The Bible has some pretty famous stories, and one of them is about two cities called Sodom and Gomorrah. These cities were destroyed by God, and for a long time, people have tried to figure out exactly why. The word “sodomy” in the Bible comes from this story, and many people think it means just one thing. But it’s a little more complicated than that.

In this article, we’re going to explain what “sodomy” means in the Bible, where the word came from, and why it’s such a big deal. We’ll go through the story of Sodom and Gomorrah step-by-step, look at different opinions on what the “sin” of Sodom was, and see why people still talk about it today.

If you’ve ever wondered what this story is really about, we’ll break it down in simple terms.

The Story of Sodom and Gomorrah

The story of Sodom and Gomorrah comes from the Book of Genesis in the Bible (you can find it in chapters 18 and 19). Here’s the setup: these two cities were known for their wickedness, and God decided it was time to investigate. In Genesis 18:20, God says,

“The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous.”

This meant the behavior of the people there had reached a breaking point.

So, two angels were sent to check things out. When they arrived in Sodom, a man named Lot invited them into his home for the night. Lot, who was Abraham’s nephew, tried to show the angels respect and hospitality—a big deal in those times. 

But things took a dark turn fast. That night, the men of Sodom came to Lot’s house, demanding to see the visitors. Genesis 19:5 says, “They called to Lot, ‘Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them.’” This was the moment when things went way beyond just a lack of manners.

Lot tried to protect his guests. He even offered his own daughters to the mob instead, saying, “Don’t do this wicked thing” (Genesis 19:7-8). But the crowd outside only grew more aggressive, determined to break in. At this point, the angels intervened. They struck the mob with blindness, giving Lot and his family a chance to escape.

The next morning, the angels told Lot and his family to leave the city because God was about to destroy it. Genesis 19:24-25 describes what happened next: “Then the Lord rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah…Thus he overthrew those cities and the entire plain, destroying all those living in the cities—and also the vegetation in the land.” Basically, Sodom and Gomorrah were wiped off the map.

This story has been debated a lot, with people interpreting it in different ways. Some see it as a lesson on the dangers of violence and mistreatment of strangers. Others believe it’s a warning against specific behaviors.

Etymology and Evolution of the Term "Sodomy"

The word “sodomy” has an interesting history, and it didn’t always mean what people think it means today. Originally, the term came directly from the story of Sodom in the Bible, but over the years, its meaning has shifted and narrowed.

When the Bible first told the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, there was no specific word for what happened there. But as time went on, religious leaders and translators needed a word to sum up what they believed was the “sin of Sodom.” That’s when the term “sodomy” started to appear in church teachings and legal systems. Over the centuries, “sodomy” became a catch-all term in some languages for sexual acts that didn’t align with traditional or religious beliefs.

In fact, the Bible itself doesn’t directly use the word “sodomy.” What we see in the Bible are phrases like “wicked thing” or “grievous sin” (Genesis 18:20, 19:7), which leave room for interpretation. People looked back at the story and tried to decide what, exactly, was the sin that caused the cities’ destruction.

It’s also worth mentioning that later books of the Bible give a different view of Sodom’s sin. For instance, Ezekiel 16:49-50 states:

“Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy. They were haughty and did detestable things before me.”

This passage doesn’t mention anything specific about sexual behavior but instead talks about pride, greed, and a lack of care for others.

By the time we reached medieval Europe, “sodomy” was being used by religious authorities and governments to refer to certain types of sexual acts. Laws were created under this label, and the word started to carry the specific meaning we recognize today. But originally, it wasn’t nearly as defined or narrow.

So, while “sodomy” has become a term used widely in both religious and legal contexts, its meaning has changed a lot from its origins in the story of Sodom. The Bible’s use of phrases like “wicked” and “detestable things” allowed for many interpretations, and the focus on certain acts didn’t come about until much later.

Sodomy: Biblical References and Interpretations

When people talk about “sodomy” in the Bible, they usually point to a few specific verses outside the Sodom and Gomorrah story. These references show up mainly in the Old Testament (like Leviticus) and the New Testament (like Romans and Corinthians). But, just like with the story of Sodom, the interpretation of these verses varies a lot, and different religious groups have different takes.

Old Testament: Leviticus Laws

In Leviticus, we find a couple of verses that have become central to the debate. Leviticus 18:22 says, “Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable.” A few chapters later, in Leviticus 20:13, it’s even stricter: “If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.”

These verses seem straightforward, but context is important. Leviticus is part of the Old Testament laws given to the people of Israel, and it includes rules on everything from food to clothing to ritual cleanliness. Some religious scholars argue that these laws were specific to that time and place, designed to set the Israelites apart from other nations. Others believe these verses still apply today, taking them as an enduring moral command.

New Testament: Romans and Corinthians

In the New Testament, there are also a few passages that people often cite. One of the most well-known is Romans 1:26-27, where Paul writes about certain behaviors: “Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. In the same way, the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.”

This passage has been used to support traditional views on sexual ethics. However, some scholars argue that Paul was speaking about specific practices, like ritualized temple prostitution or acts linked to idol worship, not necessarily relationships in a modern sense. Others feel that Paul’s words here are clear and apply across all times.

