2 Kings 23:7 Meaning: Why God's House Had Shrine Prostitutes
He broke down the houses of the male shrine prostitutes that were in Yahweh’s house, where the women wove hangings for the Asherah.
And he brake down the houses of the sodomites, that were by the house of the Lord, where the women wove hangings for the grove.
And he brake down the houses of the sodomites, that were in the house of Jehovah, where the women wove hangings for the Asherah.
And he breaketh down the houses of the whoremongers that are in the house of Jehovah, where the women are weaving houses for the shrine.
And he broke down the houses of the sodomites, which were in the house of Jehovah, where the women wove tents for the Asherah.
Meaning in one sentence
King Josiah tore down the houses of male shrine prostitutes in the temple and ended Asherah worship.
Context
Josiah was sixteen when he began to seek God, and by his eighteenth year he launched the most thorough religious reform in Judah's history. This verse sits inside that campaign. After rediscovering the Book of the Law, Josiah acted decisively. He removed the vessels made for Baal, burned the Asherah, and put down the idolatrous priests. Then he turned to something shocking even for a people accustomed to compromise: the quarters of male shrine prostitutes that had been set up within the very precincts of Yahweh's temple. Women had been weaving hangings there for the Asherah. The king tore it all down.
Key Words
The word translated 'male shrine prostitutes' is kedeshim, literally 'holy ones.' In a horrifying twist, these men were dedicated to the gods of Canaan as sacred sex workers. Their presence in the temple shows how idolatry had corrupted even the vocabulary of holiness. The 'houses' were not permanent buildings but tent-like structures, often called pavilions or booths. Women wove curtains for these tents, which served as shrines for Asherah, a Canaanite goddess. The root word for 'weave' (arag) appears elsewhere for the skilled women who wove for the tabernacle (Exodus 35:25). Here, those same skills were used for a very different purpose.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have agreed on the basic scandal: the temple had become a place for cultic prostitution. Earlier English versions like the KJV called them 'sodomites,' connecting the practice to the sin of Sodom. Modern translations prefer 'male shrine prostitutes' to clarify the religious context. Jewish commentators and some Christian scholars note that the women wove tent-like coverings for Asherah shrines. John Wesley observed that sodomy was part of idol worship, done to honour false gods. While interpretations differ on exact details, all see this as a shocking corruption that Josiah rightly tore down.
A common misunderstanding
Living This Out
This verse asks a hard question: Are there places in your life where you have mixed worship of God with something else? Perhaps you attend church but also give your devotion to money, approval, or comfort. Josiah didn't negotiate with the idolatry; he tore it down. This week, consider one area where you have allowed a compromise, a habit, a relationship, a loyalty that competes with God. It may not be as dramatic as temple prostitution, but any divided heart needs attention. The goal is not guilt but freedom. Josiah's reform was about restoring pure worship. What would it look like to clear a space in your life where God alone is honored? Start with prayer and one honest decision.
Main takeaway: God calls his people to remove anything that mixes true worship with the practices of the world, no matter how embedded it has become.
Questions People Ask
What were the male shrine prostitutes (kedeshim) in II Kings 23:7?
They were men and women dedicated to Canaanite fertility cults, engaging in ritual sex as part of worship. They had set up quarters inside the Jerusalem temple, showing how deeply idolatry had infiltrated Israel's religion. The word kedeshim literally means 'holy ones,' a tragic misuse of the term.
Why were women weaving hangings for Asherah in the temple?
Asherah was a Canaanite goddess, often represented by a wooden pole or tree. Women wove curtains or tent coverings for her shrines, which were set up within the temple precincts. This was not just craft; it was active participation in idolatry. Josiah destroyed these woven structures as part of his reform.
What does this passage teach about syncretism (mixing religions)?
It shows that syncretism had reached the highest level of worship, the temple itself. Even the most sacred place can be corrupted when the worship of God is combined with pagan practices. Josiah's response is radical: he tore down the structures, broke the altars, and removed the priests. It teaches that God desires exclusive devotion, not a blend of religions.
Is this verse about condemning homosexuality?
The verse addresses cultic prostitution in the context of Canaanite worship, not same-sex relationships in general. While the KJV uses 'sodomites,' modern translations clarify that these were male shrine prostitutes involved in pagan rituals. The Bible elsewhere speaks on sexual ethics, but this passage's main concern is purifying worship.
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