Read Part 1 HERE 7-10 minute read.
This may be the most unique take on a word study any of you have ever seen. But it will resonate and cross the denominational and theological boundaries of nearly every End Time perspective with possibly the only exception being amillennialism which categorizes all of Eschatological Scripture as symbolic.
I suppose my burden to write this during "Pride Month" is no coincidence. Though I can honestly say that was never in my thoughts as I wrestled with whether or not to obey the prodding in my spirit. In fact, I didn't even realize this was Pride Month until a week after I created the first draft.
To start this, let's look at the Abomination of Desolation. We can all agree that this particular Abomination is catastrophic and brings devastation to the whole of humanity. Antiochus Epiphanies did indeed commit an Abomination that made the Temple Desolate of God's presence. But this was "A" fulfillment, not THE fulfillment of Daniel's vision because Messiah Yeshua said it was still to come (Mark 13:14).
The Roman General Titus Flavius Vespasianus, who later became Emperor, also committed an Abomination that led to the total Desolation of the Temple, yet this also CANNOT be THE fulfillment because Yeshua told us it would be accompanied by Tribulation such as had never been seen nor ever would be seen again (Matthew 24:21). The holocaust of WWII clearly causes the siege in 70AD to pale in comparison. There is yet one more proof that is beyond denial.
In 2 Thessalonians 2:7-9 Paul makes it clear that Messiah Himself will come in great brightness when he appears to destroy the Son of Lawlessness shortly after he makes the Temple Desolate by his act of defiance to sit upon the earthly representation of YHVH's Throne.
Let's also not forget the lying signs and wonders that 2 Thessalonians 2:9 tells us will happen. By the way, Titus wasn't destroyed, as I mentioned above, he lived another 11 years and became Emperor.
This 11 years is obviously outside of the window of 7 years Daniel gave us for his 70th week of years.
The point of this part of our discussion isn't to establish an Eschatological perspective, but to show just how horrible the Bible views anything that it calls an Abomination (like something so bad that God removed His presence from the Temple) and to point out that the Bible is very precise concerning the topic of abominations, just as it is with every other.
If the Bible is this accurate concerning events that would happen more than 2,000 years later by making it possible for us to recognize the enemy's attempt at fraudulent fulfillment, why would The 100% Consistency of the Bible even be questioned? Yet, it is by the fact that so many theological and doctrinal positions in churchdom teach things contrary to even the control passages we will be using to keep us on the straight and narrow as we conduct our word study on "abomination(s)". I'll come to those control passages in just a moment.
If I were to paint a picture of the Bible's view of the concept of "What is an Abomination?". I think this fella fits it perfectly.
Wouldn't you agree?
Why would I want to capture a picture that is the embodiment of abominable evil? Because I think it is sometimes easier to understand a precept when it is conceptualized beyond mere thought. In this case, I hope to represent the idea of abomination(s) as Scripture [or Abba YHVH Himself] might view it in order to give a point of contact with which we can begin to explore what Scripture calls by this label.
I want to give you a citation of every use of that one single word in Scripture, and its variants in the English language. I am using the KJV because, over the many years of translations created since 1611, this one tends to use the same word more consistently than others. No it is NOT a PERFECT translation (there is no such thing), but it is very consistent. There is always more than one possible translation of every Hebrew or Greek word, into English, BUT that does NOT mean choosing a different word delivers the same meaning as the original. More often than not, selecting a different word each time a translator comes across the same word in Hebrew or Greek, it usually reveals a theological bent in the translators' beliefs.
Let's try taking a trip from Genesis to Revelation examining just one concept.
"What does God call an abomination?". Shall we?
Below are 143 Scriptures. Take your time reading through them, then we will evaluate the Hebrew and Greek to see if they reveal something different.
The vast number of Scriptures that refer to things God sees as Abominations is overwhelming. To the point that, frankly, we should conclude that God takes these things VERY seriously. This is just ONE word study and there are in excess of 160 passages that use some variation of the Hebrew word(s) toebah or sheqets (these are root words for many other forms) and the Greek bdelugma. thinkg I am trying to convert your perspective. I am simply giving you the full gravity of a single word study focusing on the things that God finds repugnant or reprehensible.
