Jude 1

Jude · Chapter 1

Jude 1:9

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
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.But even the archangel Michael, when he disputed with the devil over the body of Moses, did not presume to bring a slanderous charge against him, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”But Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing judgment, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

Jude has just said that the false teachers "speak evil of dignities" (1:8). He sets Michael beside them: even when this chief angel argued with the devil himself, he would not pronounce a slanderous judgment but left it to the Lord. Jude then adds that "these speak evil of those things which they know not" (1:10). Jude 1:8Jude 1:9Jude 1:10

Commonly taken out of context

How it’s often usedQuoted as a spoken formula for commanding or rebuking the devil, as if saying "The Lord rebuke thee" were a technique of spiritual warfare.

In contextJude's point is restraint, not technique. Michael refused to pass judgment himself and handed the matter to the Lord, and Jude uses this to shame men who "speak evil of dignities." Jude 1:8Jude 1:9Jude 1:102 Peter 2:11

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

ToBelievers "sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called." False teachers had slipped in among them. The letter does not say where they lived. Jude 1:1Jude 1:4Jude overview

Also involvedMichael the archangel and the devil are the figures in the story. The ungodly men of 1:8 and 1:10 are the ones being exposed by the comparison. Jude 1:8Jude 1:9Jude 1:10

Michael and the devil argued over Moses' body. Michael did not dare bring a railing judgment against him. He said only "The Lord rebuke thee," the same words the LORD speaks to Satan in Zechariah 3:2. Jude 1:9Zechariah 3:2Strong's G5111Strong's G2920

Moses was buried "in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor." Jude does not say where the dispute took place, and the letter does not say where it was written from. Deuteronomy 34:6Jude overview

SYRIAJerusalemNazarethEGYPTSodomGomorrahSalt SeaCaesarea

The eventsThe dispute is tied to Moses' death. Deuteronomy says "he buried him" and "no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day" (Deuteronomy 34:6). The text does not say when the dispute itself happened. Jude 1:9Deuteronomy 34:6

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 it in Jude's name. Jude overview

HereJude wants to show how reckless the false teachers are. If even an archangel held back his tongue before the devil, men who mock what they do not understand stand condemned. Jude 1:8Jude 1:9Jude 1:10Jude overview

In the whole of ScriptureJudgment belongs to God, who keeps the rebellious for "the judgment of the great day" (1:6) and will judge the ungodly (1:15). 2 Peter 2:11 makes the same point: angels "bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord." Jude 1:6Jude 1:152 Peter 2:11Jude overview

For readersReaders are warned against proud, scornful speech about spiritual powers and authority. They are told to build themselves up in faith and keep themselves in God's love instead (1:20-21). Jude 1:10Jude 1:20Jude 1:21

  • devilδιάβολος
    Greek · diabolos · G1228

    The word means "slanderous, accusing falsely," a slanderer. In the Greek Old Testament it translates "satan" (as in Job 1:6). So Michael would not answer the slanderer with slander of his own. Strong's G1228Jude 1:9

  • railing (accusation)βλασφημία
    Greek · blasphēmia · G0988

    Defined as "railing slander" and, in other places, impious speech against God. It names the kind of abusive speech Michael refused to use. Strong's G0988Jude 1:9

  • accusation (judgment)κρίσις
    Greek · krisis · G2920

    The word means a decision or judgment. Jude uses it of God's final judgment in 1:6 and 1:15. Michael did not bring judgment himself because judging belongs to God. Strong's G2920Jude 1:6Jude 1:15

  • rebukeἐπιτιμάω
    Greek · epitimaō · G2008

    It means to censure or rebuke. In the Greek Old Testament it is the word used in Zechariah 3:2, where the LORD says to Satan, "The LORD rebuke thee." Michael echoes that verse. Strong's G2008Zechariah 3:2

Takeaway

Even the archangel Michael, facing the devil himself, did not pass judgment but said, "The Lord rebuke thee." Rebuke and judgment belong to God, so scornful speech about what we do not understand is out of place. Jude 1:9Jude 1:10Zechariah 3:2

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

Behind this verse

Michael and the body of Moses
Deuteronomy says no one knows where Moses was buried. The story of Michael disputing with the devil over his body is not in the Old Testament; early Christian writers say it came from a Jewish book called the Assumption of Moses. Michael appears in Scripture as a chief angel. Deuteronomy 34:5-6Daniel 10:13Daniel 12:1Revelation 12:7Origen, On First Principles 3.2.1

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
ButδὲdeG1161
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.; …

