Introduction.
The Hebrew word for “abomination” is “towebah” which means something which is disgusting or horrible. In the Hebrew scriptures, this term is usually translated as “an abomination” I.e., used to describe something which is exceptionally loathsome, hateful, wicked and /or vile.
We are therefore looking at aspects of human behaviour which are vile to God and to His character. It can refer to anything which robs God of honour or to anything which causes intense aversion or defilement according to God’s law.
We shall look at nineteen examples from the Hebrew Scriptures.
Our first set of abominations refer to idolatry: I.e., the worship of idols; the creation of carved images; and, what leads others to false worship.
Abomination 1. Graven Images – Idols used for Worship.
Deuteronomy 7: 25 and 26.
“You shall burn the carved images of their gods with fire; you shall not covet the silver or gold that is in them, nor take it for yourselves, lest you be snared by it; for it is an abomination to the Lord your God. Nor shall you bring an abomination into your house, lest you be doomed to destruction like it. You shall utterly detest it and utterly abhor it, for it is an accursed thing.”
Obviously, we are talking here about the cities which Adonai is going to give to Israel in the land of Canaan. All the idols of the Canaanites are to be destroyed as Israel takes possession of the land. The most serious threat to Israel is not from the people of Canaan but from their idols and the gross immorality associated with them. This would be a spiritual battle.
Abomination 2. The Idol Maker.
The second abomination associated with idols is the idol maker.
Deuteronomy 27: 15
“Cursed is the one who makes a carved or moulded image, an abomination to the Lord, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and sets it up in secret.”
Of course, such a “carved or moulded image” pertains to idolatrous worship in defiance of the First and Second Commandments.
Deuteronomy 5: 7 and 8
“You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image – any likeness of anything that is in the heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them.
Abomination 3. Proselytising to False Worship.
This is the third abomination relating to idolatry.
Deuteronomy 13: 12 – 15.
“If you hear someone in one of your cities, which the Lord your God gives you to dwell in, saying “Corrupt men have gone out from among you and enticed the inhabitants of their city, saying “Let us go and serve other gods”” – which you have not known – then you shall inquire, search out, and ask diligently. And if it is indeed true and certain that such an abomination was committed among you, you shall surely strike the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying it, all that is in and its livestock – with the edge of the sword.”
Again, we see an abomination arising from putting other gods before the Holy One of Israel. He will not share His glory with another. As the creator of the universe, there is absolutely no reason why He should. Here also, we are talking about life in the Canaanite cities which the Lord is about to give Israel.
“Corrupt men” denotes wicked depraved people who oppose the will of God. Severe action was to be taken against any community tempted to practise idolatry but not before there has been a proper examination of the facts; “inquire, search out and ask diligently.”
However, any person responsible for letting evil get out of hand would become subject to severe punishment. They would be no better than the immoral Canaanites whom they were replacing, who had come under God’s judgement. The city responsible was to be burned as an example of God’s discipline to the nation.
In the same manner a prophet who encouraged people into idolatry was not to be followed even if, by some miracle, what he predicted came to pass. Such a false prophet was to be put to death. Even a close relative who enticed his family to practise idolatry was to be slain.
Our next set of Abomination relate to sexual immorality. This includes offerings from illicitly earned money, and sexual activity outside of marriage (transvestism and homosexuality).
Abomination 4. Offerings from Illicitly Earned Money.
Deuteronomy 23: 17 and 18.
“There shall be no ritual harlot of the daughters of Israel, or a perverted one of the sons of Israel. You shall not bring the wages of a harlot or the price of a dog to the house of the Lord your God for any vowed offering, for both of these are an abomination to the Lord your God.”
Prostitution was used as a form of worship in certain pagan religions. This was to be outlawed in Israel. A “harlot” was a female prostitute and a “perverted one” was a male prostitute. The earnings from such immoral behaviour were defiled and could not be accepted as an offering in the house of the Lord.
A word about dogs in ancient Israel. Here dogs were not the much-loved, cared for companions as we know them. In ancient times in the land, they were feral, hated scavengers and a nuisance that roamed the streets always hungry. Such contempt did the Jews of old have for dogs, that the term would be used to refer to male prostitutes, the most wicked people, false teachers and the goyim.
Prostitution in all its forms is a perversion of God’s gift of sexual intimacy which has its only proper place within marriage.
Abomination 5. Sexual Immorality.
As we have already noted the proper and only place for sexual intimacy is within marriage.
Genesis 2: 24
“Therefore, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”
The marriage bond can only be broken by death or adultery. All other forms of sexual activity are an abomination to God as they go against His natural order.
Genesis 1: 27
“So, God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”
God hates transvestism as it violates the distinction between male and female.
Deuteronomy 22: 5
“A woman shall not wear anything that pertains to a man, nor shall a man put on a woman’s garment, for all who do so are an abomination to the Lord your God.”
In Leviticus chapter 20, Israel received instruction concerning sexual misconduct, so that they would be distinct from the other peoples. Offences deemed worthy of death included adultery, intimacy with close relatives, bestiality and homosexuality.