Another New Testament reference comes from 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, where Paul lists behaviors he says will prevent people from inheriting God’s kingdom:

“Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers si”

Again, how to interpret this list is debated. Some argue that “men who have sex with men” is a direct condemnation, while others suggest that the phrase in the original Greek has nuances that could imply abusive or exploitative relationships rather than consensual ones.

Different Interpretations Over Time

It’s important to remember that these verses have been translated and reinterpreted through the ages. The specific words used in original texts have sometimes shifted in meaning or been influenced by cultural beliefs of later periods. As a result, interpretations have ranged widely, with some focusing on strict adherence to these verses and others advocating a more flexible, context-driven approach.

So, the biblical references people often bring up in discussions about sodomy are complex. While some verses in Leviticus and the letters of Paul in the New Testament seem clear to some, others see room for interpretation, especially considering the historical context and the language used in the original texts.

Sodomy: Historical and Cultural Context

To understand why the Bible says what it does about sodomy, it helps to look at what life was like back then. Things were different—what people cared about, how they lived, and what they thought was right or wrong.

Hospitality Was a Big Deal

In those days, people took hospitality seriously. This meant welcoming strangers and making them feel safe. Life was tough, especially in the desert, so people relied on each other. Turning away a guest or treating them badly wasn’t just rude; it was seen as downright terrible. That’s why, when the men of Sodom tried to harm Lot’s guests, it wasn’t just a bad act—it broke a big social rule.

In fact, the Bible talks a lot about being good to strangers. For example, Hebrews 13:2 says:

“Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.”

This makes it clear that welcoming others was a big part of living a good life.

Laws About Purity and Clean Living

The people in ancient Israel had many rules about how to live, what to eat, and who they could marry. These rules, found in books like Leviticus, were meant to keep their community safe and healthy. Many rules told people what was “clean” or “unclean.” For example, Leviticus 18:3 warns:

“You must not do as they do in Egypt, where you used to live, and you must not do as they do in the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you.” In other words, they were told to live differently from other people around them.

Some rules were about relationships and family. They believed keeping families in order was super important, and anything that seemed to mess with that was a big issue.

Different Views on Sexuality

In ancient times, a lot of rules around sexuality were tied to family and having children. Families were the backbone of society, and children were necessary for survival and inheritance. Any relationship that didn’t lead to children—like same-sex relationships—was seen as strange or “unnatural” because it didn’t follow the family-centered structure they valued.

Romans 1:26-27 talks about people “abandoning natural relations” for “unnatural ones.” Some people think this means that they were worried about anything that didn’t support family life the way they thought it should.

Why This Matters

When we read these old stories and rules now, it’s easy to think they’re just about specific actions. But a lot of them are based on the way people lived, what they valued, and what kept their communities running. So, the Bible’s views on sodomy—and other things—often come from the way people understood family, safety, and community thousands of years ago.

Community Questions: Sodomy in the Bible

1. What is sodomy in the Bible?

In the Bible, “sodomy” doesn’t appear as a specific term. The idea comes from the story of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19, where the people of Sodom are described as acting in wicked and violent ways. Over time, people started using “sodomy” to refer to sexual acts that they thought were linked to the story, but the Bible itself doesn’t define “sodomy” in exact terms.

2. Is sodomy a sin?

The Bible doesn’t use the word “sodomy” directly, but some passages condemn certain sexual behaviors that later came to be associated with the term. Leviticus 18:22, for instance, calls male same-sex relations “detestable.” However, the interpretation of what counts as sin varies between religious groups.

3. What does the Bible say about Sodom and Gomorrah?

The story of Sodom and Gomorrah appears in Genesis 18–19. God decides to destroy these cities because of the people’s extreme wickedness. The story highlights how the men of Sodom tried to harm guests at Lot’s home, breaking the ancient rule of hospitality. In Ezekiel 16:49-50, the Bible also points out that the people of Sodom were “arrogant, overfed, and unconcerned,” and failed to help the poor and needy.

4. What does “sodomizing a woman” mean in the Bible?

The Bible doesn’t mention the phrase “sodomizing a woman.” The term “sodomy” as it’s used today is based on interpretations from the story of Sodom, but it doesn’t appear in the Bible as a direct reference to specific acts involving women.

5. What is a “sodomite” in the Bible?

The Bible sometimes uses “sodomite” to describe people linked with behaviors seen as sinful. In older translations, like the King James Version, the word “sodomite” is used for people breaking certain moral laws, but modern translations tend to avoid this term because it’s not a specific word in the original Hebrew and Greek texts.

6. Is anal sex a sin in the Bible?

The Bible doesn’t specifically mention anal sex. Some people interpret verses like Leviticus 18:22 and Leviticus 20:13 as condemning certain types of relationships, but it doesn’t explicitly address or name particular acts like anal sex.

7. Does the Bible talk about anal sex?

No, the Bible doesn’t talk directly about anal sex. While it does have verses that discuss sexual morality and relationships, specific acts are not usually named in detail. Most discussions around this topic are based on interpretations of broader teachings in the Bible.