Jude 1

Jude · Chapter 1

Jude 1:10

1Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:2Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.3Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.4For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.5I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.6And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.7Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.8Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.9Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.10But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.11Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.12These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;13Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.14And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,15To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.16These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.17But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;18How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.19These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.20But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,21Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.22And of some have compassion, making a difference:23And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.24Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,25To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
10But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.These men, however, slander what they do not understand, and like irrational animals, they will be destroyed by the things they do instinctively.But these rail at whatsoever things they know not: and what they understand naturally, like the creatures without reason, in these things are they destroyed.

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

Jude has just said that even Michael the archangel did not dare bring a railing accusation against the devil (1:9). By contrast, these intruders mock what they do not understand. The things they do grasp, by bare instinct like animals, are the very things that ruin them. Jude 1:9Jude 1:10Jude 1:8

SpeakingJude, who calls himself a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James. Tradition identifies him as one of Jesus' brothers. Jude 1:1Jude overview

ToBelievers whom Jude calls sanctified, preserved and called. The letter does not say where they lived. Jude 1:1Jude overview

Also involvedThe "certain men crept in unawares" among the believers. They turned God's grace into lasciviousness, defiled the flesh and spoke evil of dignities. Jude 1:4Jude 1:8

Jude charges the false teachers with two faults. They speak evil of heavenly things beyond their understanding, which Michael would not do. And they live only by animal instinct, and that instinct destroys them. 2 Peter 2:12 makes the same charge in almost the same words. Jude 1:8Jude 1:9Jude 1:102 Peter 2:12

The letter does not say where it was written or where its readers lived. Its many references to Israel's history suggest readers who knew Jewish tradition well. Jude overview

SYRIAJerusalemNazarethEGYPTSodomGomorrahSalt SeaCaesarea

The eventsThe verse describes what the false teachers were doing among the readers at the time Jude wrote. Jude 1:4Jude 1:10

WrittenTraditional: about AD 65-80, by Jude the brother of James and of Jesus. Scholarly: views range from the 50s to the early second century, and some think a later follower wrote in Jude's name. Jude overview

HereJude writes to expose ungodly men who had slipped in, and to urge believers to earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints. Jude 1:3Jude 1:4Jude overview

In the whole of ScriptureThis verse is part of Jude's portrait of the ungodly, set among Israel's examples of judgment. It shows that despising God's order leads to self-destruction, and the next verse pronounces woe on them. Jude overviewJude 1:5Jude 1:11

For readersJude sets these men, who "speak evil of those things which they know not," against what believers should do: build themselves up in faith and keep themselves in the love of God (1:20-21). Jude 1:10Jude 1:20Jude 1:21

  • speak evil ofβλασφημέω
    Greek · blasphēmeō · G0987

    The lexicon defines this word as speaking lightly or profanely of sacred things, to blaspheme. The same word is used in the parallel at 2 Peter 2:12. The charge is irreverent talk about holy things, not merely rudeness. Strong's G09872 Peter 2:12

  • naturallyφυσικῶς
    Greek · phusikōs · G5447

    It means "naturally, by nature," and the lexicon lists only this verse for it. The knowledge Jude grants them is mere instinct, not spiritual understanding. This fits his later description of them as "sensual, having not the Spirit" (1:19). Strong's G5447Jude 1:19

  • bruteἄλογος
    Greek · alogos · G0249

    It means "without reason, irrational," and is used with "animals" here and in 2 Peter 2:12. Jude compares these men to creatures acting without reason. Strong's G0249Strong's G22262 Peter 2:12

  • corrupt themselvesφθείρω
    Greek · phtheirō · G5351

    The word means to destroy, corrupt or spoil. So their instincts both corrupt and ruin them. 2 Peter 2:12 says such men "shall utterly perish in their own corruption." Strong's G53512 Peter 2:12

Takeaway

Mocking spiritual things we do not understand is not boldness but foolishness. Living by instinct alone leads to ruin. Other Scripture agrees that those who profess themselves wise without honoring God become fools. Jude 1:10Romans 1:21Romans 1:22

Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a second AI pass. Updated 2026-10-23.

The world around the text

About AD 65-80. Roman emperors: Nero, then Vespasian and Titus (AD 54-68, 69-79, 79-81).

