Lexical Summary
shiqquts: Abomination, detestable thing
Original Word:שִׁקּוּץ
Part of Speech:Noun Masculine
Transliteration:shiqquwts
Pronunciation:shik-KOOTS
Phonetic Spelling:(shik-koots')
KJV: abominable filth (idol, -ation), detestable (thing)
NASB:detestable things, abominations, abomination, detestable idol, detestable idols, abominable idols, detestable
Word Origin:[fromH8262 (שָׁקַץ - detest)]
1. disgusting, i.e. filthy
2. (especially) idolatrous
3. (concretely) an idol
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
abominable filth idol detestable thing
Or shiqquts {shik-koots'}; fromshaqats; disgusting, i.e. Filthy; especially idolatrous or (concretely) an idol -- abominable filth (idol, -ation), detestable (thing).
see HEBREWshaqats
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom the same as
sheqetsDefinitiondetested thing
NASB Translationabominable idols (1), abomination (4), abominations (5), detestable (1), detestable idol (3), detestable idols (2), detestable things (10), detested things (1), filth (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
,
Daniel 11:31 ; — absolute
Daniel 11:31;
Daniel 12:11, construct
1 Kings 11:5 +; plural 2Chronicles 15:8,
2 Kings 23:24; construct
Ezekiel 20:7,8; suffix
Jeremiah 16:18+, etc.; —
detested thing, epithet of Israel
Hosea 9:10 (si vera lectio; not elsewhere before Deuteronomy); of fifth
Nahum 3:6; apparently of unclean food
Zechariah 9:7 (as ); of idols (so usually; often "" , , etc.),
Deuteronomy 29:16;
2 Kings 23:24;
Jeremiah 4:1;
Jeremiah 7:30=
Jeremiah 32:34;
Jeremiah 13:27;
Jeremiah 16:18;
Ezekiel 5:11;
Ezekiel 7:30;
Ezekiel 11:18,20;
Ezekiel 20:7,8,30;
Ezekiel 37:23; of idolatrous practices
Daniel 9:27, but read probably as
Daniel 11:31 (so ), and for (see Dr);
Daniel 11:31;
Daniel 12:11destested thing causing horror is the heathen altar erected in temple by Antiochus Epiphanes, with (probably) a statue of Zeus Olympios = (Phoenician)
lord of heaven; the prophet puts for , and for ; compare Nes
ZAW iv (1884), 248 Che
OP 103 Dr
Dn.
Topical Lexicon
Overview of Usageשִׁקּוּץ appears about twenty-eight times, always describing something detestable because it offends the holiness of the covenant God. Whether the word points to lifeless idols, corrupt cultic objects, or the climactic “abomination of desolation,” every instance exposes the heart of sin as spiritual treason and summons the people of God to undivided loyalty.
Distribution Across the Canon
• Torah:Deuteronomy 29:17
• Former Prophets:1 Kings 11:5,1 Kings 11:7;2 Kings 23:13,2 Kings 23:24
• Writings:2 Chronicles 15:8
• Major Prophets:Isaiah 66:3;Jeremiah 4:1; 7:30; 13:27; 16:18; 32:34;Ezekiel 5:11; 7:20; 11:18, 11:21; 20:7, 20:8, 20:30; 37:23
• Apocalyptic:Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:11
• Minor Prophets:Hosea 9:10;Nahum 3:6;Zechariah 9:7; 13:2
The spread of references from Moses to the post-exilic prophets reveals both the persistence of idolatry and the unwavering divine response.
Idolatry in Canaan and the Warning of Moses
InDeuteronomy 29:17 Israel is reminded of “the abominations and idols of wood, stone, silver, and gold” which they had seen in Egypt and would meet again in Canaan. Moses frames שִׁקּוּץ as a covenant threat: flirtation with foreign worship will nullify the blessings of the land oath and invite the curses of exile.
Royal Accommodation versus Royal Reform
Solomon tolerated ים “detestable idols” (1 Kings 11:5,1 Kings 11:7). The narrative links Ashtoreth, Chemosh, and Milcom to political marriages and cultural syncretism, exposing how power can rationalize compromise.
Conversely, Josiah embodies covenant fidelity. “The king also desecrated the high places… built for Ashtoreth… Chemosh… and Milcom” (2 Kings 23:13), and he “eradicated… every detestable thing that had appeared in the land” (2 Kings 23:24). The Chronicler notes a similar purge under Asa (2 Chronicles 15:8). These reforms illustrate that true revival includes the ruthless removal of all שִׁקּוּץ.
Temple Pollution and Prophetic Indictment
Jeremiah repeatedly decries idols set “in the house that bears My Name” (Jeremiah 7:30; cf. 32:34). Ezekiel, viewing the defiled sanctuary from exile, hears the LORD pledge: “Because you have defiled My sanctuary with all your detestable idols… I Myself will withdraw” (Ezekiel 5:11). The word signals not merely a ceremonial offense but a relational rupture—God’s glory departs when His dwelling is shared with rivals.
