Where does the story of Sodom and Gomorrah leave us? We see that inhospitality, violence, and abuse toward strangers was their primary sin—not homosexuality.
But what about the rest of the Scriptures that mention the cities of the Plain?
In all of the biblical passages, we find the following sins and crimes delineated:
| Bible Book | Sins akin to Sodom’s |
| Genesis 13:13; 19 | Wickedness and sin Inhospitality Forcefulness Prejudice against outsiders Disrespect Cruelty Violence and physical/sexual abusiveness Intent to degrade, debase, dominate and humiliate |
| Deuteronomy 29:17-28; 32:32-35 | Detestable practices Idolatry Apostasy Spiritual adultery Abandoning God Scoffing the Rock of their salvation Following after strange gods Sacrificing to demons |
| Isaiah 1:4, 7-11, 15-17; 3:8-9; 13:19-20 | Unfaithfulness Hypocrisy Iniquity Violence Bloodshed Evildoing Oppressing the helpless Haughtiness Pride in sinfulness |
| Jeremiah 23:14-15; 49:16-18; 50:39-40 | Adultery Walking in lies Strengthening the hands of evildoers Promoting ungodliness Inspiring terror Pride Idolatry Sinning against the Lord Challenging the Lord Defying the Lord Arrogance |
| Lamentations 3:34-36; 4:6 | Transgressions Grievous sin Uncleanness Rebelliousness Iniquity Becoming cruel Injustice that exploits human rights |
| Ezekiel 16:46-51 | Abominations Whorings with heathen nations Idolatry Child sacrifice Wickedness Lewd behavior Spiritual adultery Lust Shedding blood Pride Greed Gluttony No concern for the poor and needy |
| Amos 4:11 | Ruthless oppression and enslavement of the poor Fathers and sons sexually using the same girl Interfering with the Nazirites and prophets Oppression Wrongdoing, looting, hoarding plunder Idle luxury Oppressing the poor and crushing the needy Drunkenness Making sacrifices without turning from sin and then boasting about it |
| Zephaniah 2:8-11 | Idolatry Complacency Sinning against the Lord Pride Scoffing Boasting |
| Matthew 10:14-15; 11:20-24 | Hardheartedness Unrepentance |
| Luke 10:5-12; 17:28-33 | Inhospitality |
| Romans 9:29 | Unbelief |
| 2 Peter 2:4-9 NIV | Ungodliness Depravity Lawlessness |
| Jude 5-7 NASB | Gross immorality Going after “strange flesh” (angelic)—violating God’s created order |
| Revelation 11:7-8 | Rejecting God’s messengers |
| 3 Maccabees 2:2-5 CEB | Violence Arrogance Wicked deeds |
| 2 Esdras 2:8-9 CEB; 5:7 CEB; 7:106 CEB | Ignoring the Lord and his advice Disobedience Idolatry Sexual immorality |
| Sirach 16:8 CEB | Disobedience Rebellion Pride Arrogance |
| Wisdom 19:13-17 CEB | Failing to welcome sojourning strangers Making guests and benefactors slaves Treating people unlike themselves as enemies Forcing strangers to do hard labor |
The chief sins are inhospitality, idolatry, hatred of strangers, and abuses against human rights. Sexual sins are in the minority, most are metaphorical of spiritual adultery, and homosexuality is not mentioned. Instead, pride and arrogance are primary.
Next time, we’ll make some conclusions about the teaching of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
More information:
- Be Righteous, Do Justice, Show Hospitality (Sodom Series #1)
- Outcry Against Sodom (Sodom Series #2)
- When Angels Arrived in Sodom (Sodom Series #3)
- Sodom’s Welcome Committee (Sodom Series #4)
- Lot Answers the Door (Sodom Series #5)
- The Value of Lot’s Daughters (Sodom Series #6)
- Sodom’s Hatred of Strangers (Sodom Series #7)
- Torture and Abuse at Abu Ghraib Prison (Sodom Series #8)
- A Stranger Comes to Gibeah (Sodom Series #9)
- Gibeah’s Violence Toward Strangers (Sodom Series #10)
- The Concubine Was Abused to Death (Sodom Series #11)
- Xenophobia Leads to Abuse (Sodom Series #12)
- Lot and Family Rescued from Sodom (Sodom Series #13)
- Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Sodom Series #14)
To read the full story, get my book, The Sin of Sodom: What the Bible Really Says About Why God Destroyed the Cities of the Plain, for Kindle and in trade paperback.
Lee Allen Howard 
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