Who ruled
  • Roman emperorsNero, then Vespasian and TitusAD 54-68, 69-79, 79-81

    Nero's death in AD 68 was followed by civil war. Vespasian, the general fighting in Judea, won the throne in AD 69, and his son Titus finished the war and later succeeded him. Suetonius, Vespasian 4-6Tacitus, Histories 1.2Josephus, Jewish War 4.588-604

  • Jewish client kingHerod Agrippa IIc. AD 50-90s

    Ruled territories north and east of Galilee under Rome. He tried to talk Jerusalem out of revolt in AD 66 and stayed on Rome's side. Acts 25:13Josephus, Jewish War 2.345-407

  • Rulers of the provinceRoman governors of JudeaAD 44-66, then from AD 70

    Judea was ruled by Roman governors until the revolt. After AD 70 it became a separate province with a Roman legion stationed in ruined Jerusalem. Josephus, Jewish War 2.271-308Josephus, Jewish War 7.1-5

What was happening, AD 62 to AD 81
  1. AD 62
    The churchJames, Jude's brother, is killed

    The high priest Ananus had "James, the brother of Jesus who was called Christ" stoned in Jerusalem. Jude names himself "brother of James." Josephus, Antiquities 20.197-203Jude 1:1Galatians 1:19

  2. AD 64
    The churchNero blames the Christians for Rome's fire

    After the Great Fire of Rome, Nero put a "vast multitude" of Christians to death. Tacitus, Annals 15.38-44

  3. AD 66
    WarThe Jewish revolt begins

    Jerusalem rose against Rome after the governor Florus seized money from the temple treasury. Josephus, Jewish War 2.293-308, 2.409-410

  4. AD 68-69
    RulersThe Year of the Four Emperors

    After Nero's suicide, Galba, Otho and Vitellius each seized power and fell within months, until Vespasian won. Tacitus, Histories 1.1-2Suetonius, Galba, Otho, Vitellius

  5. AD 70
    WarJerusalem and its temple destroyed

    Titus took Jerusalem after a five-month siege and the temple was burned, as Jesus had foretold. Josephus, Jewish War 6.249-287Luke 19:41-44Luke 21:20-24

  6. AD 73 or 74
    WarThe fall of Masada

    The last rebels held out on the desert fortress of Masada above the Dead Sea until a Roman siege ramp reached its walls. Josephus, Jewish War 7.252-406

  7. August AD 79
    DisasterVesuvius buries Pompeii

    The eruption of Vesuvius buried Pompeii and Herculaneum in Italy. Pliny the Younger, Letters 6.16, 6.20

  8. AD 80
    BuildingThe Colosseum opens

    Titus opened the great amphitheater in Rome, built partly with spoils from the Jewish war. Suetonius, Titus 7.3Cassius Dio, Roman History 66.25

  9. c. AD 81-96
    The churchJude's grandsons before Domitian

    An early church historian records that Domitian summoned two grandsons of Jude, "the brother of the Lord," as descendants of David. Finding them poor farmers with hard hands, he let them go. Eusebius, Church History 3.19-20 (citing Hegesippus)

The full picture: places, culture and daily life. Scripture first, then ancient writers on these years (Josephus, Tacitus, Suetonius, Eusebius) and on the Jewish writings Jude draws on. Drafted by Claude and not yet reviewed by a person.

Original Greek words

EnglishGreekSay itStrong'sMeaning
TheseοὗτοιhoutoiG3778
this/he/she/it

οὗτος (ohutos) οὗτος, αὕτη, τοῦτο, genitive, τούτου, ταύτης, τούτου, [in LXX chiefly for זֹאת ,זֶה ;] demonstr. pron. (related to ἐκεῖνος as hic to ille), this; 1. as subst., this one, he; (a) absol.: Mat.3:17, Mrk.9:7, Luk.7:44, 45, Jhn.1:15, Act.2:15, al.; expressing contempt (cl.), Mat.13:55, 56, Mrk.6:2, 3, Jhn.6:42, al.; εἰς τοῦτο, Mrk.1:38, Rom.14:9; μετὰ τοῦτο (ταῦτα; V. Westc. on Jhn.5:1), Jhn.2:12 11:7, al.; (b) epanaleptic (referring to what precedes): Mat.5:19, Mrk.3:35, Luk.9:48, Jhn.6:46, Rom.7:10, al.; …

