Sodomites
Summary
Those who practiced the abominable vice for which Sodom was infamous, particularly as a religious rite in pagan worship—a corruption found even in Israel that drew divine condemnation.
☩Definition
The term 'Sodomites' does not denote inhabitants of Sodom but those who practiced unnatural vice, particularly as a religious rite. The Hebrew word 'qedeeshim' means literally 'devoted ones'—referring to those consecrated to such practices in connection with Ashtoreth worship. There were both male and female temple prostitutes devoted to this corruption as a form of pagan worship.
☩In Israel
Such abominations existed even in Israel at various periods. They appeared during Rehoboam's reign when 'there were also sodomites in the land.' Asa expelled them from the land as part of his reforms, as did Jehoshaphat after him. Josiah broke down the houses of the sodomites that were by the house of the Lord, where women wove hangings for the grove.
☩Divine Judgment
The original Sodomites were destroyed by fire and brimstone as divine judgment for their wickedness. Their fate became proverbial—Jesus warned that cities rejecting the gospel would face worse judgment than Sodom. The 'dog' of Deuteronomy 23:18 refers to the male prostitute, whose wages (like the harlot's hire) could not be brought into God's house.
Related Verses11 mentions
References
- 1.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Sodomites," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).
- 2.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Sodomites," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).
- 3.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Sodomites," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).
- 4.George Morrish, "Sodomites," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 5.George Morrish, "Sodomites," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 6.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Sodomites," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).
- 7.George Morrish, "Sodomites," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 8.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Sodomites," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).
- 9.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Sodomites," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).