Jude 1

Jude · Chapter 1

Jude 1:6

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
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.And the angels who did not stay within their own domain but abandoned their proper dwelling—these He has kept in eternal chains under darkness, bound for judgment on that great day.And angels that kept not their own principality, but left their proper habitation, he hath kept in everlasting bonds under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

Jude gives a second example of God's judgment, after Israel in the wilderness (1:5) and before Sodom and Gomorrha (1:7). Some angels did not keep their original place and abandoned their own dwelling, so God now keeps them chained in darkness until the final judgment. The point is a warning about the ungodly men who had crept into the church (1:4). Jude 1:5Jude 1:6Jude 1:7Jude 1:4

SpeakingJude, who calls himself a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James. Tradition holds he is the Judas named among Jesus' brothers. Jude 1:1Jude overview

ToBelievers who are "sanctified," "preserved" and "called." The letter does not say where they lived. Jude 1:1Jude overview

Also involvedThe verse speaks of angels who left their place. Jude uses them as a picture of the ungodly men among his readers, who also "despise dominion" (1:8). Jude 1:6Jude 1:4Jude 1:8

This is a statement of judgment. Angels who did not keep their position, but deserted their home, are held by God in everlasting chains under darkness until "the judgment of the great day." 2 Peter 2:4 gives the same picture: angels that sinned, delivered into chains of darkness and reserved unto judgment. Jude 1:62 Peter 2:4

The letter does not say where it was written or sent. The verse places the angels only "under darkness." 2 Peter 2:4 says they were cast down to hell. Jude overviewJude 1:62 Peter 2:4

SYRIAJerusalemNazarethEGYPTSodomGomorrahSalt SeaCaesarea

The eventsThe angels' fall lies in the past, and the text does not say when it happened. Their final judgment is still future, at "the great day." 2 Peter 2:9 likewise speaks of the unjust being reserved unto the day of judgment. Jude 1:62 Peter 2:9

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

HereJude reminds his readers that God judges rebellion, even among angels. He wants them to see what awaits the ungodly men who turned grace into lasciviousness and denied the Lord. Jude 1:4Jude 1:5Jude overview

In the whole of ScriptureOther Scripture also speaks of fallen spiritual powers awaiting judgment. Jesus speaks of everlasting fire "prepared for the devil and his angels," and evil spirits ask whether he has come to torment them "before the time." Matthew 25:41Matthew 8:29Revelation 20:10

For readersThe angels did not keep their place, so God keeps them for judgment. Jude tells believers to "keep yourselves in the love of God" (1:21), and he trusts God, who is able to keep them from falling (1:24). Jude 1:6Jude 1:21Jude 1:24

Christians read this differently

The verse does not name the angels' sin beyond leaving their place. Verse 7 says Sodom and the cities sinned "in like manner," going after strange flesh. Some readers take this to mean the angels' sin was of a similar kind, while others read it as a general rebellion against their God-given position, like the devil who "abode not in the truth." Jude 1:6Jude 1:7John 8:44

  • reserved (kept)τηρέω
    Greek · tēreō · G5083H

    This is the same verb, "to keep, guard, preserve," used of the angels who did not keep their place earlier in the verse. The angels did not keep what was theirs, so God keeps them for judgment. The verb appears again in Jude 21, "keep yourselves in the love of God." Strong's G5083HStrong's G5083GJude 1:6Jude 1:21

  • first estateἀρχή
    Greek · archē · G0746

    The word here is ἀρχή, which the lexicon glosses "domain" in this verse. Its basic sense is "beginning, origin." It points to the original position the angels had been given. Strong's G0746

  • leftἀπολείπω
    Greek · apoleipō · G0620

    Besides "to leave behind," the lexicon gives the sense "to desert, abandon," and it lists Jude 6 under that meaning. The angels did not merely drift away. They walked out of their place. Strong's G0620

  • habitationοἰκητήριον
    Greek · oikētērion · G3613

    The word means a dwelling or habitation. The lexicon's only other New Testament use is 2 Corinthians 5:2, used in a figurative sense. The angels abandoned the home that was "their own." Strong's G3613Strong's G2398

  • everlastingἀΐδιος
    Greek · aidios · G0126

    The word means "everlasting." The lexicon lists only one other New Testament use, Romans 1:20. It describes the chains as lasting, not temporary. Strong's G0126

