Lexical Summary
toebah: Abomination, detestable thing
Original Word:תּוֹעֵבַה
Part of Speech:Noun Feminine
Transliteration:tow`ebah
Pronunciation:to-ay-BAH
Phonetic Spelling:(to-ay-baw')
KJV: abominable (custom, thing), abomination
NASB:abominations, abomination, abominable, detestable thing, detestable things, detestable, loathsome
Word Origin:[feminine active participle ofH8581 (תָּעַב - abhor)]
1. (properly) something disgusting
2. (morally, as noun) an abhorrence
3. (especially) idolatry
4. (concretely) an idol
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Tolaites
Or tonebah {to-ay-baw'}; feminine active participle ofta'ab; properly, something disgusting (morally), i.e. (as noun) an abhorrence; especially idolatry or (concretely) an idol -- abominable (custom, thing), abomination.
see HEBREWta'ab
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom an unused word
Definitionabomination
NASB Translationabominable (5), abominable act (1), abomination (39), abominations (60), detestable (2), detestable act (1), detestable thing (3), detestable things (3), loathsome (2), object of loathing (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
117 ; — absolute
Genesis 43:32 21t.;
Jeremiah 44:4; construct
Genesis 46:34 +; plural
Ezekiel 8:6 +; construct
Ezekiel 6:11 +, etc.; suffix 2Chronicles 36:8, etc.; —
, (genitive object)Exodus 8:22 (twice in verse) (E), compareGenesis 46:34 (J);Genesis 43:32 (J); of physical repugnancePsalm 88:9.
of unclean foodDeuteronomy 14:3; worshipper of idolsIsaiah 41:24, compareJeremiah 2:7; various objectionable acts:Deuteronomy 24:4;Deuteronomy 7:25 (, compareDeuteronomy 7:26),Deuteronomy 17:1;Deuteronomy 18:12;Deuteronomy 22:5;Deuteronomy 23:19;Deuteronomy 27:15; offering of children ()Deuteronomy 12:31, compareJeremiah 32:35, also plural2 Kings 16:3 2Chronicles 28:3;Deuteronomy 18:9,12 ( + witchcraft); idolatrous practices (sometimes with other illegal acts)Deuteronomy 13:15;Deuteronomy 17:4;Ezekiel 16:50;Ezekiel 18:12;Malachi 2:11 (intermarriage with idolaters), compareJeremiah 44:4; usually with plural nounDeuteronomy 20:18;1 Kings 14:24;2 Kings 21:2,11; 2Chronicles 33:2; 36:8;Jeremiah 7:10;Jeremiah 44:22;Ezekiel 8:6 12t. Ezekiel; compare 2Chronicles 36:14;Ezra 9:1,11,14;Ezekiel 5:9 18t. Ezekiel; of idolsDeuteronomy 32:16; ()2 Kings 23:13;Isaiah 44:19 (compareDeuteronomy 27:15); idolatrous objects 2Chronicles 34:33; ""Jeremiah 16:18 (RJE)Ezekiel 5:11;Ezekiel 11:18,21, ()Ezekiel 7:20; ""Ezekiel 14:6, compareEzekiel 6:9;Ezekiel 16:36.
c. Genitive object ,Proverbs 8:7,Proverbs 16:12,Proverbs 29:27 a,Proverbs 13:19,Proverbs 29:27 b,Proverbs 24:9.
of sacrifice of wickedProverbs 21:27 (compareProverbs 15:8), his prayersProverbs 28:9 compareIsaiah 1:13 ( ), probably alsoJeremiah 6:15 =Jeremiah 8:12 (of various kinds of wickedness); unchastityLeviticus 18:22; withLeviticus 20:13 (H)Ezekiel 22:11;Ezekiel 33:26; compareLeviticus 18:26,27,29 (compareLeviticus 18:30; H), alsoProverbs 26:25;Deuteronomy 25:16;Proverbs 3:32 10t. Proverbs, compareProverbs 6:16.
Topical Lexicon
Overviewתּוֹעֵבָה (toʿebah) denotes what is utterly detestable to God—acts, objects, motives, or persons that contradict His holiness. Its approximately one-hundred-seventeen occurrences reveal a unified biblical testimony: the LORD’s covenant people are called to mirror His character by rejecting every abomination.
Primary Contexts of Usage
1.Idolatry and Apostasy
•Exodus 8:26;Deuteronomy 7:25–26;Deuteronomy 12:31;Deuteronomy 13:14;Deuteronomy 17:2–4;Deuteronomy 18:9–12;Deuteronomy 29:17;2 Kings 23:13;Isaiah 66:3;Jeremiah 4:1;Ezekiel 5:11.
