βδελύσσομαι (bdelussomai)
bdelussomai
to abhor
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb bdelussomai means to hate or detest something with a visceral sense of disgust. Its root connects to the idea of stench, suggesting that what is abhorred is spiritually foul or offensive. In the New Testament, it appears only twice, carrying a heavy weight of moral rejection.
In Romans 2:22, Paul uses it to describe the hypocrisy of those who teach against stealing yet steal themselves; they abhor idols but fail to abhor their own sins. Revelation 21:8 applies it to the final fate of the cowardly and deceitful, who are excluded from the holy city because their lives are deemed abominable.
Translators typically render this as "abhor" or "detest," capturing a strong aversion rather than simple dislike. The word emphasizes a complete turning away from what is morally repulsive, marking it as one of the strongest terms for rejection in biblical Greek.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word bdelussomai describes a deep, visceral rejection of what is morally foul. It goes beyond simple dislike to express a spiritual disgust at things that defile the soul. When we encounter this term in Scripture, it reminds us that God’s holiness cannot coexist with sin. This isn’t about judging others’ choices, but about recognizing the serious nature of moral corruption.
Paul uses this strong language in Romans to highlight hypocrisy. He points out that claiming to respect God while ignoring personal sin creates a disconnect. Similarly, Revelation warns that those who live in deceit and unbelief separate themselves from God’s presence. These passages invite us to examine our own hearts with honesty.
Understanding this word helps us see why integrity matters so much in Christian life. It calls us to align our actions with our beliefs, avoiding the trap of judging others while ignoring our own flaws. This awareness encourages a deeper reliance on God’s grace to transform us from within.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- having made themselves abominable1×
- abhorring1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐβδελυγμένοις1×
- βδελυσσόμενος1×
Key Verses
-
Romans 2:22
You who say a man shouldn’t commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?
Paul uses this word to expose the hypocrisy of those who condemn others for idolatry while committing theft themselves, showing that true reverence requires personal integrity.