Gomorrah was a wicked city in the plain of Jordan that God destroyed with sulfur and fire, along with Sodom, due to their grave sins.
Also known as Gomorrha
Gomorrah was one of the five cities in the plain of Jordan, along with Sodom, Admah, Zeboiim, and Zoar (Genesis 10:19, 14:2). It was located in a fertile area, well-watered like the garden of the Lord (Genesis 13:10).
However, the wickedness of Gomorrah and the neighboring cities was exceedingly grave (Genesis 18:20). When God revealed His plan to destroy the cities to Abraham, the patriarch pleaded for their survival if even ten righteous people could be found (Genesis 18:23-32). Ultimately, only Lot and his two daughters were spared, while Gomorrah and the other cities were destroyed by sulfur and fire from heaven (Genesis 19:24-25).
The destruction of Gomorrah and Sodom became a symbol of God's judgment against sin and a warning to future generations (Deu.29.23, 32:32; Isaiah 1:9-10, 13:19; Jeremiah 23:14, 49:18, 50:40; Amo.4.11; Zephaniah 2:9). In the New Testament, Jesus used Sodom and Gomorrah as an example of the fate awaiting those who reject the gospel message (Matthew 10:15; Mrk.6.11; Luke 10:12).
The apostle Peter cited the destruction of these cities as proof of God's judgment against the ungodly and His deliverance of the righteous (2Pe.2.6-9). Jude also referred to Sodom and Gomorrah as an example of the punishment awaiting those who indulge in sexual immorality and perversion (Jude 1:7).
The exact location of Gomorrah remains unknown, as the cities were completely destroyed. However, it is believed to have been situated in the area south of the Dead Sea, possibly submerged beneath its waters.
Approximate location: 31.157, 35.474 · view on a map · on the Bible atlas
Submersion, one of the five cities of the plain of Siddim (q.v.) which were destroyed by fire (Gen. 10:19; 13:10; 19:24, 28). These cities probably stood close together, and were near the northern extremity of what is now the Dead Sea. This city is always mentioned next after Sodom, both of which were types of impiety and wickedness (Gen. 18:20; Rom. 9:29). Their destruction is mentioned as an “ensample unto those that after should live ungodly” (2 Pet. 2:6; Jude 1:4-7). Their wickedness became proverbial (Deut. 32:32; Isa. 1:9, 10; Jer. 23:14). But that wickedness may be exceeded (Matt. 10:15; Mark 6:11). (See DEAD SEA).
(submersion), one of the five “cities of the plain” or “vale of Siddim” that under the irrespective kings joined battle there with Chedorlaomer (Genesis 14:2-8) and his allies by whom they were discomfited till Abraham came to the rescue. Four out of the five were afterwards destroyed by the Lord with fire from heaven. (Genesis 19:23-29) One of them only, Zoar (or Bela; which was its original name), was spared at the request of Lot, in order that he might take refuge there. The geographical position of these cities is discussed under Sodom.
GOMOR'RAH (submersion), one of the five cities in the vale of Siddim, Gen 14:1-11; destroyed for its wickedness, Gen 18:20; Gen 19:24, Gen 19:28; made a warning by Moses, Deut 29:23; Deut 32:32; referred to by Isaiah 1:9-10; by Jeremiah 23:14; Jeremiah 49:18; Jeremiah 50:40; by Amos 4:11; by Zephaniah 2:9; by our Saviour, Matt 10:15; Mark 6:11; by Paul, quoting Isaiah, Rom 9:29; by Peter and Jude, 2 Pet 2:6. Its site is disputed. Some place it at the southern, others at the northern, end of the Dead Sea. The name Wady ?'Amriyek?, at the north-west side of the Dead Sea, is like the Hebrew for Gomorrah. See Sodom and Salt Sea.
GOMOR'RAH (submersion), one of the five cities in the vale of Siddim, Gen 14:1-11; destroyed for its wickedness, Gen 18:20; Gen 19:24, Gen 19:28; made a warning by Moses, Deut 29:23; Deut 32:32; referred to by Isaiah 1:9-10; by Jeremiah 23:14; Jeremiah 49:18; Jeremiah 50:40; by Amos 4:11; by Zephaniah 2:9; by our Saviour, Matt 10:15; Mark 6:11; by Paul, quoting Isaiah, Rom 9:29; by Peter and Jude, 2 Pet 2:6. Its site is disputed. Some place it at the southern, others at the northern, end of the Dead Sea. The name Wady ?'Amriyek?, at the north-west side of the Dead Sea, is like the Hebrew for Gomorrah. See Sodom and Salt Sea. GOODMAN OF THE HOUSE is the master of the house, irrespective of moral character. The term was in common use when the A.V. was made. Matt 20:11.
Easton (1897), Smith (1863), Hitchcock (1869), Hastings (1898) and Schaff are in the public domain. Parsed text: neuu-org/bible-dictionary-dataset (CC BY 4.0). Headwords and whitespace normalised for this site.
24 verses in 11 books · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s H6017
and the borders of Canaan extended from Sidon toward Gerar as far as Gaza, and then toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha.
And Lot looked out and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan, all the way to Zoar, was well watered like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt. (This was before the Lorddestroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)
went to war against Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar).
Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) marched out and arrayed themselves for battle in the Valley of Siddim
Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits, and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some men fell into the pits, but the survivors fled to the hill country.
The four kings seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food, and they went on their way.
Then the Lordsaid, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great. Because their sin is so grievous,
Then the Lordrained down sulfur and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the Lordout of the heavens.
He looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and all the land of the plain, and he saw the smoke rising from the land like smoke from a furnace.
All its soil will be a burning waste of sulfur and salt, unsown and unproductive, with no plant growing on it, just like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which the LORD overthrew in His fierce anger.
But their vine is from the vine of Sodom and from the fields of Gomorrah. Their grapes are poisonous; their clusters are bitter.
Unless the LORD of Hosts had left us a few survivors, we would have become like Sodom, we would have resembled Gomorrah.
Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom; listen to the instruction of our God, you people of Gomorrah!
And Babylon, the jewel of the kingdoms, the glory of the pride of the Chaldeans, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah.
And among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing: They commit adultery and walk in lies. They strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns his back on wickedness. They are all like Sodom to Me; the people of Jerusalem are like Gomorrah.”
As Sodom and Gomorrah were overthrown along with their neighbors,” says the LORD, “no one will dwell there; no man will abide there.
As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah along with their neighbors,” declares the LORD, “no one will dwell there; no man will abide there.
“Some of you I overthrew as I overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and you were like a firebrand snatched from a blaze, yet you did not return to Me,” declares the LORD.
Therefore, as surely as I live,” declares the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, “surely Moab will be like Sodom and the Ammonites like Gomorrah— a place of weeds and salt pits, a perpetual wasteland. The remnant of My people will plunder them; the remainder of My nation will dispossess them.”
Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.
If anyone will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that place, as a testimony against them.”
It is just as Isaiah foretold: “Unless the Lord of Hosts had left us descendants, we would have become like Sodom, we would have resembled Gomorrah.”
if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction, reducing them to ashes as an example of what is coming on the ungodly;
In like manner, Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, who indulged in sexual immorality and pursued strange flesh, are on display as an example of those who sustain the punishment of eternal fire.
Names, family links and references: STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Short descriptions were drafted with AI assistance by STEPBible. Family links follow STEPBible’s scholarly decisions where genealogies are ambiguous.