The second city in divine justice’s most famous example

Gomorrah (Hebrew: עמורה, Amorah, possibly “submersion” or “overthrow”) served as Sodom‘s companion in both prosperity and judgment, representing the comprehensive nature of divine justice when entire regions embrace wickedness.

Etymology and Location

Gomorrah’s name may derive from Hebrew roots suggesting “submersion” or “heap of ruins,” possibly prophetic of its eventual fate. Located alongside Sodom in the fertile Jordan valley, it shared the same geographic advantages and moral corruption.

Regional Position:

  • Second most prominent of the “cities of the plain”
  • Part of the pentapolis (five cities) including Sodom, Admah, Zeboiim, and Zoar
  • Strategic location in the Jordan River valley
  • Shared in the region’s exceptional fertility and prosperity

Historical Context

Parallel Development with Sodom

Gomorrah developed alongside Sodom as one of the region’s major urban centers:

  • Benefited from the same fertile “plain of the Jordan”
  • Participated in regional trade networks
  • Shared similar social and economic structures
  • Developed comparable moral corruption

The Five-City Alliance

Gomorrah appears first in Scripture as part of a military alliance during the war of the kings (Genesis 14), where these cities:

  • Served Chedorlaomer for twelve years
  • Rebelled in the thirteenth year
  • Were defeated and plundered
  • Required Abraham‘s intervention to rescue Lot

Divine Judgment

Gomorrah’s destruction came simultaneously with Sodom‘s, emphasizing several theological principles:

Comprehensive Judgment

“Then YHWH rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from YHWH out of heaven. And he overthrew those cities, and all the valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground” (Genesis 19:24-25)

The parallel destruction demonstrated:

  • Regional Corruption: Wickedness had spread throughout the area
  • Divine Justice: God’s judgment addressed systematic evil
  • Complete Overthrow: Both cities faced identical fate

Eternal Warning

The dual destruction created a more powerful warning than single-city judgment:

  • Two witnesses to divine justice
  • Regional rather than isolated judgment
  • Comprehensive moral failure requiring comprehensive response

Theological Significance

Companion in Sin

Gomorrah’s inclusion in judgment suggests that wickedness rarely remains isolated. Evil tends to spread and corrupt entire regions, requiring comprehensive divine response.

Prophetic Symbol

Throughout Scripture, “Sodom and Gomorrah” become a unified symbol:

  • Divine Wrath: God’s intolerance of persistent wickedness
  • Complete Judgment: Total destruction as consequence of total corruption
  • Warning Example: Paired cities demonstrate inescapable justice

Archaeological Testimony

The continued pairing of both cities in prophetic literature suggests their destruction left lasting physical evidence, serving as perpetual warning to future generations.

Literary Function

Amplification Device

Including Gomorrah alongside Sodom amplifies the narrative impact:

  • Emphasizes the scope of corruption
  • Demonstrates thorough divine investigation
  • Shows that judgment affects all participants in wickedness

Balanced Witness

Biblical law required two or three witnesses for serious matters. The destruction of both cities provides dual testimony to divine justice principles.

Prophetic Usage

Later Scripture consistently pairs Gomorrah with Sodom:

Moses: “The whole land burned out with brimstone and salt, nothing sown, nothing sprouting, unable to support any vegetation, like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah” (Deuteronomy 29:23)

Isaiah: “Hear the word of YHWH, you rulers of Sodom! Give ear to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah!” (Isaiah 1:10)

Jesus: “Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town” (Matthew 10:15)

Archaeological Considerations

Gomorrah’s location, like Sodom‘s, remains archaeologically uncertain:

Possible Sites:

  • Bab edh-Dhra region: Evidence of Early Bronze Age destruction
  • Dead Sea basin: Cities may lie beneath southern waters
  • Tall el-Hammam area: Recent proposals for northern locations

The archaeological ambiguity may reflect the completeness of destruction described in Scripture.

Cross-References

Sister Cities: Sodom • Admah • Zeboiim • Zoar (the five cities of the plain)

Related Narratives: War of the kings • Abraham‘s intercession • Lot‘s rescue

Prophetic References: Used throughout Hebrew Bible and New Testament as warning example

Theological Themes: Corporate judgment, regional corruption, divine justice, eternal warning

Gomorrah’s story demonstrates that divine justice operates comprehensively. When wickedness becomes regional rather than isolated, God’s judgment addresses the entire scope of corruption.

The pairing of Sodom and Gomorrah throughout Scripture emphasizes that moral accountability extends beyond individual choice to communal responsibility. Cities and regions that embrace systematic wickedness face systematic judgment.

“And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly” (2 Peter 2:6)