other gods." These ensigns were an "abomination" to the Jews, the "abomination of desolation."
  5. This word is also used symbolically of sin in general ([Isaiah 66:3]); also an idol ([Isaiah 44:19]); of adultery ([Ezekiel 22:11]).
  6. Proverbs 6:16 - 18 lists six 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."
  7. Some of the Catholic Traditionalists who have broken away from the mainstream church have also been known to refer to the post-Vatican II mass and other ceremonies as "abominations".
  8. The word "abomination" is also used in Jewish (and Christian Old Testament) scriptures to refer to homosexual activity ([Leviticus 18:22]), [Leviticus 20:13]), idolatry ([Deuteronomy 7:25], [Deuteronomy 13]), cross-dressing ([Deuteronomy 22:5]), cheating in the market by using rigged weights ([Deuteronomy 25:13-19], [Proverbs 11:1]), and dishonesty ([Proverbs 12:22]).
  9. But it is also used for eating seafood that lacks fins and scales (Levitius 11:11), eating certain birds of prey (Leviticus 11:12) and all insects (Leviticus 11:23 and 11:41) and other biblically unclean animals (Leviticus 20:25), remarrying the person one previously divorced (Deutoronomy 24:4), telling lies (Proverbs 12:22), being proud in heart (Proverbs 16:5) or justifying the wicked (Proverbs 17:15), cheating in business (Proverbs 20:10 and Proverbs 20:23).

References

See also

External links

 

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