What was Sodoma?

Sodoma—also known as Sodom—was one of the five ancient cities of the plain in the southern region near the Dead Sea. Its name in Hebrew is סְדֹם (Səḏōm), meaning burning, scorched, or destruction. In the Greek New Testament, the name appears as Σόδομα (Sodoma). Sodoma is frequently used throughout Scripture as a symbol of judgment, corruption, and divine wrath, notably referenced by the Apostle Paul in Romans 9:29, where he quotes Isaiah, saying: “Unless the Lord Almighty had left us descendants, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah.”

Sodom was infamous for its great wickedness and rebellion against God. It stood as a warning throughout both the Old and New Testaments. The destruction of Sodom and its neighboring cities was not only a historical judgment but a spiritual metaphor used by prophets and apostles to highlight the consequences of unrepentant sin and the necessity of God’s mercy.

Biblical References

• Genesis 13:10-13 – Introduction of Sodom as the place Lot chose to dwell, already described as “wicked, great sinners against the LORD.”

• Genesis 18–19 – The most detailed account of Sodom’s destruction due to its sinfulness, with God sending angels to rescue Lot and rain down fire and brimstone on the city.

• Deuteronomy 29:23; Isaiah 1:9-10; Jeremiah 23:14; Ezekiel 16:49-50; Amos 4:11 – Old Testament references using Sodom as a symbol of divine judgment.

• Matthew 10:15; Luke 17:28-30 – Jesus compares the last days to the time of Sodom.

• Romans 9:29 – Paul draws from Isaiah to express how God‘s mercy preserved a remnant in Israel.

• 2 Peter 2:6; Jude 7; Revelation 11:8 – New Testament references that reflect on Sodom’s sin and destruction.

What Happened in the Bible

Sodom’s narrative centers on the story of Lot, Abraham’s nephew, who chose to live in the fertile plains of Sodom. Despite its appealing environment, the city was morally corrupt. In Genesis 18–19, God reveals His intention to destroy Sodom because of its outcry of sin. Abraham pleads for the city, asking God if He would spare it for the sake of a few righteous people. God agrees, but not even ten righteous individuals are found.

Two angels are sent to rescue Lot and his family. The men of Sodom attempt to sexually assault the visitors, further displaying their depravity. Lot and his family are removed, and fire and sulfur rain from heaven, destroying Sodom, Gomorrah, and surrounding cities.

Paul references Sodoma in Romans 9:29 while discussing Israel’s rejection of the Messiah and the mystery of divine election. By quoting Isaiah 1:9, he illustrates that without God‘s merciful preservation of a remnant, Israel would have faced total destruction, just as Sodom did.

What It Means for Today’s Christians

Sodoma is a sobering reminder of how seriously God views sin. It confronts modern believers with the reality of divine justice. Yet, it also reveals God‘s mercy—Lot was spared, and Paul reminds us that God does not abandon His people entirely. The contrast between judgment and mercy is central for Christians today: God‘s holiness demands justice, but His grace offers salvation through faith.

In a culture increasingly resembling Sodom in its rejection of God’s design for life, sexuality, and justice, believers are called to live distinctly and proclaim truth with love and urgency.

How Sodoma Points to Jesus and the Gospel

Sodoma’s destruction highlights the wrath of God against sin, but also the rescue of Lot reveals the theme of salvation by grace. Lot was not saved because he earned it, but because of God’s covenant with Abraham and divine mercy. This prefigures the gospel.

Jesus Christ is the ultimate rescuer. He came to save sinners from the coming wrath—not with angels pulling us out of cities—but by entering into our world, bearing our sin on the cross, and rising again. In Luke 17:28-30, Jesus warned that His return would be like the days of Lot—normal life carrying on until judgment comes. Sodoma, then, is a prophetic warning and a gospel pointer.

Broader Biblical Themes

1. Divine Judgment and Mercy

Sodom is the classic biblical example of God‘s judgment upon sin. Yet even here, mercy is present—Lot is rescued, and Paul reminds believers of the remnant preserved by grace.

2. Remnant Theology

Romans 9–11 emphasizes that not all of Israel is lost. Paul‘s quote from Isaiah shows that God always preserves a faithful remnant. This teaches that even when judgment falls, God‘s covenantal purposes remain intact.

3. Sin and Corruption

Sodom’s sins were manifold: pride, gluttony, neglect of the poor, and sexual perversion (cf. Ezekiel 16:49-50; Jude 7). The Bible doesn’t present Sodom as wicked simply because of one sin, but because of a culture of rebellion against God.

4. Urgency of Repentance

The sudden destruction of Sodom is a call to all people to repent. Just as Lot was warned and called to flee, so are all sinners called to flee from the wrath to come.

5. Typology of Rescue

Lot’s deliverance is a type of God’s deliverance of believers. Just as angels pulled Lot from the fire, Jesus pulls sinners from judgment and brings them into safety.

Reflection Questions

1. How does the story of Sodom challenge modern views of sin and divine justice?

2. In what ways do we see the sins of Sodom reflected in our society today?

3. How does Lot’s deliverance illustrate God’s grace and mercy?

4. Why is it important for Christians to remember the balance of God’s holiness and compassion?

5. How does Paul’s use of Sodoma in Romans 9 deepen our understanding of God‘s redemptive plan for Israel and the Church?

6. Are there areas in your life where you may be tolerating what God calls sin?

7. What does it mean to be part of the “remnant” today?

8. How can we, like Abraham, intercede for those living in rebellion against God?

9. How does the story of Sodom prepare us for understanding Christ’s return?

10. What practical steps can we take to live godly lives in the midst of a morally decaying world?

Sodoma remains one of the most powerful biblical examples of judgment, grace, and the need for gospel hope. Its legacy warns the unrepentant, encourages the faithful, and points to Jesus—the Savior who rescues us from the wrath to come.