2023 Shuv Show Bible Word Study: “Toeva (Abominable/Detestable)” Christene Jackman

2023 Shuv Show Bible Word Study:
“Toeva (Abominable/Detestable)”
Christene Jackman ©2.8.2023
https://www.ChristeneJackman.com/

EXCERPT: "Welcome to the Shuv Show. Tonight’s show will feature a Bible Word Study. Let’s investigate the Biblical Hebrew word: toeva, תּוֹעֵבָה

Toeva is used 118 times in the Hebrew Scriptures. In Hebrew, it is spelled, from right to left:
Tav, Vav, Ayin, Veit, Hey. And is pronounced: Toe-ay-vah’.

Basically, toeva means something disgusting, abhorrent (abominable or taboo) and is the highest level or worst kind of abomination. Hence the English translations render toeva as detestable or abominable.

So, what things does God label as toeva, taboo, detestable, abominable, disgusting, morally abhorrent? Should we not know what these are and avoid them? Remember, what behavior was toeva, disgusting to Him in the past is still detestable to Him today. His Holiness standard does not play tumbleweed with every gust of cultural whim. He knows the end from the beginning; therefore, He never needs to change His Ways.

FIRST USAGE
The first usage of toeva is found in Beresheet/Genesis 43:32. The context is Yosef (Joseph) in Egypt when his brothers met with him. Side note: the Hebrew word for Egypt is Mitzraim. Mitzraim was a descendant of Ham, son of Noah.

“So, they served him (Yosef) by himself, and them (his brothers) by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because the Egyptians could not eat bread with the Hebrews, for that is loathsome TOEVA [H8441] to the Egyptians.”

Why? Because Hebrews were shepherds. They sacrificed sheep, goats, cattle, doves/pigeons to HaShem (YHVH). These animals were considered gods by the Egyptians and to kill them was sacrilege. They considered shepherds who ate their animals as morally unclean. How do we know this:

Shemot/Exodus 8:26, “But Moses said, ‘It is not right to do so, for we will sacrifice to YHVH our Elohim what is an abomination TOEVA[H8441] to the Egyptians. If we sacrifice what is an abomination TOEVA [H8441] to the Egyptians before their eyes, will they not then stone us?’” . . . "