ABOMINATION

ABOMINA'TION, noun 1. Extreme hatred; detestation.2. The object of detestation, a common signification in scripture.The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord. Proverbs 15:8.3. Hence, defilement, pollution, in a physical sense, or evil doctrines and practices, which are moral defilements, idols and idolatry, are called abominations. The Jews were an abomination to the Egyptians; and the sacred animals of the Egyptians were an abomination to the Jews. The Roman army is called the abomination of desolation. Matthew 24:15. In short, whatever is an object of extreme hatred, is called an abomination

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A term applied in Scripture to objects of great detestation. Idols and their worship were so named, because they robbed God of his honor, while the rites themselves were impure and cruel, De 7:25,26 12:31. The term was used respecting the Hebrews in Egypt, Ge 43:32 Ex 8:26, either because they ate and sacrificed animals held sacred by the Egyptians, or because they did not observe those ceremonies in eating which made a part of the religion of Egypt; and in Ge 46:34, because they were "wandering shepherds," a race of whom had grievously oppressed Egypt.

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Abomination. Abomination
This word is used, (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).

(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.

(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.

(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).

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ABOMINATION. → Things that are, to God
* Idolatry De 7:25; 27:15; 32:16
* Unjust weights and measures De 25:13-16; Pr 11:1; 20:1,23
* Uncleanness Le 18:22; 20:13; De 24:4
* Incest Le 18:6-18
* Lying with a woman in her menses Le 18:18,20
* Adultery Le 18:20
* Sodomy Le 18:22,23
* Offering seed to Molech Le 18:21
* Offering children in sacrifice De 18:10
* Sorcery and necromancy De 18:10,11
* The hire of a whore and price of a dog, as a consecrated gift De 23:18

→ UNCLASSIFIED SCRIPTURES RELATING TO De 22:5; Pr 3:32; 6:16-19; 8:7; 11:20; 12:22; 15:8,9,26; 16:5; 17:15; 20:10,23; 21:27; 24:9; 28:9; 29:27

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abomination. Abomination, n. an object of hatred, a pollution

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A‐bom′i‐na″tion (�), n. [[OE. abominacioun, -cion, F. abominatio. See Abominate.]] 1. 1. The feeling of extreme disgust and hatred; abhorrence; detestation; loathing; as, he holds tobacco in abomination.
2. 2. That which is abominable; anything hateful, wicked, or shamefully vile; an object or state that excites disgust and hatred; a hateful or shameful vice; pollution.
Antony, most large in his abominations. Shak. 3. 3. A cause of pollution or wickedness.
Syn. — Detestation; loathing; abhorrence; disgust; aversion; loathsomeness; odiousness. Sir W. Scott.