howeverδὲdeG1161
then

δέ (de) δέ (before vowels δ᾽; on the general neglect of the elision in NT, see WH, App., 146; Tdf., Pr., 96), post-positive conjunctive particle; 1. copulative, but, in the next place, and, now (Abbott, JG, 104): Mat.1:2ff., 2Co.6:15, 16, 2Pe.1:5-7; in repetition for emphasis, Rom.3:21, 22, 9:30, 1Co.2:6, Gal.2:2, Php.2:8; in transition to something new, Mat.1:18, 2:19, Luk.13:1, Jhn.7:14, Act.6:1, Rom.8:28, 1Co.7:1 8:1, al.; in explanatory parenthesis or addition, Jhn.3:19, Rom.5:8, 1Co.1:12, Eph.2:4, 5:32, al.; ὡς δέ, Jhn.2:9; καὶ . . . δέ, but also, Mat.10:18, Luk.1:76, Jhn.6:51, Rom.11:23, al.; …

as much asὅσαhosaG3745
just as/how much

ὅσος (hosos) ὅσος, -η, -ον, correlat. of τοσοῦτος, how much, how many, how great, how far, how long, as much as, etc. (= Lat. quantus); (a) of number and quantity: m. pl., Mat.14:36, Mrk.3:10, Rom.2:12, al.; n. pl., Mat.17:12, Mrk.10:21, Luk.11:8, al.; πάτνες (πάντα) ὅ., Mat.13:46, Luk.4:40, al.; before οὗτοι (ταῦτα), Rom.8:14, Php.4:8; with indic., Mrk.6:56, Rev.3:19; with subjc. Mrk.3:28, al.; ὅ. ἄν, Mat.18:18, Jhn.11:22, al.; …

indeedμὲνmenG3303
on the other hand

μέν (men) μέν, conjunctive particle (originally a form of μήν), usually related to a following δέ or other adversative conjunction, and distinguishing the word or clause with which it stands from that which follows. It is generally untranslatable and is not nearly so frequent in NT as in cl. Like δέ, it never stands first in a clause. …

notοὐκoukG3756
no

οὐ (ou) οὐ, before a vowel with smooth breathing οὐκ, before one with rough breathing οὐχ (but improperly οὐχ ἰδού, Act.2:7, WH, mg.; cf. WH, Intr., §409; M, Pr., 44, 244), [in LXX for אֵין ,אַיִן ,לֹא ;] neg. particle, not, no, used generally with indic, and for a denial of fact (cf . μή); 1. absol. (accented), οὔ, no: Mat.13:29 Jhn.1:21 21:5; οὒ οὕ, Mat.5:37 Jas.5:12. …

they understoodοἴδασινoidasinG6063
to know

οἶδα (oida) 1. to know , εὖ οἶδα I know well; εὖ ἴσθι be assured : often with accusative rei, νοήματα οἶδε, μήδεα οἶδε he is versed in counsels, (Homer); with neut. Adjs., πεπνυμένα, φίλα, ἀθεμίστια εἰδώς (Homer); also with genitive, τόξων εὖ εἰδώς cunning in the use of the bow; οἰωνῶν σάφα εἰδώς (Odyssey by Homer): —; χάριν εἰδέναι τινί to acknowledge a debt to another, thank him , (Iliad by Homer), etc.:—;the Imperat. in protestations, ἴστω Ζεὺς αὐτός be Zeus my witness , (Iliad by Homer); doric ἴττω Ζεύς, ἴττω (Aristophanes Comicus): —; εἰδώς absolute one who knows , εἰδυίηι πάντ᾽ ἀγορεύω (Iliad by Hom …

