# temple prostitutes/sodomites
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temple-prostitutes-sodomites/139459
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [November 29, 2002, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temple-prostitutes-sodomites/139459 "2002-11-29T05:40:57Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2002, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temple-prostitutes-sodomites/139459/1 "2002-11-29T05:40:57Z")
NIV and other bible translations offer “temple prostitutes” in place of the King James “sodomites” in the OT. My favourite translation, “Youngs Literal Transation” offers “tremple prostitutes” as well. What is the justification for the King James slant? What temple is involved here? What is the jewish take on this?
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### Author:  [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2002, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temple-prostitutes-sodomites/139459/2 "2002-11-29T05:43:33Z")
To what verse do you refer? I have a few translations including a Jewish one.
Haj
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### Author:  [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2002, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temple-prostitutes-sodomites/139459/3 "2002-11-29T05:49:41Z")
First thing to consider is that King James Version wasn’t translated from the original languages, but from earlier Wyecliff and Tyndale translation works which were largely done from Latin.
Most newer translations have strived to work from the original toungue used or, at least, from as far back as they can possibly go. So newer versions are more accurate, or should be.
I’ll look up some specifics and post again, unless someone else posts the answer
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### Author:  [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2002, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temple-prostitutes-sodomites/139459/4 "2002-11-29T05:53:18Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by grienspace \*
> \*\*NIV and other bible translations offer “temple prostitutes” in place of the King James “sodomites” in the OT. My favourite translation, “Youngs Literal Transation” offers “tremple prostitutes” as well. What is the justification for the King James slant? What temple is involved here? What is the jewish take on this? \*\*
A literal translation is “tremple?” 😃
Seriously, however, if you provide the verse, I’ll be more than happy to look it up for you and give you my take on the Hebrew.
Zev Steinhardt
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### Author:  [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2002, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temple-prostitutes-sodomites/139459/5 "2002-11-29T06:00:06Z")
2 Kings 23:7
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### Author:  [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2002, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temple-prostitutes-sodomites/139459/6 "2002-11-29T06:04:10Z")
The Tanakh (Jewish translation): male prostitutes
New World (Jehovah’s Witness): male temple prostitutes
New American Standard (Protestant): male cult prostitutes
Haj
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### Author:  [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2002, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temple-prostitutes-sodomites/139459/7 "2002-11-29T06:11:34Z")
1 Kings 14:24 “Male temple prostitute.” Heb., qa·dhesh’; Lat., ef·fe·mi·na’ti, “effeminate men.”
So, the Latin could be where AV people got Sodomite, since that’s how they catagorized homosexuals. Not pc, but oh well
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### Author:  [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2002, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temple-prostitutes-sodomites/139459/8 "2002-11-29T06:14:00Z")
Anyone got a specific translation of “qadhesh” that could shed some more light on this?
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### Author:  [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2002, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temple-prostitutes-sodomites/139459/9 "2002-11-29T06:17:35Z")
Oh yeah, from the context, it appears to be the temple in Jerusalem and other “high places” in the kingdom ruled by Josiah. He initiated a religious reform in the 2 tribe kingdom of Judah which included Jerusalem
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### Author:  [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2002, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temple-prostitutes-sodomites/139459/10 "2002-11-29T06:20:46Z")
See also Job 36:14 and Hosea 4:14.
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### Author:  [@mrcrow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrcrow)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2002, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temple-prostitutes-sodomites/139459/11 "2002-11-29T10:11:44Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Desmostylus \*
> \*\*2 Kings 23:7 \*\*
NKJV gives perverted persons heb. gedeshim those practicing sodomy and prostitution in religious rituals.
for religion read baal and ashera worship…in temples of course
didnt you see dagon meets samson…?🙂
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### Author:  [@mrcrow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrcrow)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2002, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temple-prostitutes-sodomites/139459/12 "2002-11-29T10:14:39Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by NoClueBoy \*
> \*\*Anyone got a specific translation of “qadhesh” that could shed some more light on this? \*\*
hebrew
gedeshim
i think your word may be spirit?