Takeaway

Even angels who abandoned their God-given place are held for judgment, so no one should treat God's grace as license. Believers are called to keep themselves in God's love, and God is able to keep them. Jude 1:6Jude 1:4Jude 1:21Jude 1:24

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
[The] angelsἀγγέλουςangelousG0032G
angel

ἄγγελος (angelos) ἄγγελος, -ου, ὁ, [in LXX chiefly for מַלְאָךְ ;] 1. a messenger, one sent: Mat.11:10, Jas.22:25. 2. As in LXX, in the special sense of angel, a spiritual, heavenly being, attendant upon God and employed as his messenger to men, to make known his purposes, as Luk.1:11, or to execute them, as Mat.4:6. The ἄ. in Rev.1:20-2:1, al., is variously understood as (1) a messenger or delegate, (2) a bishop or ruler, (3) a guardian angel, (4) the prevailing spirit of each church, i.e. the Church itself. (Cf. Swete, Ap)., in l.; DB, iv, 991; Thayer, see word; Cremer, 18; MM, VGT, see word) (AS)

bothτεteG5037
and/both

τε (te) τέ, enclitic copulative particle (= Lat. -que as καί = and, ac, atque, not very frequently in NT, more than two-thirds of the occurrences being in Ac. 1. τέ solitarium, and, denoting a closer affinity than καί between words and sentences which it connects (BL, §77, 8): Mat.28:12, Jhn.4:42, Act.2:33, 37 40 10:22 11:21, al. 2. Denoting a closer connection than simple καί, τὲ . . . καί, τὲ καί, τὲ . . . τέ (Act.26:16 Rom.14:8), as well . . . as also, both . . . and: Luk.12:45, Act.1:1 15:9, 21:30, al.; τὲ . . . δέ, and . . . and, Act.19:2; τὲ γάρ . . . ὁμοίως δὲ καί, Rom.1:26, 27. (AS)

notμὴmēG3361
not

μή (mē) μή, subjective negative particle, used where the negation depends on a condition or hypothesis, expressed or understood, as distinct from οὐ, which denies absolutely. μή is used where one thinks a thing is not, as distinct from an absolute negation. As a general rule, οὐ negatives the indic, μή the other moods, incl, ptcp. [In LXX for אֵין ,אַיִן ,אַל ] I. As a neg. adv., not; 1. with ref. to thought or opinion: Jhn.3:18, Tit.1:11, 2Pe.1:9. 2. In delib. questions, with subjc. (M, Pr., 185): Mrk.12:14, Rom.3:8. …

having keptτηρήσανταςtērēsantasG5083G
to keep: observe

τηρέω (tēreō) τηρέω, -ῶ [in LXX for שָׁמַר, נָצַר, etc. ;] 1. to watch over, guard, keep, preserve: Mat.27:36, Act.16:23, al.; ἑαυτόν, 2Co.11:9, 1Ti.5:22, Jas.1:27, Ju 21; before εἰς, Jhn.12:7, Act.25:21, 1Pe.1:4, 2Pe.2:4 2:9 3:7, Ju 6; ἐν, Jhn.17:11-12, Ju 21; ἐκ, Jhn.17:15, Rev.3:10; τ. πίστιν, 2Ti.4:7, Rev.14:12; τ. ἑνότητα τ. πνεύματος, Eph.4:3. …

their ownἑαυτῶνhe'autōnG1438
/him/herself

αὑτοῦ (ahutou) αὑτοῦ, -ῆς, -οῦ = ἑαυτοῦ (which see), Mat.6:34, Luk.12:17, al. (MM, see word) (AS)

domainἀρχὴνarchēnG0746
beginning

ἀρχή (archē) ἀρχή, -ῆς, ἡ [in LXX for קֶדֶם, רֹאשׁ, רֹאשׁ, etc. ;] 1. beginning, origin; (a) absol., of the beginning of all things: of God as the Eternal, the First Cause, Rev.21:6 (cf. 18); similarly, of Christ, Rev.22:13; of Christ as the uncreated principle, the active cause of creation, Rev.3:14; in his relation to the Church, Col.1:18; ἐν ἀ., Jhn.1:1-2; ἀπ᾽ ἀ. (and ἀπ᾽ ἀ. κτισεως), Mat.19:4, 8 24:21, Mrk.10:6 13:19, Jhn.8:44, 2Th.2:13, 2Pe.3:4, 1Jn.1:1 Jn 2:13-14 Jn 2:24; κατ ἀρχἀς, Heb.1:10; …