they denigrate;βλασφημοῦσιν·blasphēmousinG0987
to blaspheme

βλασφημέω (blasphēmeō) βλασφημέω, -ῶ (βλάσφημος), [in LXX: 4Ki.19:4 (יכח hi.) ib. 6, 22 (גּדף pi.), Isa.52:5 (נאץ hith.), Dan LXX 3:29 (96) (אמר שׁלח), Tob.1:18, Da TH Bel 9, 2Ma.2 * ;] 1. to speak lightly or profanely of sacred things (in cl., opp. of εὐφημέω), esp. to speak impiously of God, to blaspheme, speak blasphemously: absol., Mat.9:3 26:65, Mrk.2:7, Jhn.10:36, Act.26:11, 1Ti.1:20, 2Pe.2:12; τ. θεόν, Act.19:37, Rev.16:11, 21; τὸ ὄνομα τ. θεοῦ, Rev.13:6 16:9; δόξας, Ju 3, 2Pe.2:10; εἰς τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον, Mrk.3:29, Luk.12:10. …

as much asὅσαhosaG3745
just as/how much

ὅσος (hosos) ὅσος, -η, -ον, correlat. of τοσοῦτος, how much, how many, how great, how far, how long, as much as, etc. (= Lat. quantus); (a) of number and quantity: m. pl., Mat.14:36, Mrk.3:10, Rom.2:12, al.; n. pl., Mat.17:12, Mrk.10:21, Luk.11:8, al.; πάτνες (πάντα) ὅ., Mat.13:46, Luk.4:40, al.; before οὗτοι (ταῦτα), Rom.8:14, Php.4:8; with indic., Mrk.6:56, Rev.3:19; with subjc. Mrk.3:28, al.; ὅ. ἄν, Mat.18:18, Jhn.11:22, al.; …

howeverδὲdeG1161
then

δέ (de) δέ (before vowels δ᾽; on the general neglect of the elision in NT, see WH, App., 146; Tdf., Pr., 96), post-positive conjunctive particle; 1. copulative, but, in the next place, and, now (Abbott, JG, 104): Mat.1:2ff., 2Co.6:15, 16, 2Pe.1:5-7; in repetition for emphasis, Rom.3:21, 22, 9:30, 1Co.2:6, Gal.2:2, Php.2:8; in transition to something new, Mat.1:18, 2:19, Luk.13:1, Jhn.7:14, Act.6:1, Rom.8:28, 1Co.7:1 8:1, al.; in explanatory parenthesis or addition, Jhn.3:19, Rom.5:8, 1Co.1:12, Eph.2:4, 5:32, al.; ὡς δέ, Jhn.2:9; καὶ . . . δέ, but also, Mat.10:18, Luk.1:76, Jhn.6:51, Rom.11:23, al.; …

naturallyφυσικῶςphusikōsG5447
physically

φυσικῶς (phusikōs) φυσικῶς adv., naturally, by nature: Ju 10.† (AS)

asὡςhōsG5613
as/when

ὡς (hōs) ὡς, adverbial form of the relative pron. ὅς, ἥ, ὅ. I. As relat. adv. of manner, as, like as, just as, even as; 1. with a demonstrative, like οὕτως, expressed or understood: οὕτως . . . ὡς, Mrk.4:26, 1Co.3:15, Eph.5:28, Jas.2:12, al.; ὡς . . . οὕτως, Act.8:32, 1Co.7:17, al.; elliptically (sc. οὕτως, οὕτω), with nom., Mat.6:29, al.; with accusative, Mat.19:19, Mrk.12:31, al.; with prep., Mat.26:55, Mrk.14:48, Luk.22:52, Jhn.7:10, al.; with verb., Jhn.15:6, 2Co.3:1, Eph.2:3, 1Th.5:6, al.; with ptcp. (the ptcp. however not having the special force wh. it has in cl.; see Bl., §73, 5; 74, 6), Mat. …

irrationalἄλογαalogaG0249
unreasonable

ἄλογος (alogos) ἄ-λογος, -ον [in LXX: Exo.6:12 (שָׂפָה עָרֵל), Num.6:12 (נָפַל), Job.11:12, Wis.11:15-16, 4Ma.3:1-21 * ;] 1. without reason, irrational: ζῷα, 2Pe.2:12, Ju 10. 2. contrary to reason: Act.25:27 (see MM, VGT, see word).† (AS)

