Bree

Jekyll is in a class with a seminary student named Dave, who, like every good Christian, believes that to be nude, female, or gay (in any order or combination) is a grevious sin.

He recently made a point that the Bible only uses the word "detestable" when referencing homosexual activity. Upon looking at the particular verses that he used to prop up his theory (I don't remember what they are) it is true that the word "detestable" does crop up. However, I am sure that the word also is used to refer to things OTHER than sexuality, as well.

Does anyone know what original word was, the word that was eventually translated into the English "detestable" - I'm almost certain that if we could clear up that point, we'd be able to debunk Dave's theory (that everything labelled "detestable" in the Bible has something to do with gay sex). He never thought to check up on the original text.

Toto

Surf over to <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible" target="_blank">www.biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible</a> and enter detestable in the word search. There's a lot there with nothing to do with naked gay sex. The word seems to relate to ritual impurity.

sample:

Search words "detestable" 107 results. |

Genesis 43:32
They served him by himself, the brothers by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because Egyptians could not eat with Hebrews, for that is detestable to Egyptians.

Genesis 46:34
you should answer, 'Your servants have tended livestock from our boyhood on, just as our fathers did.' Then you will be allowed to settle in the region of Goshen, for all shepherds are detestable to the Egyptians."

Exodus 8:26
But Moses said, "That would not be right. The sacrifices we offer the LORD our God would be detestable to the Egyptians. And if we offer sacrifices that are detestable in their eyes, will they not stone us?

Leviticus 7:21
If anyone touches something unclean-whether human uncleanness or an unclean animal or any unclean, detestable thing-and then eats any of the meat of the fellowship offering belonging to the LORD , that person must be cut off from his people.' "

Leviticus 11:12
Anything living in the water that does not have fins and scales is to be detestable to you.

Leviticus 11:13
" 'These are the birds you are to detest and not eat because they are detestable: the eagle, the vulture, the black vulture,

Leviticus 11:20
" 'All flying insects that walk on all fours are to be detestable to you.

Leviticus 11:41
" 'Every creature that moves about on the ground is detestable; it is not to be eaten.

Leviticus 11:42
You are not to eat any creature that moves about on the ground, whether it moves on its belly or walks on all fours or on many feet; it is detestable.

Leviticus 18:22
" 'Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable.

Leviticus 18:26
But you must keep my decrees and my laws. The native-born and the aliens living among you must not do any of these detestable things,

Leviticus 18:29
" 'Everyone who does any of these detestable things-such persons must be cut off from their people.

Leviticus 18:30
Keep my requirements and do not follow any of the detestable customs that were practiced before you came and do not defile yourselves with them. I am the LORD your God.' "

etc.

kctan

Checked using Blue Letter Bible. Follow link for original word.

<a href="http://www.blueletterbible.org/tmp_dir/strongs/1035679026-9348.html" target="_blank">Word for detestable</a>

Hi Toto,

How good is the Biblegateway as a source ?

Toto

It's very convenient, the equivalent of a hard copy of the Bible. It gives you the option of various translations. It's not necessarily helpful if you are looking for the original source.

The real TruthSeeker

Re Toto and Bree
It seems to refer to/imply things that we would call prejudices today. Thing that we consider dirty and bad for no good reason, just 'cause we do.

diana

Here's the clip from the BlueLetterBible for the word that is translated almost exclusively as "detestable" in the NIV:

It is from this root:
Basically, God thinks eating with Egyptians or mixing with those stinky shepherds or even eating catfish, lobster, shrimp or crab (Lev 11:12) is just...gross.

To me, this doesn't sound like the commentary of a god so much as the reaction of a preschooler to spinach.

d

[ October 27, 2002: Message edited by: diana ]</p>

Toto

I think that the origin was an idea of ritual uncleanliness (note that the first examples were of Egyptians considering it to be unclean to eat with the Hebrews - I have no idea what the basis of this is.)

From our point of view, this looks like simple prejudice. I think that the root of it might be a form of sympathetic magic. I don't want to get into defending these views, but ritual cleanliness and taboos are found all over human society, and sometimes have survival value for the group even if not rationally (or divinely) based.

Marduk

Female homosexuality is not mentioned ANYWHERE in the Bible. Most of the references to male homosexuality refer to male prostitution.
Jewish women were forbidden to be Prostitutes as well, especially Temple Prostitutes. A big thing in Pagan Religions.

CX

I can't speak to the old testament usage, but in the NT the word for homosexual, ARSENOKOITES, which comes from the Greek roots for man and "to lay down" is only used twice. In 1 corinthians and 1 timothy (if memory serves). In 1 cor it says that homosexuals, along with alist of other social deviants will not inherit the kingdom of god. There is no specific adjective related to homosexuals. In 1 Timothy the author states only that the "law" is for homosexuals and a list of other people who violate "sound teaching" (i.e. liars, thieves, kidnappers, perjurers etc.) It is clear that homosexuals were considered on par with criminals, but again their is no specific adjective used. A major proof text used against homosexuality in the NT is Romans 1:27 which says only that men who lie down with other men (along with women who engage in "unnatural relations") in the course of pagan worship were performing ASXHMOSUNHN, or an "unseemly deed" and were punished for it.

If I'm not mistaken I believe Leviticus refers to homosexual acts as an "abomination" mean something which is ritually impure according to the Levitical law. Many many things are referred to as abominations besides homosexual acts. I don't know Hebrew, though, so I can't say for sure what the appropriate translation is.

Ultimately early Xians were biased against homosexual acts largely because it was so prevalent in pagan cultures. Pagans had male temple prositutes and sex figured prominently in their religious practices. Even so the NT devotes very little to the discussion of homosexuality (and never addresses lesbianism specifically, except the oblique reference to "unnatural acts" in Romans which probably includes lesbianism, oral and anal intercourse etc.)implying to me that modern Xians are much more preoccupied with homosexualtiy than were 1st century Xians and for entirely different reasons.