The Sin of Sodom
The Sin of Sodom
Outside of Leviticus, the other primary reference to homosexual activity in the OT is found in Genesis 19. In this chapter we find Lot, the nephew of Abraham, dwelling in Sodom, which is about to be destroyed by the Lord because of its wickedness. Some angels, who apparently look like regular men (v.5), come to warn Lot. After some men in the town see the angels come into Lot’s house, they surround it in an attempt to get Lot to send out the men so that they can engage with them sexually. In response, the angels blind the men so that they can no longer find the door to the house.
Two other biblical passages help us understand the nature of what is happening in Genesis 19. The first is Ezekiel 16:47-50. A plethora of Sodom’s specific sins are listed here, including pride and gluttony and lack of hospitality, and they are all labeled as “abominations” before the Lord. The word “abomination” is often used in scripture to describe that which is detestable before the Lord and is often linked to idolatry. Furthermore, it is the same word used in both Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 to describe homosexuality. Though homosexuality is not specifically listed as one of Sodom’s sins in Ezekiel 16, the reality is that their homosexuality clearly fits into the category of “abomination” before the Lord.
The second passage is Jude 7, in which the divine punishment of Sodom is connected to their “sexual immorality” and pursuit of “unnatural desire” (literally, “different flesh”). Given that the men of Sodom did not know that Lot’s visitors were angels, their desire for “different flesh” is best understood as a reference to their desire for sexual activity with other men. So, homosexuality seems to be presented by Jude as one form of the sexual immorality that was present in Sodom and thus led to divine punishment.
Genesis 19 is only one reference to homosexuality in the Bible, but my hope is that this short article helps provide some clarity about this specific passage. For more on homosexuality and sexuality in general, please check out the sermons from our “Biblical Sexuality” series.
Outside of Leviticus, the other primary reference to homosexual activity in the OT is found in Genesis 19. In this chapter we find Lot, the nephew of Abraham, dwelling in Sodom, which is about to be destroyed by the Lord because of its wickedness. Some angels, who apparently look like regular men (v.5), come to warn Lot. After some men in the town see the angels come into Lot’s house, they surround it in an attempt to get Lot to send out the men so that they can engage with them sexually. In response, the angels blind the men so that they can no longer find the door to the house.
Two other biblical passages help us understand the nature of what is happening in Genesis 19. The first is Ezekiel 16:47-50. A plethora of Sodom’s specific sins are listed here, including pride and gluttony and lack of hospitality, and they are all labeled as “abominations” before the Lord. The word “abomination” is often used in scripture to describe that which is detestable before the Lord and is often linked to idolatry. Furthermore, it is the same word used in both Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 to describe homosexuality. Though homosexuality is not specifically listed as one of Sodom’s sins in Ezekiel 16, the reality is that their homosexuality clearly fits into the category of “abomination” before the Lord.
The second passage is Jude 7, in which the divine punishment of Sodom is connected to their “sexual immorality” and pursuit of “unnatural desire” (literally, “different flesh”). Given that the men of Sodom did not know that Lot’s visitors were angels, their desire for “different flesh” is best understood as a reference to their desire for sexual activity with other men. So, homosexuality seems to be presented by Jude as one form of the sexual immorality that was present in Sodom and thus led to divine punishment.
Genesis 19 is only one reference to homosexuality in the Bible, but my hope is that this short article helps provide some clarity about this specific passage. For more on homosexuality and sexuality in general, please check out the sermons from our “Biblical Sexuality” series.
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