βδελύσσω (G948) — Greek Lexicon

βδελύσσω

bdelýssō

G948 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To feel or express intense disgust; to be revolted or find something utterly repulsive. In context, most commonly to regard a person, action, or object as abhorrent or detestable, particularly in the sense of ritual uncleanness or extreme moral revulsion. It can denote strong emotional aversion or rejection, often directed at practices considered impure, idolatrous, or corrupt.

Semantic Range

to feel disgust, to loathe or regard as abhorrent, to detest as ritually or morally impure, to turn away from with aversion, to reject as abominable

Root / Etymology

From the root βδελυγ-, related to βδελύγμαι ('to feel nausea, loathe, be disgusted'), ultimately connected with the sound-imitative root βδε- (associated with a bad smell or stink, cf. βδέω 'to break wind'). The verb is denominative from the noun βδέλυγμα ('abomination, detestable thing').

Historical & Contextual Notes

Βδελύσσω is a late and rare verb, attested in Koine Greek particularly in Jewish-Greek literature (such as the Septuagint) and early Christian writings. It is strongly associated with ritual and moral purity language, especially in connection with idolatry. In the LXX, it often translates Hebrew terms for abhor or regard as ritually impure (e.g., תּוֹעֵבָה [to'evah]). In the New Testament, it appears in the sense of abhorring or detesting what is considered morally reprehensible or ritually unclean. The semantic range in English is not always captured by 'abhor' or 'detest,' because βδελύσσω can imply both personal revulsion and a socially shared sense of ritual disgust. The sense of 'to stink' is not directly attested for the verb, though the etymological field includes odor/stench. Its use is distinct from μισέω ('to hate') as it carries a visceral, almost physical dimension of revulsion, often within contexts of impurity or offense to divine standards.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from a (presumed) derivative of (to stink); to be disgusted, i.e. (by implication) detest (especially of idolatry):--abhor, abominable.

Root Family

βδελύσσω (bdelýssō) — to feel disgust, to loathe, to detest as impure, to regard as abhorrent

Root βδελυσ- to feel disgust, to be revolted

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G948-02`	ἐβδελυγμένοις	ebdelugmenois	`V PRF PASS PTCP DAT M PL`	detestable	to those having been abhorred	to the detestable ones	1
`G948-01`	βδελυσσόμενος	bdelussomenos	`V PRS MID PTCP VOC M SG`	abhor	O one feeling revulsion	O one feeling revulsion	1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G948-01`	Romans 2:22	βδελυσσόμενος	bdelussomenos	`V PRS MID PTCP VOC M SG`	abhor	O one feeling revulsion	O one feeling revulsion
`G948-02`	Revelation 21:8	ἐβδελυγμένοις	ebdelugmenois	`V PRF PASS PTCP DAT M PL`	detestable	to those having been abhorred	to the detestable ones

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