In the Bible, “detestable” refers to actions or things that are profoundly disliked or abhorred by God, often associated with moral corruption, idolatry, or practices that violate divine commandments (Deuteronomy 7:26). It signifies a strong moral repulsion, indicating what is abhorrent and unacceptable in the sight of God.
Scripture
10 But anything in the seas or the rivers that has not fins and scales, of the swarming creatures in the waters and of the living creatures that are in the waters, is detestable to you.
11 You shall regard them as detestable; you shall not eat any of their flesh, and you shall detest their carcasses.
12 Everything in the waters that has not fins and scales is detestable to you.
Meaning of “Detestable” in the Bible
The term “detestable” in the Bible is utilized to convey God’s explicit disapproval of certain behaviors and practices that contravene His commandments and moral order. In Deuteronomy 7:26, the Israelites are instructed to avoid the associated artifacts of foreign gods, termed as “detestable,” emphasizing the imperative to remain pure and faithful to Yahweh. This term is evocative of a sense of spiritual revulsion; practices such as idolatry, child sacrifice, and sexual immorality are recurrently referred to as detestable acts that separate believers from divine favor and lead to judgment (Proverbs 6:16-19). The overwhelming message points to the necessity of aligning one’s life with God’s established precepts.
Moreover, in the New Testament context, this theme continues as detestable actions are also linked to moral decay within communities. In Revelation 21:8, the “cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters, and all liars” are described as having their place in the fiery second death, underscoring the severity of being deemed detestable. The usage of “detestable” emphasizes not only God’s righteousness but also His call for holiness among His people—challenging believers to discern and reject behaviors that are inconsistent with the character of Christ. Through this lens, detestability serves as both a warning and a clarion call for personal and communal integrity, urging adherence to God’s design for righteous living.
The concept of “detestable” in the Bible extends beyond mere condemnation; it serves as a profound reminder of God’s desire for holiness and the necessity of maintaining a covenantal purity. In various passages, actions deemed detestable often stem from practices that reflect a heart turned away from divine principles. For instance, in the context of Israel’s covenant with God, these detestable practices frequently involve moral corruption and a betrayal of trust in the divine relationship, which was meant to govern every aspect of life. The prophetic books consistently echo this sentiment, highlighting how social injustices, corruption, and idolatrous practices are not merely individual failings but collective detractions from the community’s covenant with God.
Additionally, the prophets articulate God’s abhorrence towards certain actions by linking detestability with the overarching theme of justice and mercy. In instances where rituals of worship are mixed with unethical behaviors, the term “detestable” emerges to denote a crucial warning against hypocrisy. In this regard, God desires authentic devotion that aligns with His justice ethos rather than hollow, performative acts of worship that ignore moral integrity. By emphasizing the detestable nature of such duplicity, the scripture calls individuals and communities to a deeper understanding of what it means to walk in righteousness and to embody the love and justice of God. This holistic understanding urges all believers to reflect on their attitudes and actions while remaining steadfast in their commitment to live according to God’s standards.
Moral Abomination
In the biblical context, “detestable” often refers to actions, practices, or behaviors that are considered morally abhorrent or sinful. This term is used to describe things that go against the ethical and moral standards set forth in scripture. Such actions are seen as offensive to God and are often associated with idolatry, immorality, and injustice. The use of “detestable” highlights the severity of these actions and their consequences in the spiritual realm.
Spiritual Defilement
The term “detestable” also conveys a sense of spiritual defilement. It indicates practices that not only violate moral laws but also corrupt the spiritual integrity of individuals and communities. Engaging in detestable acts can lead to a separation from God and a loss of spiritual purity. This concept emphasizes the importance of maintaining a holy and righteous life in accordance with divine expectations.
Divine Judgment
In many instances, the term “detestable” is linked to the idea of divine judgment. Actions deemed detestable are often met with severe consequences, both in this life and in the afterlife. The use of this term serves as a warning to individuals and nations about the repercussions of turning away from God’s commandments and engaging in practices that are considered abominable. It underscores the seriousness with which God views sin and the ultimate accountability that all will face.
