Understanding a Strong Term from the Bible
Sometimes, when people read the Bible, they come across the strong phrase “abomination to the Lord.” This can sound confusing or even scary, but in simple terms, it just means that something is completely unacceptable or deeply offensive to God. Let’s break it down in everyday language.
What Is an “Abomination”?
The word “abomination” in the Bible usually means something that God finds utterly disgusting, wrong, or hateful. It’s not just something He dislikes—it’s something He can’t tolerate at all. The original Hebrew word (toevah) carries the idea of something God “loathes,” or is completely against, because it goes against who He is and the standards He sets.
Why Does God Call Some Things “Abominations”?
God’s nature is all about truth, justice, goodness, and purity. If something goes against these qualities, the Bible says God sees it as an “abomination.” It’s not just about the act itself, but the attitude and intentions behind it. God cares about both our actions and what’s in our hearts.
Common Examples in the Bible
There are several things the Bible specifically calls abominations. Here are some easy-to-understand examples:
· Pride: Thinking you’re better than everyone else.
· Lies: Saying things that aren’t true or deceiving others.
· Hurting innocent people: Doing harm to those who have done nothing wrong, especially acts of violence or murder.
· Making evil plans: Coming up with ideas to hurt others or do wrong things.
· Rushing into wrongdoing: Eagerly getting involved in bad actions.
· False witnesses: Giving false testimony, lying about what you’ve seen or heard.
· Sowing discord: Stirring up trouble or causing fights among people, especially those who should be united.
The Bible lists these seven things in Proverbs 6:16-19 as things God strongly disapproves of.
Other Examples of Abominations
· Idolatry: Worshipping anything or anyone other than God.
· Dishonest business: Cheating others, using dishonest scales or lying in business deals.
· Injustice: Defending people who do wrong or punishing those who are innocent.
· Certain sexual practices: Some sexual acts, like those mentioned in Leviticus, are called abominations.
· Ignoring God’s law: Turning away from what God says is right is also considered an abomination—even if the person prays, God doesn’t like it because the heart is in the wrong place.
· Occult practices: Fortune-telling, charms, spells, and trying to contact spirits are all forbidden and called abominations, especially because the people of Israel were warned not to copy the nations around them who did these things.
What’s the Main Point?
In simple terms, calling something an “abomination to the Lord” means God sees it as totally wrong—something that goes against everything He stands for. It’s not just a little mistake, but something God wants people to avoid, both in their actions and in their hearts.
How Should We Respond?
The Bible doesn’t just tell us what God hates for no reason. It’s a call for us to pay attention, check our own lives, and avoid these attitudes and actions. Instead, God wants us to seek truth, love justice, be humble, and treat others well.
If God hates these things, we should make sure not to let them grow in our own lives. As it’s said in Proverbs, it’s not enough to hate these things in other people—we must hate them first and foremost in ourselves and work to stay away from them.
Minister A Francine Green
September 2025
afrancinegreen.com 