Truth-Not-Trickery 3.0: Abomination Understanding That Big (Bad?) Word - Leviticus 18:22 (+ 20:13)

It has been over a decade since this blog began, and now it's time for Truth Not Trickery 3.0. Today, we explore Leviticus 18:22 to understand the meaning of "abomination" and its connection to idol worship.

Reading time: 20 Minutes

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 Leviticus 18:22 (+ 20:13)  Understanding Abomination

  

What does abomination mean anyway?

The English language word “Abomination” is derived from two latin words.

The word then we use is “Abomination” which is an English translation of the Ancient Hebrew word tô`ēbâ (or toebah or toevah - aka 8441),

We see this term seventy-six (76) times in the King James Bible.

Toebah is the active feminine Hebrew language participle of the word ta’ab.

The word toebah (8441) is defined by Strong's Exhaustive Hebrew Concordance (8441) as:  (a noun) an abhorrence; especially idolatry or (concretely) an idol -- abominable (custom, thing), abomination.

Forgiving Strong's use of the word abomination in the definition of the word abomination we cam clearly ascertain that the word refers to a negative thing, a hateful thing, specifically in conjunction with an idol.


Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon define it further as a feminine Hebrew noun used to describe: 1. In a ritual sense, Israel's sacrifices [to idols], unclean food, worship of idols, various objectionable acts, the offering of children [to idols], idolatrous practices, intermarriage with idolaters, etc. 

Christians are often told that Leviticus 18:22 proves that God hates gay sex and people who participate in same-sex sexual activity are loved by God but ultimately in they are sinners.

But how does this verse prove that point?  Do gay people worship idols? What is the deal with the idols? Why is male-male sex an abomination - a hateful idolatrous thing?
Where is the idol in the verse?
  

Could it be that gay sex is just so disgusting to “God” that “He” condemns them as the same as idol worshippers? 


To really understand the reason for the use of this word in condemnation of male-male sexual relations we must review the verse in   c o n t e x t.

 Leviticus 18:22 : Berean Standard Bible

You must not lie with a man as with a woman; that is an abomination.

Ok, it’s an abomination then. But why?

Leviticus 18:21 : Berean Standard Bible

You must not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molech, for you must not profane the name of your God. I am the LORD.

Ok, ok there’s why - we can understand that this has something to do with an idol. That makes sense since we learned from the definition of the word abomination that it has something to do with an idol.  This idol’s name is Molech.

But who or what is Molech and what does that have to do with gay people?

And what does Molech have to do with homosexuality?

First, Molech has nothing to do with homosexuality.  Homosexuality is a natural and diverse human sexual orientation. Scientific evidence shows parallels between same-sex behaviors observed in humans and various animal species, highlighting its biological basis.

Image for a moment that you were a heterosexual man, raised in a culture that believed sacrificing your first child and then performing a sexual ritual where you penetrated another man would bring you strength, more healthy children, wealth, good fortune etc. Would you be a gay man? Does performing that ritual once or twice so that you can get good luck change your sexuality?  Does sexuality change due to outside factors?

It is important to understand that the “book” you find in your Bible called “Leviticus” is not a “book” but a many times over translated and re-translated copy of a an ancient manuscript.

People in ancient Israel where no different than you and I. They liked to be liked, they liked to do what was “cool”,
                      they wanted to be successful.

When they left slavery and started their own nation as we read about in the book of Exodus, we learned that the Israelites end up in the land of Canaan. Which was already occupied by an ESTABLISHED GROUP of people.

The Israelites were no different than you and I, they want nice things, comfort, acceptance, they were on their own out there with God and needed direction. Moses was their leader but clearly He had to lay down the law.

The established group of people in Canaan were called Canaanites, and they believed that Moloch was a god of fire and fertility.  According to accounts found in the Hebrew Bible, Moloch was believed to require the sacrifice of children, usually through burning, as an offering. The motivation behind such sacrifices is not fully documented and scholars suggest may have been driven by beliefs in the exchange of life for blessings or the appeasement of deities.

We know from history that this was sometimes accompanied by male-male sex for deity worship. For example, in ancient Rome, male-male sex rituals held significance in religious ceremonies, serving as a means to gain power and forge connections with idols. This aspect of Roman society is supported by historical sources so we know it’s true. 

In Leviticus 18:21, Moses commands the Israelites not to sacrifice their children to Moloch, an idol. Then in 18:22 He says not to lie with a male as with a woman and condemns this with the word used to express hate for idol worship, or an action with the connection to an idol or deity other than the Hebrew God - Yahweh.

Scholars interpret the verse as a prohibition against male temple prostitution, suggesting it pertains to idolatrous practices rather than homosexuality.

The Roman writer Tertullian wrote that the Carthaginians practiced male temple prostitution in order to gain wealth and power.

There are other possible interpretations of the biblical and historical evidence.

Ultimately, the question of whether or not there is a link between male temple prostitution and Moloch is a matter of theological debate filed with nuances and biases. There is some evidence to suggest that this link may be accurate, but there is also evidence to suggest that it may not be.

The choice is yours to accept or reject.

The question is, dear reader, do you think that this “Bible Verse” is a condemnation against loving, committed same-sex male couples as we understand them today…

 or


is it in context of the word toebah (8441) which we know is defined as a noun, meaning abhorrence; especially dealing with idolatry or (concretely) an idol  can we not ascertain that this was a condemnation of idol worship and child sacrifice to Moloch - meaning this was a condemnation to the group of people that Moses was leading. Saying to them in today's language "Don't kill your children for Molech, also don't do the male-male sex ritual like the Canaanites do it's horrible."

The choice is yours.



If you are not gay, or don't have a gay kid you might not care, but many children are rejected and shunned due to not understanding these bible verses. I hope you are not one of them. If you are, let this give you hope. You are Who You are, You are Beautiful. 
<3 Kindness Calloway