MichaelΜιχαὴλMichaēlG3413
Michael

Μιχαήλ (Michaēl) Μιχαήλ, ὁ indecl. (Heb. מִיכָאֵל, who like God?), Michael, the Archangel (cf. Dan.12:1) : Ju 9, Rev.12:7.† (AS)

archangel,ἀρχάγγελος,archangelosG0743
archangel

ἀρχάγγελος (archangelos) ἀρχ-άγγελος, -ου, ὁ (ἄρχι-, ἄγγελος), archangel, a chief angel: 1Th.4:16, Ju 9 (Cremer, 24; MM, see word).† (AS)

whenὅτεhoteG3753
when

ὅτε (hote) ὅτε, temporal particle (correlat. of πότε, τότε), when; with indic., (so generally in cl., but also with optative, subjc.; LS, see word), most frequently with aor., Mat.9:25, Mrk.1:32, Luk.4:25, Jhn.1:19, Act.1:13, Rom.13:11, Gal.1:15, Rev.1:17, al.; with impf., Mrk.14:12, Jhn.21:18, Rom.6:20, 1Th.3:4, al.; with pf., since, now that, 1Co.13:11 (B, ἐγένομην); with praes., Mrk.11:1, Jhn.9:4, Heb.9:17, with fut. (Hom.; of a def. fut. as opposite to the indef. fut. of ὅταν with subjc.), Luk.17:22, Jhn.4:21, 23 5:25 16:25, Rom.2:16 (T, txt., WH, mg.), 2Ti.4:3 (in all which instances, and with pres …

devilδιαβόλῳdiabolōG1228
devilish/the Devil

διάβολος (diabolos) διάβολος, -ον (διαβάλλω, which see) [in LXX for שָׂטָן (as Job.1:6), exc. Est.7:4 8:1 (צַר, צָרַר) ;] slanderous, accusing falsely. As subst., ὁ, ἡ, δ.; (a) generally (of. Es, ll. with), a slanderer, false accuser: 1Ti.3:6, 7 (CGT, in l., but see infr.) 3:11, 2Ti.3:3, Tit.2:3; …

disputingδιακρινόμενοςdiakrinomenosG1252
to judge/doubt

διακρίνω (diakrinō) δια-κρίνω [in LXX for שׁפט, דִּין, etc. ;] 1. to separate, hence, to distinguish, discriminate, discern: μηδὲν δ., Act.11:12; οὐδὲν δ. μεταξύ, Act.15:9; σε, 1Co.4:7; τὸ σῶμα, 1Co.11:29. 2. to settle, decide, judge, arbitrate: Mat.16:3, 1Co.6:5 11:29 (ICC, in l.), ib. 31 14:29. Mid, and pass.; 1. to get a decision, contend, dispute: before πρός, Act.11:2; with dative (but see ICC, in l.), Ju 9; absol., Ju 22 (R,mg.). …

he was reasoningδιελέγετοdielegetoG1256
to dispute

διαλέγω (dialegō) δια-λέγομαι (mid. of διαλέγω, to pick out, distinguish, as depon.), [in LXX: Exo.6:27, Isa.63:1 (דּבר pi.), Jdg.8:1 (ריב), 1Es.8:46, Est.5:2, Sir.14:20, 2Ma.11:20 * ;] to converse with, discourse (see Cl. Rev., i, 45), discuss, argue: Act.18:4 19:8,9 20:9; with dative of person(s), Act.17:17 18:19 20:7, Heb.12:5; before πρός, Mrk.9:34, Act.17:17 24:12; περί Act.24:25, Ju 9; ἀπὸ τ. γραφῶν, Act.17:2.† (AS)

aboutπερὶperiG4012
about

περί (peri) περί, prep. with genitive, accusative (in cl. also with dative; cf. M, Pr., 105f.), with radical sense round about (as distinct from ἀμφί, on both sides). I. C. genitive, 1. of place, about (poët.). …

Moses’ΜωϋσέωςMōuseōsG3475
Moses

Μωϋσῆς, Μωσῆς (Mōusēs, Mōsēs) Μωυσῆς (Μωϋσῆς, T; Μωσῆς, Rec.), -έως, dative - (as LXX: Exo.5:20, al.), and -εῖ, accusative -ῆν (ac LXX) and -έα (Luk.16:29 only) (Heb. מֹשֶׁה), Moses: Mat.8:4 17:3-4, al.; νόμος Μωυσέως, Luk.2:22 24:44, Jhn.7:23, Act.13:39 15:5 28:23, 1Co.9:9, Heb.10:28; by meton., of the books of Moses, Luk.16:29 24:27, Act.15:21, 2Co.3:15 (AS)

body,σώματος,sōmatosG4983
body

σῶμα (sōma) σῶμα, -τος, τό, [in LXX for גְּוִיָּה ,בָּשָׂר, etc., and for Aram. נְבֵלָה ;] a body. 1. Prop., of the human body, (a) as always in Hom. (opposite to δέμας), of the dead body: Mat.27:58, 59 Mrk.15:43, al.; …

