1 Kings 14:24

KJV

And there were also sodomites in the land: [and] they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.

KJV (with Strong's)

And there were also sodomites {H6945} in the land {H776}: and they did {H6213} according to all the abominations {H8441} of the nations {H1471} which the LORD {H3068} cast out {H3423} before {H6440} the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Also there were male and female cult-prostitutes in the land attached to these shrines, doing all the disgusting things which the nations did that ADONAI had expelled ahead of the people of Isra'el.

Berean Standard Bible

There were even male shrine prostitutes in the land. They imitated all the abominations of the nations the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.

American Standard Version

and there were also sodomites in the land: they did according to all the abominations of the nations which Jehovah drove out before the children of Israel.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
1 Kings 14:24 offers a stark and disturbing glimpse into the profound spiritual and moral degradation that permeated the kingdom of Judah during the tumultuous reign of Rehoboam, King Solomon's son. This verse serves as a severe indictment of the nation's wholesale abandonment of God's covenant and divine laws, mirroring the very detestable practices that had previously led to the expulsion of the Canaanite nations from the land. The explicit mention of male cult prostitutes, alongside other pagan rituals, signifies a complete societal departure from the Lord's holy standards and foreshadows the impending divine judgment that would soon befall Judah.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within a somber narrative in [1 Kings 14](/1_kings/14 "1 Kings 14 - Rehoboam's Reign and Judah's Apostasy") that details the spiritual decline of the southern kingdom of Judah following the death of King Solomon. While Solomon himself had tragically introduced idolatry through his numerous foreign wives, as recounted in [1 Kings 11:1-8](/1_kings/11-1 "1 Kings 11:1-8 - Solomon's Apostasy"), his son Rehoboam not only continued but intensified this trend, leading the nation further into apostasy. The immediate preceding verses, [1 Kings 14:22-23](/1_kings/14-22 "1 Kings 14:22-23 - Judah's Evil Practices"), vividly describe Judah's widespread idolatry, including the erection of high places, sacred pillars, and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree. Verse 24 then adds a particularly egregious and specific dimension to this moral and spiritual decay, highlighting a form of cultic prostitution that was anathema to Yahweh.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The period of Rehoboam's reign (c. 931-913 BC) was marked by political instability following the division of the united monarchy and, crucially, by a significant religious syncretism in Judah. The "abominations of the nations" refer specifically to the idolatrous and immoral practices of the Canaanite peoples whom the Israelites were commanded to dispossess and whose practices they were strictly forbidden to adopt (e.g., [Deuteronomy 12:29-31](/deuteronomy/12-29 "Deuteronomy 12:29-31 - Warning Against Canaanite Practices")). These practices often involved fertility cults, which included ritual prostitution (both male and female) performed in association with the worship of deities like Baal and Asherah. The presence of "sodomites" (male cult prostitutes) indicates that Judah had not only adopted the *worship* of these foreign gods but had also embraced the most abhorrent *practices* associated with them, directly violating God's laws against sexual immorality and cultic impurity (e.g., [Leviticus 18:22](/leviticus/18-22 "Leviticus 18:22 - Prohibition of Homosexual Acts") and [Deuteronomy 23:17-18](/deuteronomy/23-17 "Deuteronomy 23:17-18 - No Cult Prostitutes in Israel")).
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within [1 Kings](/1_kings/1 "1 Kings - The Divided Kingdom and Prophetic Warnings") and the broader Deuteronomistic History. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **Profound Moral and Religious Corruption**, demonstrating how far Judah had fallen from the covenant fidelity expected of God's chosen people. Secondly, it highlights the **Repetition of Past Sins**, drawing a direct parallel between Judah's current practices and the "abominations" that led to the expulsion of the Canaanites. This serves as a grave warning that God's judgment is impartial and applies equally to His covenant people if they persist in rebellion, as seen in [Leviticus 18:24-30](/leviticus/18-24 "Leviticus 18:24-30 - Consequences of Abominations"). Finally, the verse reinforces the theme of **Consequences of Apostasy**, showing that turning away from the Living God to embrace idolatry and its accompanying immoralities inevitably invites divine judgment, which materializes in the subsequent invasion by Shishak, king of Egypt, detailed in [1 Kings 14:25-26](/1_kings/14-25 "1 Kings 14:25-26 - Shishak's Invasion of Judah").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Sodomites (Hebrew, _qadesh_):** The KJV translation "sodomites" for the Hebrew term קָדֵשׁ (_qadesh_) is a somewhat interpretive rendering. Literally, _qadesh_ means "holy one" or "consecrated one," derived from the root Q-D-Sh, meaning "to be holy" or "set apart." However, in this context, and others like [Deuteronomy 23:17](/deuteronomy/23-17 "Deuteronomy 23:17 - No Cult Prostitutes"), it is used ironically or euphemistically to refer to male cult prostitutes. These individuals were "consecrated" not to Yahweh, but to pagan deities, participating in ritualistic sexual acts within pagan temples as part of fertility cults. This practice was a direct and egregious violation of God's law, a profound defilement of the land, and a stark indicator of Judah's syncretistic apostasy. While the KJV term might evoke the sexual sin of Sodom in [Genesis 19](/genesis/19 "Genesis 19 - The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah"), the primary meaning here is specifically cultic prostitution.
* **Abominations (Hebrew, _to'evah_):** The Hebrew word תּוֹעֵבָה (_to'evah_) denotes something detestable, abhorrent, or an abomination, particularly in a moral or religious sense. It is frequently used in the Old Testament to describe practices that are utterly repugnant to God, such as idolatry, child sacrifice, divination, and various forms of sexual immorality. The use of the plural "all the abominations" emphasizes the comprehensive nature of Judah's departure from God's standards, indicating a pervasive embrace of practices that God had explicitly condemned and for which He had previously judged the Canaanite inhabitants of the land.
* **Cast out (Hebrew, _yarash_):** The verb יָרַשׁ (_yarash_), in its Hiphil stem (as used here), means "to dispossess" or "to drive out." The phrase "which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel" serves as a powerful theological and historical reminder. It highlights God's righteous judgment against the Canaanite nations due to their detestable practices (e.g., [Leviticus 18:24-28](/leviticus/18-24 "Leviticus 18:24-28 - Defilement of the Land")). By engaging in the same "abominations," Judah was effectively inviting the same divine judgment, underscoring the principle that God is just and consistent in His dealings with all nations, including His own covenant people.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And there were also sodomites in the land:"** This clause immediately introduces a grave spiritual and moral issue. The presence of _qadeshim_ (male cult prostitutes) signifies that the nation of Judah had not only adopted foreign deities but had also integrated the most offensive and impure aspects of pagan worship into their society. This was a direct affront to God's holiness and a violation of His covenant laws, which explicitly forbade such practices. It indicates a deep-seated corruption that extended beyond mere individual sin to institutionalized religious perversion.
* **"[and] they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel."** This second clause provides the theological and historical context for the severity of Judah's sin. It explicitly links Judah's current practices to the very "abominations" (idolatry, sexual immorality, child sacrifice, etc.) for which God had previously dispossessed the Canaanite nations. This parallel serves as a stark warning: if God judged the Canaanites for these sins, He would certainly judge His own covenant people, Israel, for committing the same offenses. The phrase emphasizes the comprehensive nature ("all the abominations") of Judah's apostasy, indicating a complete departure from their divine calling to be a holy nation set apart for Yahweh.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several impactful literary devices. **Irony** is evident in the term "sodomites" (Hebrew _qadesh_), which literally means "holy one" but is used to describe individuals engaged in profoundly unholy, pagan cultic prostitution. This stark contrast highlights the perversion of true holiness. **Allusion** is powerfully used by referencing "all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out." This immediately brings to mind the detailed accounts in the Pentateuch, particularly [Leviticus 18](/leviticus/18 "Leviticus 18 - Prohibited Sexual Relations") and [Deuteronomy 18](/deuteronomy/18 "Deuteronomy 18 - Detestable Practices"), where God explicitly condemns Canaanite practices and warns Israel against adopting them. This allusion serves as a theological shorthand, reminding the reader of God's past judgments and the covenant stipulations. Furthermore, the verse uses **Foreshadowing**, as the description of Judah's deep moral decay implicitly predicts the impending divine judgment and the subsequent invasion by Shishak, which immediately follows in the narrative.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
1 Kings 14:24 serves as a potent reminder of God's unwavering standard of holiness and the severe consequences of covenant infidelity. The theological principle is clear: God's covenant with Israel demanded exclusive worship and moral purity, distinguishing them from the surrounding pagan nations. When Israel, and specifically Judah here, adopted the very "abominations" for which God dispossessed the Canaanites, they forfeited their privileged position and invited divine judgment. This verse underscores that God's justice is impartial; He holds His people to the same, if not higher, standards of righteousness. It highlights the dangers of spiritual syncretism, where the worship of Yahweh is mixed with pagan practices, leading to profound moral corruption and a breakdown of the covenant relationship.

