βδελυκτός (bdeluktos)
bdeluktos
abominable
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective bdeluktos describes something that is deeply loathsome or detestable. Derived from a verb meaning to feel disgust, it carries a strong emotional weight of revulsion rather than simple disapproval. In the New Testament, this word appears only once, in Titus 1:16.
Here, Paul uses it to characterize those who claim to know God but deny Him through their actions. Their lives are described as abominable, highlighting a stark contrast between profession and practice. The term suggests that such hypocrisy is not merely incorrect but morally repulsive to the divine perspective.
This rare usage underscores the seriousness of living in contradiction to one's faith. It serves as a warning that outward claims mean nothing if they are not matched by integrity. The word points to a fundamental disconnect that renders a person’s witness worthless and offensive.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word bdeluktos carries a heavy weight of moral revulsion. In Titus 1:16, Paul uses it to describe a life that claims to know God but acts in direct contradiction to that claim. This is not simply about making mistakes; it is about a deep-seated disconnect between what we say and how we live. Such hypocrisy is portrayed as deeply loathsome because it misrepresents the character of God.
For your faith, this serves as a sobering reminder to examine the alignment of your heart and actions. Integrity matters more than outward profession. When our lives reflect God’s truth, we offer a genuine witness. This word calls us away from empty words toward a life of honest obedience that honors Him.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- detestable1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- βδελυκτοὶ1×
Key Verses
-
Titus 1:16
They profess that they know God, but by their deeds they deny him, being abominable, disobedient, and unfit for any good work.
This is the only New Testament occurrence, where Paul labels hypocrites who deny God through their deeds as abominable.