Hated by Y’hovah: A TORAH-True Examination of Abomination

Why This Teaching Matters for Talmidim

Many believers want “blessing” without examining the behaviors that Y’hovah explicitly calls hated or an abomination. Yet TORAH—meaning all of Scripture (Tanakh and Brit HaDashah)—does not leave us guessing. Y’hovah names what defiles a person, a home, a community, and even worship itself.

This teaching is not for condemnation—it is for clarity, conviction, and restoration.

Because a true talmid (disciple) doesn’t say, “How close can I get to sin?” but, “How close can I walk with Y’hovah?”

Word Study Foundation: “Abomination” and “Hate”

“Abomination”

Hebrew: to‘evah (תּוֹעֵבָה) — something detestable, morally foul, ritually polluting, covenant-offensive. Often tied to idolatry, sexual perversion, dishonest dealings, and corrupt worship.

“Hate”

Hebrew: śānē’ (שָׂנֵא) — not mere preference, but active opposition. When Scripture says Y’hovah “hates,” it signals what He stands against because it destroys truth, justice, covenant, and life.

Pride and Self-Exaltation

Pride is not “confidence.” Pride is self-enthronement—making me the authority instead of Y’hovah.

“Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; My hand upon it! he shall not be unpunished.”
Mishlei [Proverbs] 16:5 (JPS 1917)

Meaning: Pride is an abomination because it is rebellion disguised as personality—it refuses correction, refuses repentance, and resists truth.

Scriptural example: Pharaoh repeatedly hardened himself against the words and signs of Y’hovah (see Shemoth [Exodus] narrative). Pride keeps a person “right” even while they are destroyed.

Restoration: humility, teachability, and fear of Y’hovah.

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all they that do His commandments; His praise endureth for ever.”
Tehillim [Psalms] 111:10 (JPS 1917)

Speech Sins

Speech is not “just words.” TORAH treats speech as power—to heal, to destroy, to defile, to bless.

Lying and False Witness

“Lying lips are abomination to the LORD; but they that deal truly are His delight.”
Mishlei [Proverbs] 12:22 (JPS 1917)

Meaning: Lies attack reality. They corrupt justice, destroy trust, and mimic the serpent’s weapon: distortion.

Example: False witnesses were a tool of murder and theft in Israel (see Naboth’s vineyard).

“And two base fellows came in and sat before him; and the base fellows bore witness against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying: ‘Naboth did blaspheme God and the king.’ Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him with stones, that he died.”
Melakhim Aleph [1 Kings] 21:13 (JPS 1917)

Discipleship correction: A talmid speaks truth even when truth costs him comfort.

Lashon Hara, Corrupt Talk, Double Tongue

“Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.”
Tehillim [Psalms] 34:14–15 (JPS 1917)

And the Brit HaDashah intensifies the warning:

“And the tongue is a fire, the world of unrighteousness. Thus the tongue is set among our members, defiling all the body, and setting on fire the course of nature, and is set on fire by Gehenna.”
Ya’akov [James] 3:6 (TS2009)

Meaning: Speech can become a spiritual defilement engine—spreading accusation, slander, division, and hypocrisy.

Restoration practice: discipline the mouth; repent quickly; repair what you damaged. Walk in the Ruach/Spirit.

Injustice and Oppression

Y’hovah hates injustice because it crushes image-bearers and mocks His throne.

Unjust Verdicts and Corrupt Justice

“He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous, even they both are an abomination to the LORD.”
Mishlei [Proverbs] 17:15 (JPS 1917)

Meaning: When courts, leaders, or communities call evil “good” and good “evil,” they invert righteousness.

Dishonest Business and Exploitation

“A false balance is an abomination to the LORD; but a perfect weight is His delight.”
Mishlei [Proverbs] 11:1 (JPS 1917)

“Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.”
Mishlei [Proverbs] 20:10 (JPS 1917)

Meaning: Cheating is not “small.” Torah frames it as a covenant violation because it feeds on the vulnerable and rewards deception.

Example: Israel’s prophets rebuked merchants and leaders who “sold the righteous for silver and the needy for a pair of shoes.”

“Thus saith the LORD: For three transgressions of Israel, yea, for four, I will not reverse it; because they have sold the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes.”
Amos [Amos] 2:6 (JPS 1917)

Worship Without Justice

Y’hovah rejects “religious performance” that ignores righteousness.

“Bring no more vain oblations; it is an offering of abomination unto Me; new moon and sabbath, the holding of convocations—I cannot endure iniquity along with the solemn assembly.”
Yeshayahu [Isaiah] 1:13 (JPS 1917)

Meaning: Hypocritical worship becomes an abomination when hands are full of injustice.