"Abomination" occurs 76 times in 69 verses in the KJV. | "Abominations" occurs 76 times in 74 verses in the KJV. | "Abominable" occurs 23 times in 23 verses in the KJV. |
Categories and Locations of Scriptures Containing:
Strong's Hebrew: 8263. שֶׁ֫קֶץ (sheqets) -- abominable thing
Strong's Greek: 946. βδέλυγμα (bdelugma) -- abominable
NOTE: Each verse below is linked so you can easily research further
when the context isn't absolutely apparent in the verse(s) given.
Important Study Tip: When looking at word studies, it is VITAL to keep them in proper perspective or you can find yourself wandering all over the place trying to make sense of all the different usages of the root word you are chasing down. For example, in this case, much of the usage for the various forms of abomination is in regard to YHVH's Instructions for us as His Followers Through Messiah and as the True Seeds of Abraham. So I am going to list some that are relevant to this topic, specifically the idea of the Consistency of Scripture, not as much concerning the idea of what is and is not an abomination, we'll let Scripture tell us that:
Numbers 15:16
16 One law and one set of customs shall be for you and for the gentile who dwells (sometimes translated "travels or sojourns") with you. |
Galatians 3:26-29
26 For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. 28 There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. 👉For you are all one in Christ Jesus.👈 29 And now that you belong to Christ, you are all the true seed of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you. |
1 Samuel 15:29 | Malachi 3:6 | Numbers 23:19 | James 1:17 |
"And he who is the Glory of Israel will not lie, 👉nor will he change his mind👈, for he is not human that he should change his mind!” | “I am the Lord, and 👉I do not change👈. That is why you descendants of Jacob are not already destroyed." | Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. 👉He never changes or even casts a shifting shadow👈. |
Idol Worship | Abhorrent Sacrifices, False Prophets, Dishonest Business Deals, and other |
The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it is an abomination to the LORD thy God. Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing. Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods. Deu 27:15 Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen. 1Ki 11:5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. And the high places that were before Jerusalem, which were on the right hand of the mount of corruption, which Solomon the king of Israel had builded for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Zidonians, and for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, and for Milcom the abomination of the children of Ammon, did the king defile. Jer 6:15 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the LORD. Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore shall they fall among them that fall: in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down, saith the LORD. And they built the high places of Baal, which are in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire unto Molech; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin. Eze 16:50 And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good. (repeated in Deviant Sexuality and Eating because cannot be certain other abominations were happening, usually when Scripture mentions this without specifics, it means many other abominations) Hath oppressed the poor and needy, hath spoiled by violence, hath not restored the pledge, and hath lifted up his eyes to the idols, hath committed abomination, (repeated in Deviant Sexuality and Eating because cannot be certain other abominations were happening, usually when Scripture mentions this without specifics, it means many other abominations) Eze 33:26 Ye stand upon your sword, ye work abomination, and ye defile every one his neighbour's wife: and shall ye possess the land?(repeated in Deviant Sexuality and Eating because cannot be certain other abominations were happening, usually when Scripture mentions this without specifics, it means many other abominations) Mal 2:11 Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god. Mat 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains: Rev 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. (repeated in Deviant Sexuality and Eating because cannot be certain other abominations were happening, usually when Scripture mentions this without specifics, it means many other abominations)
When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee. That they teach you not to do after all their abominations, which they have done unto their gods; so should ye sin against the LORD your God. And ye have seen their abominations, and their idols, wood and stone, silver and gold, which were among them:) They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they him to anger. 2Ki 16:3 But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, after the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel. 2Ch 28:3 Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel. But did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel. And Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that pertained to the children of Israel, and made all that were present in Israel to serve, even to serve the LORD their God. And all his days they departed not from following the LORD, the God of their fathers. 