What does the Old Testament say about homosexuality?

Answer 1

The Bible does not mention the word homosexuality. There is only one sentence about sodomy (anal intercourse) in the Old Testament, which is in Chapter 20 of Leviticus (from verses 6 to 21) which refers to all the various Old Testament penalties for breaking the law. Leviticus 20:13 says "If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination."

It also speaks indirectly against homosexuality. There is the account of Sodom and Gomorrah. God sent two angels to warn Lot to leave and to get everyone righteous out that he could find. The men and boys of that city were all out, and they demanded that Lot let them in to meet the angels that they might "know" them. That seems to be a euphemism for sex that was introduced in King James' day. So many people take that part of the account as meaning the men of the city wanted to gang rape the angels. The angels blinded the men, and they were still trying to force the door open. After Lot left with his family, God destroyed the two cities. The name "Sodomite" is used throughout the Old Testament and perhaps a time or two in Revelation is a negative manner (though less negatively than for other groups). Its usage must be figurative since there were no surviving Sodomites except Lot and his daughters.

Answer 2

There are three relevant quotes, two in Leviticus that address homosexuality, both condemn the act and criminalize it, and one in Genesis that condones it and understands that it's human nature. All citations NIV, except for the Genesis quote, which is in the original Hebrew:

Leviticus 18:22: 22 "'Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable.

Leviticus 20:13: 13 "'If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.

Genesis 2:18, which says:

וַיֹּאמֶר ה׳ אֱלֹוקים, לֹא-טוֹב הֱיוֹת הָאָדָם לְבַדּוֹ; אֶעֱשֶׂה-לּוֹ עֵזֶר, כְּנֶגְדּוֹ׃

And the ETERNAL G-d said: 'It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper for him.

The Hebrew word for Helper in this verse is ezer (עזר) which is masculine. Now it is true that masculine Hebrew nouns can also be used generically to include the feminine, but if this "helper" was only supposed to be a woman, we would expect the word ozeret (עוזרת). We can conclude that this verse could apply to male partners or female partners.