* [Leviticus 18:24-30](/leviticus/18-24 "Leviticus 18:24-30 - Defilement of the Land by Abominations"): This passage explicitly warns Israel against defiling themselves with the abominations of the nations, stating that the land itself will vomit them out if they do.
* [Deuteronomy 23:17-18](/deuteronomy/23-17 "Deuteronomy 23:17-18 - No Cult Prostitutes in Israel"): Directly forbids cultic prostitution, whether male or female, emphasizing its detestable nature to the Lord.
* [Psalm 106:34-40](/psalm/106-34 "Psalm 106:34-40 - Israel's Disobedience and God's Judgment"): Recounts how Israel failed to destroy the nations, learned their works, and served their idols, leading to God's wrath.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
1 Kings 14:24 stands as a timeless and sobering warning for believers today, emphasizing the enduring call to holiness and the perils of spiritual and moral compromise. Just as ancient Judah was called to be distinct from the surrounding pagan cultures, so too are followers of Christ called to be set apart, living according to God's immutable standards rather than conforming to the values and practices of a fallen world. This verse challenges us to examine our own lives and communities for any "abominations"—whether overt acts of sin or subtle forms of idolatry where anything takes precedence over God. It reminds us that true worship demands not only correct doctrine but also righteous living, and that a departure from God's revealed will inevitably leads to spiritual decline and, ultimately, to consequences, both personal and corporate. It calls us to cultivate a radical devotion to God, ensuring that our hearts, homes, and churches are places of purity and genuine worship, untainted by the world's corrupting influences.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might we, as individuals or as a church, be susceptible to "abominations" or practices that subtly compromise our devotion to God in today's cultural context?**
* **How does the historical parallel between Judah's sins and those of the Canaanites challenge our understanding of God's justice and His expectations for His people?**
* **What practical steps can we take to ensure that our pursuit of holiness is not merely external but deeply rooted in a transformed heart that prioritizes God above all else?**

