“The people of Sodom were wicked” (Gen. 13:13) What Was the Transgression of the Inhabitants of Sodom?

Krzysztof Napora

Katolicki Uniwersytet Lubelski Jana Pawła II , Poland
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7923-4517


Abstract

The article deals with the issue of the transgression(s) of the inhabitants of Sodom in Genesis 19. While focusing his attention on Genesis 19:1-11, the author points out the complex character of the biblical portrait of the sinful city. Among the main features of this picture, the motifs of sinful sexual relations (including homosexual acts), violence and rape, as well as the motif of the violation of the law of hospitality come to the fore.

Keywords:

Genesis, Gen. 19, Sodom, hospitality, violence, homosexual intercourse, Sodom’s sin, rape

Ahern, E., „The Sin of Sodom in Late Antiquity ”, Journal of the History of Sexuality 27/2 (2018) 209–233. (Crossref)

Alter, R., „Sodom as Nexus: The Web of Design in Biblical Narrative”, The Book and the Text. The Bible and Literary Theory (red. R.M. Schwartz) (Oxford, UK: Blackwell 1990) 146–160.

Bailey, D.S., Homosexuality and the Western Christian Tradition (London: Longmans, Green 1955).

Bird, P., „The Bible in Christian Ethical Deliberation Concerning Homosexuality: Old Testament Contributions”, Homosexuality, Science, and the “Plain Sense” of Scripture (red. D.L. Balch) (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans 2000) 142–176.

Boyarin, D., „Are There any Jews in ‘The History of Sexuality’?”, Journal of the History of Sexuality 5/3 (1995) 333–355.

Edwards, G.R., Gay/Lesbian Liberation. A Biblical Perspective (New York: Pilgrim Press 1984).

Fields, W.W., „The Motif ‘Night as Danger’ Associated with Three Biblical Destruction Narratives”, “Sha`arei Talmon”. Studies in the Bible, Qumran, and the Ancient Near East Presented to Shemaryahu Talmon (M. Fishbane – E. Tov) (Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrauns 1992) 17–32.

Fields, W.W., Sodom and Gomorrah. History and Motif in Biblical Narrative (Journal for the Study of the Old Testament Supplement Series 231; Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press 1997).

Gagnon, R.A.J., The Bible and Homosexual Practice. Texts and Hermeneutics (Nashville, TN: Abingdon 2001).

Gagnon, R.A.J., „The Old Testament and Homosexuality: A Critical Review of the Case Made by Phyllis Bird”, Zeitschrift für die Alttestamentliche Wissenschaft 117 (2005) 367–394. (Crossref)

Gnuse, R.K., „Seven Gay Texts: Biblical Passages Used to Condemn Homosexuality”, Biblical Theology Bulletin 45/2 (2015) 68–87. (Crossref)

Grisanti, M.A., „Homosexuality – An Abomination or Purely Irrelevant? Evaluating LGBT Claims in Light of the Old Testament (Gen. 18-19; Lev. 18:22; 20:13)”, The Master’s Seminary Journal 28/2 (2017) 115–133.

Hershon, P.I., Tzeénah ureénah: “Go ye and see”. A rabbinical commentary on Genesis. Translated from the Judaeo-Polish, with Notes and Indices (London: Hodder & Stoughton 1885).

Himbaza, I. – Schenker, A. – Edart, J.-B., The Bible on the Question of Homosexuality (Washington, D.C.: Catholic University of America Press 2012). (Crossref)

Józef Flawiusz, Dawne dzieje Izraela, wyd. 3 (tł. Z. Kubiak – J. Radożycki) (Warszawa: Rytm 1993) I–II.

Lemański, J., Księga Rodzaju. Rozdziały 11,27–36,43. Wstęp, przekład z oryginału, komentarz (Nowy Komentarz Biblijny. Stary Testament 1/2; Częstochowa: Edycja Świętego Pawła 2014).

Loader, J.A., A Tale of Two Cities. Sodom and Gomorrah in the Old Testament, Early Jewish and Early Christian Traditions (Contributions to Biblical Exegesis and Theology 1; Kampen: Kok 1990).

Lyons, W.J., Canon and Exegesis. Canonical Praxis and the Sodom Narrative (Journal for the Study of the Old Testament Supplement Series 352; London – New York: Sheffield Academic Press 2002).

Matthews, V.H., „Hospitality and Hostility in Genesis 19 and Judges 19”, Biblical Theology Bulletin 22 (1992) 3–11. (Crossref)

McNeill, J.J., The Church and the Homosexual (Kansas City, MO: Sheed Andrews & McMeel 1976). Morschauser, S., „‘Hospitality’, Hostiles and Hostages: On the Legal Background to Genesis 19.1-9”, Journal for the Study of the Old Testament 27 (2003) 461–485. (Crossref)

Muszytowska, D., „Kwestia homoseksualizmu w Listach Powszechnych i Apokalipsie św. Jana”, Verbum Vitae 39/1 (2021) 307–322. (Crossref)

Nissinen, M., Homoeroticism in the Biblical World. A Historical Perspective (Minneapolis, MN: Fortress 1998).

Skinner, J., Genesis (International Critical Commentary 1; Edinburgh: Clark 1910).

Strzałkowska, B., „Homoseksualizm w prawodawstwie biblijnego Izraela”, Verbum Vitae 39/1 (2021) 137–162. (Crossref)

Toensing, H.J., „Women of Sodom and Gomorrah: Collateral Damage in the War against Homosexuality?”, Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion 21/2 (2005) 61–74. (Crossref)

Wenham, G.J., Genesis 16–50 (The Word Biblical Commentary 2; Dallas, TX: Word Books 1994).

Wenham, G.J., „The Old Testament Attitude to Homosexuality”, Expository Times 102 (1991) 359–363. (Crossref)

Westermann, C., Genesis 12-36 (A Continental Commentary; Minneapolis, MN: Fortress 1995).

Wright, D.F., „Homosexuality: The Relevance of the Bible”, The Evangelical Quarterly 61/4 (1989) 291–300.


Published
2021-06-15


Napora, K. (2021). „Mieszkańcy Sodomy byli źli.” (Rdz 13,13). Na czym polegał występek mieszkańców Sodomy?. Verbum Vitae, 39(1), 119–135. https://doi.org/10.31743/vv.12445

Krzysztof Napora  naporus@gmail.com
Katolicki Uniwersytet Lubelski Jana Pawła II

Ks. Krzysztof Napora - sercanin, doktor nauk biblijnych, absolwent Wyższego Seminarium Misyjnego Księży Najświętszego Serca Jezusowego w Stadnikach, Papieskiej Akademii Teologicznej w Krakowie, Pontifcio Istituto Biblico w Rzymie,  Rothberg International School Uniwersytetu Hebrajskiego w Jerozolimie oraz École Biblique et Archéologique Française de Jérusalem. Od 2012 r. pracownik naukowo-dydaktyczny Instytutu Nauk Biblijnych KUL (aktualnie Sekcji Nauk Biblijnych).

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7923-4517



License

The author(s) grant (s) to the Licensee a non-exclusive and royalty-free license in accordance with the provisions of the Appendix: LICENSE TO USE THE WORK