Sodom and Gomorrah
Sodom and Gomorrah means a place regarded as deeply wicked, corrupt, or sexually immoral; it comes from the story of two cities destroyed by God in Genesis. Today the phrase usually expresses strong disapproval, though it can also be used jokingly.
Where it comes from
The biblical cities
The cities appear in Genesis, where God judges their wickedness. The account includes a crowd in Sodom threatening sexual violence against visitors sheltered by Lot.
In Genesis, angels lead Lot and his family out of Sodom before fire and sulphur destroy the cities.
In The Bible by Various authors
A warning about wickedness
Today the paired names suggest a place where wrongdoing is widespread. The phrase carries a severe moral judgment, even when used lightly.
In Genesis, Abraham asks whether Sodom might be spared if righteous people can be found there. His appeal raises the question of whether the innocent should suffer alongside the guilty.
In The Bible by Various authors
How to use Sodom and Gomorrah
- Use the phrase for a place, rather than one person's mistake.
- Make clear whether the judgment is serious or joking.
- Avoid using it as a label for gay people or communities.
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Does Sodom and Gomorrah always refer to sexual wrongdoing?
No, the phrase can refer more broadly to corruption or serious wrongdoing. Although Genesis includes threatened sexual violence, Ezekiel also describes Sodom's pride, comfortable living, and failure to help poor and needy people.
Is Sodom and Gomorrah an insulting phrase?
It can be, because it describes a place as morally rotten. In casual speech it may be playful exaggeration, but its religious associations and history of use against gay people mean that context and audience matter.
Related terms
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