Quick Definition
illegal, unlawful
Strong's Definition
from the base of G5087 (τίθημι)); illegal; by implication, flagitious
Derivation: from G1 (Α) (as a negative particle) and a derivative of (statute;
KJV Usage: abominable, unlawful thing
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
ἀθέμιτος, , a later form for the ancient and preferable ἀθέμιστος (θεμιτός, θεμιστός, θεμίζω, θέμις law, right), contrary to law and justice, prohibited by law, illicit, criminal: 1Pe_4:3 (here A. V. abominable); ἀθέμιτόν ἐστι τίνι with an infinitive, Act_10:28.
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
ἀθέμιτος athemitos 2x
unlawful, criminal, wicked, Act_10:28 ; 1Pe_4:3
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
**ἀ -θέμιτος
(late form of ἀθέμιστος , LS , MM , VGT , s.v. ), -ον ( <θέμις , custom, right ),
[in LXX : 2Ma_6:5 ; 2Ma_7:1 ; 2Ma_10:34 , 3Ma_5:20 * ;]
(a) of persons, lawless (3Mac, l.c .);
(b) of things, lawless, unlawful: Act_10:28 , 1Pe_4:3 .†
SYN.: see ἄθεσμος G113 .
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
ἀθέμιτος [page 11]
This late form is found in P Tor I. 1 ii. 22 (B.C. 116) αἷς [ sc. θεαῖς ] ἀθέμιτά ἐστιν νεκρὰ σώματα , a passage which seems to support the rendering abominable in 1Pe_4:3 , and in consequence perhaps the Gentile destination of the Epistle : see Bigg s note ad l. Vettius Valens the astrologer (ii/A.D.) tells us that under the influence of Saturn, Mars and Venus some people ἀθεμίτοις μίξεσι καὶ ἀδιαφόροις ( reckless ) ἀνεπιστρεπτοῦσι (p. 43 .27 ) : the same writer (p. 184 .5 ) speaks of men who ἀρνοῦνται τὰ θεῖα καὶ ἑτεροσεβοῦσι ἢ ἀθεμιτοφαγοῦσιν . The word is thus equivalent to nefastus.
STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Greek Lexicon
ἀ-θέμιτος (late form of ἀθέμιστος, LS, MM, VGT, see word), -ον
(θέμις, custom, right), [in LXX: 2Ma.6:5 7:1 10:34, 3Ma.5:20 * ;]
__(a) of persons, lawless (III Mac, l.with);
__(b) of things, lawless, unlawful: Act.10:28, 1Pe.4:3.†
SYN.: see: ἄθεσμος. (AS)
📖 In-Depth Word Study
Abominable (unlawful) (111) athemitos
Abominable (111) (athemitos from a = negative + themis = statute, an adjective from themis = law) is literally contrary to statute, and thus illegal or unlawful. It describes that which is forbidden.
Vincent writes...
More literally, unlawful, emphasizing the idolatries as violations of divine law.
Athemitos is used in the Apocryphal book of 2 Maccabees to describe unlawful sacrifices.
2 Maccabees 7:1 records Jews who were
compelled by the king against the law (athemitos) to taste swine's flesh
Luke records the only other NT use of athemitos by the Apostle Peter in Acts 10:28
And he (Peter is speaking and is the one who uses athemitos) said to them, "You yourselves know how unlawful (athemitos) it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean.
Since idolatries were not forbidden by Gentile laws, Peter has to be referring to the fact that they were "unlawful" and "abominable" before a Holy God. Going beyond the inner sense of what was proper, their idolatries led to evils that tended to make men shudder. Their past associations with such idolatries should motivate them assiduously and unswervingly to adhere to their new life (armed for the same purpose verse 1) in Christ with its demands (1Pe 1:15-note) and provision (Ro 8:13-note) for moral purity.