סְדֹם
Sedom, a place near the Dead Sea
Definition
סְדֹם (Sodom) is a proper noun referring to a prominent city in the southern Jordan Valley, near the Dead Sea. In the biblical narrative, it is most famously depicted as a city of profound wickedness and moral corruption, which led to its divine destruction by fire and brimstone (Genesis 19:24-25). The name itself, meaning 'burnt' or 'scorched,' fittingly describes its ultimate fate and the surrounding volcanic or bituminous terrain. Beyond its historical-geographical sense, Sodom later serves in the prophetic literature as a powerful archetype of utter sin and divine judgment (Isaiah 1:9-10, Jeremiah 23:14).
Biblical Usage
The word appears 38 times, primarily in Genesis (especially chapters 13-14, 18-19) where it is central to the stories of Abraham, Lot, and the city's destruction. It is often paired with its sister city, Gomorrah. Later, the prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Amos) and the poetry of Lamentations use 'Sodom' as a metaphor for national sin, pride, and the certainty of God's judgment against corruption. For example, Ezekiel 16:49-50 specifies Sodom's sins as pride, excess of food, prosperous ease, and neglect of the poor and needy.
Etymology
Derived from an unused root (סדם) meaning 'to scorch' or 'to burn.' This etymology directly relates to the city's catastrophic end and likely describes the character of its local environment—a district known for its bitumen pits (Genesis 14:10) and volcanic activity, which came to symbolize divine conflagration.
Semantic Range
Sodom is a cornerstone biblical symbol of God's holy wrath against entrenched, societal sin and sexual immorality (Jude 1:7). Its story establishes the principle of divine justice while also highlighting God's willingness to relent for the sake of the righteous (Genesis 18:22-33). Understanding Sodom enriches reading by revealing how later biblical authors use it as a benchmark for depravity and a warning against covenant unfaithfulness, deeply informing doctrines of sin, judgment, and mercy.
In the ancient Near East, cities were often seen as centers of civilization and security. Sodom's portrayal subverts this, presenting a city that became synonymous with moral chaos and social injustice. Its destruction narrative would have resonated with audiences familiar with catastrophic events like volcanic eruptions or city sieges, interpreting them as acts of divine intervention. The specific listing of its sins in Ezekiel 16:49 highlights cultural values around hospitality, social responsibility, and humility before God.
עֲמֹרָה (ʿĂmôrâh, H6017) — Gomorrah, the sister city of Sodom, always mentioned alongside it as sharing the same fate and symbolic meaning.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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