Anything associated with the worship of other gods—images, altars, practices—receives the label “abomination.” The term highlights God’s exclusive claim on Israel and frames idolatry as spiritual adultery rather than merely a rival ideology.
2.Sexual Perversion
•Leviticus 18:22, 26–30;Leviticus 20:13;Deuteronomy 22:5;Deuteronomy 23:18;Proverbs 6:16.
Illicit sexual acts, especially those that invert God’s creational design, are toʿebah. By calling them abominations, Scripture elevates sexual ethics above cultural preference, rooting them in divine order.
3.Improper Worship and Ritual Pollution
•Deuteronomy 14:3;Deuteronomy 17:1;Proverbs 15:8;Isaiah 1:13;Isaiah 66:17;Malachi 1:7–8.
Offering blemished sacrifices, mixing pagan customs with temple worship, and self-devised rituals are tagged abominable. The prophetic condemnation underscores that formal religion divorced from obedient hearts is offensive to God.
4.Ethical and Social Injustice
•Deuteronomy 25:13–16;Proverbs 11:1;Proverbs 20:10, 23;Proverbs 17:15;Micah 6:10–11.
Unjust weights, deceitful business practices, acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent—these civil sins are viewed with the same severity as cultic defilement, tying righteousness to daily life.
5.Pride and Wicked Schemes
•Proverbs 3:32;Proverbs 6:16–19;Proverbs 16:5;Proverbs 21:27;Proverbs 24:9.
Toʿebah penetrates motives; haughty eyes, lying tongues, plotting evil—all draw divine abhorrence even before outward acts materialize.
6.Food Laws
•Leviticus 11:10–13, 20, 23, 41–42;Deuteronomy 14:3.
Certain animals are called abominations in the ceremonial code, teaching Israel discernment between holy and common and foreshadowing the need for inward purification (Acts 10).
Theological Significance
“Abomination” functions as a covenant term. By designating specific practices as toʿebah, God demarcates what corrupts communal holiness and jeopardizes covenant blessing (Deuteronomy 18:12;2 Chronicles 36:14). The term carries judicial weight: abominations provoke exile (Leviticus 18:28;2 Kings 21:2–15) and demand cleansing (Ezekiel 36:25).
Prophetic Emphasis
Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the Minor Prophets employ the word to expose Israel’s deep-seated rebellion. Ezekiel’s temple visions (Ezekiel 8) catalog creeping abominations, portraying sin as progressive and invasive. Prophets link abomination with shedding innocent blood (Jeremiah 7:30–34), emphasizing that ritual and moral transgressions intertwine in provoking divine wrath.
Wisdom Literature
Proverbs universalizes toʿebah beyond Israel to all humanity. “Lying lips are detestable to the LORD” (Proverbs 12:22). Wisdom’s moral order reflects God’s unchanging nature, demonstrating that abomination transcends covenant statutes and anchors in the Creator’s character.
Historical Trajectory
From the golden calf (Exodus 32) through Manasseh’s reign (2 Kings 21), abominations repeatedly mark the low points of Israel’s story, culminating in exile (Ezekiel 36:17). Post-exilic reforms (Nehemiah 13:27) aim to eradicate former abominations, illustrating corporate repentance.
Christological Fulfillment
Jesus, the Holy One, assumes human impurity yet remains without sin, bearing the weight of “abominable things” on the cross (2 Corinthians 5:21). In Him, believers receive a new heart, enabling obedience that surpasses external conformity (Romans 12:9). The eschatological judgment scene warns that “the cowardly, the unbelieving... and all liars” are excluded (Revelation 21:8)—echoing toʿebah’s moral contour and affirming its enduring relevance.
Practical Ministry Implications
•Holiness and Discipleship: The breadth of toʿebah calls pastors to teach holiness in worship, sexuality, commerce, and speech.
•Counseling and Church Discipline: Labeling sin as God labels it fosters repentance. Yet the gospel offers cleansing for every abomination (1 Corinthians 6:9–11).
•Cultural Engagement: When societal norms endorse what Scripture calls abomination, believers remain anchored in divine assessment, speaking truth in love (Ephesians 4:15).
•Ethical Leadership: Fair scales in business and integrity in governance are not optional extras but matters of divine approval or abhorrence.
Key Text for Meditation
“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.”Proverbs 14:34
Summary
תּוֹעֵבָה exposes the clash between divine holiness and human sin across idolatry, immorality, injustice, and pride. It summons God’s people to radical purity, fulfilled in Christ and empowered by the Spirit, as they await a kingdom where nothing unclean or detestable will ever enter (Revelation 21:27).
