תַּעָב (ta.av)
ta.av
to abhor
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 15 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb ta’av signifies a profound rejection, describing something or someone that is abhorred, detested, or regarded as an abomination. It goes beyond simple dislike to express a visceral loathing, often rooted in moral or ritual impurity. In the Old Testament, this word appears frequently in poetic books like Psalms and Job, where it captures the intense emotional response of the righteous toward evil or idolatry.
Its usage spans both ethical and ritual domains. Ethically, it describes the soul’s recoil from injustice or deceit, as seen when Psalm 119:161 declares that rulers persecute David without cause, yet he abhors (ta’av) false ways. Ritually, it marks things unclean or forbidden, such as certain foods or practices deemed offensive to God. The verb’s strength lies in its absolute nature; it does not suggest indifference but active repulsion.
This word underscores the seriousness with which Scripture treats sin and impurity. It is not a mild critique but a declaration of incompatibility between holiness and corruption. By using ta’av, biblical authors emphasize that God’s people are called to hate what He hates, maintaining a clear boundary between sacred and profane.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word ta’av describes a deep, visceral rejection of what is morally or spiritually corrupt. It is not merely a preference for one thing over another, but a firm stance against evil. In the Psalms and Prophets, this term highlights how God’s people are called to distance themselves from injustice and deceit. When Psalm 119:163 speaks of hating falsehood, it shows that faithfulness requires a clear boundary between truth and error.
This concept reminds us that holiness involves active separation from sin. It is not enough to simply avoid bad actions; we must develop a genuine distaste for the attitudes that lead there. By aligning our hearts with God’s perspective, we find peace in knowing that He opposes what harms His creation. This shared stance against corruption helps us stand firm when faced with pressure to compromise.
Ultimately, this word points to the importance of integrity in our daily lives. It encourages us to examine our own reactions to injustice and deceit, asking if we share God’s heart for righteousness. As we grow in faith, we learn to value what He values, finding strength in a life that rejects the destructive paths of the world.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 15 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- they abhor/ me2×
- you will abhor/ it1×
- who/ loathe1×
- to/ [one who] abhors1×
- they do abominably1×
- they abhor1×
- it was abhorred1×
- it loathed1×
- and/ utterly <abhor>1×
- and/ they will abhor/ me1×
- and/ he acted abominably1×
- and/ he abhorred1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תִּֽ֭עֲבוּ/נִי2×
- תְּתַעֵ֣ב1×
- תְּֽתַעֲבֶ֖/נּוּ1×
- נִתְעָ֥ב1×
- נִתְעָ֔ב1×
- נִתְעַ֥ב1×
- לִ/מְתָ֤עֵֽב1×
- יְתָעֵֽבוּ\׃1×
- וַ֝/יְתָעֵ֗ב1×
- וַ/יַּתְעֵ֣ב1×
- וַ/אֲתַעֵ֑בָה1×
- וְ֝/תִֽעֲב֗וּ/נִי1×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 119:163
I hate and abhor falsehood. I love your law.
This verse explicitly links abhorrence of falsehood with love for God's law, showing that true devotion requires rejecting deceit.
-
Micah 3:9
Please listen to this, you heads of the house of Jacob, and rulers of the house of Israel, who abhor justice, and pervert all equity,
Here the word condemns leaders who actively despise justice, highlighting how moral failure begins with a rejection of fairness.
-
Job 19:19
All my familiar friends abhor me. They whom I loved have turned against me.
In this context, the word describes the painful social isolation Job feels when his friends turn away, illustrating the relational cost of suffering.
-
Deuteronomy 7:26
You shall not bring an abomination into your house and become a devoted thing like it. You shall utterly detest it. You shall utterly abhor it; for it is a devoted thing.
This command establishes a clear boundary, requiring Israel to completely reject idolatry as a devoted thing that defiles the community.