Lexical Summary Gomorra: Gomorrah Original Word: Γόμορρα Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Gomorrha. Of Hebrew origin (Amorah); Gomorrha (i.e. Amorah), a place near the Dead Sea -- Gomorrha. see HEBREW Amorah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof Hebrew origin Amorah Definition Gomorrah, one of the cities near the Dead Sea NASB Translation Gomorrah (4). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1116: ΓόμορραΓόμορρα (or Γόμορρα, cf. Chandler § 167), Γομορρας, ἡ, and Γομόρρων, τά (cf. Buttmann, 18 (16); Tdf. Proleg., p. 116; WHs Appendix, p. 156), Gomorrah (עַמֹרָה, cf. עַזָּה Gaza), the name of a city in the eastern part of Judaea, destroyed by the same earthquake (cf. B. D. under the word Topical Lexicon Historical Context and Old Testament Background Gomorrah was one of the five “cities of the plain” (Genesis 14:8) situated near the southern end of the Dead Sea. Together with its sister city Sodom, it was infamous for pervasive wickedness (Genesis 18:20-21). The Lord rained down “burning sulfur” (Genesis 19:24) on both cities, leaving the region a smoking wasteland and rendering Gomorrah an enduring symbol of sudden, catastrophic judgment (Deuteronomy 29:23; Isaiah 1:9-10). Occurrences in the New Testament 1. Matthew 10:15 – Jesus warns that any town rejecting His emissaries will face a judgment “more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.” Theological Themes • Divine Justice and Holiness Gomorrah showcases God’s unwavering justice. The destruction was not arbitrary; it followed divine investigation (Genesis 18:21) and the granting of intercessory opportunity through Abraham (Genesis 18:23-33). New Testament writers invoke Gomorrah to affirm that final judgment will likewise be impartial and certain (2 Peter 2:9). • Mercy Through a Remnant Paul’s allusion (Romans 9:29) balances judgment with mercy. Just as the Lord’s faithfulness spared a remnant from becoming “like Gomorrah,” the gospel proclaims deliverance for all who believe, Jew and Gentile alike (Romans 10:12-13). • Warning to the Unresponsive Jesus applies Gomorrah’s fate to towns resistant to His messengers. The comparison elevates the seriousness of rejecting revealed truth. Greater light entails greater accountability (Matthew 11:23-24). • Example for the Church’s Moral Teaching Peter and Jude draw on Gomorrah to address sexual immorality and false teaching within the community. Their rhetoric urges believers to maintain holiness, assured that God both “rescues the godly from trials and holds the unrighteous for punishment” (2 Peter 2:9). Ministry and Pastoral Significance 1. Evangelistic Urgency Preachers can echo Christ’s appeal: indifference to the gospel surpasses the sins of Gomorrah in culpability, calling for urgent proclamation and prayerful intercession for today’s “unreached towns.” 2. Discipleship and Accountability The narrative cautions believers against moral compromise. Congregations are exhorted to practice church discipline (cf. 1 Corinthians 5) lest unchecked sin invite corporate chastisement reminiscent of Gomorrah. 3. Encouragement for the Righteous Minority Lot’s deliverance (2 Peter 2:7) and the remnant motif reassure faithful Christians who feel isolated in corrupt environments that God both sees and saves. 4. Eschatological Perspective Gomorrah foreshadows the final judgment, lending sobering weight to eschatological preaching. The “eternal fire” language underscores the permanence of the coming reckoning and the urgency of repentance. Archaeological and Geographical Notes While the precise site remains debated, excavations around the southeastern Dead Sea uncover layers of ash and sulfur nodules supporting the biblical description of fiery cataclysm. Such findings corroborate the historicity of the event, reinforcing Scripture’s reliability. Christological Connection The shadow of Gomorrah ultimately points to the cross. God’s wrath against sin, vividly displayed in the city’s demise, is decisively borne by Christ for those who trust Him (Romans 5:9). Thus, Gomorrah’s ruin magnifies the glory of redemption: “For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:9). Summary Strong’s Greek 1116—Gomorrah—serves as a New Testament touchstone for divine judgment, mercy toward a remnant, moral exhortation, and eschatological warning. Its five appearances integrate seamlessly with the broader biblical narrative, reinforcing both the severity of sin and the lavishness of grace offered in the gospel. Forms and Transliterations Γομορρα Γόμορρα Γομορρας Γομόρρας Γομορροις Γομόρροις Γομορρων Γομόρρων Gomorra Gómorra Gomorras Gomórras Gomorrois Gomórrois Gomorron Gomorrōn Gomórron GomórrōnLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 10:15 N-GNPGRK: Σοδόμων καὶ Γομόρρων ἐν ἡμέρᾳ NAS: of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day KJV: of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day INT: of Sodom and of Gomorrah on day Mark 6:11 Noun-DNP Romans 9:29 N-NFS 2 Peter 2:6 N-GFS Jude 1:7 N-NFS Strong's Greek 1116 |
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