Forms and Transliterations
בְּתֽוֹעֲבוֹתָם֙ בְּתוֹעֲבֹֽתֵיהֶ֗ם בְּתוֹעֵבֹ֖ת בתועבותם בתועבת בתועבתיהם הַתֹּעֵב֖וֹת הַתֹּעֵב֣וֹת הַתֹּעֵבָ֥ה הַתּ֣וֹעֵב֔וֹת הַתּֽוֹעֵבֹת֙ הַתּוֹעֲבֹ֣ת הַתּוֹעֵב֖וֹת הַתּוֹעֵב֗וֹת הַתּוֹעֵב֜וֹת הַתּוֹעֵב֣וֹת הַתּוֹעֵב֤וֹת הַתּוֹעֵבָ֣ה הַתּוֹעֵבָ֥ה הַתּוֹעֵבֹ֖ת הַתּוֹעֵבֹ֣ת התועבה התועבות התועבת התעבה התעבות וְתֹֽעֲבֹתָ֤יו וְתוֹעֲב֣וֹתֵיהֶ֔ם וְתוֹעֲבַ֖ת וְתוֹעֲבַ֥ת וְתוֹעֲבוֹתֵיהֶ֖ם וְתוֹעֲבוֹתַ֙יִךְ֙ וְתוֹעֲבוֹתָ֖ם וְתוֹעֵבָ֛ה וּבְתוֹעֲבֽוֹתֵיהֶ֖ן ובתועבותיהן ותועבה ותועבותיהם ותועבותיך ותועבותם ותועבת ותעבתיו כְּ֠תוֹעֲבֹֽתֵיהֶם כְּתֹֽעֲבוֹת֙ כְּתֽוֹעֲבֹת֙ כְּתֽוֹעֲבוֹת֙ כְּתוֹעֲבֹ֖ת כתועבות כתועבת כתועבתיהם כתעבות לְתוֹעֵבָ֣ה לְתוֹעֵבָֽה׃ לתועבה לתועבה׃ תֹּעֲב֣וֹת תֹּועֲבַ֥ת תּֽוֹעֲבֹתָ֔ם תּֽוֹעֵבָ֔ה תּוֹעֲב֥וֹת תּוֹעֲבַ֣ת תּוֹעֲבַ֥ת תּוֹעֲבַ֨ת תּוֹעֲבֹ֥ת תּוֹעֲבֹתֵיהֶֽם׃ תּוֹעֲבֹתֵיכֶ֖ם תּוֹעֲבֹתֶֽיהָ׃ תּוֹעֲבֹתַ֙יִךְ֙ תּוֹעֲבֹתָ֑יִךְ תּוֹעֲבֹתָ֖ם תּוֹעֲבֹתָֽיִךְ׃ תּוֹעֲבֽוֹתֵיהֶ֗ם תּוֹעֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶ֖ם תּוֹעֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶֽם׃ תּוֹעֲבוֹתֵיכֶֽם׃ תּוֹעֲבוֹתֶ֖יהָ תּוֹעֲבוֹתֶֽיהָ׃ תּוֹעֲבוֹתַ֖יִךְ תּוֹעֲבוֹתַ֙יִךְ֙ תּוֹעֲבוֹתָֽיִךְ׃ תּוֹעֵב֖וֹת תּוֹעֵב֣וֹת תּוֹעֵב֥וֹת תּוֹעֵב֨וֹת תּוֹעֵבָ֑ה תּוֹעֵבָ֔ה תּוֹעֵבָ֖ה תּוֹעֵבָ֛ה תּוֹעֵבָ֥ה תּוֹעֵבָֽה׃ תֽוֹעֵבָה֙ תוֹעֲבַ֛ת תוֹעֲבַ֣ת תוֹעֲבַ֥ת תוֹעֲבֹתָ֛ם תוֹעֲבוֹתֵיהֶֽן׃ תוֹעֲבוֹתַ֔יִךְ תוֹעֵב֣וֹת תוֹעֵבָ֖ה תוֹעֵבָ֥ה תועבה תועבה׃ תועבות תועבותיה תועבותיה׃ תועבותיהם תועבותיהן׃ תועבותיך תועבותיך׃ תועבותיכם תועבותיכם׃ תועבת תועבתיה׃ תועבתיהם׃ תועבתיך תועבתיך׃ תועבתיכם תועבתם תעבות bə·ṯō·w·‘ă·ḇō·ṯê·hem