butἀλλ᾽all᾽G0235
but

ἀλλά (alla) ἀλλά (ἀλλ᾽ usually bef. α and υ, often bef. ε and η, rarely bef. ο and ω, never bef. ι; Tdf., Pr., 93 f.; WH, App., 146), adversative particle, stronger than δέ; prop. neuter pl. of ἄλλος, used adverbially, with changed accent; hence prop. otherwise, on the other hand (cf. Rom.3:31); …

having leftἀπολιπόνταςapolipontasG0620
to leave

ἀπολείπω (apoleipō) ἀπο-λείπω [in LXX for H2308 יָתַר, etc. ;] 1. to leave, leave behind (in π. a term. techn. in wills; see MM, see word): 2Ti.4:13 4:20, Tit.1:5; pass., to be reserved, remain: Heb.4:6, 9 10:26. 2. to desert, abandon: Ju 6.† (AS)

[their] ownἴδιονidionG2398
one's own/private

ἴδιος (idios) ἴδιος, -α, -ον (in Attic usually -ος, -ον), [in LXX chiefly for of person(s) suff., also for לָהֶם, etc.; (τὰ ἴ.) בֵּיתוֹ ;] 1. one's own; (a) of that which is private and personal (in cl. opposite to κοινός, δημόσιος; cf. infr. 3); …

dwelling,οἰκητήριον,oikētērionG3613
dwelling

οἰκητήριον (oikētērion) οἰκητήριον, -ου, τό (οἰκητήρ = οἰκήτωρ, an inhabitant), [in LXX: 2Ma.11:2, 3Ma.2:15 * ;] a habitation: Ju 6; trop., 2Co.5:2.† (AS)

untoεἰςeisG1519
toward

εἰς (eis) εἰς, prep. with accusative, expressing entrance, direction, limit, into, unto, to, upon, towards, for, among (Lat. in, with accusative). I. Of place. 1. After verbs of motion; (a) of entrance into: Mat.8:23, 9:7, Mrk.1:45, Luk.2:15, 8:31, al.; (b) of approach, to or towards: Mrk.11:1, Luk.6:8, 19:28, Jhn.11:31, 21:6, al.; (with) before pl. and collective nouns, among: Mrk.4:7, 8:19, 20, Luk.11:49, Jhn.21:23, al.; …

[the] judgmentκρίσινkrisinG2920
judgment

κρίσις (krisis) κρίσις, -εως, ἡ (κρίνω), [in LXX chiefly for מִשְׁפָּט, also for רִיב, etc. ;] 1. a seperating, selection (Arist., al.) 2. a decision, judgment (cl.): Jhn.8:16, 1Ti.5:24, 2Pe.2:11, Ju 9; κ. κρίνειν, Jhn.7:24; in forensic sense, Act.8:33 (LXX) (see Page, in l); esp. of the Divine judgment, Jhn.3:19 5:24, 27 5:29-30 12:31 16:8, 11, 2Th.1:5, Heb.10:27, Jas.2:13 5:12, 2Pe.2:4, Rev.18:10; pl., Rev.16:7 19:2; of the last judgment, Mat.10:15 11:22, 24 12:36, 41-42 Luk.10:14 11:31-32, Heb.9:27, 2Pe.2:9 3:7, 1Jn.4:17, Ju 6 15; τῆς γεέννης, Mat.23:33. …

of [the] greatμεγάληςmegalēsG3173
great

μέγας (megas) μέγας, μεγάλη, μέγα, [in LXX chiefly for גָּדוֹל, also for מַרְבֶּה ,רַב (incl. μείζων), רֹב (μέγιστος) ;] great; 1. of external form, bodily size, measure, extent: λίθος, Mat.2:60; δράκων, Rev.12:3; ἰχθῦς, Jhn.21:11; πόλις, Rev.11:8; μάχαιρα, Rev.6:4, al. 2. Of intensity and degree: δύναμις, Act.4:33; φόβος, Mrk.4:41; ἀγάπη, Jhn.15:13; ἄνεμος, 'ib. 6:18; κραυγή, Act.23:9; φῶς, Mat.4:16; πυρετός, Luk.4:38; θλίψις, Mat.24:21. 3. Of rank; …

