Sodom and Gomorrah

In the Abrahamic religions, Sodom and Gomorrah (/ˈsɒdəm ... ɡəˈmɒrə/) were two cities destroyed by God for their wickedness.^[1] Their story parallels the Genesis flood narrative in its theme of God's anger provoked by man's sin (see Genesis 19:1–28).^[2][3] They are mentioned frequently in the Nevi'im section of the Hebrew Bible as well as in the New Testament as symbols of human wickedness and divine retribution, and the Quran contains a version of the story about the two cities.^[4]

The origins and meaning of the names Sodom and Gomorrah are uncertain, though some scholars suggest they derive from Hebrew and Semitic roots, with Gomorrah linked to the idea of deep or copious water. The Hebrew Bible refers to the cities as סְדֹם (Səḏôm) and עֲמֹרָה (ʿĂmôrā), which were transliterated into Greek as Σόδομα and Γόμορρᾰ in the Septuagint. These cities are depicted as two of the “cities of the plain” involved in Abraham and Lot’s story, including rebellion against Chedorlaomer and their eventual rescue by Abraham. Sodom and Gomorrah are later destroyed by God after their pervasive wickedness, with Lot and his daughters spared while Lot’s wife is turned into a pillar of salt for looking back.

Biblical and deuterocanonical texts expand on the story, portraying Sodom and Gomorrah as symbols of sin, often linked to adultery, arrogance, inhospitality, and oppression of the poor, rather than explicitly sexual immorality. References in the New Testament, including Matthew, Luke, Jude, and Revelation, use the cities as warnings of divine judgment, with some interpretations highlighting sexual transgressions, while others emphasize violence, injustice, and violations of hospitality. Scholars debate the precise nature of the sins, noting that the Hebrew term yada (to “know”) in Genesis 19:5 could imply sexual assault but may also be interpreted as a demand to interrogate or dominate visitors, reflecting the cities’ moral corruption more broadly.

Historically, Sodom and Gomorrah may have been based on real locations along the Dead Sea, with sites like Bab edh-Dhra and Numeira suggested as possible candidates, though archaeological evidence is inconclusive. Religious interpretations vary: Judaism often stresses cruelty, arrogance, and inhospitality as the cities’ sins, while Christianity debates the relative importance of sexual immorality versus violent, inhospitable behavior. The Quran similarly recounts the story of Lot (Lut), emphasizing homosexual transgression and disobedience to God. Gnostic texts, in contrast, present the destruction as a consequence of spiritual ignorance and demonically influenced human nature.