Γόμορρα (Gomorra)
Gomorra
Gomorrah
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun Gomorra refers to the ancient city of Gomorrah, located in the eastern region of Judah near the Dead Sea. According to the Hebrew etymology cited in lexicons, the name carries the meaning of "submersion" or sinking, a fitting description for its ultimate fate. It is remembered primarily as one of the twin cities destroyed by divine judgment, where fire and brimstone rained down from heaven.
Scripture uses this name not merely as a geographical marker but as a powerful symbol of total ruin. In the Gospels, Jesus cites Gomorrah alongside Sodom to illustrate the severe consequences for those who reject his messengers (Matthew 10:15). Later writers, such as Peter and Jude, reference its destruction by fire to warn against ungodly behavior, while Paul alludes to it in Romans to highlight God’s sovereign power to preserve a remnant even amidst widespread judgment.
Translators consistently render this Greek term as "Gomorrah," preserving the proper noun without alteration. The word appears five times in the New Testament, serving as a stark reminder of the reality of divine justice. Its presence in these texts anchors abstract warnings in a concrete historical event known to all original readers.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Gomorrah stands as a sobering reminder that God takes human rebellion seriously. In the New Testament, Jesus mentions this ancient city to show how serious it is to reject those who bring His message. It was not just a place on a map; it became a symbol of total ruin because its people refused to listen to the truth.
Yet even in warnings of judgment, there is hope. Paul reminds us that God preserves a remnant, keeping faithfulness alive when everything else falls away. This word invites us to examine our own hearts, ensuring we are open to God’s voice and kind to those He sends. It calls for humility rather than pride.
We can find comfort knowing that God is just but also merciful. His warnings are meant to turn us back to Him, not to frighten us into despair. By staying rooted in faith, we trust in His wisdom and love.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Gomorrah3×
- of Gomorrah1×
- for Gomorrah1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- Γόμορρα2×
- Γομόρρων1×
- Γομόρροις1×
- Γομόρρας1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 10:15
Most certainly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city.
Jesus uses this reference to highlight the severe spiritual consequences of rejecting His messengers.
-
II Peter 2:6
and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, having made them an example to those who would live in an ungodly way,
Peter points to its destruction as a clear example for those who choose an ungodly lifestyle.
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Romans 9:29
As Isaiah has said before, “Unless the Lord of Armies had left us a seed, we would have become like Sodom, and would have been made like Gomorrah.”
Paul quotes Isaiah to show that God’s sovereign power preserves a faithful remnant even in judgment.