Deuteronomy 18:9-10
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The verse emphasizes that the Israelites shouldn't "learn to follow" the abominable practices. This isn't just about avoiding outright sin, but about actively resisting the process of adopting foreign ways, recognizing that imitation can quickly lead to deep corruption.
“When you come into the land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer
English Standard Version (ESV)
As the Israelites are preparing to enter the land of Canaan, God warns them not to adopt the detestable religious practices of the nations already living there. These practices include various forms of sorcery, divination, and child sacrifice, all of which are abhorrent to God and were the reason for the previous inhabitants' destruction. Instead of seeking forbidden knowledge from these nations, the people are promised that God will raise up prophets from among them to speak His words.
The Bible calls certain practices 'abominations.' What does that word really mean, and why are these specific actions so offensive to God?
The term 'abominations' in Scripture goes beyond mere poor choices or moral failings. It describes practices that are deeply repulsive and contrary to God's holy nature and His covenant with His people.
A Violation of God's Character
These abominations were not just rituals; they were expressions of a worldview that rejected God's sovereignty and sought power or knowledge through illicit means. They often involved cruelty, deception, and a disregard for life, all of which are fundamentally opposed to God's character of love, truth, and justice.
A Threat to the Covenant
For Israel, adopting these practices was not just a cultural misstep. It was a direct violation of their covenant relationship with God. It meant turning away from the 'steadfast love' of Yahweh and embracing the corrupting influences of the nations God was displacing. This would inevitably lead to spiritual impurity and judgment.
God warns Israel not to 'learn' the practices of the nations. What does this 'learning' process look like, and how can we prevent it in our own lives?
The Hebrew word for 'learn' here implies more than just intellectual understanding; it suggests adopting, imitating, and becoming accustomed to something through practice and habit. God's warning is a stark reminder of how easily spiritual contamination can occur.
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Gradual Immersion
Spiritual drift often begins subtly. We might initially observe or even be curious about practices that are contrary to God's ways. Without a firm foundation and a conscious decision to resist, these observations can slowly turn into imitation.
The Danger of Familiarity
Familiarity with sin or ungodliness can breed complacency. What once seemed 'abominable' can, through gradual exposure and normalization, begin to appear acceptable or even desirable. God's command is a call to actively avoid this pathway of 'learning' that leads away from Him.
Understand the original words
to'ebah · Hebrew Noun
Something morally detestable, loathsome, or offensive to God, particularly associated with idolatry, pagan worship, or ethical violations that disrupt the covenant relationship between God and His people.
qesem · Hebrew Noun
The act of attempting to obtain secret knowledge or divine guidance through supernatural or occult means, forbidden by God because it seeks knowledge apart from His revealed word and providence.
kashaph · Hebrew Verb/Noun
One who engages in occult arts, spells, or witchcraft to influence events or gain forbidden power, acting in direct rebellion against God's sovereign control.
This passage, like Deuteronomy, explicitly forbids the practice of 'passing your children through the fire,' which was a key 'abomination' associated with the nations Israel was to displace.
1 Samuel 15:23This verse uses the term 'abomination' for rebellion against God's word, paralleling how the practices forbidden in Deuteronomy are seen as abhorrent and contrary to God's will.
Jeremiah 10:2This prophetic passage echoes Deuteronomy by warning against learning the 'ways of the nations' and their practices, highlighting the ongoing struggle against adopting foreign customs that displease God.
Romans 12:2The New Testament applies the principle of separation from worldly practices, urging believers not to be 'conformed to this world' but transformed, a spiritual parallel to Israel's call to avoid the abominations of surrounding nations.
ellicottDeuteronomy 18:9: "When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations."
(9-14) Certain forms of idolatry to be avoided, especially unlawful means of communication with the unseen world.
calvinDeuteronomy 18:9-14: "When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations."
- When thou art come. It is too well known from experience how eagerly the human race lays hold of bad examples, and how prone it is to imitate them. Especially those who come into a foreign land, accustom themselves readily to its manners and customs. This is the reason why God expressly commands the Israelites to beware, lest, when th…
The verse emphasizes that the Israelites shouldn't "learn to follow" the abominable practices. This isn't just about avoiding outright sin, but about actively resisting the process of adopting foreign ways, recognizing that imitation can quickly lead to deep corruption.
As the Israelites are preparing to enter the land of Canaan, God warns them not to adopt the detestable religious practices of the nations already living there. These practices include various forms of sorcery, divination, and child sacrifice, all of which are abhorrent to God and were the reason for the previous inhabitants' destruction. Instead of seeking forbidden knowledge from these nations, the people are promised that God will raise up prophets from among them to speak His words.
As the Israelites are preparing to enter the land of Canaan, God warns them not to adopt the detestable religious practices of the nations already living there. These practices include various forms of sorcery, divination, and child sacrifice, all of which are abhorrent to God and were the reason for the previous inhabitants' destruction. Instead of seeking forbidden knowledge from these nations, the people are promised that God will raise up prophets from among them to speak His words.
"“When you come into the land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone…" — The verse emphasizes that the Israelites shouldn't "learn to follow" the abominable practices. This isn't just about avoiding outright sin, but about actively resisting the process of adopting fore…
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Last reviewed October 2026