How to Embrace Righteousness and Grow in Faith
Embracing righteousness and growing in faith is a beautiful journey that requires both intention and action. Start by immersing yourself in Scripture, allowing the Word of God to shape your thoughts and actions; consider setting aside time each day for prayer and reflection, inviting the Holy Spirit to guide you. Surround yourself with a community of believers who can encourage and challenge you, as fellowship is vital in our walk with Christ. Remember, righteousness isn’t about perfection but about striving to align your life with God’s will, seeking forgiveness when you stumble, and extending grace to others as you grow. As you cultivate a heart of gratitude and service, you’ll find that your faith deepens, transforming not just your life but also the lives of those around you. Embrace this journey with an open heart, and watch how God works in and through you!
Bible References to “Detestable” in Scripture:
Leviticus 18:22-23: 22 You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.
23 And you shall not lie with any animal and so make yourself unclean with it, neither shall any woman give herself to an animal to lie with it: it is perversion.
Deuteronomy 7:25-26: 25 The carved images of their gods you shall burn with fire. You shall not covet the silver or the gold that is on them or take it for yourselves, lest you be ensnared by it, for it is an abomination to the Lord your God.
26 And you shall not bring an abominable thing into your house and become devoted to destruction like it. You shall utterly detest and abhor it, for it is devoted to destruction.
Deuteronomy 12:31: 31 You shall not worship the Lord your God in that way, for every abominable thing that the Lord hates they have done for their gods, for they even burn their sons and their daughters in the fire to their gods.
Deuteronomy 14:3-21: 3 You shall not eat any abomination.
4 These are the animals you may eat: the ox, the sheep, the goat,
5 the deer, the gazelle, the roebuck, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope, and the mountain sheep.
6 And every beast that parts the hoof and has the hoof cloven in two and chews the cud, among the animals, you may eat.
7 Yet of those that chew the cud or have the hoof cloven you shall not eat these: the camel, the hare, and the rock badger, because they chew the cud but do not part the hoof, are unclean for you.
8 And the pig, because it parts the hoof and is cloven-footed but does not chew the cud, is unclean to you.
9 “These you may eat of all that are in the waters. Everything in the waters that has fins and scales, whether in the seas or in the rivers, you may eat.
10 but anything that does not have fins and scales you shall not eat; it is unclean for you.
11 You may eat all clean birds.
12 But these are the ones that you shall not eat: the eagle, the bearded vulture, the black vulture,
13 and the glede, the kite, the falcon, all kinds of hawks,
14 And every raven according to its kind,
15 the pig, because it parts the hoof and is cloven-footed but does not chew the cud, is unclean to you.
16 You shall not eat any abomination.
17 the little owl, the cormorant, the short-eared owl,
18 the stork, the heron of any kind, the hoopoe, and the bat.
19 “Every swarming thing that flies is unclean to you; they shall not be eaten.
20 You shall eat it, the clean bird, according to its kind, the clean animal, according to its kind, and everything that creeps on the ground, according to its kind.
21 “You shall not eat anything that has died naturally. You may give it to the sojourner who is within your towns, that he may eat it, or you may sell it to a foreigner. For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. “
Deuteronomy 18:9-12: 9 “When you come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations.”
10 There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer.
11 or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead,
12 For whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord. And because of these abominations the Lord your God is driving them out before you.
Deuteronomy 25:13-16: 13 “You shall not have in your bag two kinds of weights, a large and a small.”
14 You shall not have in your house two kinds of measures, a large and a small.
15 A full and fair weight you shall have, a full and fair measure you shall have, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
16 For all who do such things, all who act dishonestly, are an abomination to the Lord your God.
Proverbs 6:16-19: 16 There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him:
17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil,
19 a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.
Proverbs 11:1: 1 A false balance is an abomination to the Lord,
but a just weight is his delight.
Proverbs 12:22: 22 Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.
Proverbs 15:8-9: 8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him.