2Ch 36:8 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and his abominations which he did, and that which was found in him, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah: and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his stead. Moreover all the chief of the priests, and the people, transgressed very much after all the abominations of the heathen; and polluted the house of the LORD which he had hallowed in Jerusalem. And I will do in thee that which I have not done, and whereunto I will not do any more the like, because of all thine abominations. Wherefore, as I live, saith the Lord GOD; Surely, because thou hast defiled my sanctuary with all thy detestable things, and with all thine abominations, therefore will I also diminish thee; neither shall mine eye spare, neither will I have any pity. And they that escape of you shall remember me among the nations whither they shall be carried captives, because I am broken with their whorish heart, which hath departed from me, and with their eyes, which go a whoring after their idols: and they shall lothe themselves for the evils which they have committed in all their abominations. And I will do in thee that which I have not done, and whereunto I will not do any more the like, because of all thine abominations. Wherefore, as I live, saith the Lord GOD; Surely, because thou hast defiled my sanctuary with all thy detestable things, and with all thine abominations, therefore will I also diminish thee; neither shall mine eye spare, neither will I have any pity. And they that escape of you shall remember me among the nations whither they shall be carried captives, because I am broken with their whorish heart, which hath departed from me, and with their eyes, which go a whoring after their idols: and they shall lothe themselves for the evils which they have committed in all their abominations. Thus saith the Lord GOD; Smite with thine hand, and stamp with thy foot, and say, Alas for all the evil abominations of the house of Israel! for they shall fall by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence. Now is the end come upon thee, and I will send mine anger upon thee, and will judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompense upon thee all thine abominations. And mine eye shall not spare thee, neither will I have pity: but I will recompense thy ways upon thee, and thine abominations shall be in the midst of thee: and ye shall know that I am the LORD. Now will I shortly pour out my fury upon thee, and accomplish mine anger upon thee: and I will judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompense thee for all thine abominations. And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof. And they shall come thither, and they shall take away all the detestable things thereof and all the abominations thereof from thence. But as for them whose heart walketh after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations, I will recompense their way upon their own heads, saith the Lord GOD. But I will leave a few men of them from the sword, from the famine, and from the pestilence; that they may declare all their abominations among the heathen whither they come; and they shall know that I am the LORD. Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations. Eze 44:6 And thou shalt say to the rebellious, even to the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; O ye house of Israel, let it suffice you of all your abominations, In that ye have brought into my sanctuary strangers, uncircumcised in heart, and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in my sanctuary, to pollute it, even my house, when ye offer my bread, the fat and the blood, and they have broken my covenant because of all your abominations. And they shall not come near unto me, to do the office of a priest unto me, nor to come near to any of my holy things, in the most holy place: but they shall bear their shame, and their abominations which they have committed. Dan 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. Hos 9:10 I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the first ripe in the fig tree at her first time: but they went to Baalpeor, and separated themselves unto that shame; and their abominations were according as they loved. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. And when Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and put away the abominable idols out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he had taken from mount Ephraim, and renewed the altar of the LORD, that was before the porch of the LORD. Psa 14:1 [[To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.]] The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. [[To the chief Musician upon Mahalath, Maschil, A Psalm of David.]] The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good. Eze 16:52 Thou also, which hast judged thy sisters, bear thine own shame for thy sins that thou hast committed more abominable than they: they are more righteous than thou: yea, be thou confounded also, and bear thy shame, in that thou hast justified thy sisters. Tit 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. 1Pe 4:3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: Rev 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. | That ye shall say, Thy servants' trade hath been about cattle from our youth even until now, both we, and also our fathers: that ye may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination unto the Egyptians. Exo 8:26 And Moses said, It is not meet so to do; for we shall sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians to the LORD our God: lo, shall we sacrifice the abomination concerning of the Egyptians before their eyes, and will they not stone us? Deu 17:1 Thou shalt not sacrifice unto the LORD thy God any bullock, or sheep, wherein is blemish, or any evilfavouredness: for that is an abomination unto the LORD thy God. Deu 17:1 Thou shalt not sacrifice unto the LORD thy God any bullock, or sheep, wherein is blemish, or any evilfavouredness: for that is an abomination unto the LORD thy God. And it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it, and enquired diligently, and, behold, it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel: For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee. Deu 25:16 For all that do such things, and all that do unrighteously, are an abomination unto the LORD thy God. 1Sa 13:4 And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel also was had in abomination with the Philistines. And the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal. Psa 88:8 Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me; thou hast made me an abomination unto them: I am shut up, and I cannot come forth. Psa 88:8 Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me; thou hast made me an abomination unto them: I am shut up, and I cannot come forth. For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous. These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips. A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight. They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight. Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight. The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil. Pro 15:8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight. Pro 15:9 The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness. The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: but the words of the pure are pleasant words. Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished. Pro 16:12 It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness. He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD. Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD. Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good. Pro 21:27 The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind? The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men. He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination. An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked. Pro 21:27 The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind? The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men. He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination. An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked. Isa 1:13 Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. Behold, ye are of nothing, and your work of nought: an abomination is he that chooseth you. And none considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree? Jer 2:7 And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and made mine heritage an abomination. Dan 11:31 And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate. And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. Luk 16:15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
Should we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the people of these abominations? wouldest not thou be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor escaping? When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart. Jer 4:1 If thou wilt return, O Israel, saith the LORD, return unto me: and if thou wilt put away thine abominations out of my sight, then shalt thou not remove. Jer 7:30 For the children of Judah have done evil in my sight, saith the LORD: they have set their abominations in the house which is called by my name, to pollute it. Jer 32:34 But they set their abominations in the house, which is called by my name, to defile it. So that the LORD could no longer bear, because of the evil of your doings, and because of the abominations which ye have committed; therefore is your land a desolation, and an astonishment, and a curse, without an inhabitant, as at this day. Eze 8:6 He said furthermore unto me, Son of man, seest thou what they do? even the great abominations that the house of Israel committeth here, that I should go far off from my sanctuary? but turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations. And he said unto me, Go in, and behold the wicked abominations that they do here. He said also unto me, Turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations that they do. Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations than these. Then he said unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? for they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger: and, lo, they put the branch to their nose. Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations, And in all thine abominations and thy whoredoms thou hast not remembered the days of thy youth, when thou wast naked and bare, and wast polluted in thy blood. Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thy filthiness was poured out, and thy nakedness discovered through thy whoredoms with thy lovers, and with all the idols of thy abominations, and by the blood of thy children, which thou didst give unto them; Because thou hast not remembered the days of thy youth, but hast fretted me in all these things; behold, therefore I also will recompense thy way upon thine head, saith the Lord GOD: and thou shalt not commit this lewdness above all thine abominations. Yet hast thou not walked after their ways, nor done after their abominations: but, as if that were a very little thing, thou wast corrupted more than they in all thy ways. Neither hath Samaria committed half of thy sins; but thou hast multiplied thine abominations more than they, and hast justified thy sisters in all thine abominations which thou hast done. Thou hast borne thy lewdness and thine abominations, saith the LORD. |
Eating/Unclean Animals | Deviant Sexuality |
And if any of the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings be eaten at all on the third day, it shall not be accepted, neither shall it be imputed unto him that offereth it: it shall be an abomination, and the soul that eateth of it shall bear his iniquity. Lev 11:10 And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you: Lev 11:11 They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination. Lev 11:12 Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you. Lev 11:13 And these are they which ye shall have in abomination among the fowls; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray, Lev 11:20 All fowls that creep, going upon all four, shall be an abomination unto you. Lev 11:23 But all other flying creeping things, which have four feet, shall be an abomination unto you. Lev 11:41 And every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth shall be an abomination; it shall not be eaten. Lev 11:42 Whatsoever goeth upon the belly, and whatsoever goeth upon all four, or whatsoever hath more feet among all creeping things that creep upon the earth, them ye shall not eat; for they are an abomination. Isa 66:17 They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD. (note this is repeated in Revelation 21:8) Eze 16:50 And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good. Hath oppressed the poor and needy, hath spoiled by violence, hath not restored the pledge, and hath lifted up his eyes to the idols, hath committed abomination Eze 33:26 Ye stand upon your sword, ye work abomination, and ye defile every one his neighbour's wife: and shall ye possess the land? Rev 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog's neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine's blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations. Eze 7:9 And mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: I will recompense thee according to thy ways and thine abominations that are in the midst of thee; and ye shall know that I am the LORD that smiteth. As for the beauty of his ornament, he set it in majesty: but they made the images of their abominations and of their detestable things therein: therefore have I set it far from them. Dan 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. Hos 9:10 I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the first ripe in the fig tree at her first time: but they went to Baalpeor, and separated themselves unto that shame; and their abominations were according as they loved. