1. Overview

βδελύσσω (bdelyssō), pronounced “bde-LÜS-sō,” is a Greek verb that conveys the idea of strong aversion or loathing. The primary meaning of bdelyssō is “to detest” or “to abhor,” particularly in a context of moral or religious repulsion. The word originates from a root that expresses physical revulsion, which then extends metaphorically to indicate a deep-seated spiritual or moral disgust. In the New Testament, this term is employed to describe actions, attitudes, or behaviors that are intensely disliked or considered revolting, especially those that are contrary to God’s will or commandments.

2. Lexical Details

BDAG (Bauer-Danker-Arndt-Gingrich) defines bdelyssō as “to feel a loathing for something or someone, abhor, detest.” BDAG highlights the word’s strong connotation of moral or spiritual revulsion, noting that it often appears in contexts where actions or objects are considered offensive to God. The lexicon also points out that bdelyssō is used primarily in a religious or ethical sense, conveying the idea of detesting what is morally corrupt or idolatrous.

Thayer’s Lexicon also defines bdelyssō as “to feel a nauseating aversion, to detest.” Thayer’s emphasizes that the term is often associated with a visceral reaction of disgust, particularly in response to idolatry or gross immorality. The lexicon connects the term with religious contexts where the actions or behaviors in question are considered abhorrent to God.

Vine’s Expository Dictionary concurs with BDAG and Thayer’s, defining bdelyssō as “to abhor, to detest, to turn away from with aversion.” Vine’s further elaborates that the word is used in the New Testament to describe a reaction to sin or idolatry that is so strong it causes one to turn away in disgust.

LSJ (Liddell-Scott-Jones) provides additional insight into the classical usage of bdelyssō, where it is used to describe both physical and moral repulsion. The term appears in classical literature to describe reactions to things that are ritually impure, morally corrupt, or otherwise offensive to the gods.

Biblical references:

• Luke 16:15: “And he said to them, ‘You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination (bdelyssō) in the sight of God.'” Here, bdelyssō is used to describe how certain actions or attitudes, though esteemed by people, are detested by God.
• Revelation 21:8: “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable (bdelyssō), as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” In this context, bdelyssō refers to those whose lives are characterized by actions that are abhorrent to God, leading to their ultimate judgment.

3. Classical Usage

In classical Greek literature, bdelyssō is employed to describe a reaction of deep-seated aversion or loathing, often in religious or moral contexts. Here are three examples:

• Homer’s “Iliad”: In this epic, characters express loathing towards actions or behaviors that are seen as dishonorable or offensive to the gods, using terms related to bdelyssō to convey their disgust.
• Sophocles’ “Antigone”: The character Antigone expresses abhorrence towards actions that defy divine laws, which aligns with the meaning of bdelyssō in later texts.
• Plato’s “Laws”: Plato uses terms related to bdelyssō to describe behaviors that are contrary to the ideal state, particularly those that are morally or spiritually corrupt.

These examples from classical literature demonstrate how the concept of loathing, especially in response to moral or religious corruption, was significant even before the New Testament usage of bdelyssō.

4. Summary

The Greek verb bdelyssō (G948) is a powerful term used in the New Testament to express strong aversion or loathing, particularly in moral or religious contexts. Rooted in the idea of physical revulsion, bdelyssō extends metaphorically to signify a deep-seated spiritual or moral disgust. Lexicons such as BDAG, Thayer’s, and Vine’s all emphasize the word’s connection to detestable actions or behaviors, particularly those associated with idolatry or gross immorality. The concept of loathing was also prevalent in classical Greek literature, where bdelyssō was used to describe reactions to things that were considered offensive to the gods or morally corrupt. In summary, bdelyssō serves as a strong expression of moral or spiritual abhorrence, particularly in the sight of God.