9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
but he loves him who pursues righteousness.
Proverbs 16:5: 5 Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished.
Proverbs 17:15: 15 He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the Lord.
Proverbs 20:10: 10 Unequal weights and unequal measures
are both alike an abomination to the Lord.
Proverbs 20:23: 23 Unequal weights are an abomination to the Lord,
and false scales are not good.
Isaiah 66:3-4: 3 “He who slaughters an ox is like one who kills a man; he who sacrifices a lamb, like one who breaks a dog’s neck; he who presents a grain offering, like one who offers pig’s blood; he who makes a memorial offering of frankincense, like one who blesses an idol. These have chosen their own ways, and their soul delights in their abominations;”
4 So I also will choose harsh treatment for them and bring their fears upon them, because when I called, no one answered, when I spoke, they did not listen; but they did what was evil in my eyes and chose that in which I did not delight.”
Jeremiah 16:18: 18 But first I will doubly repay their iniquity and their sin, because they have polluted my land with the carcasses of their detestable idols, and have filled my inheritance with their abominations.
Ezekiel 8:6-18: 6 And he said to me, “Son of man, do you see what they are doing, the great abominations that the house of Israel are committing here, to drive me far from my sanctuary? But you will see still greater abominations.”
7 And he brought me to the entrance of the court, and when I looked, behold, there was a hole in the wall.
8 Then he said to me, “Son of man, dig in the wall.” And when I dug in the wall, behold, there was a door.
9 And he said to me, “Go in, and see the vile abominations that they are committing here.”
10 So I went in and saw. And there, engraved on the wall all around, was every form of creeping things and loathsome beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel.
11 And before them stood seventy men of the elders of the house of Israel, with Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan standing among them. Each had his censer in his hand, and the smoke of the cloud of incense went up.
12 Then he said to me, “Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the dark, each in his room of pictures? For they say, ‘The Lord does not see us, the Lord has forsaken the land.’”
13 He said also to me, “You will see still greater abominations that they commit.”
14 Then he brought me to the entrance of the north gate of the house of the Lord, and behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz.
15 Then he said to me, “Have you seen this, O son of man? You will see still greater abominations than these.”
16 And he brought me into the inner court of the house of the Lord. And behold, at the entrance of the temple of the Lord, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty-five men, with their backs to the temple of the Lord, and their faces toward the east, worshiping the sun toward the east.
17 Then he said to me, “Have you seen this, O son of man? Is it too light a thing for the house of Judah to commit the abominations that they commit here, that they should fill the land with violence and provoke me still further to anger? Behold, they put the branch to their nose.
18 Therefore I will act in wrath. My eye will not spare, nor will I have pity. And though they cry in my ears with a loud voice, I will not hear them.
Ezekiel 16:50: 50 They were haughty and did an abomination before me. So I removed them, when I saw it.
Ezekiel 18:12-13: 12 oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery, does not restore the pledge, lifts up his eyes to the idols, commits abomination,
13 lends at interest, and takes profit; shall he then live? He shall not live. He has done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon himself.
Ezekiel 22:11: 11 One commits abomination with his neighbor’s wife; another lewdly defiles his daughter-in-law; another in you violates his sister, his father’s daughter.
Ezekiel 33:26: 26 You rely on your sword, you commit abominations, and each of you defiles his neighbor’s wife; shall you then possess the land?
Malachi 2:11: 11 Judah has been faithless, and abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem. For Judah has profaned the sanctuary of the Lord, which he loves, and has married the daughter of a foreign god.
Luke 16:15: 15 And he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.
Revelation 21:8: 8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
Reverend Ogunlade is a seasoned Church Minister with over three decades of experience in guiding and nurturing congregations. With profound wisdom and a serene approach, Reverend Ogunlade has carried out various pastoral duties, including delivering uplifting sermons, conducting religious ceremonies, and offering sage counsel to individuals seeking spiritual guidance. Their commitment to fostering harmony and righteousness within their community is exemplified through their compassionate nature, making them a beloved and trusted figure among the congregation.