Encyclopedia entry
Abomination
Disambiguation
The source enumerates 4 distinct subjects under Abomination. Jump to one below, or read in order.
- 1.To express the idea that the Egyptians considered themselves as defiled when they…
- 2.Every shepherd was “an abomination” unto the Egyptians (Gen.
- 3.Pharaoh was so moved by the fourth plague, that while he refused the demand of…
- 4.Daniel (11:31), in that section of his prophecies which is generally interpreted as…
This word is used,
Abomination (1)
#To express the idea that the Egyptians considered themselves as defiled when they ate with strangers (Gen. 43:32). The Jews subsequently followed the same practice, holding it unlawful to eat or drink with foreigners (John 18:28; Acts 10:28; 11:3).
Abomination (2)
#Every shepherd was “an abomination” unto the Egyptians (Gen. 46:34). This aversion to shepherds, such as the Hebrews, arose probably from the fact that Lower and Middle Egypt had formerly been held in oppressive subjection by a tribe of nomad shepherds (the Hyksos), who had only recently been expelled, and partly also perhaps from this other fact that the Egyptians detested the lawless habits of these wandering shepherds.
Abomination (3)
#Pharaoh was so moved by the fourth plague, that while he refused the demand of Moses, he offered a compromise, granting to the Israelites permission to hold their festival and offer their sacrifices in Egypt. This permission could not be accepted, because Moses said they would have to sacrifice “the abomination of the Egyptians” (Ex. 8:26); i.e., the cow or ox, which all the Egyptians held as sacred, and which they regarded it as sacrilegious to kill.
Abomination (4)
#Daniel (11:31), in that section of his prophecies which is generally interpreted as referring to the fearful calamities that were to fall on the Jews in the time of Antiochus Epiphanes, says, “And they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.” Antiochus Epiphanes caused an altar to be erected on the altar of burnt-offering, on which sacrifices were offered to Jupiter Olympus. (Comp. 1 Macc. 1:57). This was the abomination of the desolation of Jerusalem. The same language is employed in Dan. 9:27 (comp. Matt. 24:15), where the reference is probably to the image-crowned standards which the Romans set up at the east gate of the temple (A.D. 70), and to which they paid idolatrous honours. “Almost the entire religion of the Roman camp consisted in worshipping the ensign, swearing by the ensign, and in preferring the ensign before all other gods.” These ensigns were an “abomination” to the Jews, the “abomination of desolation.”
This word is also used symbolically of sin in general (Isa. 66:3); an idol (44:19); the ceremonies of the apostate Church of Rome (Rev. 17:4); a detestable act (Ezek. 22:11).
In the Bible
70
Verses where Abomination is named. Berean Standard Bible (public domain).
- 1 Kings 11:5
Solomon followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians and Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.
- 1 Kings 11:7
At that time on a hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab and for Molech the abomination of the Ammonites.
- 1 Samuel 13:4
And all Israel heard the news: “Saul has attacked an outpost of the Philistines, and now Israel has become a stench to the Philistines!” Then the people were summoned to join Saul at Gilgal.
- 2 Kings 23:13
The king also desecrated the high places east of Jerusalem, to the south of the Mount of Corruption, which King Solomon of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Sidonians, for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, and for Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.
- Daniel 9:27
And he will confirm a covenant with many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of the temple will come the abomination that causes desolation, until the decreed destruction is poured out upon him. ”
- Daniel 11:31
His forces will rise up and desecrate the temple fortress. They will abolish the daily sacrifice and set up the abomination of desolation.
+64 more verses naming Abomination.
Scripture on Abomination
58
See all 58 +−
- Deuteronomy 7Deuteronomy 171 Kings 11Proverbs 11Proverbs 16Proverbs 20Isaiah 66Ezekiel 22Daniel 9Matthew 24Leviticus 7Leviticus 18Leviticus 20Deuteronomy 12Deuteronomy 13Deuteronomy 18Deuteronomy 22Deuteronomy 23Deuteronomy 24Deuteronomy 25Deuteronomy 271 Samuel 132 Kings 23Psalms 88Proverbs 3Proverbs 6Proverbs 8Proverbs 12Proverbs 13Proverbs 17Proverbs 21Proverbs 24Proverbs 28Proverbs 29Isaiah 1Isaiah 41Isaiah 44Jeremiah 2Jeremiah 6Jeremiah 8Jeremiah 32Ezekiel 16Ezekiel 18Ezekiel 33Daniel 11Daniel 12Malachi 2Mark 13Luke 16John 18Acts 10Revelation 17Revelation 21
Abomination references
14
Voices on Abomination
8
Surfaced by name match — accuracy varies by title clarity.
Sources · Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
Public-domain text. Modernized only where archaic spelling impedes reading; original facts preserved. Verify against an authoritative modern reference before quoting.