Jude 1

Jude · Chapter 1

Jude 1:8

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
8Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.Yet in the same way these dreamers defile their bodies, reject authority, and slander glorious beings.Yet in like manner these also in their dreamings defile the flesh, and set at nought dominion, and rail at dignities.

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

Jude has just named three examples of God's judgment: Israel in the wilderness, the angels who left their place, and Sodom and Gomorrha. Here he says the false teachers who had crept into the church act 'likewise.' They defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of glorious beings. Jude 1:4Jude 1:5Jude 1:6Jude 1:7Jude 1:8

SpeakingJude, who calls himself a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James. Traditionally he is the Judas named among 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 verse describes 'certain men crept in unawares,' ungodly men who turned God's grace into lasciviousness and denied the Lord. Jude 1:4Jude 1:8

Jude names three marks of these men. They pollute the body through immorality, as Sodom did. They set aside lordship or authority. They slander 'dignities,' or glorious ones. Verse 9 contrasts them with Michael, who would not even bring a railing accusation against the devil. Jude 1:7Jude 1:8Jude 1:9Jude 1:10

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

SYRIAJerusalemNazarethEGYPTSodomGomorrahSalt SeaCaesarea

The eventsJude describes men who were active among his readers at the time he wrote. He links them to the 'mockers in the last time' the apostles had foretold. Jude 1:4Jude 1:17Jude 1:18

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 exposes these men so that believers will recognize them and 'earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.' Jude 1:3Jude 1:4Jude overview

In the whole of ScriptureThe word 'likewise' ties these men to past rebels whom God judged. God's grace is never a license for sin, and judgment is coming on the ungodly. 2 Peter 2:10 gives a closely parallel description. Jude 1:5Jude 1:7Jude 1:15Jude overview2 Peter 2:10

For readersJude does not tell his readers to copy these men's slander. He tells them to build themselves up in faith, pray, and keep themselves in God's love. They are also to show mercy to some and pull others out of the fire. Jude 1:20Jude 1:21Jude 1:22Jude 1:23

Christians read this differently

Readers differ on who the 'dominion' and 'dignities' are. Some see angelic or heavenly powers, since the next verse speaks of Michael and the devil, and the same word for lordship is used of heavenly powers in Ephesians 1:21 and Colossians 1:16. Others see the Lord's own authority, since verse 4 says these men deny the Lord. Still others include human rulers, pointing to the command not to speak evil of the ruler (Exodus 22:28, Acts 23:5). Jude 1:4Jude 1:9Strong's G2963Exodus 22:28Acts 23:52 Peter 2:10

  • dreamersἐνυπνιάζω
    Greek · enupniazō · G1797

    The word simply means 'to dream.' The only other New Testament use is Acts 2:17, in Peter's quotation of Joel. It may point to these men claiming visions or living in delusion, but the verse does not explain it. Strong's G1797

  • defileμιαίνω
    Greek · miainō · G3392

    It means to stain or soil. Here it is used in a moral sense, as in Titus 1:15 and Hebrews 12:15. That links it to the sexual sin of Sodom in verse 7. Strong's G3392Jude 1:7

  • despiseἀθετέω
    Greek · atheteō · G0114

    The word means to set aside, nullify or reject. Elsewhere it is used of rejecting a commandment or a law (Mark 7:9, Hebrews 10:28). So it describes refusing authority, not just disliking it. Strong's G0114

  • dominionκυριότης
    Greek · kuriotēs · G2963

    The word means 'lordship.' It appears elsewhere only in Ephesians 1:21, Colossians 1:16 and 2 Peter 2:10, where it can describe heavenly powers. Strong's G2963

  • dignitiesδόξα
    Greek · doxa · G1391

    This is the ordinary word for 'glory,' used here in the plural as 'glorious ones.' It names beings who have honor, which fits the contrast with Michael in verse 9. Strong's G1391Jude 1:9

Takeaway

Jude 1:8 is a warning portrait of false teachers: immoral, rejecting authority, and slandering what they do not understand. It calls believers to recognize such conduct and to keep themselves in God's love, not to imitate it. Jude 1:8Jude 1:10Jude 1:21

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
LikewiseὁμοίωςhomoiōsG3668
similarly

ὁμοίως (homoiōs) ὁμοίως (ὅμοιος), adv., likewise, in like manner, equally: Mat.22:26, Mrk.4:16, Luk.10:37, al.; with dative, Mat.22:39, Luk.6:31; ὁ. καί, Mat.22:26, Mrk.15:31, al.; ὁ. καθώς, Luk.17:28; καθὼς . . . ὁ., Luk.6:31; ὁ. μέντοι καί, Ju 8 (AS)

yetμέντοιmentoiG3305
yet

μέντοι (mentoi) μέν-τοι = μέν τοι, yet, however: Jhn.4:27, al.; εἰ μ., Jas.2:8 (if indeed). (AS)

alsoκαὶkaiG2532
and

καί (kai) καί, conj., and I. Copulative. 1. Connecting single words; (a) in general: Mat.2:18, 16:1, Mrk.2:15, Luk.8:15, Heb.1:1, al. mult.; repeated before each of the terms in a series, Mat.23:23, Luk.14:21, Rom.7:12, 9:4, al. (b) connecting numerals (WM, §37, 4): Jhn.2:20, Act.13:20; (with) joining terms which are not mutually exclusive, as the part with the whole: Mat.8:33, 26:59, Mrk.16:17, Act.5:29, al. 2. Connecting clauses and sentences: Mat.3:12, Act.5:21, al. mult.; esp. …

