Wikipedia's first sentence called it “exceptionally loathsome”. Today it says “english term used to translate the biblical hebrew terms shiqquts שיקוץ and sheqets שקץ”.
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Machine-checked against the full current article on 2026-08-03.
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The opening as it read in 2015
Abomination (from Latin abominare , "to deprecate as an ill omen") is an English term used to translate the Biblical Hebrew terms shiqquwts ("shiqqûts") and sheqets שקץ, which are derived from shâqats , or the terms תֹּועֵבָה, tōʻēḇā or to'e'va (noun) or ta'ev (verb). An abomination in English is that which is exceptionally loathsome, hateful , sinful , wicked , or vile. The Biblical words usually translated as "abomination" do not always convey the same sense of moral exceptionalism as the English term does today, as it often may signify that which is forbidden or unclean according to the religion (especially sheqets ). Linguistically in this case, it may be closer in meaning to the Polynesian term taboo or tapu , signifying that which is forbidden, and should not be eaten, and or not touched, and which sometimes was a capital crime. The word most often translated "abomination" to denote grave moral offenses is Tōʻēḇā. This article examines the term as it is used in English translations of the Bible , and also the actual senses of the words which are being translated into this term in English.1The term shiqquwts is translated abomination by almost all translations of the Bible.2The similar words, sheqets , and shâqats , are almost exclusively used for dietary violations.3The most often used but different Hebrew term, tōʻēḇā , is also translated as abomination in the Authorized King James Version , and sometimes in the NASB .4Many modern versions of the Bible (including the NIV and NET ) translate it detestable ; the NAB translates it loathsome .5 It is mainly used to denote idolatry; and in many other cases it refers to inherently evil things such as illicit sex, lying, murder, deceit, etc.; and for unclean foods. Another word which can signify that which is abhorred is zâ‛am . There are less used Hebrew words with a similar conveyance, as well as Greek terms for such. "inherently evil": things, words, deeds which of their very nature [" intrinsic property "] are always harmful, degrading, debasing, dehumanizing or lethal to the human person (but frequently deemed by some opportunists to be most useful and convenient, thinking "the end always justifies the means") and which, by extension, are always harmful and eventually lethal to the nature and stability of human culture and society--"evil".6
This is Wikipedia's own text, saved in our repository. Their copy of it is revision 652672642.
The opening as it stood in 2010
Abomination ( Latin abominatus, past participle of abominari, "to deprecate as an ill omen"); English term used to translate the Biblical Hebrew terms shiqquwts , ("shiqqûts") and sheqets which are derived from shâqats , or the terms תֹּועֵבָה tōʻēḇā or to'ba (noun) or ta'ab (verb). Abomination in English signifies that which is exceptionally loathsome, hateful , sinful , wicked , or vile. The Biblical words usually translated abomination do not always convey the same sense of moral exceptionalism as the English term does today, as it often may signify that which is forbidden or unclean according to the religion (especially sheqets ). Linguistically in this case, it may be closer in meaning to the Polynesian term taboo or tapu , signifying that which is forbidden, and should not be eaten, and or not touched, and which sometimes was a capital crime. The word most often translated abomination to denote grave moral offenses is Tōʻēḇā. This article examines the term as it is used in English translations of the Bible, and also the actual senses of the words which are being translated into this term in English. The term shiqquwts is translated abomination by almost all translations of the Bible. The similar words, sheqets , and shâqats , are almost exclusively used for dietary violations. The most often used but different Hebrew term, tōʻēḇā , is also translated as abomination in the Authorized King James Version , and sometimes in the NASB . Many modern versions of the Bible (including the NIV and NET ) translate it detestable ; the NAB translates it loathsome . It is mainly used to denote idolatry, and in many other cases it refers to inherently evil things such as illicit sex, lying, murder, deceit, etc., and for unclean foods. Another word which can signify that which is abhorred is zâ‛am . There are less used Hebrew words with a similar conveyance, as well as Greek terms for such.
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 371031930.
The opening as it stood in 2020 9 passages from the previous snapshot no longer appear
Abomination (from Latin abominare , "to deprecate as an ill omen") is an English term used to translate the Biblical Hebrew terms shiqquts and [sheqets] Error: {{Transliteration}}: unrecognized language / script code: heb ( help ) , which are derived from [shâqats] Error: {{Transliteration}}: unrecognized language / script code: heb ( help ) , or the terms , [tōʻēḇā] Error: {{Transliteration}}: unrecognized language / script code: heb ( help ) or [to'e'va] Error: {{Transliteration}}: unrecognized language / script code: heb ( help ) (noun) or ['ta'ev] Error: {{Transliteration}}: unrecognized language / script code: heb ( help ) (verb). An abomination in English is that which is exceptionally loathsome, hateful , sinful , wicked , or vile. The term [shiqquts] Error: {{Transliteration}}: unrecognized language / script code: heb ( help ) is translated abomination by almost all translations of the Bible.The similar words, [sheqets] Error: {{Transliteration}}: unrecognized language / script code: heb ( help ) , and [shâqats] Error: {{Transliteration}}: unrecognized language / script code: heb ( help ) , are almost exclusively used to refer to unclean animals.The common but slightly different Hebrew term, [tōʻēḇā] Error: {{Transliteration}}: unrecognized language / script code: heb ( help ) , is also translated as abomination in the Authorized King James Version , and sometimes in the New American Standard Bible .Many modern versions of the Bible (including the New International Version and New English Translation ) translate it detestable ; the New American Bible translates it loathsome .
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 961711999.
The opening as it stood on October 6, 2023 2 passages from the previous snapshot no longer appear
Covering Biblical references For other uses, see Abomination .Abomination (from Latin abominare ' to deprecate as an ill omen ' ) is an English term used to translate the Biblical Hebrew terms shiqquts שיקוץ and sheqets שקץ , which are derived from shâqats , or the terms תֹּועֵבָה , tōʻēḇā or to'e'va (noun) or 'ta'ev (verb). An abomination in English is that which is exceptionally loathsome, hateful , sinful , wicked , or vile. The term shiqquts is translated abomination by almost all translations of the Bible.The similar words, sheqets , and shâqats , are almost exclusively used to refer to unclean animals. The common but slightly different Hebrew term, tōʻēḇā , is also translated as abomination in the Authorized King James Version , and sometimes in the New American Standard Bible . Many modern versions of the Bible (including the New International Version and New English Translation ) translate it detestable ; the New American Bible translates it loathsome . It is mainly used to denote idolatry; and in many other cases it refers to inherently evil things such as illicit sex, lying, murder, deceit, etc.; and for unclean foods.
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 1162576787. This is our newest snapshot; the live article may have moved again since.
Today
Wikipedia's first sentence called it “exceptionally loathsome”. Today it says “english term used to translate the biblical hebrew terms shiqquts שיקוץ and sheqets שקץ”. Read the current article and compare.
2010
2015
2020
Oct '23
2025
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What Wikipedia says this is
Every article opens by defining its subject. This one was redefined since 2010, and today's defining sentence is their current revision.
Then
exceptionally loathsome
Now
english term used to translate the biblical hebrew terms shiqquts שיקוץ and sheqets שקץ
Struck red text is no longer in the article; dotted amber text was rewritten. Every revision id links to Wikipedia's copy; the text shown is our own saved copy. Data: /data. Wikipedia text is CC BY-SA; quoted for the record; not affiliated with Wikipedia.