animalsζῷαzōaG2226
living thing

ζῷον (zōon) ζῷον (Rec. ζῶον, see LS, see word), -ου, τό (ζωός, alive), [in LXX for חַי (chiefly) and cognate forms; frequently in Wis ;] a living creature, an animal: Rev.4:6-9 5:6 ff. Rev.6:1 ff. Rev.7:11 14:3 15:7 19:4; ζῴων τ. αἷμα, Heb.13:11; ἄλογα ζ., 2Pe.2:12, Ju 10.† SYN.: θηρίον, in which the brutal, bestial element is emphasized, and which is never used of sacrificial animals. On the other hand, ζ. is the more comprehensive, as expressing the vital element common to the whole anima] creation (see Tr., Syn., LXXxi; Cremer, 274). (AS)

they understand,ἐπίστανται,epistantaiG1987
to know/understand

ἐπίσταμαι (epistamai) ἐπίσταμαι (prob. an old mid, of ἐφίστημι, which see), [in LXX chiefly for יָדַע ;] to know, know of, understand: with accusative of person(s), Act.19:15; with ptcp., Act.24:10; with accusative of thing(s), Mrk.14:68, Act.18:25, 1Ti.6:4, Jas.4:14, Ju 10; before περί, Act.26:26; ὅτι, Act.15:7 19:25 22:19; ὡς, Act.10:28; πῶς, Act.20:18; ποῦ, Heb.11:8.† SYN: γινώσκω (which see), οἶδα (AS)

inἐνenG1722
in/on/among

ἐν (en) ἐν, prep, (the most frequently of all in NT), with dative (= Heb. בְּ, Lat. in, with abl.). I. Of place, with dative of thing(s), of person(s), in, within, on, at, by, among: ἐν τ. πόλει, Luk.7:37; τ. οφθαλμῷ, Mat.7:3; τ. κοιλίᾳ, Mat.12:40; τ. ὄρει, 2Pe.1:18; τ. θρόνῳ, Rev.3:21; τ. δεξιᾷ τ. θεοῦ, Rom.8:34; ἐν ἡμῖν Abbott-Smith has ὑμῖν., Luk.1:1; of books, ἐν τ. βιβλίῳ, Gal.3:10; τ. νόμῳ, Mat.12:5, al.; ἐν τοῖς τ. Πατρός, in my Father's house (RV; cf. M, Pr., 103), Luk.2:49; trop., of the region of thought or feeling, ἐν τ. καρδίᾳ (-αις), Mat.5:28, 2Co.4:6, al.; τ. συνειδήσεσιν, 2Co.5:11; af …

these thingsτούτοιςtoutoisG3778
this/he/she/it

οὗτος (ohutos) οὗτος, αὕτη, τοῦτο, genitive, τούτου, ταύτης, τούτου, [in LXX chiefly for זֹאת ,זֶה ;] demonstr. pron. (related to ἐκεῖνος as hic to ille), this; 1. as subst., this one, he; (a) absol.: Mat.3:17, Mrk.9:7, Luk.7:44, 45, Jhn.1:15, Act.2:15, al.; expressing contempt (cl.), Mat.13:55, 56, Mrk.6:2, 3, Jhn.6:42, al.; εἰς τοῦτο, Mrk.1:38, Rom.14:9; μετὰ τοῦτο (ταῦτα; V. Westc. on Jhn.5:1), Jhn.2:12 11:7, al.; (b) epanaleptic (referring to what precedes): Mat.5:19, Mrk.3:35, Luk.9:48, Jhn.6:46, Rom.7:10, al.; …

they corrupt themselves.φθείρονται.phtheirontaiG5351
to destroy

φθείρω (phtheirō) φθείρω [in LXX chiefly for שָׁחַת hi., pi., also for חָבַל, etc. ;] to destroy, corrupt, spoil (on the varied usage and distinctive meaning of the word, see Mayor on 2Pe, App., 175 ff.): with accusative, 1Co.3:17 15:23, 2Co.7:2; before ἀπό, 2Co.11:3; ἐν, 2Pe.2:12, Ju 10, Rev.19:2; κατά, Eph.4:22 (cf. δια-, κατα-φθείρω).† (AS)

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.