Lot’s Wife Name

Lot’s wife’s name isn’t mentioned in the Bible, but that doesn’t mean she’s insignificant. Later Jewish traditions call her Idit or Ado, yet her story remains one of the most haunting in Genesis. She turns back toward Sodom and Gomorrah and is instantly transformed into a pillar of salt. But why was her punishment so severe when Lot himself hesitated? And how did later Jewish and Christian traditions reinterpret her fate?

Genesis is filled with unsettling stories, and few are as debated as Sodom and Gomorrah, The Binding of Isaac, and Lot’s Wife. These ancient narratives have shaped theology for millennia, yet many of their most troubling details have been misinterpreted or ignored altogether.

In this episode of Almost Heretical, Nate and Shelby explore these complex biblical stories, challenging traditional interpretations and uncovering their historical and cultural significance.

Was Sodom and Gomorrah Really Destroyed for Homosexuality?

One of the most persistent teachings in many Christian circles is that Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because of homosexuality. But does the Bible actually say that?

Ancient Jewish texts—and even the Bible itself—point to a different reason. According to Ezekiel 16:49, the sin of Sodom was primarily about inhospitality, arrogance, and neglecting the poor:

“Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed, and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy.”

This idea is reinforced by Jesus himself. In Matthew 10:14-15, he references Sodom in the context of inhospitality, saying that towns that reject his disciples will be judged more harshly than Sodom was.

So why has Christian tradition largely overlooked this? And how did the story shift to focus on sexuality? These are the kinds of questions we unpack in this episode.

Lot’s Wife: Why Was She Turned to Salt?

Lot’s wife is often remembered for one thing—looking back. But was her fate truly deserved?

The story, found in Genesis 19, describes Lot and his family fleeing Sodom and Gomorrah as fire rains down. The angels warn them not to look back, but Lot’s wife does—and she’s turned into a pillar of salt.

But there’s more to this story than a simple punishment. In later Jewish traditions, writers struggled with the same question many of us do: Why was Lot spared when he also hesitated, but his wife was not?

Some ancient commentaries tried to explain this by making Lot’s wife seem worse, adding that she was the one who betrayed their angelic visitors to the men of Sodom, or that she refused to offer them salt, a key symbol of hospitality in the ancient world. These later interpretations reveal that even early Jewish readers found this story troubling.

And there’s another possible angle: The Dead Sea region, where this story is set, is full of natural salt formations. Some scholars suggest that this “pillar of salt” detail reflects a real geological phenomenon that was later woven into the biblical narrative.

Lot and the Troubling Offer of His Daughters

Another disturbing aspect of the Sodom and Gomorrah story is Lot’s offer of his daughters to the violent mob.

When the men of Sodom demand that Lot bring out his guests, he refuses—but instead offers his two virgin daughters, saying,

“Look, I have two daughters who have never slept with a man. Let me bring them out to you, and you can do what you like with them.” (Genesis 19:8)

This shocking moment raises serious moral and theological questions. Why is Lot still considered righteous after this? Why is he saved when his wife is not?

In the episode, we discuss how ancient Jewish readers were also disturbed by this. Some later writings criticize Lot for his actions, while others try to downplay his role. But the fact that this moment is left unchallenged in the biblical text makes it one of the most unsettling aspects of the story.

The Binding of Isaac: Was Child Sacrifice Normalized?

The Binding of Isaac (Genesis 22) is one of the most troubling stories in the Bible. God commands Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac—only to stop him at the last moment and provide a ram instead.

But why would God ask this in the first place?

In the ancient Near East, child sacrifice was a real and terrifying practice. Some scholars believe this story was written as a contrast, showing that Yahweh does not actually require such sacrifices. Others argue that it reflects Abraham’s emotional turmoil—something that later Jewish traditions emphasize even more.

There’s also debate about how Isaac himself reacted. Some ancient commentaries suggest he never spoke to Abraham again after this event, which is intriguing given that Genesis never records another interaction between them.

Do These Stories Still Matter?

These Genesis stories—Sodom and Gomorrah, The Binding of Isaac, and Lot’s Wife—continue to influence theology, ethics, and cultural discussions. They raise profound questions about morality, justice, obedience, and the nature of God.

Takeaways

• The sin of Sodom wasn’t homosexuality. The Bible itself describes it as inhospitality, arrogance, and neglecting the poor.
• Jewish and Christian traditions wrestled with these stories too. Ancient readers saw the same problems we do—and rewrote parts of them to make sense of them.
• Child sacrifice was common in Abraham’s world. Was the Binding of Isaac a rejection of this practice—or something more complicated?
• Lot’s wife wasn’t alone in being punished. Later Jewish commentaries expanded her story, suggesting she had a bigger role in Sodom’s downfall.
• Did Abraham even exist? If not, does it change anything about the way these stories shape history and faith?