Leviticus 20: 13
“If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination.”
Leviticus 18: 22
“You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination.”
New Testament confirmation is found in Romans 1: 26 and 27; 1 Corinthians 6: 9; and 1 Timothy 1: 8 – 11.
Abomination 6. The Sacrifices of the Wicked.
The wicked need not think that their prayers and sacrifices to God will bring any reward.
Proverbs 15: 8
“The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is his delight.”
Proverbs 21: 27
“The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; how much more when he brings it with wicked intent!”
Here we see the unacceptable nature of worthless ritual which lacks genuine commitment. Worship from those who are not contrite or humble is an abomination to God. A wicked person may bring a costly offering to the Lord, but nevertheless God will despise him for his wickedness. God especially hates “gifts” intended to “buy Him of” or induce Him to condone, approve or bless some wicked scheme.
Isaiah 1: 11 – 15.
““To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?” says the Lord. “I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed cattle. I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs or goats. When you come to appear before Me, who has required this from your hand, to trample My courts? Bring no more futile sacrifices; incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths and calling of assemblies – I cannot endure and the sacred meeting.
Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; they are a trouble to Me; I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood.””
Abomination 7. The Prayers of the Lawless.
As just mentioned, the prayers of the wicked are not acceptable.
Proverbs 28: 9
“One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.”
If anyone will not hear and obey God’s word, not only will God not hear that person’s prayers, but they are hateful to God.
Our next two abomination relate to evil-minded persons, especially those who are in a position of authority or power.
Abomination 8. The Evil-Minded Person.
Proverbs 3: 32
“For the perverse person is an abomination to the Lord, but His secret counsel is with the upright.”
Proverbs 11: 20
“Those who are of a perverse heart are an abomination to the Lord, but the blameless in their ways are His delight.”
Proverbs 15: 26
“The thoughts of a wicked are an abomination to the Lord, but the words of the pure are pleasant.”
Proverbs 15: 9
“The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but He loves him who follows righteousness.”
God detests wickedness in a person’s moral character, in their desires, in their thinking and in their actions. Only a fool would wish to be detestable to God! Such a person receives God’s wrath because of attitudes and activities which are incompatible with God’s character and are intolerable to Him. We should try to be like David (Psalm 19: 14) who sought to have his words and the meditations of his heart acceptable to God.
Abomination 9. Kings Who Do Evil.
Proverbs 16: 12
“It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness, for a throne is established by righteousness.”
Proverbs 25: 5
“Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness.”
For the modern world, we can substitute “heads of government” for “kings”. Proverbs 25: 5 indicates that it may be those who advise the ruler who are the problem and should be removed.
But all those in a position of power owe their position to God, whether they know it or not. Of course, it is an abomination for anyone to commit wickedness, but all the worse when a person uses a position in which God has placed him for wicked ends.
Whilst just principles and actions, preserve and exalt a society, their absence shames a society. Lawful, orderly government is sustained by righteousness.
Abomination 10. Scoffing.
Proverbs 24: 9
“The devising of foolishness is sin, and the scoffer is an abomination to men.”
The arrogant “scoffer” who is brazen in his wickedness earns the contempt of other men and by implication of God. In Romans 1: 30, there is an extensive list of sinners deserving death including “whisperers” I.e., back-biting cynics and vindictive despisers.
Abomination 11. Dishonesty in Business. False Weights and Scales.
Deuteronomy 25: 13 – 16.
“You shall not have in your bag differing weights, a heavy and a light. You shall not have in your house differing measures, a large and a small. You shall have a perfect and just weight, a perfect and just measure, that your days may be lengthened in the land which the Lord your God is giving you. For all who do such things, all who behave unrighteously, are an abomination to the Lord your God.”
Proverbs 11: 1
“Dishonest scales are an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is His delight.”
For people to deal fairly with one another, comes from the Commandment to love one’s neighbour as oneself. Equally, avarice is a violation of the Commandment to love God above all things.
A merchant could defraud customers by using different weights depending on whether he was buying or selling. Equally, scales can be interfered with to the owner’s advantage. God’s distaste for such dishonest practices is clearly expressed in Leviticus 19: 35 and 36.
“You shall do no injustice in judgment, in measurement of length, weight or volume. You shall have honest scales, honest weights, an honest ephah, and an honest hin: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.”
God strongly reminds Israel of what they owe to Him; so, they better obey!
Abomination 12. The Justification of the Wicked and the Condemnation of the Just.
Proverbs 17: 15
“He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord.”
As God is a God of justice, He detests those who perjure themselves; both to declare the guilty innocent and to declare the innocent guilty. The unjust judge is controlled by his pride, prejudice, bribery or passion.
Exodus 23: 7 and 8.
“Keep yourself far from a false matter; do not kill the innocent and righteous. For I will not justify the wicked. And you shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the discerning and perverts the words of the righteous.”
