"to abominate, loathe, detest, abhor, Rom. 2:22; pass. to be abominable, detestable, Rev. 21:8*"
Definition and meaning
to abominate, loathe, detest, abhor, Rom. 2:22; pass. to be abominable, detestable, Rev. 21:8*
In the original Greek the word is written: βδελύσσομαι
Historical context
Paul wrote Romans from Corinth, one of the most important commercial cities in the empire. Rome had a Jewish population of around 50,000. The letter addresses real tensions between Jewish believers with centuries of Torah tradition and Gentile believers with no such background. Emperor Nero was on the throne. Within ten years he would execute both Paul and Peter.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of bdelyssomai (G948) across the King James Bible.
Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
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Common questions
Strong's G948 (bdelyssomai) is a Greek word that means: to abominate, loathe, detest, abhor, Rom. 2:22; pass. to be abominable, detestable, Rev. 21:8* It appears 2 times in the King James Bible.
The word bdelyssomai (G948) appears 2 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G948 is bdelyssomai, a Greek word defined as: to abominate, loathe, detest, abhor, Rom. 2:22; pass. to be abominable, detestable, Rev. 21:8*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
bdelyssomai is a Greek word found in the New Testament.