The Real Reason Sodom & Gomorrah Were Destroyed
Genesis 19:1-28 Expounded & Interpretation Debunked
(Including Jesus’ commentary on Matthew 11:23-24)
Now, I am going to make clear the real reason Sodom & Gomorrah were destroyed. It is true that when the perpetrators approached Lot’s house to abuse the heavenly beings (angels), they are all called “men” (Hebrew: ’îyš), which refers to a man or a husband. Chapter 19, verses 4 and 5, state:
Genesis 19:4-5 (NKJV)
4 “Now before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both old and young, all the people from every quarter, surrounded the house. (Italics added for emphasis.)
5 “And they called to Lot and said to him, ‘Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may know them carnally.’” (The NKJV inserts with italics the word “carnally” for clarification. It is not in the original text.)
For those who prefer versions other than the New King James Version (NKJV):
The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) translates verse 4 this way: “But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house;” (Italics added.)
The New American Standard Bible (NASB) translates verse 4: “the men of the city, the men of Sodom, surrounded the house, both young and old, all the people from every quarter;“
An Example of a Modern Bible Version Problem
The New International Version (NIV) translates verse 4: “Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom —both young and old—surrounded the house.”
Take note! The NIV paraphrases the original text WRONGLY! This is because it is not a truly accurate word-for-word translation. It is a hybrid. It combines translation with paraphrase. And in many cases it paraphrases verses INACCURATELY. This causes the reader to miss out on some very important details!
Did you notice that a very important word was omitted in the NIV? The Hebrew word ‘am, translated “people” found in literally translated versions is MISSING! This leaves one with the impression that these men were the only ones who resided in Sodom.
The NKJV accurately includes “all the people” in addition to “the men of the city.” So do the NRSV and the NASB quoted above. The NIV omits this important detail in the original Hebrew. (Guess which version is preferred by most contemporary fundamentalists and evangelicals. That’s right! The NIV. (To be fair, the translators of the NKJV and NASB also get it wrong with regard to the term “homosexuals.” We discuss that problematic issue HERE.)
Why is it so important to include the words, “all the people,” and why is it so wrong for the NIV to omit them? Because the Bible uses the word “men” as an inclusive. “All men” can mean “all people.” For instance:
1 Timothy 2:1-5 (NKJV) 1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus…”
And What About the Women?
From this passage we see that:
- Supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men. (But we need not pray for women?)
- God our Savior “desires all men to be saved.” (But He does not desire women to be saved?)
- There is one Mediator between God and men…” (Then, who is the mediator between God and women?)
In the Bible, “all men” means “all people.” So when we are told, “the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both old and young, all the people from every quarter, surrounded the house” (Genesis 19:4), we are being told that a raging mob surrounded the house, without specifying exactly what gender they were.
Now, Here’s a Deal Breaker!
In over 40 references to Sodom in the Scriptures, not one of these makes specific reference to “homosexuality!” If “homosexuality” was the “sin of Sodom,” you would think that there would be at least one! In Ezekiel 16:49-50, God told us the real reason Sodom was destroyed!
Ezekiel 16:49, 50 (NKJV)
49 Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.
50 And they were haughty and committed abomination before Me; therefore I took them away as I saw fit.
The “abomination” they committed was idolatry: they “worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator” (Romans 1:25). (For an examination of the word “abomination,” click HERE.)
Dear judging and condemning friend, What part of the Prophet Ezekiel’s explanation don’t you understand? Here was his perfect opportunity to blame “homosexuality” for the destruction of Sodom and he blew it!
The “men of Sodom” had stooped down to the lowest level of debauchery. So much so that they were determined to gang rape angels — heavenly spiritual beings who had taken on human flesh in order to communicate and eat food with Abraham. This is the real reason Sodom was destroyed.
The story of Sodom and Gomorrah is not about “same-sex couples.” The Biblical narrative about Sodom and Gomorrah in no way refers to people with same-sex attraction. It does not refer to people who live in loving, caring, and committed relationships with their same-sex spouses. In no way does it refer to one who prepares chicken soup for a same-sex partner who has the flu.
The Bible describes Sodom and Gomorrah as a city of such spiritual decay that its destruction was irreversible. Not even 10 righteous citizens could be found within it. It was populated by spiritually reprobate people whose consciences were seared. The people were filled with “pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness. Neither did they strengthen the hand of the poor and needy (Ezekiel 16:49). In such a state of spiritual ruin, they were not above committing the gang rape of angels!
The Lord Jesus’ Opinion on Sodom
Fundamentalists never tell you that Jesus declared a city in His own generation more hopeless than was Sodom!
Matthew 11:23-24 (NKJV)
“And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.”
This is a profound declaration of the Lord! If He had performed His marvelous works there, “those Sodomites” would have been receptive to the gospel!
Capernaum was a city that was so respected by people that it was “exalted to heaven.” Capernaum saw first hand the “mighty works” of the Holy Spirit through Jesus’ hands. But because of its outright rejection of the gospel, Capernaum would be brought down to Hell.
Now, here’s the shocker! Jesus said, “It shall be more tolerable for Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.”
It’s impossible for us to fully comprehend and describe what the judgment of God upon the earth will look like. But this declaration of the Lord Jesus completely fits what the Apostle Paul was trying to tell us:
Those who lived in Sodom were guilty of rejecting the Truth. As a consequence, they came to hate the living God. Instead, they turned to worshiping images of men and animals (Romans 1:23, 30).
This is why God “game them up and gave them over” to do a plethora of despicable things. Entering into a loving, caring same-sex relationship was not one of them.
A Word to the Unwise
After reading the above, do you still intend to sit as judge? In Jesus’ Name, STOP forcing the meaning of the story of Sodom and Gomorrah to mean what it does not! You now have the truth. If you still can’t resist the temptation, at least go back and read the site dedication. Hopefully, after reading it, the Lord will give you another chance to repent of the sin of playing God. He is the only judge of eternal souls. If not, God will hold you responsible if that precious soul resorts to drugs, excessive alcohol use, or suicide as a result of your condemnation. You will be held accountable, even if you “meant well.“
About the asterisk *
In this website, I will always (unless I miss one) put the words “homosexual,” “homosexuals,” and “homosexuality” in quotation marks. This is because I prefer to refer to say “persons with same-sex attraction.” God wonderfully created some people who have been born with same-sex attraction. They didn’t choose it. (For a discussion about whether people with same-sex attraction have “chosen this lifestyle,” click HERE.)
I also oppose the ever-increasing “alphabet soup” of identity letters and labels ad nauseam. They’ve only served to point out our differences and have ultimately created more and more division.
Click HERE to go to the next “clobber passage.”