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. Moreover the soul that shall touch any unclean thing, as the uncleanness of man, or any unclean beast, or any abominable unclean thing, and eat of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which pertain unto the LORD, even that soul shall be cut off from his people. Ye shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creepeth, neither shall ye make yourselves unclean with them, that ye should be defiled thereby. Therefore shall ye keep mine ordinance, that ye commit not any one of these abominable customs, which were committed before you, and that ye defile not yourselves therein: I am the LORD your God. And if it be eaten at all on the third day, it is abominable; it shall not be accepted. Ye shall therefore put difference between clean beasts and unclean, and between unclean fowls and clean: and ye shall not make your souls abominable by beast, or by fowl, or by any manner of living thing that creepeth on the ground, which I have separated from you as unclean. Deu 14:3 Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing. Psa 14:1 [[To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.]] The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. [[To the chief Musician upon Mahalath, Maschil, A Psalm of David.]] The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good. Isa 65:4 Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine's flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels; Eze 4:14 Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! behold, my soul hath not been polluted: for from my youth up even till now have I not eaten of that which dieth of itself, or is torn in pieces; neither came there abominable flesh into my mouth. So I went in and saw; and behold every form of creeping things, and abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, pourtrayed upon the wall round about. Tit 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. Rev 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. | Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. Deu 23:18 Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore, or the price of a dog, into the house of the LORD thy God for any vow: for even both these are abomination unto the LORD thy God. Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance. Eze 16:50 And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good. Hath oppressed the poor and needy, hath spoiled by violence, hath not restored the pledge, and hath lifted up his eyes to the idols, hath committed abomination, And one hath committed abomination with his neighbour's wife; and another hath lewdly defiled his daughter in law; and another in thee hath humbled his sister, his father's daughter. Ye stand upon your sword, ye work abomination, and ye defile every one his neighbour's wife: and shall ye possess the land? Eze 22:11 And one hath committed abomination with his neighbour's wife; and another hath lewdly defiled his daughter in law; and another in thee hath humbled his sister, his father's daughter. Eze 33:26 Ye stand upon your sword, ye work abomination, and ye defile every one his neighbour's wife: and shall ye possess the land? Rev 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations; neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you: (For all these abominations have the men of the land done, which were before you, and the land is defiled;) For whosoever shall commit any of these abominations, even the souls that commit them shall be cut off from among their people. 1Ki 14:24 And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel. Jer 13:27 I have seen thine adulteries, and thy neighings, the lewdness of thy whoredom, and thine abominations on the hills in the fields. Woe unto thee, O Jerusalem! wilt thou not be made clean? when shall it once be? Eze 23:36 The LORD said moreover unto me; Son of man, wilt thou judge Aholah and Aholibah? yea, declare unto them their abominations; Dan 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. Rev 17:4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. [[To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.]] The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. [[To the chief Musician upon Mahalath, Maschil, A Psalm of David.]] The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good. Tit 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
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Please note that the Ezekiel references are typically divided by the overall theme within the chapter. This might be how it was decided to break Ezekiel into chapters, though I cannot be certain. I divided the Ezekiel references to our word search according to the theme of sin the "abominations" in each chapter seem to point to. I used this same tactic where it was applicable and not otherwise noted with several Scripture references above. Some verses are added to more than one column as applicable to the "abominations" historically known to be happening at specific events, within specific cultures, etc.
I'd like for you, if you will, to keep in mind that while I did cross-share some of the more vague references to abomination(s) or the abominable... it is VERY important to keep the Principles of Hermeneutics in mind as we move forward. The reason I say this, is simply because I did not cross-share EVERY possibility. It was becoming time-consuming and requiring too much space in the tables above.
So, please remember that it was a common practice for pagan cultures to offer the carcasses of sacrificed animals in the marketplace. Which is why Paul warned against buying anything sacrificed to pagan idols.
