In the context of the Bible, the term "detest" is often used to describe God's strong aversion to certain behaviors, practices, or objects that are contrary to His nature and commandments. The Hebrew word often translated as "detest" is "תּוֹעֵבָה" (to'evah), which is frequently rendered as "abomination" in English translations. This term conveys a sense of intense disgust or repulsion.

Old Testament Usage

The concept of detestation is prevalent in the Old Testament, where God expresses His abhorrence for idolatry, immoral practices, and unjust actions. In Deuteronomy 7:25-26, God commands the Israelites to destroy the idols of the nations they conquer, stating, "You must burn up the carved images of their gods. Do not covet the silver or gold that is on them, or take it for yourselves, or you will be ensnared by it, for it is detestable to the LORD your God. And you must not bring an abomination into your house, or you will be set apart for destruction like it. You must utterly detest and abhor it, for it is set apart for destruction."

The book of Proverbs also highlights behaviors that are detestable to God. Proverbs 6:16-19 lists seven things the Lord hates, including "haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies, and a person who stirs up conflict in the community."

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the concept of detestation is less frequently mentioned, but the underlying principle remains. The apostle Paul, in Romans 12:9, exhorts believers to "Love must be sincere. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good." This reflects the call for Christians to reject sin and evil in all its forms, aligning themselves with God's holiness.

Moral and Ethical Implications

From a moral and ethical standpoint, the things that God detests are often those that corrupt human relationships and society. Idolatry, injustice, deceit, and immorality are seen as destructive forces that lead people away from the truth and righteousness of God. The call to detest these things is a call to pursue holiness and to live in a manner that reflects God's character.

Theological Significance

Theologically, the concept of detestation underscores the holiness of God and His desire for His people to be set apart from the world. It serves as a reminder of the seriousness of sin and the need for repentance and transformation. The things that God detests are not arbitrary but are rooted in His perfect nature and His desire for His creation to flourish in righteousness and truth.

In summary, the biblical concept of detestation is a powerful reminder of God's holiness and the call for His people to reject sin and embrace righteousness. It challenges believers to examine their lives and align their values with those of the Kingdom of God.1. (v. t.) To hate intensely; to abhor; to loathe; to abominate; as, we detest what is contemptible or evil.

2. (v. t.) To witness against; to denounce; to condemn.

948. bdelussomai -- to detest
... to detest. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: bdelussomai Phonetic Spelling:
(bdel-oos'-so) Short Definition: I abhor, detest Definition: I abhor, detest ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/948.htm - 6k

3404. miseo -- to hate
... to hate. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: miseo Phonetic Spelling:
(mis-eh'-o) Short Definition: I hate, detest Definition: I hate, detest, love less ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3404.htm - 8k

655. apostugeo -- to abhor
... to abhor. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: apostugeo Phonetic Spelling:
(ap-os-toog-eh'-o) Short Definition: I detest, abhor Definition: I detest, abhor. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/655.htm - 6k

8262. shaqats -- to detest, make detestable
... 8261, 8262. shaqats. 8263 . to detest, make detestable. Transliteration: shaqats
Phonetic Spelling: (shaw-kats') Short Definition: detest. ...
/hebrew/8262.htm - 6k

8581. taab -- to abhor
... abhor NASB Word Usage abhor (5), abhorred (3), abhorrent (1), abhors (1),
acted...abominably (2), committed abominable (2), despise (1), detest (2), detestable ...
/hebrew/8581.htm - 6k

1602. gaal -- to abhor, loathe
... abhor, fail, loathe, vilely cast away. A primitive root; to detest; by implication,
to reject -- abhor, fail, lothe, vilely cast away. 1601, 1602. ...
/hebrew/1602.htm - 6k

8130. sane -- to hate
... root Definition to hate NASB Word Usage detest (1), enemy (3), enmity (1), foes
(1), hate (78), hated (28), hated her intensely (1), hates (19), hating (2 ...
/hebrew/8130.htm - 6k

6962. quwt -- to feel a loathing
... be grieved, loathe self A primitive root; properly, to cut off, ie (figuratively)
detest -- begrieved, loathe self. 6961b, 6962. quwt. 6962a . ...
/hebrew/6962.htm - 5k