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. …

did dareἐτόλμησενetolmēsenG5111
be bold

τολμάω (tolmaō) τολμάω, -ῶ [in LXX: Job.15:12 (לָקַח), Est.1:18 7:5 (לֵב מָלֵא) Jdth.14:13, 2Ma.4:2, 3Ma.3:21 R, 4Ma.8:18 * ;] to have courage, to venture, dare, be bold: absol, 2Co.11:21; before ἐπί, 2Co.10:2; with inf. (Bl., § 69, 4), Mat.22:46, Mrk.12:34, Luk.20:40, Jhn.21:12, Act.5:13 7:32, Rom.15:18, 1Co.6:1, 2Co.10:12, Php.1:14, Ju 9; to submit to (in cl. usually absol. in this sense), Rom.5:7 (see Field, Notes, 155); τολμήσας εἰσῆλθεν, took courage and went in (see Field, op. cit., 44), Mrk.15:43 (cf. ἀπο-τολμάω).† (AS)

a 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. …

to bring against [him]ἐπενεγκεῖνepenegkeinG2018
to inflict

ἐπιφέρω (epipherō) ἐπι-φέρω [in LXX chiefly for שָׁלַח ;] 1. to bring upon or against: κρίσιν, Ju 9. 2. to impose, inflict: Rom.3:5.† (AS)

blasphemyβλασφημίαςblasphēmiasG0988
blasphemy

βλασφημία (blasphēmia) βλασφημία, -ας, ἡ (βλάσφημος), [in LXX: Eze.35:12 (נֶאָצָה), Da TH 3:29 (96) (שׁלה), Tob.1:18, 1Ma.2:6, 2Ma.8:4 10:35 15:24 * ;] (a) railing slander: Mat.12:31 15:19, Mrk.3:28 7:22, Eph.4:31, Col.3:8, 1Ti.6:4, Ju 9, Rev.2:9 (b) spec., impious speech against God, blasphemy: Mat.26:65, Mrk.14:64, Luk.5:21, Jhn.10:33, Rev.13:5; ὄνομα βλασφημίας, Rev.13:1 17:3; with genitive obj. Mat.12:31; πρὸς τ. θεόν, Rev.13:6 (Cremer, 570; DB, i, 305; DCG ii, 423).† (AS)

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); …

said;εἶπεν·eipenG2036
to say

εἶπον (eipon) εἶπον, 2 aorist of obsolete present ἔπω (cf. Veitch), used as aorist of λέγω, which see (AS)

Would [that] he rebukeἐπιτιμήσαιepitimēsaiG2008
to rebuke

ἐπιτιμάω (epitimaō) ἐπι-τιμάω, -ῶ [in LXX for גָּעַר, Gen.37:10, Psa.9:5, Zec.3:2; Sir.11:7, al. ;] 1. to honour. 2. to raise in price 3. to mete out due measure; (a) to award; (b) to censure, rebuke, admonish: absol., 2Ti.4:2; with dative, Mat.8:26 17:13 19:13, Mrk.4:39 8:32 10:13, Luk.4:39, 41 8:24 9:21, 42 9:55 17:3 18:15 19:39, Ju 9; before ἵνα, Mat.12:16 16:20 20:31, Mrk.3:12 8:30 10:48, Luk.18:39; before λέγων, λέγει, etc., Mat.16:22, Mrk.1:25 8:33 9:25, Luk.4:35 23:40.† SYN.: ἐλέγχω, q.v (AS)

youσοιsoiG4771
you

σέ (se) αὐτός, -ή, -ό, determinative pron., in late Gk. much more frequently than in cl. (WM, 178f.; Jannaris, HGG, §1399). 1. Emphatic (so always in nom. exc. when preceded by the art., see infr., iii); (1) self (ipse), expressing opposition, distinction, exclusion, etc., αὐ. ἐκχυθήσεται, Luk.5:37; αὐ. ἐγινώσκεν, Jhn.2:25; αὐ.ὑμεῖς, Jhn.3:28; καὶ αὐ. ἐγώ, Rom.15:14; αὐ. Ἰησοῦς, Jhn.2:24; αὐ. καὶ οἱ μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ, Mrk.2:25; ὑμεῖς αὐ., Mrk.6:31; esp. (as freq in cl.) αὐ. ὁ, Mat.3:4, Mrk.6:17, Jhn.16:27, 1Th.3:11, al.; in late Gk., sometimes weakened, ἐν αὐτῇ τ. ὥρᾳ, in that hour, Luk.10:21 (M, Pr., 91; …

[the] Lord.κύριος.kuriosG2962G
lord: God

κύριος (kurios) κύριος, -α, -ον (also -ος, -ον), [in LXX (subst.) chiefly for יהוה, also for בַּעַל ,אָדוֹן, etc. ;] having power (κῦρος) or authority; as subst., ὁ κ., lord, master; 1. in general: with genitive of thing(s), Mat.9:38 20:8, Mrk.12:9 13:35, Luk.19:33; τ. σαββάτου, Mat.12:8, Mrk.2:28, Luk.6:5; with genitive of person(s), δούλου, etc., Mat.10:24, Luk.14:21, Act.16:16, al.; absol, opposite to οἱ δοῦλοι, Eph.6:5, 9 al.; of the Emperor (Deiss., LAE, 161), Act.25:26; θεοὶ πολλοὶ καὶ κ. πολλοί, 1Co.8:5; of a husband, 1Pe.3:6; in voc, as a title of respect to masters, teachers, magistrates, etc., Ma …

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