Lexical Summary bdelugma: Abomination Original Word: βδέλυγμα Strong's Exhaustive Concordance abomination. From bdelusso; a detestation, i.e. (specially) idolatry -- abomination. see GREEK bdelusso HELPS Word-studies 946 bdélygma (from 948 /bdelýssō, derived from bdēō, "to reek with stench") – properly, what emits a foul odor and hence is disgustingly abhorrent (abominable, detestable); (figuratively) moral horror as a stench to God (like when people refuse to hear and obey His voice). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom bdelussomai Definition a detestable thing NASB Translation abomination (3), abominations (2), detestable (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 946: βδέλυγμαβδέλυγμα, βδελύγματος, τό (βδελύσσομαι), a Biblical and ecclesiastical word; in the Sept. mostly for תּועֵבָה, also for שִׁקוּץ and שֶׁקֶץ, a foul thing (loathsome on acct. of its stench), a detestable thing; (Tertullianabominamentum); Luth.Greuel; (A. V. abomination); a. universally: Luke 16:15. b. in the O. T. often used of idols and things pertaining to idolatry, to be held in abomination by the Israelites; as 1 Kings 11:6 ( c. the expression τό βδέλυγμα τῆς ἐρημώσεως the desolating abomination (others take the genitive, others; e. g. Meyer as a genitive epexegetical) in Matthew 24:15; Mark 13:14 (1 Macc. 1:54), seems to designate some terrible event in the Jewish war by which the temple was desecrated, perhaps that related by Josephus, b. j. 4, 9, 11ff (the Sept. Daniel 11:31; Daniel 12:11, βδέλυγμα (τῆς) ἐρημώσεως for מְשֹׁמֵם שִׁקּוּץ and שֹׁמֵם שִׁקוּץ, Daniel 9:27 βδέλυγμα τῶν ἐρημώσεων for מְשֹׁמֵם שִׁקוּצִים the abomination (or abominations) wrought by the desolator, i. e. not the statue of Jupiter Olympius, but a little idol-altar placed upon the altar of whole burnt offerings; cf. Grimm on 1 Macc., p. 31; Hengstenberg, Authentie des Daniel, p. 85f; (the principal explanations of the N. T. phrase are noticed in Dr. James Morison's Commentary on Matthew, the passage cited).) Strong’s Greek 946 names that which God utterly loathes—acts, objects, and systems that stand in direct opposition to His holiness. Scripture presents such abominations not as neutral mistakes but as deliberate affronts to the Creator, eliciting judgment unless there is repentance. New Testament Occurrences • Matthew 24:15 and Mark 13:14—Jesus foretells “the abomination of desolation” standing where it ought not, echoing Daniel’s prophecy and serving as a sign for believers to flee impending tribulation. Old Testament and Intertestamental Background The Greek term in Daniel (Septuagint) renders the Hebrew tôʿêbâ, often linked with idolatry (Deuteronomy 7:25), occult practices (Deuteronomy 18:9-12), and sexual perversion (Leviticus 18:22). Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:11 predicts an “abomination” set up in the temple. Historically, Antiochus IV Epiphanes erected an altar to Zeus in 167 BC, but Christ’s words in the Gospels look beyond that event to a still-future desecration climaxing in the rise of “the man of lawlessness” (compare 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4). The Abomination of Desolation: Prophetic Significance Jesus places the sign within His Olivet Discourse, marking the midpoint of Daniel’s seventieth week (Daniel 9:27). The standing of the abomination signals unparalleled distress and sets the stage for His visible return (Matthew 24:29-31). Its literal placement “in the holy place” points to a future temple, while its moral nature mirrors the antichrist’s demand for worship (Revelation 13:14-15). Thus the term binds together past foreshadowing, present vigilance, and future fulfillment. Abominations and Babylon the Great In Revelation 17 the harlot personifies a global system intoxicated with immorality and idolatry. Her cup “full of abominations” recalls Jeremiah 51:7’s imagery of Babylon’s golden cup that made nations drunk. The plural noun (βδελυγμάτων) widens the scope: political tyranny, economic exploitation, false religion, and sexual vice all coalesce into one object of divine wrath. God’s judgment of Babylon therefore functions as the climactic purging of every abominable thing from the created order. Abomination and the Heart Luke 16:15 shifts the focus from external symbols to internal motives. Greed-masked religiosity, though applauded by people, is abominable to God. The verse reminds ministers that social acceptance can never be the measure of faithfulness. “Keep your heart with all diligence” (Proverbs 4:23) remains the perennial safeguard against becoming what God detests. Eschatology and the New Jerusalem Revelation 21:27 draws a stark boundary: “Nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who practices an abomination or a lie.” The ultimate destiny of the redeemed is a realm completely purged of every abhorrent thing. In eternity God’s abhorrence and the believer’s holiness converge—His purity satisfied, their joy perfected. Pastoral and Ministerial Implications 1. Worship Purity: Guard the gathered church from idolatrous syncretism; God rejects worship mingled with what He hates (Exodus 20:3-5). Summary Strong’s Greek 946 frames a thread that stretches from Levitical holiness codes through Daniel’s visions, across the lips of Jesus, into the final pages of Revelation. Each occurrence exposes what God detests and His resolve to eradicate it, while simultaneously offering a path of escape through repentance and faith. The word therefore is not merely a label for rebellion; it is a summons to holy fear, to loving obedience, and to hopeful anticipation of a world in which every abomination has vanished before the face of the Lord. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 24:15 N-ANSGRK: ἴδητε τὸ Βδέλυγμα τῆς ἐρημώσεως NAS: you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION KJV: shall see the abomination of desolation, INT: you shall see the abomination of desolation Mark 13:14 N-ANS Luke 16:15 N-NNS Revelation 17:4 N-GNP Revelation 17:5 N-GNP Revelation 21:27 N-ANS Strong's Greek 946 |
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