to'evah (תּוֹעֵבָה)

Define

• Hebrew: תּוֹעֵבָה (to'evah) – a feminine singular noun meaning something morally disgusting, detestable, or abhorrent, especially in ritual or ethical contexts before God.
• Greek: βδέλυγμα (bdelygma) – the primary Septuagint (LXX) equivalent, denoting something abominable, detestable, or loathsome (e.g., Prov 6:16; 11:1; Ezek 18:12); occasionally ἀκάθαρτος (akathartos, "unclean") in ritual contexts (e.g., Lev 18:22 LXX).
• In the Hebrew Bible, it’s used to describe actions, behaviors, or objects considered deeply offensive to God or societal norms, such as idolatry, dishonesty, or certain sins. The term carries a strong sense of disgust or rejection.

Related words

Additional Info

• Core sins:
  1. Idolatry/false worship (Deut 7:25–26; 27:15; 2 Kgs 16:3; Ezek 5:9; 7:3–4).
  2. Sexual immorality (Lev 18:22, 26–29; 20:13; Deut 22:5; 23:18).
  3. Ritual impurity/unclean food (Deut 14:3; Isa 66:17).
  4. Ethical injustice (Prov 6:16–19; 11:1; 20:10, 23 – dishonest weights; 17:15 – perverting justice).
  5. Pride/arrogance (Prov 16:5; cf. Luke 16:15 NT echo).
• Often paired with “does what is evil in the sight of the LORD” (e.g., Deut 17:1; 25:16).
• Consequence: expulsion from the land (Lev 18:25–28; Ezek 33:26) or divine judgment (Jer 44:22).
• Land vomiting out inhabitants: Lev 18:25, 28; 20:22 – to'evah causes the land to “vomit” (קָאַם) its people.
• Temple defiled: Ezek 8:6–17 – multiple to'evot in the house of God provoke abandonment.
• Abomination of the Desolation prophecy: Dan 9:27; 11:31; 12:11 (shiqquts meshomem) – a future eschatological to'evah standing in the holy place (cited by Jesus in Matt 24:15; Mark 13:14).
• Revelation 17:4–5; 21:27 – bdelygma describes Babylon’s impurities and exclusion from the city of God.

Connections