Deuteronomy 23:17 Meaning: Holy People, No Holiness Pretenders

The Hebrew words used here carry an ironic twist. The woman is called kedeshah, which literally means 'holy one.' The man is called kadesh, again 'holy one.' But these people were not holy in the way Israel was called to be holy. They were set apart for a pagan goddess, performing sexual acts as part of worship. Calling them holy ones was a bitter joke: they claimed devotion to a god, but their service was the opposite of the purity Yahweh required.

The word translated 'sodomite' in many older English versions does not refer to the men of Sodom directly. The Hebrew kadesh is a male prostitute who served in idolatrous rites. Later, the Old Testament uses the same word for those who brought this practice into Israel itself, and kings like Asa and Jehoshaphat removed them from the land. At stake is not just private morality but the public integrity of worship. A people set apart for God cannot use sex as an offering to anyone but Him.

Christians have read this verse in two main ways. Many Protestant interpreters, following Calvin and Wesley, see it as a general prohibition of all prostitution and homosexual acts. They point out that the surrounding laws cover a broad range of moral issues, and that the same Hebrew words are used elsewhere for common harlotry. Other commentators, especially those who study the ancient Near Eastern context, emphasize the cultic setting. Keil and Delitzsch, for example, note that kedeshah and kadesh refer to persons prostituting themselves in the worship of Astarte. Catholic and Orthodox traditions also recognize the idolatrous background but teach that the verse reinforces the call to chastity for all believers. Both readings agree that sexual purity matters deeply to God. They differ on how directly the verse addresses contemporary situations outside the temple cult.

A common mistake is to think this verse only forbids temple prostitution, as if regular prostitution were permitted. In fact, other passages in the Law clearly condemn common prostitution and all forms of sexual immorality. For example, Leviticus 19:29 says not to profane a daughter by making her a prostitute, and Deuteronomy 22 addresses sexual sin in ordinary life. The cultic context here makes the prohibition even stronger: those who engage in sexual sin as part of worship are doubly guilty, because they corrupt both body and worship.

This week, you might ask yourself: where do I treat holiness like a label I wear but not a life I live? It is easy to call yourself a Christian while letting the culture set the rules for your body, your money, or your worship. Israel was tempted to borrow the religious styles of their neighbours. You may be tempted to borrow the world's approach to sexuality, relationships, or worship, treating them as separate from your faith. This verse invites you to let God's presence change everything. Let your worship be true worship, not performance. Let your body be part of your devotion to God, not an offering to anything else.