Gomorrah

At a Glance

A sinful city of the Jordan plain that God destroyed in Genesis 19.

Key Points

• Closely associated with Sodom
• Destroyed as an act of divine judgment
• Became a lasting biblical warning
• Used by later prophets and apostles as a sober example

Description

Gomorrah was one of the cities of the plain mentioned in the Old Testament and is most closely linked with Sodom in the account of divine judgment in Genesis 19. Scripture presents its destruction as a real act of God against extreme wickedness, and later biblical writers use Sodom and Gomorrah together as a solemn warning of judgment (for example, Deut. 29:23; Isa. 1:9-10; Jer. 23:14; Matt. 10:15; 2 Pet. 2:6; Jude 7). While interpreters may discuss the precise historical location of the city, the biblical significance is clear: Gomorrah stands as a sobering example of God's holiness, justice, and his call for people to turn from sin.

Biblical Context

Gomorrah appears in the Genesis narrative of Abraham and Lot. Its destruction is tied to the broader account of the cities of the plain and functions in Scripture as an early and enduring example of divine judgment.

Historical Context

The exact archaeological location of Gomorrah is uncertain. The Bible treats it as a real city of the ancient Jordan plain, but its significance in Scripture rests more on its destruction and moral lesson than on precise geography.

Jewish and Ancient Context

In Jewish and biblical tradition, Gomorrah became a stock example of judgment on deep corruption and covenant-breaking wickedness. Later Jewish and Christian writers commonly paired it with Sodom.

Primary Key Texts

• Genesis 19:24-29
• Deuteronomy 29:23

Secondary Key Texts

• Genesis 13:10-13
• Isaiah 1:9-10
• Jeremiah 23:14
• Matthew 10:15
• Luke 17:28-30
• 2 Peter 2:6
• Jude 7

Original Language Note

Hebrew: 'Amorāh (commonly transliterated Gomorrah). The name is preserved in English through the Greek and Latin biblical tradition.

Theological Significance

Gomorrah illustrates God’s holiness, justice, and patience in judgment. It also shows that public, entrenched wickedness is not hidden from God and that judgment in Scripture is morally meaningful, not arbitrary.

Philosophical Explanation

The biblical use of Gomorrah is historical and moral, not merely symbolic. A real city becomes a lasting sign that moral order matters and that evil has consequences before a holy God.

Interpretive Cautions

Avoid treating Gomorrah as a mere legend or as a generic label detached from the Genesis narrative. Also avoid speculative claims about its exact archaeological site beyond what the evidence can support.

Major Views

Most interpreters understand Gomorrah as a real ancient city destroyed in the Genesis account, though the precise location is debated. Theological readings consistently treat it as a warning example of divine judgment.

Doctrinal Boundaries

This entry concerns a biblical place and its scriptural significance. It should not be used to support speculative moralism beyond what the text states, nor should it be detached from the historical-grammatical meaning of Genesis.

Practical Significance

Gomorrah warns readers that God sees human wickedness, calls people to repentance, and will judge evil justly. It also reminds believers to take biblical warnings seriously rather than presuming upon mercy.

Related Entries

• Sodom
• Lot
• Admah
• Zeboiim
• cities of the plain

See Also

• Genesis 19
• Deuteronomy 29:23
• Isaiah 1:9-10
• Jude 7
• 2 Peter 2:6