What Does The Word Abomination Mean?
The word abomination has its origins in the Bible. The term in English signifies that which is especially detestable, evil, or despicable. It is widely used today to describe the mythical snowman (Abominable Snowman) who has been allegedly haunting the Himalayas for centuries. It is a different matter that there is no scientific evidence to support this claim. Abomination is the Anglican translation of the Biblical term to’ba or ta’ab. In the book of Exodus (8:26), Moses refuses the Pharaoh’s permission that was granted to the Jews to offer their sacrifices in Egypt. Moses justification was that the people of Israel would have to sacrifice ‘the abomination of the Egyptians.’ Abomination could also directly refer to a person who is wicked and vile. Abomination refers to an extreme sense of hate that leads to abhorrence. A preacher captured the correct meaning of abomination along with its Biblical undertones when he said that an abomination is something that induces a God to vomit.