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.; …

dreaming [ones]ἐνυπνιαζόμενοιenupniazomenoiG1797
to dream

ἐνυπνιάζω (enupniazō) ἐνυπνιάζω (ἐνύπνιον), [in LXX, as in NT, -ομαι, depon., chiefly for חָלַם ;] to dream: ἐνυπνίοις ἐ., Act.2:17 (LXX); present ptcp., Ju 8.† (AS)

[the] fleshσάρκαsarkaG4561
flesh

σάρξ (sarx) σάρξ, σαρκός, ἡ [in LXX chiefly for בָּשָׂר ;] flesh; 1. as in cl. generally, (a) prop., of the soft substance of the animal body: 1Co.15:39, 2Co.12:7, Gal.6:13, al.; σ. καὶ αἷμα, 1Co.5:50; σ. καὶ ὀστέα, Luk.24:39; pl., of the flesh of many or parts of the flesh of one (cl.), Rev.17:16 19:18; φαγεῖν, Re, ll. with (cf. κατεσθίειν, 4Ki.9:36, al., and βιβρώσκειν, frequently in l.); metaphorically, Jas.5:3; mystically, φ. (τρώγειν) τὴν σ. τοῦ υἱοῦ τ. ἀνθρώπου, Jhn.6:52-56; …

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. …

defile,μιαίνουσιν,miainousinG3392
to stain

μιαίνω (miainō) μιαίνω [in LXX chiefly for טָמֵא ;] 1. to dye or stain. 2. to stain, defile, soil; (a) in physical sense; (b) in moral sense : Tit.1:15, Heb.12:15, Ju 8; (with) in ritual sense (cf. Lev.22:5, al.): Jhn.18:28.† SYN.: μολύνω, to besmear, which also differs from μ. in that it is never used, as μ. in its primary meaning, in an honourable sense (cf. Tr., Syn., § xxxi) (AS)

authorityκυριότηταkuriotētaG2963
lordship

κυριότης (kuriotēs) κυριότης, -ητος, ἡ (κύριος), lordship, dominion: Eph.1:21, 2Pe.2:10, Ju 8; pl., Col.1:16 (cf. Lft., Col; Mayor, Ju., in ll.; DB, i, 616 f.).† (AS)

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.; …

they set aside,ἀθετοῦσιν,athetousinG0114
to reject

ἀθετέω (atheteō) ἀθετέω, -ῶ (τίθημι), [in LXX for seventeen different words, פּשׁע, מרד, בּגד, מעל, etc., often meaning, as 1Ki.13:3 (Heb., al.), to revolt; properly, to make ἄθετον , or do away with what has been laid down (see DCG, i, 453 f.)]. 1. to set aside, disregard (in Gramm., to reject as spurious): διαθήκην , Gal.3:16; ἐντολήν , Mrk.7:9; νόμον . Heb.10:28; πίστιν , 1Ti.5:12. 2. to nullify, make void: Luk.7:30 (see Field, Notes, 59), 1Co.1:19, Gal.2:21. 3. to reject: Mrk.6:26 (Field, op. cit., 30), Lk 10:16, Jhn.12:48, I Th 48, Ju 8 (for exx. in π., see MM, VGT, see word). † (AS)

glorious [ones]δόξαςdoxasG1391
glory

δόξα (doxa) δόξα, -ης, ἡ (δοκέω), [in LXX very frequently for כָּבוֹד, also for הוֹד ,פִּפְאֶרֶת, etc., 25 words in all ;] in cl., 1. expectation, judgment, opinion (4Ma.5:18). 2. opinion, estimation in which one is held, repute; in NT, always good opinion, hence reputation, praise, honour, glory: Luk.14:10, Jhn.12:43, Heb.3:3; opposite to αἰσχύνη, Php.3:19; to ἀτιμία, 2Co.6:8; δ. κ. τιμή, Rom.2:7, 10 1Pe.1:7, 2Pe.1:17; ζητεῖν, Jhn.5:44 7:18 8:50, 1Th.2:6; λαμβάνειν, Jhn.5:41, 2Pe.1:17, Rev.5:12; διδόναι δ. τ. θεῷ (cf. נָתַן כָּבוֹד לַיהוָֹה, Jer.13:16, al.), Luk.17:18, Jhn.9:24, Act.12:23, Rom.4:20, …

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.; …

they blaspheme.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. …

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