### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **qâdêsh**, represented by `{{H6945}}`, defines a male devotee to licentious idolatry, translated as **sodomite** or **unclean**. It is derived from a root word meaning sacred, indicating a person consecrated for a profane, quasi-religious purpose. It appears 6 times across 6 unique verses, highlighting its specific and serious context.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In biblical usage, `{{H6945}}` is consistently associated with pagan religious practices that infiltrated Israel. The law explicitly forbids a **sodomite** from being among the sons of Israel [[Deuteronomy 23:17]]. Their presence in the land is described as one of the **abominations** of the nations that God had driven out [[1 Kings 14:24]]. Consequently, the reigns of righteous kings were marked by the removal of the **sodomites** from the land ([[1 Kings 15:12]], [[1 Kings 22:46]]). These actions included tearing down the houses of the **sodomites**, which were located near the house of the LORD [[2 Kings 23:7]]. The term is also used to describe a state of moral corruption, as in Job, where the life of the wicked is said to perish among the **unclean** [[Job 36:14]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words illuminate the idolatrous context of `{{H6945}}`:
* `{{H6948}}` **qᵉdêshâh** (harlot, whore): As the feminine equivalent of `{{H6945}}`, this term refers to a female prostitute involved in similar cultic practices. It is explicitly forbidden alongside the **sodomite** in the law [[Deuteronomy 23:17]].
* `{{H8441}}` **tôwʻêbah** (abomination): This term describes something morally disgusting, especially idolatry. The activities of the **sodomites** were categorized as among the **abominations** of the nations [[1 Kings 14:24]].
* `{{H1544}}` **gillûwl** (idol): This word refers to idols, often depicted as logs or round objects. The purging of **sodomites** from the land was directly connected to the removal of **idols** their fathers had made [[1 Kings 15:12]].
* `{{H842}}` **ʼăshêrâh** (grove): This term refers to the Phoenician goddess Asherah or an image of her, often a sacred pole or tree. The houses of the **sodomites** were directly associated with this cult, as they were places where women wove hangings for the **grove** [[2 Kings 23:7]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H6945}}` is significant, representing a profound violation of Israel's covenant with God.
* **Cultic Defilement:** The term represents a form of worship that is a direct affront to God's holiness. The presence of **sodomites**, often near the temple, was a physical manifestation of spiritual impurity in the land.
* **Syncretic Apostasy:** The practice of `{{H6945}}` was not native to Israel but was an **abomination** adopted from pagan nations [[1 Kings 14:24]]. Its presence was a clear sign of the nation's spiritual adultery and departure from God.
* **Object of Divine Judgment:** The existence of **sodomites** was a reason for judgment and a central target for righteous reformers. The actions of kings like Asa to remove them were portrayed as acts of restoring order and covenant faithfulness ([[1 Kings 15:12]], [[1 Kings 22:46]]).
### Summary
In summary, `{{H6945}}` is more than a term for an individual; it signifies a specific role within a system of idolatry that was detestable to God. Its usage in Scripture firmly connects it to pagan worship, **abominations**, and the defilement of God's holy people and land. The repeated accounts of purging the **sodomites** underscore the incompatibility of such practices with true worship of the LORD.
TRV