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A Search for LGBTQ+ in Scripture: A Biblical Abomination (part 4)



Perhaps we could just skip the Old Testament since Jesus fulfilled the law, but when it comes to LGBTQ+ much has been drawn from the Old Testament to justify persecution and hatred all in the name of God. By understanding relevant elements in the Old Testament we can better understand the foundations of the New Testament.

Abomination is a term that is frequently used in conjunction with anti-LGBTQ+ biases, particularly by those who use the Bible to support their stance on the topic. The way that abomination is used today is not the same as it used in the Old Testament. Today’s anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric frequently labels anything homosexual as an abomination. But what actually makes something an abomination to God in the Old Testament and what specifically is being talked about?

In the original Hebrew, abomination is translated from the word "to'ebah" or "tow'ebah" (תֹּועֵבָה) which is a term commonly associated with cult worship can mean "that which is ceremonially impure," "ritual uncleanness," or "wickedness". In most cases, to'ebah is used when describing cult or idol worship. In ancient Israel, punishment for committing an abomination, or to'ebah, varied. In some cases, the individual was deemed unclean and unable to join the community in acts of worship until ritually purified, while in other cases the punishment was death.

In order to understand how abomination is used, a good place to start is Ezekiel as that is where approximately a third of the occurrences of the word in the Old Testament are found. Throughout these scriptures, there are a number of things that are considered to be an abomination but in most cases, it is in relation to cult or idol worship. When it came to things of a sexual nature the language that is used in conjunction with the abomination of idolatry falls into two general categories; either metaphorical or actual.

On one hand, we see the authors using metaphorical language of a sexual nature to describe the severity of the sin of idolatry. An example of this is found in Ezekiel 6:9, “…I am broken with their whorish heart, which hath departed from me, and with their eyes, which go a whoring after their idols: and they shall lothe themselves for the evils which they have committed in all their abominations.” Later, in Ezekiel 16, Jerusalem is deemed to be a harlot. The entire chapter is full of sexual symbolism such as fornications, nakedness, whoredom, adultery, lovers, etc. Yet none of this is describing actual sexual activity between people; it is all symbolic of Jerusalem as a whole. According to the prophets, all of Israel was spiritually wedded to the Lord. To worship idols was considered to be a form of spiritual adultery.

It is worth noting that all of the sexually symbolic language used to describe the abomination of idolatry is heterosexual, not homosexual.

On the other hand, we also find language that does condemn sexual behavior, but the behavior is in conjunction with idol worship. As Israel would come into contact with other people they would also be exposed to the beliefs and practices of these neighboring cultures, which often included idol worship. As cultures intermingled, the Israelites would sometimes begin to adopt the idol worship of their neighbors, which may be the reason that the prophets spoke so strongly against it. The practice of idol worship would vary depending on the deity being worshiped and would include ritual acts such as animal sacrifice, child sacrifice, and sacred prostitution of all kinds (male and female; heterosexual, homosexual, and transsexual).

Do we find homosexual acts being called an abomination? Yes (Leviticus 18:22).

Do we find heterosexual acts being called an abomination? Yes (Deuteronomy 23:18).

So does that mean that all sexual acts themselves, both homosexual and heterosexual, are an abomination? No, of course not. Sex isn't always a bad thing in the Bible, the Song of Solomon celebrates a sexual union and gives honor to it. What is the actual thing that is an abomination? It was not the sexual act itself, it was the idolatry that was associated with it, that was the abomination.

Abomination is used around a hundred times throughout the Bible with a significant majority of instances in reference to worshipping idols or other gods. There were other things that the Old Testament prophets considered to be an abomination as well. Ezekiel 22 is an appropriate summary of what is an abomination according to the scriptures which includes idol worship, social injustice, violence, and oppression.

With this understanding of what is and is not an abomination in the eyes of the Lord, how would He view today’s oppression of people who are LGBTQ+?

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