Restoration: Let the Ruach work in you; stop wrongdoing; learn to do good; pursue justice.

“Wash you, make you clean, put away the evil of your doings from before Mine eyes, cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek justice, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.”
Yeshayahu [Isaiah] 1:16–17 (JPS 1917)

Sexual Defilement and Covenant Boundary-Violations

This category is heavy—because Scripture treats sexual sin as both personal defilement and community pollution.

Forbidden Sexual Practices as “Abomination”

“Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind; it is abomination.”
Vayiqra [Leviticus] 18:22 (JPS 1917)

And the chapter explains why these sins are not “private”:

“Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things; for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out from before you; And the land is defiled; therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land vomiteth out her inhabitants.”
Vayiqra [Leviticus] 18:24–25 (JPS 1917)

Meaning: Torah presents sexual perversion as contaminating—because it twists creation order, covenant, family, and human dignity.

Discipleship frame: Set-apartness is not a vibe; it’s obedience.

“For this is the desire of Elohim, your set-apartness: that you should abstain from whoring.”
Tasloniqim Aleph [1 Thessalonians] 4:3 (TS2009)

Gender Confusion and Boundary Violations

“A woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment; for whosoever doeth these things is an abomination unto the LORD thy God.”
Devarim [Deuteronomy] 22:5 (JPS 1917)

Meaning: This is not about fashion trends; it is about rejecting the Creator’s distinctions and acting out identity rebellion.

Restoration: align identity and conduct with the Creator’s design; walk in truth, not performance.

Idolatry, Syncretism, and Corrupt Worship

Idolatry is not only bowing to a statue—it’s mixing Y’hovah with forbidden worship.

Idols and Their Objects Become Abomination

“The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire; thou shalt not covet the silver or the gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein; for it is an abomination to the LORD thy God.”
Devarim [Deuteronomy] 7:25 (JPS 1917)

“And thou shalt not bring an abomination into thy house, and become a devoted thing like unto it; thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a devoted thing.”
Devarim [Deuteronomy] 7:26 (JPS 1917)

Meaning: Y’hovah treats idol-material as spiritually toxic—because it pulls hearts into spiritual adultery.

Doing “Pagan Worship” in Y’hovah’s Name

“Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God; for every abomination to the LORD, which He hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters do they burn in the fire to their gods.”
Devarim [Deuteronomy] 12:31 (JPS 1917)

Meaning: Y’hovah does not accept “sincere” worship if it is borrowed from abomination. One can be sincere about their religious worship, but sincerely wrong according to the Word or TORAH.

Discipleship restoration: worship in Spirit and truth—according to Y’hovah’s instructions, not human creativity.

“But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father also does seek such to worship Him. “Elohim is Spirit, and those who worship Him need to worship in spirit and truth.”
Yochanan [John] 4:23 (TS2009)

Hypocrisy and “Religious” Evil

Hypocrisy is when outward religion tries to hide inward rebellion.

Prayer and Torah While Refusing Obedience

“He that turneth away his ear from hearing the Torah, even his prayer is an abomination.”
Mishlei [Proverbs] 28:9 (JPS 1917)

Meaning: Y’hovah refuses the “I love You” of someone who despises His instruction.

Sacrifice While Living in Wickedness

“The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD; but the prayer of the upright is His delight.”
Mishlei [Proverbs] 15:8 (JPS 1917)

“The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; how much more, when he bringeth it with the proceeds of wickedness?”
Mishlei [Proverbs] 21:27 (JPS 1917)

Meaning: Offerings don’t bribe Y’hovah. Religious action cannot cover an unrepentant life.

Human Approval as “Abomination”

“And He said to them, ‘You are those who declare yourselves righteous before men, but Elohim knows your hearts. For what is highly respected among men is an abomination in the sight of Elohim.’”
Luqas [Luke] 16:15 (TS2009)

Meaning: Entire cultures can honor what Y’hovah detests. A talmid must choose Torah-truth over social applause.

Food as Discipleship

Pig, “Abomination,” and Set-Apart Boundaries

Pig is not “evil,” but eating what Y’hovah declares unclean or (not food) is covenant defilement. Torah treats these boundaries as part of holiness in our discipleship—daily obedience that marks a talmid (disciple) as set-apart.

“Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing. These are the beasts which ye may eat: the ox, the sheep, and the goat, The hart, and the gazelle, and the roebuck, and the wild goat, and the pygarg, and the antelope, and the chamois. And every beast that parteth the hoof, and hath the hoof cloven in two, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that may ye eat. Nevertheless these ye shall not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that have the hoof cloven: the camel, and the hare, and the rock-badger; because they chew the cud but part not the hoof, they are unclean unto you. And the swine, because he parteth the hoof but cheweth not the cud, he is unclean unto you. Of their flesh ye shall not eat, and their carcasses ye shall not touch; they are unclean unto you.”
Devarim [Deuteronomy] 14:3–8 (JPS 1917)

Meaning: Y’hovah is teaching His people discernment—what is clean and what is not—so His covenant people remain distinct.

Leviticus shows the purpose: holiness and the avoidance of defilement.

“For I am the LORD your God; sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy; for I am holy; neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of swarming thing that moveth upon the earth. For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God; ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.”
Vayiqra [Leviticus] 11:44–45 (JPS 1917)

The prophets also connect swine-flesh with rebellious worship and syncretism.

“They that sanctify themselves and purify themselves to go unto the gardens, behind one in the midst, eating swine’s flesh, and the detestable thing, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD.”
Yeshayahu [Isaiah] 66:17 (JPS 1917)

Brit HaDashah discipleship clarity: Kepha’s vision in Ma‘asim (Acts) is explicitly applied to people, not treating humans as “unclean” in the sense of exclusion when Elohim brings them near.

“And he said to them, ‘You know how unlawful it is for a יהודי man to keep company with or go to one of another race. But Elohim has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.’”
Ma‘asim [Acts] 10:28 (TS2009)

Practical restoration note: when someone is coming out of ignorance, we teach patiently—and we call them into joyful obedience as they grow into talmidut.

Y’hovah’s “Seven” That He Hates

Scripture itself organizes a core list.

“There are six things which the LORD hateth, yea seven which are an abomination unto Him: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood; A heart that deviseth wicked thoughts, feet that are swift in running to evil; A false witness that breatheth lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”
Mishlei [Proverbs] 6:16–19 (JPS 1917)

• Haughty eyes: superiority, contempt, refusing correction.
• Lying tongue / false witness: deception, manipulation, character assassination.
• Hands that shed innocent blood: violence, oppression, cruelty, hatred that becomes action.
• Heart devising wicked plans: premeditated sin, plotting evil, secret agendas.
• Feet running to evil: eagerness for sin, addiction to temptation.
• Sowing discord among brothers: gossip, faction-building, spiritual sabotage.

This list is a “mirror test” for talmidim: Where do I need teshuvah (repentance)? Where must I mature?

The Restoration Path: From Abomination to Set-Apart Living

Y’hovah exposes what He hates so we can turn and be healed. Restoration is not a theory; it is a discipleship walk.

Teshuvah (Repentance): Turn Fully, Not Partly

“Let the wicked forsake his way, and the man of iniquity his thoughts; and let him return unto the LORD, and He will have compassion upon him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.”
Yeshayahu [Isaiah] 55:7 (JPS 1917)

Confession and Cleansing

“If we confess our sins, He is trustworthy and righteous to forgive us the sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Yochanan Aleph [1 John] 1:9 (TS2009)

Fruit That Proves Teshuvah

“Bear therefore fruit worthy of repentance.”
Mattithyahu [Matthew] 3:8 (JPS 1917)

Repair What You Broke

True discipleship doesn’t just say, “I’m sorry.” It also says, “How do I make this right?” (Restitution, reconciliation, truth-telling, accountability.)

“So if you are offering your gift at the Temple altar and you remember there that your brother has something against you, leave your gift where it is by the altar, and go, make peace with your brother. Then come back and offer your gift.”
Mattithyahu [Matthew] 5:23–24 (CJB)

Walk in the Ruach and the Word

Abominations lose power and can be overcome when a talmid lives daily in TORAH and Ruach-led obedience.

“If you love Me, you shall guard My commands.”
Yochanan [John] 14:15 (TS2009)

For as many as are led by the Spirit of Elohim, these are sons of Elohim.
Romiyim (Romans) 8:14 (TS2009)

Exhortation

If we only study what Y’hovah loves, we will build a partial faith. But when we also study what He hates and calls abomination, we learn the fear of Y’hovah, the seriousness of covenant relationship with Him, and the beauty of restoration.

The goal is not shame. The goal is transformation—so our lives stop grieving Him and start reflecting Him by the power of His Ruach and the example of our Rabbi Gadol Y'hoshua Ben Y'hovah.

By Rabbi Francisco Arbas
📧 franciscoarbas.yisrael@gmail.com
Following His ‘WAY’ — Netzari Mashiach Judaism