Who are the Sodomites?

The Old Testament Hebrew word for Sodomite is qadesh. One would expect that the word "sodomite" would have its roots in the story of Sodom. One would expect that the evil behavior of those who lived in Sodom would define who a sodomite was.

Interestingly, as one studies this issue, one finds that the Hebrew word had nothing to do with Sodom. In reality, the word sodomite came from the King James Version translation of the word qadesh which means "holy, separated," and that suggests the person worked in a temple of some sort.

But once again, as with other scripture, this one faces different possibilities. In all likelihood, qadesh was a man or a woman who prostituted himself/herself at a local temple for the idols' sake. There were women who prostituted themselves at the temple (for the religious pleasure of men) and men who did the same (for the women, although some think it was for the men as well).

In different versions of the English Bibles, the word qadesh has been translated:
1. Ritual harlot
2. Sodomite
3. Cult prostitute
4. Shrine prostitute
5. Temple prostitute
6. Whoremonger
7. Perverted person
8. Male or female shrine prostitute
9. Male shrine prostitute
10. Male cult prostitute
11. Unclean
12. Immoral living
13. Defiled