### FAQ
**What does "sodomites" mean in this context, and how is it different from the sin of Sodom in Genesis 19?**

Answer: In [1 Kings 14:24](/1_kings/14-24 "1 Kings 14:24 - Judah's Abominations"), the KJV term "sodomites" translates the Hebrew word _qadesh_ (קָדֵשׁ), which literally means "holy one" or "consecrated one." However, it is used here to refer specifically to male cult prostitutes. These individuals were "consecrated" to pagan deities and engaged in ritualistic sexual acts within pagan temples as part of fertility cults (e.g., associated with Baal and Asherah worship). This practice was a direct violation of God's law and a profound defilement of the land. While the KJV's choice of "sodomites" might conceptually link it to the severity of the sexual sin described in [Genesis 19](/genesis/19 "Genesis 19 - The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah"), the primary meaning in 1 Kings 14:24 is cultic prostitution, a religious-sexual practice tied to idolatry, rather than the general homosexual acts described in [Genesis 19:4-5](/genesis/19-4 "Genesis 19:4-5 - The Men of Sodom"). The sin of Sodom was characterized by a violent, attempted gang rape, highlighting a pervasive wickedness and disregard for hospitality, while the _qadeshim_ were part of an institutionalized, religiously sanctioned system of sexual immorality.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The profound moral and spiritual degradation described in [1 Kings 14:24](/1_kings/14-24 "1 Kings 14:24 - Judah's Abominations"), marked by the presence of cultic prostitution and "all the abominations of the nations," powerfully underscores humanity's desperate need for a radical transformation that no human king or law could ultimately provide. This verse, with its depiction of a people utterly failing to live up to God's holy standards and falling prey to the very sins that led to the expulsion of the Canaanites, foreshadows the ultimate solution found in Jesus Christ. He is the true and perfect "Holy One" (cf. [Luke 4:34](/luke/4-34 "Luke 4:34 - Jesus, the Holy One of God")), who perfectly fulfilled God's law and lived a life untainted by the "abominations" of sin. Christ's sacrifice on the cross purifies us from all unrighteousness, removing the defilement that plagued ancient Judah and continues to plague humanity (cf. [1 John 1:7](/1_john/1-7 "1 John 1:7 - Cleansing from All Sin")). Furthermore, Jesus established a new covenant, not based on external laws that could be broken, but on an internal transformation wrought by the Holy Spirit, enabling believers to genuinely live lives of holiness and purity (cf. [Jeremiah 31:33](/jeremiah/31-33 "Jeremiah 31:33 - The New Covenant") and [Hebrews 8:10](/hebrews/8-10 "Hebrews 8:10 - God's Law on Our Hearts")). He is the ultimate temple, rendering all corrupt cultic practices obsolete, and through Him, we are made a "holy priesthood" (cf. [1 Peter 2:5](/1_peter/2-5 "1 Peter 2:5 - A Holy Priesthood")) called to offer spiritual sacrifices, demonstrating that true worship is now in "spirit and truth" (cf. [John 4:23-24](/john/4-23 "John 4:23-24 - Worship in Spirit and Truth")), far removed from the perversions of Rehoboam's Judah.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Deuteronomy 23:17

There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel.

1 Corinthians 6:9

¶ Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

1 Kings 15:12

And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.

2 Kings 23:7

And he brake down the houses of the sodomites, that [were] by the house of the LORD, where the women wove hangings for the grove.

Genesis 19:5

And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where [are] the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.

1 Kings 22:46

And the remnant of the sodomites, which remained in the days of his father Asa, he took out of the land.

Romans 1:24

Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: