from an unused root meaning to scorch; burnt (i.e. volcanic or bituminous) district; Sedom, a place near the Dead Sea; Sodom.
Transliteration:Çᵉdôm
Pronunciation:sed-ome'
Detailed Word Study
AI-Generated
Loading Study...
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew lemma סְדֹם (Çᵉdôm, `{{H5467}}`) is a proper noun, referring to the city of Sodom. Its base definition, derived from an unused root, conveys the meaning "to scorch," suggesting a "burnt (i.e., volcanic or bituminous) district." This etymological root is deeply significant, foreshadowing the city's ultimate fate. The semantic range of Çᵉdôm is primarily geographical, designating a specific location near the Dead Sea. However, due to its biblical narrative, the name transcends mere geography to become a powerful symbol of profound wickedness, divine judgment, and utter desolation. It implicitly carries the connotation of a place marked for fiery destruction because of its inhabitants' extreme iniquity.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The city of Sodom first appears in the biblical narrative as a boundary marker for the Canaanite territory ([[Genesis 10:19]]). Its prominence, however, is established in the patriarchal narratives, particularly in the story of Abraham and Lot. In [[Genesis 13:10-13]], Lot chooses to settle in the fertile plain of the Jordan, near Sodom, despite the explicit declaration that "the men of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the LORD." This sets the stage for the impending divine judgment.
Sodom is further mentioned in the account of the battle of the kings ([[Genesis 14:1-17]]), where its king is defeated, and Lot is taken captive, prompting Abraham's rescue. The most significant narrative, however, is found in [[Genesis 18:16]] - [[Genesis 19:29]], detailing God's decision to destroy Sodom (and Gomorrah) due to the severity of their sin, described as a "loud outcry" reaching heaven. The attempted gang rape of the angelic visitors by the men of Sodom in [[Genesis 19:4-9]] vividly illustrates the depth of their depravity, a profound violation of hospitality and an act of extreme sexual perversion. The subsequent destruction by "brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven" ([[Genesis 19:24]]) directly fulfills the etymological meaning of "scorched."
Later biblical texts frequently invoke Sodom as a powerful example of divine judgment against ungodliness. [[Deuteronomy 29:23]] uses Sodom's destruction as a warning to Israel about the consequences of forsaking God's covenant. Prophets like Isaiah ([[Isaiah 1:9-10]], [[Isaiah 3:9]], [[Isaiah 13:19]]), Jeremiah ([[Jeremiah 23:14]], [[Jeremiah 49:18]]), and Amos ([[Amos 4:11]]) frequently compare the sinfulness and impending judgment of Israel or other nations to the fate of Sodom, underscoring its symbolic weight. Ezekiel provides a significant expansion on Sodom's sins in [[Ezekiel 16:46-58]], listing "pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness," and a failure to "strengthen the hand of the poor and needy," alongside their "abominations." This broadens the understanding of Sodom's wickedness beyond sexual immorality to include social injustice and arrogance.
In the New Testament, Jesus Himself refers to Sodom as a benchmark for judgment, stating that it would be "more tolerable" for Sodom on the day of judgment than for cities that rejected His miracles and message ([[Matthew 10:15]], [[Matthew 11:23-24]], [[Luke 10:12]], [[Luke 17:29]]). The apostles Peter ([[2 Peter 2:6-7]]) and Jude ([[Jude 1:7]]) also cite Sodom and Gomorrah as clear examples of God's judgment on the ungodly, with Jude explicitly mentioning their suffering "the vengeance of eternal fire" due to "sexual immorality and unnatural desire."
### Related Words & Concepts
The word Çᵉdôm is almost invariably linked with `{{H6017}}` עֲמֹרָה (‘Ămōrāh), Gomorrah, in biblical literature, as they shared the same fate and often the same indictment. The agents of their destruction include `{{H3701}}` כֶּפֶר (kōpher), brimstone or sulfur, and `{{H784}}` אֵשׁ (‘êsh), fire, which are central to the narrative of divine judgment. The general concept of destruction and ruin is often conveyed by words like `{{H7837}}` שַׁחַת (shaḥath), pit or destruction.