bə·ṯō·w·‘ă·ḇō·w·ṯām bə·ṯō·w·‘ê·ḇōṯ betoavoTam betoavoteiHem betoeVot bəṯōw‘ăḇōṯêhem bəṯōw‘ăḇōwṯām bəṯōw‘êḇōṯ hat·tō·‘ê·ḇāh hat·tō·‘ê·ḇō·wṯ hat·tō·w·‘ă·ḇōṯ hat·tō·w·‘ê·ḇāh hat·tō·w·‘ê·ḇō·wṯ hat·tō·w·‘ê·ḇōṯ hattō‘êḇāh hattō‘êḇōwṯ hattoaVot hattoeVah hattoeVot hattōw‘ăḇōṯ hattōw‘êḇāh hattōw‘êḇōṯ hattōw‘êḇōwṯ kə·ṯō·‘ă·ḇō·wṯ kə·ṯō·w·‘ă·ḇō·ṯê·hem kə·ṯō·w·‘ă·ḇō·wṯ kə·ṯō·w·‘ă·ḇōṯ kəṯō‘ăḇōwṯ ketoaVot Ketoavoteihem kəṯōw‘ăḇōṯ kəṯōw‘ăḇōṯêhem kəṯōw‘ăḇōwṯ lə·ṯō·w·‘ê·ḇāh letoeVah ləṯōw‘êḇāh tō‘ăḇōwṯ tō·‘ă·ḇō·wṯ tō·w·‘ă·ḇaṯ ṯō·w·‘ă·ḇaṯ tō·w·‘ă·ḇō·ṯa·yiḵ tō·w·‘ă·ḇō·ṯā·yiḵ tō·w·‘ă·ḇō·ṯām ṯō·w·‘ă·ḇō·ṯām tō·w·‘ă·ḇō·ṯe·hā tō·w·‘ă·ḇō·ṯê·hem tō·w·‘ă·ḇō·ṯê·ḵem tō·w·‘ă·ḇō·w·ṯa·yiḵ tō·w·‘ă·ḇō·w·ṯā·yiḵ ṯō·w·‘ă·ḇō·w·ṯa·yiḵ tō·w·‘ă·ḇō·w·ṯe·hā tō·w·‘ă·ḇō·w·ṯê·hem ṯō·w·‘ă·ḇō·w·ṯê·hen tō·w·‘ă·ḇō·w·ṯê·ḵem tō·w·‘ă·ḇō·wṯ tō·w·‘ă·ḇōṯ tō·w·‘ê·ḇāh ṯō·w·‘ê·ḇāh tō·w·‘ê·ḇō·wṯ ṯō·w·‘ê·ḇō·wṯ toaVat toaVot toavoTam toavoTayich toavoteiChem toavoTeiha toavoteiHem toavoteiHen toeVah toeVot tōw‘ăḇaṯ ṯōw‘ăḇaṯ tōw‘ăḇōṯ tōw‘ăḇōṯām ṯōw‘ăḇōṯām tōw‘ăḇōṯayiḵ tōw‘ăḇōṯāyiḵ tōw‘ăḇōṯehā tōw‘ăḇōṯêhem tōw‘ăḇōṯêḵem tōw‘ăḇōwṯ tōw‘ăḇōwṯayiḵ tōw‘ăḇōwṯāyiḵ ṯōw‘ăḇōwṯayiḵ tōw‘ăḇōwṯehā tōw‘ăḇōwṯêhem ṯōw‘ăḇōwṯêhen tōw‘ăḇōwṯêḵem tōw‘êḇāh ṯōw‘êḇāh tōw‘êḇōwṯ ṯōw‘êḇōwṯ ū·ḇə·ṯō·w·‘ă·ḇō·w·ṯê·hen ūḇəṯōw‘ăḇōwṯêhen uvetoavoteiHen vetoaVat vetoavoTam vetoavoTav vetoavoTayich vetoaVoteiHem vetoeVah wə·ṯō·‘ă·ḇō·ṯāw wə·ṯō·w·‘ă·ḇaṯ wə·ṯō·w·‘ă·ḇō·w·ṯa·yiḵ wə·ṯō·w·‘ă·ḇō·w·ṯām wə·ṯō·w·‘ă·ḇō·w·ṯê·hem wə·ṯō·w·‘ê·ḇāh wəṯō‘ăḇōṯāw wəṯōw‘ăḇaṯ wəṯōw‘ăḇōwṯām wəṯōw‘ăḇōwṯayiḵ wəṯōw‘ăḇōwṯêhem wəṯōw‘êḇāh
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