The term "detests" in the Bible is often used to describe God's strong disapproval or abhorrence of certain actions, behaviors, or attitudes that are contrary to His holy nature and righteous standards. This concept is frequently encountered in the Old Testament, where God's covenant relationship with Israel includes clear stipulations about what is considered detestable.

Biblical Usage:

1. Idolatry and False Worship:
One of the most prominent uses of "detests" in the Bible is in reference to idolatry. God explicitly commands the Israelites to avoid the worship of other gods and the practices associated with them. In Deuteronomy 7:25-26 , God instructs, "You must burn up the images of their gods. Do not covet the silver or gold that is on them, and do not take it for yourselves, or you will be ensnared by it, for it is detestable to the LORD your God. And you must not bring any detestable thing into your house, or you will be set apart for destruction like it. You must utterly detest and abhor it, for it is set apart for destruction."

2. Moral and Ethical Conduct:
The Bible also uses the term "detests" in the context of moral and ethical behavior. Proverbs 6:16-19 lists things that are detestable to God: "There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that run swiftly to evil, a false witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up discord among brothers."

3. Dishonest Practices:
Dishonesty and deceit are also described as detestable to God. Proverbs 11:1 states, "Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, but an accurate weight is His delight." This highlights God's desire for integrity and fairness in all dealings.

4. Sexual Immorality:
Certain sexual practices are labeled as detestable in the Scriptures. Leviticus 18:22 declares, "You must not lie with a man as with a woman; that is an abomination." This reflects the biblical standard for sexual relations as being within the bounds of heterosexual marriage.

5. Religious Practices:
The Bible also addresses religious practices that are detestable to God, particularly those that involve syncretism or the blending of pagan rituals with the worship of Yahweh. Deuteronomy 12:31 warns, "You must not worship the LORD your God in their way, because in worshiping their gods, they do all kinds of detestable things the LORD hates. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire as sacrifices to their gods."

Theological Implications:

The concept of what God detests is deeply rooted in His holiness and justice. God's detestation of sin and unrighteousness underscores His desire for His people to live in a manner that reflects His character. The things that God detests are often those that harm individuals, communities, and the covenant relationship between God and His people. Understanding what God detests helps believers align their lives with His will, striving for holiness and righteousness in all aspects of life.

What God Likes and Dislikes
... The Lord detests a false balance, But a just balance is his delight. ... The Lord detests
the evil-minded, But is well pleased with him who lives uprightly. ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/what god likes and dislikes.htm

Whether the Justification of the Ungodly Takes Place in an Instant ...
... Now the free-will's movement towards sin is ordained to the free-will's movement
towards God, since a man detests sin, as contrary to God, to Whom he wishes to ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the justification of the 2.htm

Of Blasphemy. One of St. Paul's Sayings.
... Oh blasphemy, bordering on martyrdom, which now attests me to be a Christian,
[264] while for that very account it detests me! The ...
/.../tertullian/on idolatry/chapter xiv of blasphemy one of.htm

Meditations for the Sick.
... and he is a bastard that is not corrected." (Hebrews 12:6, 7, 8.) Yea, it is a sure
note, that where God seeth sin and smites not, there he detests and loves ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/bayly/the practice of piety/meditations for the sick.htm

Two visitors by Night
... culture. My polished periods would be wasted on him. Besides, he is a Christian,
and detests us who do not believe in the Nazarene.'. It ...
/.../chapter iv two visitors by.htm

To the Same Again.
... Isaiah, moreover, the teacher and author that spoke from heaven, for he detests
those who follow the wickedness of the world, says: The daughters of Zion that ...
/.../commodianus/the instructions of commodianus/lx to the same again.htm

"That the Righteousness of the Law Might be Fulfilled in Us,"
... The apostle abominates this,""God forbid," he detests it, as impious and sacrilegious;
"yea, we establish it." So then, all returns to this, one of the great ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xv that the righteousness.htm

That Love is Exercised in Penitence, and First, that There are ...
... To speak generally, penitence is a repentance whereby a man rejects and detests
the sin he has committed, with the resolution to repair as much as in him lies ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter xviii that love is.htm

Faustus Does not Think it Would be a Great Honor to Sit Down with ...
... Faustus does not think it would be a great honor to sit down with Abraham, Isaac
and Jacob, whose moral characters as set forth in the Old Testament he detests ...
/.../faustus does not think it.htm

How Our Saviour's Loving Attractions Assist and Accompany us to ...
... which the divine clemency offers him; he draws from it a just motive of hope; he
goes out of the court, considers the horror of his sin, and detests it; he ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter xxi how our saviours.htm

Detests (7 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Detests (7 Occurrences). ... Proverbs 15:26 Yahweh detests
the thoughts of the wicked, but the thoughts of the pure are pleasing. ...
/d/detests.htm - 8k

Dishonest (33 Occurrences)
... gifts liveth. (YLT). Proverbs 20:23 Yahweh detests differing weights, and
dishonest scales are not pleasing. (WEB NIV). Proverbs 28 ...
/d/dishonest.htm - 16k

Dethroned (2 Occurrences)

/d/dethroned.htm - 7k

Differing (5 Occurrences)
... abomination to Yahweh. (WEB NAS NIV). Proverbs 20:23 Yahweh detests differing
weights, and dishonest scales are not pleasing. (WEB NAS NIV). ...
/d/differing.htm - 7k

Detested (3 Occurrences)

/d/detested.htm - 7k

Detest (15 Occurrences)
... (Root in WEB NIV). Proverbs 29:27 A dishonest man detests the righteous, and
the upright in their ways detest the wicked. (Root in WEB NIV). ...
/d/detest.htm - 10k

Scales (33 Occurrences)
... (WEB JPS ASV BBE DBY NAS RSV NIV). Proverbs 20:23 Yahweh detests differing weights,
and dishonest scales are not pleasing. (WEB BBE RSV NIV). ...
/s/scales.htm - 18k

Scale (38 Occurrences)
... (See JPS NIV). Proverbs 20:23 Yahweh detests differing weights, and dishonest
scales are not pleasing. (Root in WEB BBE NAS RSV NIV). ...
/s/scale.htm - 22k

Weights (14 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV). Proverbs 20:23 Yahweh detests
differing weights, and dishonest scales are not pleasing. ...
/w/weights.htm - 21k

How can I experience true intimacy with God? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean to pursue righteousness? | GotQuestions.org

Should Christian women wear pants (trousers)? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus