Gomorrah, along with its neighboring city Sodom, is one of the most infamous cities mentioned in the Bible, known for its destruction due to the wickedness of its inhabitants. The account of Gomorrah's destruction is primarily found in the Book of Genesis, with additional references throughout Scripture that highlight its significance as a symbol of divine judgment against sin.

Biblical Account

The narrative of Gomorrah's destruction is detailed in Genesis 18-19. The Lord reveals to Abraham His intention to investigate the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah, as their sin is described as "very grievous" (Genesis 18:20). Abraham intercedes for the cities, and the Lord agrees to spare them if ten righteous people can be found (Genesis 18:32). However, the cities' pervasive wickedness leads to their ultimate destruction.

In Genesis 19, two angels visit Sodom, where Lot, Abraham's nephew, resides. The men of Sodom, including those from Gomorrah, display their depravity by attempting to assault the visitors. The angels warn Lot to flee with his family, as the Lord has determined to destroy the cities. Lot and his family escape, but his wife looks back and becomes a pillar of salt (Genesis 19:26). The Lord rains down sulfur and fire, obliterating Sodom, Gomorrah, and the surrounding plain (Genesis 19:24-25).

Symbolism and Lessons

Gomorrah's destruction serves as a powerful symbol of God's judgment against sin and immorality. Throughout the Bible, Gomorrah is frequently referenced alongside Sodom as a warning to those who live in defiance of God's commandments. In Deuteronomy 29:23, the desolation of Sodom and Gomorrah is used as a metaphor for the consequences of covenant unfaithfulness. The prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel also invoke the imagery of these cities to illustrate the severity of divine retribution (Isaiah 1:9-10, Jeremiah 49:18, Ezekiel 16:49-50).

In the New Testament, Gomorrah is mentioned in the context of God's righteous judgment. Jesus refers to the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah as a warning to unrepentant cities that witness His miracles yet refuse to believe (Matthew 10:15). The Apostle Peter and Jude both cite the destruction of these cities as an example of God's judgment on the ungodly and a reminder of the consequences of sexual immorality and rebellion (2 Peter 2:6, Jude 1:7).

Archaeological and Historical Considerations

The exact location of Gomorrah remains uncertain, though it is traditionally associated with the region near the Dead Sea. Archaeological efforts have sought to identify the ruins of Gomorrah and Sodom, with some scholars proposing sites such as Bab edh-Dhra and Numeira as potential candidates. These sites exhibit evidence of sudden destruction, consistent with the biblical account.

Theological Implications

The destruction of Gomorrah underscores the holiness and justice of God, who cannot tolerate sin. It serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of living in opposition to God's will. The narrative also highlights God's mercy, as seen in His willingness to spare the cities for the sake of a few righteous individuals and His deliverance of Lot and his family. The account of Gomorrah calls believers to pursue righteousness and heed the warnings of Scripture regarding the seriousness of sin.Genesis 19:24-28
Then the LORD rained on Sodom and on Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;
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Deuteronomy 29:23
And that the whole land thereof is brimstone, and salt, and burning, that it is not sown, nor bears, nor any grass grows therein, like the overthrow of Sodom, and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboim, which the LORD overthrew in his anger, and in his wrath:
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Deuteronomy 32:32
For their vine is of the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorrah: their grapes are grapes of gall, their clusters are bitter:
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Isaiah 1:9,10
Except the LORD of hosts had left to us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like to Gomorrah.
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Isaiah 13:19
And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.
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Jeremiah 23:14
I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none does return from his wickedness; they are all of them to me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.
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Jeremiah 49:18
As in the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbor cities thereof, said the LORD, no man shall abide there, neither shall a son of man dwell in it.
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Jeremiah 50:40
As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbor cities thereof, said the LORD; so shall no man abide there, neither shall any son of man dwell therein.
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Amos 4:11
I have overthrown some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and you were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning: yet have you not returned to me, said the LORD.
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Zephaniah 2:9
Therefore as I live, said the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles, and salt pits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them.
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Matthew 10:15
Truly I say to you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.
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Mark 6:11
And whoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when you depart there, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Truly I say to you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.
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Romans 9:29
And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like to Gomorrha.
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2 Peter 2:6
And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample to those that after should live ungodly;
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Jude 1:7
Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
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1116. Gomorra -- Gomorrah, one of the cities near the Dead Sea
... Transliteration: Gomorra Phonetic Spelling: (gom'-or-hrhah) Short Definition: Gomorrah
Definition: Gomorrah, one of the destroyed cities on the Dead Sea. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1116.htm - 6k

The Story of Hagar and Ishmael
... After Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed, Abraham moved his tent and his camp away
from that part of the land, and went to live near a place called Gerar, in ...
/.../marshall/the wonder book of bible stories/the story of hagar and.htm

Lot's Escape from a Wicked City
... Then Jehovah caused brimstone and fire from heaven to rain upon Sodom and Gomorrah,
and he destroyed those cities and all the plain, with all the people who ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/lots escape from a wicked.htm

Of the Two Kinds of Trials, which Come Upon us in a Three-Fold Way ...
... in the present world: men, who are thus reproved by the holy word of the prophet:
"I destroyed some of you, as God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, and you were ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter xi of the two.htm

Chapter xiii
... Lot lifted up his eyes and beheld all the Round of the Jordan that it was well-watered,
every part of it, before Yahweh destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah; in fact ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xiii.htm

The History after the Flood.
... their kings are these: Bera, king of Sodom; Birsha, king of Gomorrah; Shinab, king ...
first commencement of making war on the earth; and they destroyed the giants ...
/.../theophilus/theophilus to autolycus/chapter xxxi the history after the.htm

Lot's Flight from Sodom.
... These cities were named Sodom and Gomorrah. Their inhabitants were very wicked,
so God destroyed their cities by raining brimstone and fire upon them. ...
/.../anonymous/mother stories from the old testament/lots flight from sodom.htm

The Importance of a Choice
... And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well
watered every where, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the importance of a choice.htm

March 22 Morning
... Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered
every where, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the ...
/.../anonymous/daily light on the daily path/march 22 morning.htm

The Prophets were Sent from one and the Same Father from whom the ...
... that Lot went out of Sodom; it rained fire from heaven, and destroyed them all ... day
He declares that it shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah than for ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xxxvi the prophets were sent.htm

The Godhood of God
... indignation. He is the One who rained fire and brimstone upon Sodom and Gomorrah
and utterly destroyed these cities of the plain. He ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the godhood of god/the godhood of god.htm

What is the strange flesh in Jude 1:7? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean to “remember Lot's wife” in Luke 17:32? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Lot in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Gomorrah: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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