Cleansing Promised for the Remnant
Yet the same prophets foresee restoration: “They will no longer defile themselves with their idols or with any of their detestable things” (Ezekiel 37:23). Zechariah envisions a day when “I will remove the names of the idols from the land, and they will no longer be remembered” (Zechariah 13:2). Purity is both a command and a promise, secured by divine initiative.
The Eschatological ‘Abomination of Desolation’
Daniel introduces a heightened form of שִׁקּוּץ:
•Daniel 9:27 – “On the wing of abominations will come the desolating one.”
•Daniel 11:31 – “They will abolish the daily sacrifice and set up the abomination of desolation.”
•Daniel 12:11 – A timetable begins “from the time the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up.”
Historically this foreshadowed Antiochus IV’s desecration (167 BC). Jesus cites the prophecy (Matthew 24:15;Mark 13:14), extending its relevance to future tribulation and alerting believers to watchfulness amid persecution and counterfeit worship.
Theological Themes
1. Exclusivity of Worship: שִׁקּוּץ crystallizes the first two commandments; any rival love is loathsome to God.
2. Holiness of Place and People: Idols desecrate both sanctuary and soul, necessitating cleansing by sacrifice and Spirit.
3. Judgment and Mercy: The same term that signals wrath also frames hope, for God acts to purge and restore.
4. Eschatological Vigilance: The recurring pattern of desecration culminating in the final “abomination” prepares the church to endure and to long for the consummated kingdom.
Ministry Implications
• Preaching: Expose modern idols—materialism, sensuality, syncretistic spirituality—using the biblical vocabulary of detestation to awaken consciences.
• Discipleship: Lead believers to regular self-examination; housecleaning of literal or digital idols is the contemporary corollary to Josiah’s purge.
• Worship: Guard corporate gatherings from syncretism. God’s presence is too weighty to be mingled with entertainment or man-centered liturgies.
• Eschatology: Teach watchfulness without sensationalism, grounding future hope in Christ who will finally eliminate every שִׁקּוּץ.
Summary
שִׁקּוּץ unmasks the horror of idolatry, narrates Israel’s cycles of compromise and cleansing, and points forward to the ultimate showdown between desecration and divine holiness. From Moses’ warning to Daniel’s vision, the word reminds the faithful that the living God brooks no rivals and will, in the end, dwell with a purified people forever.
Forms and Transliterations
הַשִּׁקֻּצִ֗ים הַשִּׁקּ֥וּץ הַשִּׁקּוּצִים֙ השקוץ השקוצים השקצים וְשִׁקֻּצָיו֙ וּבְשִׁקּ֣וּצֵיהֶ֔ם וּבְשִׁקּוּצֵיהֶ֖ם ובשקוציהם ושקציו שִׁקֻּ֖ץ שִׁקֻּ֣ץ שִׁקֻּצִ֖ים שִׁקּ֣וּץ שִׁקּ֣וּצֵיהֶ֔ם שִׁקּֽוּצֵיהֶ֗ם שִׁקּֽוּצֵיהֶם֙ שִׁקּוּצִ֖ים שִׁקּוּצִים֙ שִׁקּוּצֵ֤י שִׁקּוּצֵיהֶ֖ם שִׁקּוּצֵיהֶ֛ם שִׁקּוּצֶ֛יהָ שִׁקּוּצֶ֛יךָ שִׁקּוּצַ֖יִךְ שִׁקּוּצָ֑יִךְ שקוץ שקוצי שקוציה שקוציהם שקוציך שקוצים שקץ שקצים haš·šiq·qu·ṣîm haš·šiq·qū·ṣîm haš·šiq·qūṣ hashshikKutz hashshikkuTzim haššiqqūṣ haššiqquṣîm haššiqqūṣîm shikKutz shikkuTzayich shikkuTzei shikkuTzeicha shikkuTzeiha shikKutzeiHem shikkuTzim šiq·qū·ṣa·yiḵ šiq·qū·ṣā·yiḵ šiq·qū·ṣê šiq·qū·ṣe·hā šiq·qū·ṣê·hem šiq·qū·ṣe·ḵā šiq·qu·ṣîm šiq·qū·ṣîm šiq·quṣ šiq·qūṣ šiqquṣ šiqqūṣ šiqqūṣayiḵ šiqqūṣāyiḵ šiqqūṣê šiqqūṣehā šiqqūṣêhem šiqqūṣeḵā šiqquṣîm šiqqūṣîm ū·ḇə·šiq·qū·ṣê·hem ūḇəšiqqūṣêhem uveshikkutzeiHem veshikkuTzav wə·šiq·qu·ṣāw wəšiqquṣāw
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