We can now turn to Proverbs 6: 16 – 19, where we will find our next seven abominations.
“These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren.”
Abomination 13. A Proud Look.
Proverbs 16: 5
“Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord; though they join forces, none will go unpunished.”
To state that one hates something is a strong statement; but to refer to something as an abomination takes things a step further. In fact, it is the strongest statement expressing abhorrence that is found in scripture.
Pride gets everything backwards. It takes credit away from the giver who gives generously and awards credit to the receiver who takes without thinking. That is why God sees pride as an abomination.
Proverbs 8: 13
“The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate”
Abomination 14. A lying Tongue (Proverbs 6: 17)
Proverbs 12: 22.
“Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal truthfully are His delight.”
The gift of speech was given to mankind to glorify God. To lie is to pervert its use for that which is ignoble. God cannot lie and He does not give that privilege to anyone else. It is better to remain silent than to have lying lips. Absolute honesty is required.
Revelation 22: 15
“… whoever loves and practices a lie …” will be kept outside of the kingdom.
Abomination 15. Hands that Shed Innocent Blood. (Proverbs 6: 17)
This is the third of the seven abominations of Proverbs 6: 16 – 19.
Every human life is of infinite value to God. He proved this by paying the supreme price on Golgotha for our redemption.
Isaiah 1: 15
“Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood.”
God sanctioned the supreme punishment for murder.
Genesis 9: 6
“Whoever shed’s man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed.”
Abomination 16. A Heart that Devises Wicked Plans (Proverbs 6: 18)
Proverbs 8: 7.
“For my mouth will speak truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips.”
Here we are talking of a mind that is always plotting some evil. God’s truth has no crooked or perverse thing. He is all excellence, right, truth and righteousness. Evil is a complete anathema to Him. The flood was the result of God’s disgust at the evil intention of men.
Genesis 6: 5.
“Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”
Abomination 17. Feet that are swift in running to evil.
(Proverbs 6: 18). This is the fifth in the list of seven abominations from Proverbs 6:16 – 19.
God not only hates the mind that plans evil actions but the “feet” (I.e., the bodies) that are keen to carry them out. Isaiah wrote the following concerning those who separate themselves from God.
Isaiah 59: 7. “Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood; their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths.”
In Romans, chapter 3, Paul comments on the depravity of mankind.
Romans 3: 15 – 18.
“Their feet are swift to shed blood; destruction and misery are in their ways; and the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
A complete lack of respect for God makes them perfectly willing to carry out evil plans.
Abomination 18. A False Witness. (Proverbs 6: 19).
This is the sixth of the seven abominations of Proverbs 6: 16 – 19.
Here we are looking at perjured evidence in court where the consequences for the person lied about could be severe. In verse 17, a “lying tongue” was more a matter of untruths told in everyday life which of course can also be serious.
A person willing to give false testimony may well also be violent.
Psalm 27: 12.
“Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have arisen against me, and such as breathe out violence.”
Abomination 19. One who sows discord among Brethren.
(Proverbs 6: 19) This is the final one of the seven Abominations of Proverbs 6: 16 – 19.
Some commentators speculate that this factor is listed last as it is the most hated of these seven personality traits. Certainly, it is in sharp contrast to brothers living together in harmony. Those who cause discord are ranked along with murderers, plotters and perjurers;
perhaps reflecting the serious consequences of such behaviour.
Proverbs 6:14. (speaking of the “wicked man”)
“Perversity is in his heart, he devises evil continually, he sows discord.”
Conclusion.
In conclusion, let us look at the “Wicked Man” as described in Proverbs 6: 12 – 14 and return to the seven abominations of Proverbs 6: 16 – 19.
Proverbs 6: 12 – 14.
“A worthless person, a wicked man, walks with a perverse mouth; he winks with his eyes, he shuffles his feet, he points with his fingers; perversity is in his heart, he devises evil continually, he sows discord.”
Proverbs 6: 16 – 19.
“These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren.”
If we look at the plotters against our Lord, leading up to his trial and execution, we can see so many of these evil characteristics which are an abomination to God.
Pride. The Pharisees were concerned that because of Yeshua, the Romans would take away their privileged position to which they felt entitled. They also said that as they did not believe in Yeshua, how could “common people” claim to know better.
Lies. The Pharisees tried to say the Yeshua was “a Samaritan and a demon”. They also accused Him of casting put demons by Beelzebub.
The shedding of Blood. Right from the outset, their plot against Him was a murderous one.
Evil Plans. They assembled at the High Priest’s palace to conspire. They even plotted against Lazarus because his resurrection was bringing people to believe in Yeshua.
Swift to Run to Evil. They immediately snapped up Judas’s offer to betray Him and to have Him quietly arrested.
False Witnesses. They sought out and brought forward some false witnesses to testify against Yeshua.
Discord. Their plots against Him intensified as He become more popular among the people. At His trial they whipped up as much opposition as they could find.
Thus, we see where these evil human traits lead – to the death of the Son of God.