Abominable

The word ‘abomination’ doesn’t come up much in casual conversation. In the Old Testament, however, you will find the word over 100 times. The Hebrew word was also translated loathsome or detestable on a few occasions. Even if you do not know the precise meaning of the word, you probably get the sense that it is a bad thing. You might say that it is worse than the things you usually think of as bad.

The word appears first in reference to the brothers of Joseph who were loathsome to the Egyptians. Later, we read that “every shepherd is loathsome to the Egyptians.” (Genesis 46:34) So, it is most likely that this extreme prejudice was rooted in their occupation, not their race.

The next mention of something abominable is found in the book of Leviticus in reference to homosexuality. The pagan nations of Canaan were guilty of this and other abominations. When reading Leviticus 18, you get the idea that God was not simply giving Israel a gift when He promised them the land of Canaan. Rather, He was cleansing the land of people who were so far removed from His holiness that they had become an abomination. So, God cleansed the land by purging it of the evil nations and bringing in His holy nation to possess it.

‘Abomination’ is sometimes used in the context of things that God hates, but it is worse than ‘hate.’ Someone in our day might say something like, “If there’s one thing I hate, it is….” Or, “The thing I hate more than anything else is….” The way God expressed His extreme hatred for something that He hates the most was by using the word abomination.

When you start looking into the things that were an abomination to God you might notice that you begin to feel dirty. You might even begin to turn your mouth downward like you would when you feel nauseous. You read about things like the worship of false gods, bowing to idols, child sacrifice, and homosexuality. It should not be surprising that it is detestable to God when someone causes strife among friends.

When writing this article I realized that at this point I was literally feeling a little queasy. Let’s be straightforward. Things that are an abomination to God make Him feel like vomiting.

I also noticed that unlike some of the laws found in the Law of Moses, things that are an abomination to God are always an abomination. For example, there were food restriction in the Law of Moses that no longer applied in the new covenant. Jesus declared all food to be clean. The same is not true about abominations. You could say that anything abominable to God in the Old Testament is abominable in the New Testament. That said, did you know…

A false balance is an abomination to the Lord,

But a just weight is His delight.

—Proverbs 11:1

The balance scale has been used for millennia to ensure fair trade. Yet people have found ways to cheat by using a false balance. Solomon was teaching that God delights in fairness, justice and equity. If you wish to please God you will be fair, ethical and law abiding.

In our day many people live by a code of ethics that allows them to be unfair as long as they don’t break a law. They say, “It might be unethical, but it is not illegal!” That is an abomination. It makes God want to vomit!

Do you need to rethink your ethics? 

Be a delight to God.

Be wise.

Mark Stinnett

January 11, 2026

The Seventh

   There are six things which the LORD hates, 
   Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him....
   --Proverbs 6:16

This verse introduces a list of seven things that the Lord hates. We should perk up and give attention to this list. If God ‘hates’ a specific action, we should avoid it at all cost. If God ‘hates’ a specific kind of person, we should do everything within our power to keep from becoming that kind of person.

Abomination...
'Abomination' is stronger than 'hate.'
Question: Is the use of the word hate followed by abomination simply a poetic device or is there something more?

If the ‘number’ had not changed, that would be an easy explanation. But the number did change, from six to seven: Six things hated, seven an abomination.

   There are six things which the LORD hates, 
   Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him:
      Haughty eyes,
      A lying tongue,
      And hands that shed innocent blood,
      A heart that devises wicked plans,
      Feet that run rapidly to evil,
      A false witness who utters lies,
      And one who spreads strife among brothers.
                                                               --Proverbs 6:16-19


Recent Hebrew scholarship suggests that the change in number, from six to seven, along with the more intense wording (abomination) in the second half of verse sixteen is a way of emphasizing the last item in the list. Accepting this idea, the overall sense of the verse would be:

   There are six things which the Lord hates, 
   but a seventh is an abomination to Him.

So, the seventh item in the list stands out as something that is hated by God above all the other things that He hates. We might say that it is at the top of His list of 'Things Hated.'

Read the entire list.
Think about the things that God hates.
Look carefully at the seventh!

Of all the things that God hates; among pride, lying, murder, and an evil heart; more than anything else, a person “who spreads strife among brothers” is an abomination to God.

Do your actions and your speech promote peace and unity among your fellow Christians, or are you promoting something else?

standing small

I have known men who stood in pride. I have felt the disgust wash over me when prideful men have arrogantly shown contempt for others. I have felt anger when they have strutted in untouchable pride. I have heard their proud voices bark orders to those over whom they had authority. I have even been humiliated by a few.

   Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD;
   Assuredly, he will not be unpunished.
                                                                                    -Proverbs 16:5

The man of pride will receive his due. Yet, as I read and wonder at the truth of this proverb, I do not smile. Even when I consider that the proud man ‘deserves’ God’s wrath, I find little satisfaction in his end.

You see, we have all stood before God in pride, the pride of sin. At one time or another we have all pridefully opposed God by going our own way. We are all guilty before the pure and holy Creator. We all ‘deserve’ His wrath.

Can you envision the man of pride standing before the Supreme Judge? His chest does not swell any longer; his words a whisper, trembling knees, eyes looking downward. Can you see how small he stands?

It is truly reassuring that our God is just. Sin will not go unpunished. Pride will not go unpunished. But how terrifying it is . . . . Are any of us truly great? Truly powerful?

Holy is our God, the Judge.

Keep yourself from pride.

The proud will be brought low.

Counterbalance

A false balance is an abomination?...Really?

That seems a little extreme, but that is what we read in Proverbs 11:1. Perhaps it is worth a second look.

Abomination:

An abomination is something that God hates, but stronger than hate. In the Old Testament idolatry is often described as an abomination to God. That places the ‘false balance’ in the same category with idolatry. Does God really hate a ‘false balance’ as much as he hates idolatry? It is really that serious?

Balance scales: You’ve seen a balance scale; you know how it works. An object of unknown weight is placed in a pan on one side of the balance scale. In the pan on the opposite side known weights are added until the two pans balance. The unknown weight is then known: It is the sum total of the known weights . . . unless someone has tampered with the weights or the balance scale.

A False Balance: A false balance is just another way of telling a lie. A false balance changes the appearance of things making two unequal things appear to be equal. God hates lies. Lies oppose the very nature of God.

It's all a lie: You might say that all sins are lies:

The idolater calls to his ‘god’. But deity is not made of created things: wood or stone; gold or silver; possessions, fame, entertainment or pleasure. The 'idol' is a lie.

A thief possesses things that he does not own, yet he thinks of them as his own and lets others think they are his own. A lie.

A man has a sexual relationship with a woman with whom he is not married. Yet, that behavior makes it appear as though they were married. A lie.

In prideful arrogance a man elevates himself to a position of importance that is not truly his. He lies to himself.

A murderer assumes authority over life and death, a position held by the Creator. The murderer lies.

A teen disobeys or dishonors mother or father. In doing so the teen brings his mother and father to his own level as if they were equals or as if he has greater authority. That’s a lie.

The Christian wears his ‘Sunday face,’ piously meeting with other Christians to worship. He does many religious acts of worship, but does not offer his heart in devotion to God. Liar!

------------------------

There are many ways to lie, many without ever moving one’s lips. God hates them all. 
Lies are an abomination!

A false balance is an abomination to the LORD,
But a just weight is His delight.

                                                            --Proverbs 11:1

May our thoughts, and our words, and our behaviors always balance with the truth.