Deuteronomy 23:17-18
“None of the daughters of Israel shall be a cult prostitute, and none of the sons of Israel shall be a cult prostitute. You shall not bring the fee of a prostitute or the wages of a dog into the house of the LORD your God in payment for any vow, for both of these are an abomination to the LORD your God.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This prohibition goes beyond common prostitution, specifically forbidding those who were consecrated to pagan deities for sexual rites. It highlights that sexual impurity, especially when tied to idol worship, was particularly abhorrent to God for His people.
This verse appears in a section of laws aimed at keeping Israel distinct from the surrounding Canaanite nations, particularly focusing on maintaining moral and religious purity. It comes after regulations about gleaning for the poor and before laws concerning financial dealings and vows, all contributing to the image of a holy community set apart for God. The prohibition against cult prostitution and male temple prostitutes directly combats common pagan religious practices of the time where sexual immorality was intertwined with worship.
Why would God's law specifically prohibit 'cult prostitutes' and 'sodomites'? It wasn't just about general immorality, but about a practice deeply intertwined with the worship of other gods.
This verse directly confronts practices that were common in the surrounding pagan cultures. Many ancient religions incorporated sexual acts, including prostitution and homosexual acts, as part of their worship rituals to appease or honor their deities (like Baal, Ashtoreth, or Venus).
Sacred Prostitution: The Hebrew terms used here, 'kedeshah' (whore) and 'kadesh' (sodomite), often refer to individuals consecrated or dedicated to these pagan deities for sexual service. It was a way of trying to secure divine favor or fertility through sexual acts.
Israel's Distinctiveness: God was establishing Israel as a unique people, set apart for Him. Their worship was to be pure and distinct from the surrounding nations. Allowing these practices would have been a direct compromise, blurring the lines between the worship of the one true God and the idolatrous practices of the world.
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This isn't just a rule; it's a boundary that protects the unique identity and purpose of God's people. What does this separation teach us about God's heart for us?
God's commands, especially in the Old Testament, often served to distinguish Israel from the nations around them. This verse is a powerful example of that principle.
A Higher Standard: While pagan cultures might have tolerated or even encouraged these sexual practices as part of their worship, God demanded a higher standard for Israel. This wasn't about God being petty; it was about His covenant people living in a way that reflected His own holiness.
Protecting the Covenant: By prohibiting these specific sexual behaviors, God was safeguarding the purity of His covenant relationship with Israel. These practices were associated with fertility cults and other forms of idolatry, which directly opposed Israel's commitment to the Lord alone. It was about preserving their spiritual integrity and their exclusive devotion to Yahweh.
Understand the original words
tōʿēbāh · Hebrew Noun
A term often used in the Old Testament to describe religious practices—particularly idolatry, sexual immorality, or ritual impurity—that are fundamentally repulsive and detestable to the holy character of God.
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.
ʾetnān · Hebrew Noun
Refers to gain or income derived from prostitution; such funds were considered 'unclean' and spiritually tainted, making them unfit to be offered as a vow to the Lord.
This verse reiterates the prohibition against prostitution, specifically mentioning that no daughter of Israel should 'give herself to be a prostitute,' highlighting the importance of purity and sexual integrity within the community.
Romans 1:26-27Paul speaks to the unnatural use of the body, directly referencing both male and female same-sex relations as a departure from God's design, which parallels the prohibition of 'sodomites' in Deuteronomy, showing this is a consistent theme of sexual morality.
1 Corinthians 6:18-20This passage calls believers to flee sexual immorality, reminding them that their bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit and belong to God, underscoring the spiritual dimension and high standard for sexual conduct that Deuteronomy also reflects.
Micah 1:7Micah condemns the 'wages of a harlot' and their use, directly linking prostitution with idolatrous practices and the spoils of immorality, which resonates with Deuteronomy's prohibition against cultic prostitution tied to pagan worship.
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 prohibition goes beyond common prostitution, specifically forbidding those who were consecrated to pagan deities for sexual rites. It highlights that sexual impurity, especially when tied to idol worship, was particularly abhorrent to God for His people.
This verse appears in a section of laws aimed at keeping Israel distinct from the surrounding Canaanite nations, particularly focusing on maintaining moral and religious purity. It comes after regulations about gleaning for the poor and before laws concerning financial dealings and vows, all contributing to the image of a holy community set apart for God. The prohibition against cult prostitution and male temple prostitutes directly combats common pagan religious practices of the time where sexual immorality was intertwined with worship.
This verse appears in a section of laws aimed at keeping Israel distinct from the surrounding Canaanite nations, particularly focusing on maintaining moral and religious purity. It comes after regulations about gleaning for the poor and before laws concerning financial dealings and vows, all contributing to the image of a holy community set apart for God. The prohibition against cult prostitution and male temple prostitutes directly combats common pagan religious practices of the time where sexual immorality was intertwined with worship.
"“None of the daughters of Israel shall be a cult prostitute, and none of the sons of Israel shall be a cult prostitute. You shall not bring the fee of a prostitute or the wages of a dog into the house of the LORD your God in payment for an…" — This prohibition goes beyond common prostitution, specifically forbidding those who were consecrated to pagan deities for sexual rites. It highlights that sexual impurity, especially when tied to ido…
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