Abomination
What Makes Something an Abomination?
The Bible uses the word "abomination" to describe acts, objects, and attitudes that are deeply offensive to God. Unlike lesser forms of disapproval, an abomination represents something so contrary to God's character and purposes that it provokes his intense displeasure. The Hebrew Old Testament uses three primary words for this concept, each with its own emphasis, while the Greek New Testament continues the theme with terms that carry similar force.
The most common Hebrew term refers to things that offend on a religious or moral level. It is used for idolatry, sexual sin, dishonest business practices, and social injustice. A second term is applied specifically to ritually unclean animals and ceremonial impurity (Leviticus 11:10-13). A third, rarer word describes the physical revulsion associated with corrupted sacrificial meat (Leviticus 7:18). Together, these words cover the full spectrum of what God finds detestable.
Idolatry as the Primary Abomination
The most frequent use of "abomination" in the Old Testament relates to idol worship and everything connected with it. The false gods of surrounding nations, including Ashtoreth of the Sidonians, Chemosh of the Moabites, and Milcom of the Ammonites, are specifically called abominations (2 Kings 23:13). Not only the idols themselves but anything associated with their worship, including the silver and gold overlaying the images, was considered abominable and was to be destroyed (Deuteronomy 7:25-26).
When Moses confronted Pharaoh about allowing Israel to leave Egypt, he explained that the Israelites could not sacrifice in Egypt because their offerings would be "an abomination to the Egyptians" (Exodus 8:26). This illustrates how the concept worked in both directions: what was sacred to one people could be abominable to another. But Scripture is clear that God himself defines what is truly abominable, and idol worship heads the list.
Moral and Social Abominations
Beyond idolatry, the Bible identifies a wide range of moral failures as abominations. The book of Proverbs provides a memorable list of "six things the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him," including haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run to evil, a false witness, and one who sows discord among brothers (Proverbs 6:16-19).
Dishonest business practices are repeatedly condemned. "A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is his delight" (Proverbs 11:1). The prophets expanded this theme to include all forms of social injustice and exploitation of the poor. Sexual transgressions, particularly those outlined in Leviticus 18, are called abominations because they violate the created order and corrupt the community.
The Abomination of Desolation
One of the most discussed uses of "abomination" in Scripture is the prophetic phrase "the abomination of desolation" or "the abomination that causes desolation." Daniel prophesied that something deeply offensive would be set up in the holy place of the temple (Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:11). Jesus referenced this prophecy in his Olivet Discourse, warning his disciples that when they saw "the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place," they should flee to the mountains (Matthew 24:15).
Historically, this prophecy has been connected to the desecration of the Jerusalem temple by Antiochus IV Epiphanes in 167 BC, when he erected an altar to Zeus in the temple and offered swine on it. Many interpreters see a further fulfillment in the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, and some look for a final fulfillment in the end times.
Abomination in the New Testament
The New Testament continues the Old Testament's moral framework. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees by declaring, "What is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God" (Luke 16:15), directly connecting religious hypocrisy and pride with the concept. The book of Revelation describes Babylon the Great as holding a golden cup "full of abominations" (Revelation 17:4), and the new Jerusalem will exclude anyone who practices abomination or falsehood (Revelation 21:27).
The consistent message across both Testaments is that God takes sin seriously, and some offenses are so severe that they are described as abominations. Yet this strong language also highlights the depth of God's holiness and his passionate desire for his people to live in truth, justice, and genuine worship.
The Heart Behind the Prohibition
What ties all these uses together is that abominations are not merely rule violations but offenses against the very character of God. Idolatry replaces the Creator with a created thing. Dishonesty corrupts the trust that sustains community life. Sexual sin distorts the image of covenant faithfulness. Hypocrisy mocks the sincerity God desires. In every case, what makes something an abomination is that it stands in direct opposition to who God is and what he values.
Biblical Context
The concept of abomination appears throughout the entire Bible. In the Pentateuch, it defines boundaries for worship, diet, and sexual conduct (Leviticus 18; Deuteronomy 7; 14). In the historical books, it describes the idolatrous practices of Israel's kings (1 Kings 11; 2 Kings 23). The wisdom literature identifies moral and social sins as abominations (Proverbs 6:16-19; 11:1). The prophets denounce Israel's religious corruption using this language (Isaiah 44:19; Ezekiel 8). Daniel introduces the apocalyptic "abomination of desolation" (Daniel 9:27). Jesus and the New Testament writers extend the concept to hypocrisy and end-times imagery (Luke 16:15; Matthew 24:15; Revelation 17:4-5; 21:27).
Theological Significance
The concept of abomination reveals the intensity of God's holiness and his absolute rejection of anything that contradicts his nature. It teaches that sin is not merely a legal violation but an offense against a holy God. The progression from ritual abominations in the Old Testament to Jesus's identification of heart attitudes as abominable demonstrates that God is ultimately concerned with the inner person, not just outward behavior. The "abomination of desolation" connects God's hatred of idolatry to his prophetic plan for history, linking Daniel's visions to Jesus's teaching about the end times.
Historical Background
In the ancient Near East, concepts of ritual purity and religious taboo were widespread. Herodotus records that Egyptians found it repugnant to eat with Greeks or use their utensils, illustrating how "abomination" functioned as a cultural boundary marker. The desecration of the Jerusalem temple by Antiochus IV Epiphanes in 167 BC, which triggered the Maccabean revolt, remains the most vivid historical example of an "abomination of desolation." Archaeological discoveries of pagan altars and idols throughout Israel confirm the persistent presence of the very practices the prophets condemned. Cuneiform texts from Mesopotamia show that surrounding cultures had their own concepts of ritual offense, though Israel's prophets uniquely connected abomination to the moral character of a personal God.