Let's begin to apply some hermeneutics to this concept of the consistency of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation as related to the word study above, shall we? Refer back to these 4 Principles often, as you go forward, so you can learn to recognize which Principle is at play as you read Scripture. But also as you research and find information you may or may not have been familiar with before. You will find these 4 Principles can be a very effective plumb-line to keep you on track for finding the proper context of Scripture.
We'll start with Idol Worship. Don't forget about the personification of "Abomination" above... As you think about that fella', does it fit? Is he a personification of how or why YHVH would find idol worship so detestable that He would not only prohibit it, but allow a nation to be taken into captivity for it?
THIS is how serious an abomination is in the sight of our Heavenly Father, but don't forget this is not the only thing He calls detestable or abominable. We'll get into the others, just stay with me.
Today there are idols in our everyday lives. All around us there are massive commercial advertising agendas targeted to grab and hold our attention. Is it wrong to advertise a commercial product or service? Of course not, BUT many of them use sexual innuendo as a means of grabbing the attention of passersby or those watching a program on TV or the internet. The attention is designed to create brand familiarity but also to create an indelible association, in the brain of the observer, with the product/service and whatever sexual innuendo is being portrayed in the advertisement. Honestly, we could do the same thing with this discussion as we did with the passages that are placed under each of the 4 categories named in the table above. We could categorize the types of products and services that have used this method to reach an audience and entice purchases. The intention is that when you need the item, but think of THEIR product instead of a competitor by the use of chemical reactions that occur in the brain when sexuality is involved. These chemical reactions write an image and euphoric feeling in your brain, that is associated with the product and surfaces even if you don't consciously think of the advertisement when looking at the product on a shelf or website.
We create a vast number of idols in our lives. A sport, sports team, individual player, or favorite participant can all and often do become idols. Our favorite hobbies or activities can and often do become idols. For many people, their job/profession/career becomes and idol. Our spouses or children can become idols. Our home(s), vacation rentals, vehicles, even the ministry can become an idol. The test for whether or not anything in our life has become an idol is simple. Can we do without it? Can we (are we willing) to walk away from it?
Obviously walking away from our spouses or children is not an option. If we have placed them to highly in our spiritual spectrum, we need to learn to balance that spectrum. As for the rest, there may be a time when Abba actually asks us to walk away. Let me ask you this though. Would you rather He just ignore it and let you remain in a place where you are idolizing something and making it something God Himself HATES?
Sexual deviancy is about more than just the Romans 1:26-27 description. For example, if you look up the archaic definitions and related words for lasciviousness and licentiousness you'll find they speak of sexual behaviors that differ from the natural usage of sexual organs, they were obviously made to partner with one another, not with other parts of the body. I am trying, very hard, to keep this from being graphic - while giving an accurate portrayal of what Scripture actually says. While attempting to avoid becoming hyper-critical of all modern teaching. The bottom line is that what is often taught about the "marriage bed" may not be what Scripture really says. There are prohibitions that many overlook because they do not follow a translated word's etymology, especially because they have never taken it back to the timeframe in history that it was first chosen in the translation to any given language. This is especially true for ENGLISH Bibles.
In many languages, their word for lasciviousness is related to the English words "harlot", "dangerous debauchery" or even "male gigolo". ALL of them are directly connected to sexual connotations.
Licentiousness is often connected to words meaning "sexual debauchery", "'lewd sexual language' likely connected to 'describing sexual acts'".
So, the "New Testament" clearly supports the idea that there is such a thing as unnatural sexual activity and perpetuates the "Old Testament" ideology that they are "abominable". See Mark 7:22. Galatians 5:19 and Ephesians 4:17-19 even directly connect lasciviousness to "uncleanness" - or a state of being unclean and/or doing things that make you unclean.
Don't forget our model... he represents how Abba views sexual deviance too.
I won't spend any time chatting about the Miscellaneous column of our Table. I only included it so I could be honest when I said that I was including every passage of Scripture that relates to the Hebrew and Greek words often translated as some variation of "abomination" or things directly related to abominations.
Hey... remember that guy above? He is also a visualization of all the various abominations mentioned in this column as well.
