And he brake down the houses of the sodomites, that were by the house of the LORD, where the women wove hangings for the grove.

2 KINGS 23:7KJV
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2 Kings 23:7 (KJV)

What does 2 Kings 23:7 mean?

2 Kings 23:7 describes how King Josiah destroyed the houses of the "sodomites" that were located near the temple of the LORD, where women made hangings for a "grove"—a site connected with pagan worship. This verse shows Josiah’s effort to remove practices and places linked to idol worship from Jerusalem.

King Josiah is leading a religious reform in Judah, trying to restore worship of the LORD (Yahweh) alone. The verse points out that there were structures near the temple associated with cultic prostitution (the "sodomites") and ritual weaving by women for Asherah (the "grove"), both connected to Canaanite religious customs. Josiah’s actions here are part of a larger campaign to purify the worship in Jerusalem and remove foreign religious influences.

The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 23:7

  • "sodomites" (קָדֵשׁ, qadesh): This word refers to male cult prostitutes, often associated with pagan temples in the ancient Near East. Their presence near the temple shows how far foreign religious practices had crept into Israelite worship.
  • "grove" (אֲשֵׁרָה, asherah): This term refers to a wooden idol or sacred pole representing the goddess Asherah, a common object in Canaanite religion. The hangings woven by women were likely decorations or coverings for this idol.
  • "down" (נָתַץ, nathats): This verb means to tear down or demolish, emphasizing the thoroughness of Josiah’s reforms—he did not just ban these practices, he physically destroyed their places.

Why 2 Kings 23:7 matters

  • This verse clarifies that Josiah’s reforms were not just about changing laws but involved actively removing physical places and objects tied to idol worship.
  • The mention of both male cult prostitutes and women weaving for Asherah highlights how deeply these foreign practices had become part of daily life, even near the temple itself.
  • Understanding the specific words used here helps show the seriousness of Josiah’s commitment to restoring exclusive worship of the LORD and the extent of religious syncretism he was fighting against.

Where else these words appear

“sodomites” Hebrew H6945 · used in 6 verses

  • Deuteronomy 23:17 There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel.
  • 1 Kings 14:24 And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.
  • 1 Kings 22:46 And the remnant of the sodomites, which remained in the days of his father Asa, he took out of the land.

“wove” Hebrew H707 · used in 13 verses

  • Exodus 28:32 And there shall be an hole in the top of it, in the midst thereof: it shall have a binding of woven work round about the hole of it, as it were the hole of an habergeon, that it be not rent.
  • Judges 16:13 And Delilah said unto Samson, Hitherto thou hast mocked me, and told me lies: tell me wherewith thou mightest be bound. And he said unto her, If thou weavest the seven locks of my head with the web.
  • 1 Chronicles 20:5 And there was war again with the Philistines; and Elhanan the son of Jair slew Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, whose spear staff was like a weaver's beam.

“grove” Hebrew H842 · used in 40 verses

  • Exodus 34:13 But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves:
  • 1 Kings 18:19 Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table.
  • 2 Chronicles 17:6 And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the LORD: moreover he took away the high places and groves out of Judah.

“down” Hebrew H5422 · used in 41 verses

  • Exodus 34:13 But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves:
  • 2 Kings 10:27 And they brake down the image of Baal, and brake down the house of Baal, and made it a draught house unto this day.
  • Psalms 52:5 God shall likewise destroy thee for ever, he shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place, and root thee out of the land of the living. Selah.