dayἡμέραςhēmerasG2250
day

ἡμέρα (hēmera) ἡμέρα, -ας, ἡ, [in LXX chiefly (very freq.) for יוֹם ;] day; 1. as distinct from night: genitive ἡμέρας, by day (WM, §30, 11), Rev.21:25; ἡ. κ. νυκτός (ν. κ. ̔ἡ.), Act.9:24, 1Th.2:9, 2Th.3:8, Rev.4:8 (BL, §36, 13); ἡμέρας μέσης, at mid-day, Act.26:13; accusative durat., τ. ἡμέρας, Luk.21:37; ὅλην τὴν ἡ., Rom.8:36; ἐν ἡμέρα, Jhn.11:9, Rom.13:13; ἡμέρας ὁδός, a day's journey, Luk.2:44; ἡ. γίνεται, Lk 4:42 22:66; κλίνει, Luk.9:12, al.; metaphorically, Jhn.9:4, Rom.13:12, 1Th.5:4, 5 8, 2Pe.1:19. …

in chainsδεσμοῖςdesmoisG1199
chain

δεσμός (desmos) δεσμός, -οῦ, ὁ (δέω), [in LXX chiefly for אסר ;] a band, bond: metaphorically, Luk.13:16; ὁ δεσμὸς τ. γλώσσης, Mrk.7:35 (for this expression in π., see Deiss., LAE, 306 ff.; of actual bonds, see Ruth., Gr., 9). Pl., δεσμοί, Php.1:13; δεσμά (as also in cl.), Luk.8:29, Act.16:26 20:23; genitive, dative, Act.23:29 26:29, 31, Php.1:7, 14, 17, Col.4:18, 2Ti.2:9, Phm 10, Heb.11:36, Ju 6; ἐν τοῖς δ. τοῦ εὐαγγελίου Phm 13.† (AS)

eternalἀϊδίοιςaidioisG0126
eternal

ἀΐδιος (aidios) ἀΐδιος, -ον (ἀεί), [in LXX: Wis.7:26, 4Ma.10:15 * ;] everlasting (frequently in Inscr.; MM, VGT, see word): Rom.1:20, Ju 6.† SYN.: αἰώνιος, also frequently in Inscr. (Deiss., BS, 363 J. The etymological distinction between the meanings of the two words seems not to be retained in late Greek (see Thayer, see word, αἰώνιος; cf. Cremer, 79, 611). (AS)

underὑπὸhupoG5259H
by/under: by

ὑπό (hupo) ὑπό (before smooth breathing ὑπ᾽, Mat.8:9b, Luk.7:8b; before rough breathing ὑφ᾽, Rom.3:9; on the neglect of elision in Mt, Lk, ll. witha, Gal.3:22, see WH, App., 146; Tdf., Pr., iv), prep. with genitive, dative (not in NT), accusative …

darknessζόφονzophonG2217
darkness

ζόφος (zophos) ζόφος, -ου, ὁ (akin to γνόφος, which see), [in Sm.: Exo.10:22, Job.28:3, Psa.11:2 91:6, Isa.59:9 * ;] in Hom, the gloom of the under-world; hence, darkness, deep gloom (poët. and late prose writers): Heb.12:18, 2Pe.2:4 2:17, Ju 6 13.† ὁμίχλη, -ης, ἡ, [in LXX for עֲרָפֶל, etc. ;] a mist: 2Pe.2:17 SYN.: νέφος, νεφέλη, both thicker than ὁ (AS)

He has kept;τετήρηκεν·tetērēkenG5083H
to keep: observe

τηρέω (tēreō) τηρέω, -ῶ [in LXX for שָׁמַר, נָצַר, etc. ;] 1. to watch over, guard, keep, preserve: Mat.27:36, Act.16:23, al.; ἑαυτόν, 2Co.11:9, 1Ti.5:22, Jas.1:27, Ju 21; before εἰς, Jhn.12:7, Act.25:21, 1Pe.1:4, 2Pe.2:4 2:9 3:7, Ju 6; ἐν, Jhn.17:11-12, Ju 21; ἐκ, Jhn.17:15, Rev.3:10; τ. πίστιν, 2Ti.4:7, Rev.14:12; τ. ἑνότητα τ. πνεύματος, Eph.4:3. …

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