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In the very same way, on the strength of their dreams these ungodly people pollute their own bodies, reject authority and heap abuse on celestial beings.(A) But even the archangel(B) Michael,(C) when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses,(D) did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”[a](E) 10 Yet these people slander whatever they do not understand, and the very things they do understand by instinct—as irrational animals do—will destroy them.(F)

11 Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain;(G) they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error;(H) they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.(I)

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Footnotes

  1. Jude 1:9 Jude is alluding to the Jewish Testament of Moses (approximately the first century a.d.).

Yet in the same way these people also, dreaming, (A)defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak abusively of angelic [a]majesties. But (B)Michael (C)the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about (D)the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him an abusive judgment, but said, “(E)The Lord rebuke you!” 10 But (F)these people disparage all the things that they do not understand; and (G)all the things that they know by instinct, (H)like unreasoning animals, by these things they are destroyed. 11 Woe to them! For they have gone (I)the way of Cain, and for pay [b]they have given themselves up to (J)the error of Balaam, and (K)perished in the rebellion of Korah.

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Footnotes

  1. Jude 1:8 Lit glories
  2. Jude 1:11 Lit they have poured themselves out

Nevertheless in the same way, these dreamers [who are dreaming that God will not punish them] also defile the body, and reject [legitimate] authority, and revile and mock angelic majesties. But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil (Satan), and [a]arguing about the body of Moses, did not dare bring an abusive condemnation against him, but [simply] said, “The Lord rebuke you!”(A) 10 But these men sneer at anything which they do not understand; and whatever they do know by [mere] instinct, like unreasoning and irrational beasts—by these things they are destroyed. 11 Woe to them! For they have gone the [defiant] way of Cain, and for profit they have run headlong into the error of Balaam, and perished in the rebellion of [mutinous] Korah.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. Jude 1:9 In Jewish tradition, Michael claimed to be Moses’ teacher and was present when God put Moses to death (Midrash on Deut 11:10). Jude’s point is that if the archangel Michael had such respect for Satan’s power, then mere humans are extremely foolish to insult or show disrespect to angelic beings. This does not mean that true Christians cannot or should not engage in spiritual warfare with satanic forces; quite the contrary (Eph 6:12; James 4:7). But they should follow Michael’s example and act only as legitimate representatives of Christ who are in good standing with Him.

Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.

Yet 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.

10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.

11 Woe 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.

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The people I am talking about are behaving just like those dreamers who destroyed their own bodies. They reject all authority and insult angels. (A) Even Michael, the chief angel, didn't dare to insult the devil, when the two of them were arguing about the body of Moses.[a] All Michael said was, “The Lord will punish you!”

10 But these people insult powers they don't know anything about. They are like senseless animals that end up getting destroyed, because they live only by their feelings. 11 (B) Now they are in for real trouble. They have followed Cain's example[b] and have made the same mistake that Balaam[c] did by caring only for money. They have also rebelled against God, just as Korah did.[d] Because of all this, they will be destroyed.

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Footnotes

  1. 9 Michael … the body of Moses: This refers to what was said in an ancient Jewish book about Moses.
  2. 11 Cain's example: Cain murdered his brother Abel.
  3. 11 Balaam: According to the biblical account, Balaam refused to curse the people of Israel for profit (see Numbers 22.18; 24.13), though he led them to be unfaithful to the Lord (see Numbers 25.1-3; 31.16). But by New Testament times, some Jewish teachers taught that Balaam was greedy and did accept money to curse them.
  4. 11 just as Korah did: Together with Dathan and Abiram, Korah led a rebellion against Moses and Aaron (see Numbers 16.1-35; 26.9,10).