Some who study the Bible will use a specific justification for a belief that through Jesus and Paul the Dietary instructions were revoked, I want to put some of this into perspective, using Hermeneutics.
Paul would have surely known that most pagan sacrifices consisted of unclean animals; this can be historically proven even now. So since he said to be sure you didn't purchase something sacrificed to idols, to many, a clear indicator that he was saying any animal not sacrificed was acceptable as food.
There are two flaws in this, even though the logic seems sound.
Paul would have been negating all of the passages we used to filter our thought processes as we started. God never changes and does NOT change His mind
Paul would have been teaching against his own belief system based on his own testimony in his trial before Felix in Acts 24:14
24:14 "But I admit that I follow the Way, which they call a cult. I worship the God of our ancestors, and I firmly believe God's law and everything written in the prophets".
his accusers stated the following as they took him into custody in Acts 21:27&28
21:27 The seven days were almost ended when some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul in the Temple and roused a mob against him. They grabbed him, 28 yelling, “Men of Israel, help us! This is the man who preaches against our people everywhere and tells everybody to disobey God's laws. He speaks against the Temple—and even defiles this holy place by bringing in Gentiles.
I don't want this to come off as an attempt to convince you, so I won't say much more, but the fact is Peter gave us the interpretation of his vision from Acts 10:10-16. If you read further into the chapter he makes it very clear - see Acts 10:28. Call me Captain Obvious if you must, but have you ever noticed that even after being told 3 times, Peter still refused and NEVER ate any of the unclean animals?
We would be well advised to not overlook that in the Revelation of Yeshua/Jesus, through John's vision, it still calls unclean (ἀκάθαρτος - akathartos) birds unclean 3 times in 18:2. It is calling them by the same adjective as evil spirits/demons!! (ἀκάθαρτος πνεῦμ akathartos αpneuma)
Surely if all animals were now food, wouldn't the parts of Scripture that haven't even taken place yet confirm this instead of specifying that there are still unclean birds and essentially equating them with unclean spirits/demons?
Don't neglect to take one last peek at Abomination's mascot above. Sadly, many just aren't willing to dig this out and see how our Heavenly Father views this area as well.
In Biblical culture, the word hear and the word obey are the same word. It is "Shema". However, unlike Hawaiin where hello and goodbye are both Alohah, or the use of Shalom for hello and goodbye in Hebrew, there is an important twist to WHY it is the same word. It means "to hear is to obey". Which makes it difficult to translate into English so you will often see it as "hear and obey". The idea is that if God says it we obey, and it doesn't matter WHY He said it, nor does it ever need to be repeated because His words are Eternal and He never changes His mind. He said it, we obey, and our belief is inconsequential. The old saying "God said it, I believe it, that settles it" is heresy by Hebraic standards. God said it, and THAT settles it. So IF Peter had been seriously commanded by God to eat of the unclean animals, culturally speaking, He would have been obligated to obey. As for Mark 7:19 where some Bibles say Jesus made all foods clean the operative word is FOOD. See the above Leviticus 11 references again. I could go into the cultural and religious reasons why Paul talks about things like don't let anyone judge you concerning the celebration of Sabbaths, or new moons, eating and drinking, etc... but I have covered all of that in other blogs and my point is to lay down a few examples here for the use of Hermeneutics to help you understand the context of Scripture concerning our word study, not to convince you all in one blog. You can apply the Principles of Hermeneutics to those passages on your own.
HINT: start by learning what the Pharisees and Essenes were at odds about regarding regular religious practices. Many from both sects came to believe in Yeshua/Jesus and brought a lot of baggage with them.
One last thought, and I want to leave you with this for a very good reason...
Romans 1 starts with Paul talking about the "Gospel of God, which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures" (verses 1&2). Paul is acknowledging the Gospel of the Father, what "Good News" could that possibly be, except the "faith once delivered to the saints/holy ones" (Jude 1:3) and the "good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10). PLEASE - answer this question for yourself, what are the works that God has ordained BEFORE Yeshua/Jesus? Those 3 things are all a part of what Paul is describing in the closing verse (below) when he wrote that people "changed the Truth of God into a lie".<