Deuteronomy 23:17
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This verse isn't just forbidding common prostitution; it's specifically outlawing "sacred prostitution," a practice deeply embedded in the idolatrous worship of surrounding nations. The Hebrew words used here refer to individuals, both male and female, who were consecrated to pagan deities and offered themselves sexually as part of religious rituals, something utterly foreign to the pure worship of Yahweh.
“None of the daughters of Israel shall be a cult prostitute, and none of the sons of Israel shall be a cult prostitute.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse appears in a chapter listing various prohibitions and regulations for the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land, addressing issues of purity and holiness within their community. It directly follows laws about who is excluded from the assembly of the Lord and precedes prohibitions against Ammonites and Moabites entering the assembly, framing these sexual regulations within the broader context of Israel's distinct identity before God and neighboring nations. The specific prohibition here, against cult prostitution and male prostitution, is particularly significant because these practices were often intertwined with the worship of surrounding pagan deities.
When this verse forbids 'whore' and 'sodomite,' it’s not just talking about common streetwalkers. It’s pointing to something more sinister deeply embedded in ancient paganism.
The terms translated 'whore' and 'sodomite' in Deuteronomy 23:17 likely refer to individuals involved in sacred prostitution, a common practice in the worship of ancient Near Eastern deities like Baal and Astarte.
Religious Rituals Gone Wrong
Israel's Distinct Path
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Why would God issue such a specific prohibition? It wasn't just about keeping Israel 'clean' from outside influences; it was about defining their very identity.
Deuteronomy 23:17 emphasizes a unique moral and spiritual standard for the people of Israel, distinguishing them sharply from the surrounding pagan nations.
A Peculiar People
Identity in Purity
The prohibition serves as a powerful reminder that God’s people are called to a life that reflects His character, setting them apart from the world. This standard is not about exclusion for its own sake, but about fostering a community that honors God in every aspect of life.
Understand the original words
qĕdēšāh / qādēš · Hebrew Noun
A term used in ancient Near Eastern contexts for a male or female temple prostitute associated with pagan fertility cults; their presence and practices were strictly forbidden in Israel because they profaned the holiness of God.
This passage directly prohibits male homosexual acts, reinforcing the prohibition against 'sodomites' in Deuteronomy, showing a broader concern for sexual purity within Israel.
Micah 1:7This verse explicitly links cult prostitution with the idolatrous worship of foreign gods, highlighting the religious dimension of the prohibition in Deuteronomy and why it was so abhorrent to God.
Romans 1:26-27Paul describes the consequences of turning away from God, including unnatural sexual desires and acts, which echoes the impurity forbidden in Deuteronomy and shows its spiritual ramifications.
Genesis 38:15-18The story of Judah and Tamar reveals the presence of prostitution within Canaanite culture, illustrating the societal norms that Israel was commanded to entirely reject and stay far away from.
clarkeDeuteronomy 23:17: "There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel."
There shall be no whore - See on Genesis 38:15-21 (note).
pooleDeuteronomy 23:17: "There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel."
No common prostitute, such, as were tolerated and encouraged by the Gentiles, and used even in their religious worship. Of the daughters of Israel; not that such practices were allowed to the strangers among them, as is evident from many scriptures and reasons, but that it was in a peculiar manner, and upon special reasons, forbidden to them, as being much more odious in them than in s…
This verse isn't just forbidding common prostitution; it's specifically outlawing "sacred prostitution," a practice deeply embedded in the idolatrous worship of surrounding nations. The Hebrew words used here refer to individuals, both male and female, who were consecrated to pagan deities and offered themselves sexually as part of religious rituals, something utterly foreign to the pure worship of Yahweh.
This verse appears in a chapter listing various prohibitions and regulations for the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land, addressing issues of purity and holiness within their community. It directly follows laws about who is excluded from the assembly of the Lord and precedes prohibitions against Ammonites and Moabites entering the assembly, framing these sexual regulations within the broader context of Israel's distinct identity before God and neighboring nations. The specific prohibition here, against cult prostitution and male prostitution, is particularly significant because these practices were often intertwined with the worship of surrounding pagan deities.
This verse appears in a chapter listing various prohibitions and regulations for the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land, addressing issues of purity and holiness within their community. It directly follows laws about who is excluded from the assembly of the Lord and precedes prohibitions against Ammonites and Moabites entering the assembly, framing these sexual regulations within the broader context of Israel's distinct identity before God and neighboring nations. The specific prohibition here, against cult prostitution and male prostitution, is particularly significant because these practices were often intertwined with the worship of surrounding pagan deities.
"“None of the daughters of Israel shall be a cult prostitute, and none of the sons of Israel shall be a cult prostitute." — This verse isn't just forbidding common prostitution; it's specifically outlawing "sacred prostitution," a practice deeply embedded in the idolatrous worship of surrounding nations. The Hebrew words…
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Last reviewed October 2026