The moral character of Sodom is illuminated by its contrast with virtues such as `{{H2610}}` חֶסֶד (ḥesed), steadfast love or loyalty, particularly in the context of hospitality and care for the vulnerable, which Sodom notoriously lacked. Its sinfulness is described using terms like `{{H6588}}` פֶּשַׁע (pesha‘), transgression or rebellion, and `{{H8441}}` תּוֹעֵבָה (tô‘ēḇāh), abomination, especially in Ezekiel's expansion of their sins. The overarching concepts related to Sodom include moral depravity, divine judgment, and the consequences of unrepentant sin. Geographically, it is associated with the Dead Sea, which is often seen as a perpetual monument to God's judgment.
### Theological Significance
The name Çᵉdôm, Sodom, holds profound theological significance, serving as a multifaceted symbol within the biblical narrative:
1. **Paradigm of Divine Judgment:** Sodom's destruction is the quintessential example of God's righteous wrath against extreme human wickedness. It demonstrates that God is actively engaged in the moral order of the world and will decisively intervene when sin reaches its full measure. The "scorched" etymology of its name serves as an enduring reminder of this fiery judgment.
2. **The Nature of Sin:** While the narrative in Genesis 19 and the explicit statement in Jude 1:7 highlight severe sexual perversion (homosexual acts and unnatural desire), Ezekiel 16 expands the understanding of Sodom's sin to include pride, gluttony, idleness, and a profound failure to care for the poor and needy. This indicates that Sodom's wickedness was comprehensive, encompassing social injustice, arrogance, and a complete disregard for both divine law and human dignity. The attempted gang rape is a chilling manifestation of this pervasive depravity, a desire to dominate and humiliate.
3. **A Warning and Call to Repentance:** Throughout the Old Testament prophets and in the teachings of Jesus, Sodom serves as a stark warning to Israel and to all who hear the Gospel. The severity of its fate underscores the gravity of sin and the urgent necessity of repentance. To be "like Sodom" is the ultimate indictment of spiritual and moral corruption.
4. **God's Justice and Mercy:** The narrative in Genesis 18, with Abraham's intercession for Sodom, reveals God's patient justice and His willingness to spare a city for the sake of even a few righteous individuals. While judgment ultimately fell, this episode highlights God's character, which is both just and merciful. The deliverance of Lot and his daughters, despite their own imperfections, further demonstrates God's capacity for selective salvation amidst widespread destruction.
5. **A Type of Eschatological Judgment:** The destruction of Sodom by fire and brimstone is often understood as a foreshadowing or "type" of the final judgment that awaits the ungodly at the end of the age ([[2 Peter 2:6]], [[Jude 1:7]]). It reinforces the biblical teaching of a future reckoning for sin and the ultimate triumph of God's justice.
### Summary
The Hebrew word סְדֹם (Çᵉdôm, `{{H5467}}`), or Sodom, denotes a city whose very name, meaning "scorched," prophetically encapsulates its ultimate demise. Primarily known from the Genesis narrative, Sodom became the preeminent biblical example of profound human wickedness—characterized by sexual immorality, pride, social injustice, and a lack of hospitality—which provoked catastrophic divine judgment. Its destruction by fire and brimstone, as described in [[Genesis 19:24]], serves as a timeless testament to God's righteous wrath against unrepentant sin. Throughout the Old and New Testaments, Sodom's name is invoked by prophets and by Jesus Himself as a solemn warning to those who reject divine truth and a benchmark for the most severe forms of judgment. Theologically, Sodom stands as an enduring monument to God's justice, a multifaceted illustration of the pervasive nature of sin, a perpetual call to repentance, and a powerful prefiguration of eschatological judgment. Its legacy underscores the dire consequences of human rebellion against the divine will.
TRV