Hebrew Word Study | 8441: detestable (toebah)

Toebah is used 117 times in the Old Testament.  In the CSB (2017), 65 times it is translated as "detestable," "detestably," or "detests."  In Eze 5:11 it is translated "abhorrent."  The word is found in the book of Ezekiel more than any other book -- more than 40 times.  

Vine's Dictionary says this word means "abomination; loathsome, detestable thing."  The word is used in three ways:

1. "Toebah defines something or someone as essentially unique in the sense of being 'dangerous,' 'sinister,' and 'repulsive' to another individual... When used with reference to God, this nuance of the word describes people, things, acts, relationships, and characteristics that are 'detestable' to Him because they are contrary to His nature."  Gen 43:32; Gen 46:34; Ps 88:8; Pr 29:27; Dt 14:3; Dt 22:5
2. "Toebah is used in some contexts to describe pagan practices and objects."  Dt 7:25-26; Ez 5:7-9; Dt 12:31; Dt 18:12; Dt 17:2-5
3. "Toebah is used in the sphere of jurisprudence and of family tribal relationships.  Certain acts or characteristics are destructive of societal and familial harmony; both such things and the people who do them are described by toebah."  Pr 6:16-19; Pr 24:9

Strong's Dictionary says toebah means "something disgusting (morally), i.e. (as noun) an abhorrence; especially idolatry or (concretely) an idol."  

The HCSB Study Bible (p. 1371) spells the word to'evah, and says it is pronounced [toh ay VAH].  It says the word means abomination (Ezk 16:22) and abhorrent (Dt 7:26) or detestable (Dt 12:31) thing.  It says, "Context may indicate detestable practices (Ezr 1:9) or acts (Jr 7:10) and abhorrent idols 9Jr 16:18).  To'evah describes what is culturally (Gn 43:32), ethically, or religiously abhorrent (Gn 43:34), detestable (Ex 8:26), and repulsive (Ps 88:8).  The wicked and righteous are detestable to one another (Ps 29:27).  God detests idolatry (Dt 27:15), related practices (Dt 18:10-12), prostitution (Dt 23:18), transvestitism (Dt 22:5), homosexuality (Lv 18:22), child sacrifice (Dt 12:31), false prophecy (Jr 6:15), empty religious ritual (Is 1:13), and other sins (Pr 6:16-19)."

The NKJV Word Study Bible says the word conveys "disgust or revulsion... It was particularly used to describe the reaction of God and the righteous to sin (2 Chr 34:33; Pr 6:16)."  

In describing the act of homosexuality in Lev 18:22, various Bible versions translate toebah as detestable, abomination, an enormous sin, disgusting, hateful, and abhorrent.

Dictionary Definitions of "Detestable":

1. Merriam-Webster: arousing or meriting intense dislike
2. Oxford Learner's Dictionary: that deserves to be hated
3. American Heritage Dictionary: Inspiring or deserving abhorrence or scorn.
4. Collins: If you say someone or something is detestable, you mean you dislike them very much.

Webster's 1828 Dictionary defines "abomination" as

1. Extreme hatred; detestation.
2. The object of detestation, a common signification in scripture.
3. Hence, defilement, pollution, in a physical sense, or evil doctrines and practices, which are moral defilements, idols and idolatry, are called abominations. The Jews were an abomination to the Egyptians; and the sacred animals of the Egyptians were an abomination to the Jews. The Roman army is called the abomination of desolation. Matthew 24:15. In short, whatever is an object of extreme hatred, is called an abomination.