The Christians Condemn and Detest all Cruelty.
... Chapter XXXV."The Christians Condemn and Detest All Cruelty. What man
of sound mind, therefore, will affirm, while such is our ...
/.../a plea for the christians/chapter xxxv the christians condemn and.htm

We Ought to Detest These Heathen Meetings and Assemblies...
... Chapter XXVII. We ought to detest these heathen meetings and assemblies?
We ought to detest these heathen meetings and assemblies ...
/.../tertullian/the shows or de spectaculis/chapter xxvii we ought to.htm

Whether for the Justification of the Ungodly There is Required a ...
... It belongs to the same virtue to seek one contrary and to avoid the other; and hence,
as it belongs to charity to love God, so likewise, to detest sin whereby ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether for the justification of 2.htm

Confessio Fidei Scotican?? ii.
... And theirfoir we abhorre and detest all contrare Religion and Doctrine; but chiefly
all kynde of Papistrie in generall and particular headis, even as they ar ...
/.../confessio fidei scoticanae ii.htm

Secondly, for Thy Words.
... 2. Let thy heart and tongue ever go together in honesty and truth; hate dissembling
and lying in another; detest it in thyself, or God will detest thee for it ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bayly/the practice of piety/secondly for thy words.htm

God Has not by his Eternal Decree Determined Future and Contingent ...
... 2. But if the word "DETERMINED" be received according to the second acceptation,
I confess, that I abominate and detest that axiom (as one that is FALSE, ABSURD ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/article vii god has not.htm

Whether Sorrow Can be a virtuous Good?
... Reply to Objection 2: Just as sorrow for an evil arises from a right will and reason,
which detest the evil, so sorrow for a good is due to a perverse reason ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether sorrow can be a.htm

Whether Venial Sin Can be Forgiven Without Penance?
... Yet a more perfect penance is requisite for the forgiveness of mortal sin, namely
that man should detest actually the mortal sin which he committed, so far as ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether venial sin can be 3.htm

Whether Contrition is an Act of virtue?
... implies, in itself, a generic evil, so the utter undoing and crushing of that same
will implies something generically good, for this is to detest one's own ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether contrition is an act.htm

Whether the Justification of the Ungodly Takes Place in an Instant ...
... Hence grace is first infused, and then the free-will is moved towards God
and to detest sin. Hence justification is not all at once. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the justification of the 2.htm

Detest (15 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To hate intensely; to abhor; to loathe; to abominate;
as, we detest what is contemptible or evil. ...Detest (15 Occurrences). ...
/d/detest.htm - 10k

Abhor (23 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To shrink back with shuddering from; to regard with horror or detestation;
to feel excessive repugnance toward; to detest to extremity; to loathe. ...
/a/abhor.htm - 14k

Abhorrent (9 Occurrences)
... Abhorrent (9 Occurrences). Leviticus 11:11 and you detest them. You shall not eat
of their flesh, and you shall detest their carcasses. (See NAS). ...
/a/abhorrent.htm - 9k

Carcasses (30 Occurrences)
... (WEB JPS ASV NAS RSV NIV). Leviticus 11:11 and you detest them. You shall not
eat of their flesh, and you shall detest their carcasses. ...
/c/carcasses.htm - 15k

Abomination (78 Occurrences)
... Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thy house and thus become a thing set
apart (cherem = tabooed) like unto it; thou shalt utterly detest it and ...
/a/abomination.htm - 55k

Detestable (121 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 7:26 And thou shalt not bring an abomination into thy house, and be
accursed like unto it; thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly ...
/d/detestable.htm - 39k

Vulture (16 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 11:13 "'These you shall detest among the birds; they shall not be eaten,
they are an abomination: the eagle, and the vulture, and the black vulture ...
/v/vulture.htm - 14k

Loathe (19 Occurrences)
... Amos 6:8 "The Lord Yahweh has sworn by himself," says Yahweh, the God of Armies:
"I abhor the pride of Jacob, and detest his fortresses. ...
/l/loathe.htm - 12k

Fools (53 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Proverbs 13:19 Longing fulfilled
is sweet to the soul, but fools detest turning from evil. ...
/f/fools.htm - 20k

Execrate (4 Occurrences)
... (vt) To denounce evil against, or to imprecate evil upon; to curse; to protest against
as unholy or detestable; hence, to detest utterly; to abhor; to abominate ...
/e/execrate.htm - 7k

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