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### Author:  [@mrcrow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrcrow)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2002, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temple-prostitutes-sodomites/139459/13 "2002-11-29T10:21:10Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by NoClueBoy \*
> \*\*Oh yeah, from the context, it appears to be the temple in Jerusalem and other “high places” in the kingdom ruled by Josiah. He initiated a religious reform in the 2 tribe kingdom of Judah which included Jerusalem \*\*
high places, designated places for pagan worship.
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### Author:  [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2002, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temple-prostitutes-sodomites/139459/14 "2002-11-29T16:14:42Z")
> [@](#):
>
> i think your word may be spirit?
No, spirit is _ru`ach* (Hebrew), *pneu`ma_ (Greek)
I have yet to find any other def for _qa`dhesh_ other than “male temple [or cult] prostitute”
Is it a current Hebrew Word? Any Hebrew speaking people out there?
Thanks for clarifying high places, **mrcrow**. Sometimes I assume everyone is already following what I’m saying
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### Author:  [@mrcrow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrcrow)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2002, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temple-prostitutes-sodomites/139459/15 "2002-11-29T16:26:31Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by NoClueBoy \*
> \*\*No, spirit is _ru`ach* (Hebrew), *pneu`ma_ (Greek)
>
> I have yet to find any other def for _qa`dhesh_ other than “male temple [or cult] prostitute”
>
> Is it a current Hebrew Word? Any Hebrew speaking people out there?
>
> Thanks for clarifying high places, **mrcrow**. Sometimes I assume everyone is already following what I’m saying \*\*
sorry man got the wrong handle on ruach ha kodesh
i should have inferred ‘wind’?
but i see thats wrong as well …just a bit of back pedalling here.
where are you getting your hebrew words from?
🙂
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### Author:  [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2002, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temple-prostitutes-sodomites/139459/16 "2002-11-29T16:40:11Z")
Several different Bible encyclopeadias from Catholic Church, Jehovah’s Witnesses, some people who appear to be Rabbis, and some secular sources like “The Bible As History” by that German guy. Plus, web searches on [Dogpile.com](http://Dogpile.com).
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### Author:  [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2002, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temple-prostitutes-sodomites/139459/17 "2002-11-29T16:43:23Z")
FTR, it seems to be alot harder, for me anyways, to find the meanings to old style Hebrew words than for Greek stuff. I guess since NT is newer than OT that would explain some of that.
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### Author:  [@mrcrow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrcrow)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2002, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temple-prostitutes-sodomites/139459/18 "2002-11-29T16:47:19Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by NoClueBoy \*
> \*\*FTR, it seems to be alot harder, for me anyways, to find the meanings to old style Hebrew words than for Greek stuff. I guess since NT is newer than OT that would explain some of that. \*\*
i have a limited hebrew flavoured NT never got the OT it was too heavy to bring back from christchurch at the jaffa gate.
but it is available here…
maybe someday
how do you reckon other languages as in aramaic
and the hebrew of BC was not so similar to todays?
🙂
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### Author:  [@dylan\_73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dylan_73)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2002, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temple-prostitutes-sodomites/139459/19 "2002-11-29T16:52:27Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by mrcrow \*
> **i have a limited hebrew flavoured NT**
Upgrade to 2000 or XP then. 😉 Seriously, what exactly did these Temple Trollops do? Did you make a sacrifice and then get your “reward” or what?
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### Author:  [@mrcrow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrcrow)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2002, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temple-prostitutes-sodomites/139459/20 "2002-11-29T17:02:52Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by dylan\_73 \*
> \*\*Upgrade to 2000 or XP then. 😉 Seriously, what exactly did these Temple Trollops do? Did you make a sacrifice and then get your “reward” or what? \*\*
😃 😃
i feel it was no different from today just that all the community were supposed to frequent the temple
what about the molech and hinnom sacrifices of your children
this was pagan fuelled remember.
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