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Sodom and Gomorrah: Why This Story Isn’t About Homosexuality

Sodom and Gomorrah: Why This Story Isn’t About Homosexuality

Last updated on: June 30, 2026 at 11:58 pm by Rebecca Wallace Keene

Sodom and Gomorrah: Why This Story Isn’t About Homosexuality 2026-06-30T23:58:57-04:00 Rebecca Wallace Keene

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The story of Sodom and Gomorrah is one of the most famous in the Torah. It tells the story of two cities that G-d chose to destroy with fire and brimstone. Many faith traditions have pointed to this tale to condemn homosexual relationships. However, the text does not support that reading. Sodom and Gomorrah were not destroyed for homosexuality. When read in its full context, the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah were far broader, and the reason for their destruction had nothing to do with loving, consensual same-sex relationships.

Abraham Pleads for Sodom

The story begins with two angels on their way to Sodom. Abraham encounters them and learns of G-d’s plan to destroy the city prior to their arrival in Sodom. Abraham then begins to bargain with G-d on behalf of the cities. Genesis 18 says:

“23 Then Abraham approached him and said: “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24 What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare[e] the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? 25 Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?” 26 The Lord said, “If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”

But each time G-d and he reached an agreement, it turned out there were not that many good people in Sodom. So, Abraham continues to lower the number and renegotiate. Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?” Yet, even that turns out not to be true in Sodom.

Sins of the Past

This tells us that Sodom is not being destroyed because of the story that happens later when the angels arrive in Sodom and are met with sexual violence. Sodom’s sin was not the attempted rape of the angels, which the world has since deemed as homosexuality. Rather, Sodom’s fate was sealed before the angels arrive, because the city was full of evil people. This aligns with Ezekiel’s judgement in chapter 16, “49 “‘Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy. 50 They were haughty and did detestable things before me. Therefore I did away with them as you have seen.”

Sexual Immorality in Sodom

Having established that Sodom’s fate was sealed before the angel’s arrival, we turn our attention to the story that often gets the most attention, Genesis 19. The angels arrive and are taken into the home of Lot and his family. Men come to the door and demand that the guests be turned out so that they may have sex with them. Lot refuses and offers his own daughters instead. Genesis 19:4-8 says:

“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. 5 They called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them.”6 Lot went outside to meet them and shut the door behind him 7 and said, “No, my friends. Don’t do this wicked thing. 8 Look, I have two daughters who have never slept with a man. Let me bring them out to you, and you can do what you like with them. But don’t do anything to these men, for they have come under the protection of my roof.”

Rape in Sodom

This is often seen as the men wanting to commit a homosexual act with the angels and Lot offering his daughters instead, by many Christians and Jews. However, the text does not support that reading. This is not a consensual act, such as those that occur inside a modern consensual homosexual relationship. This was an attempted gang rape of a visitor.

Hospitality

Further, Lot is not offering his daughters because it is better that the men have sex with women than men. He is offering his daughters because the men are his guests and allowing harm to come to them would violate the hospitality code and the visitors are angels. This is seen in the text when he says “for they have come under my roof.” Bible Archivist says of the hospitality code:

“It predates Moses. It predates Abraham. Archaeologists and ancient Near East scholars trace its origins to the earliest Sumerian and Akkadian civilizations, around 3000–2500 BCE. Similar codes have been documented across Mesopotamia, Egypt, Canaan, and the Arabian Peninsula. The Three Core Obligations: Every host in the ancient Near East was bound by three non-negotiable duties:

Offer shelter — immediately and without interrogation.
Provide food and water — before asking any questions of the guest.
Guarantee safety — protect the guest from all harm while they were under your roof. These were not suggestions. Violating any of the three was a public, communal offense.”

Later books such as Jude speak of sexual immorality in Sodom. Jude 7 reads, “7 In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.” However, we must consider that the sexual immorality spoken of in later interpretations was rape, not homosexuality. This is because the only sexual immorality the story specifically mentions is an attempted gang rape.

Sex Between Angels and Men

Finally, there is another way to interpret the crimes of Sodom. The proposed victims were angelic, not human. Genesis 6 tells us that what led to the evil in Noah’s time was sex between angels and humans. In that time too, that act led to G-d destroying those who committed it. In fact, it led to the destruction of all of humanity, except for Noah and his family. Genesis 6:4-8 reads:

4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went to the daughters of humans and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown.5 The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. 6 The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. 7 So the Lord said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.

This is very similar to Genesis 19, where the humans wanted to have sex with angels and the only people saved are Lot and his family. That leads me to believe the biggest sin in the story may be the attempted rape of angels by men. According to Torah, G-d understands sex between humans and angels to be a sin worthy of destruction and death.

Sodom’s Crime

However, I believe it is important to remember G-d had condemned Sodom prior to the events of Genesis 19. Therefore, I believe the reason for the destruction was Sodom’s ongoing evil acts as Ezekiel mentioned, including the rape of visitors. Sodom’s sin wasn’t homosexuality. It was taking without consent. That applies to more than sex. Ezekiel also accuses them of being overfed and unconcerned and not helping the poor and needy. They took what in G-d’s eyes did not belong to them in both sex and food. They chose power and subjugation over justice. That is the sin of Sodom.

The story of Sodom and Gomorrah has a lot to teach us about human sexuality and lust. However, it has nothing to teach us about homosexuality. The traditional reading is wrong. Rather, Sodom and Gomorrah teach us about consent. The story teaches us to care for others and place their well-being ahead of our own desires. That is a lesson the entire world needs, not just homosexuals.

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About Rebecca Keene

The author, Rebecca Keene, has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Religion. She graduated from the University of Pikeville as Religion Honor Student in 2014. Currently, she is studying for a MA in Women, Gender, Spirituality, and Social Justice at the California Institute of Integral Studies. Also, Rebecca is the author of FAITH UNDER THE RAINBOW: RECLAIMING THE TRUTH ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY AND THE BIBLE. In addition, she founded and independently runs the social media community, Reclaiming the Truth. Therefore, you should visit Rebecca's author page and purchase her books at: Amazon Author Page or: Publication Page Rebecca is currently in her 3rd year of Kabbalah study. She is ordained to perform LGBT weddings and is certified in Hypnotherapy. Rebecca lives in Kentucky with her two adult children. She practices Non-Denominational Judaism. She is passionate about social justice and fiercely advocates for the marginalized in society and religion. When not with her children or writing, Rebecca enjoys spending time in nature, with G-d, or in a good book. She also enjoys making and selling art which you can find at Art by Rebecca. Rebecca will try to answer all correspondence, but please be patient, as life is busy for us all. You can read more about the author here.

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