Jude
Expanded Bible
1 From Jude [Mark 6:3; Acts 1:14], a ·servant [slave; bondservant] of Jesus ·Christ [the Messiah] and a brother of James [C the half-brother of Jesus; James 1:1].
To all who have been ·called [chosen] by God. God the Father loves you, and you have been kept safe ·in [or for; or by] Jesus Christ:
2 Mercy, peace, and love be yours ·richly [in abundance; more and more].
God Will Punish Sinners
3 ·Dear friends [Loved ones; Beloved], I ·wanted very much [or was making every effort; or was just about] to write you about ·the salvation we all share [our common salvation]. But I felt the need to write you about something else: I want to ·encourage [exhort; urge; appeal to] you to ·fight hard for [earnestly contend for; defend] the faith [C the authentic gospel message] that was ·given [handed down to; entrusted to] the ·holy people of God [T saints] once and for all time. 4 [L For] Some people have ·secretly entered [sneaked in; infiltrated; wormed their way into] your group [2 Pet. 2:1]. Long ago ·the prophets wrote about these people who will be judged guilty [their condemnation was written about/predetermined]. They are ·against God [ungodly] and have ·changed [perverted; distorted] the grace of our God [C with its freedom from legalistic rules] into ·a reason for sexual sin [L debauchery; licentiousness; immorality]. They also ·refuse to accept [deny; have turned against] our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
5 I want to remind you of some things you already know ·well [fully]: Remember that the Lord[a] ·saved [rescued; delivered] his people by bringing them out of the land of Egypt. But later he destroyed all those who ·did not believe [were unfaithful]. 6 And remember the angels who did not keep their ·place of power [position of authority; L own domain/rule] but left their proper ·home [dwelling place]. The Lord has kept these angels in ·darkness [gloom; C the nether world or underworld; the place of the dead], bound with everlasting chains, to be judged on the great day [C the final day of judgment; 2 Pet. 2:4]. 7 Also remember the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah [C destroyed by God for their evil; Gen. 19; 2 Pet. 2:6] and the other towns around them. In the same way they were full of sexual sin and people who ·desired sexual relations that God does not allow [pursued sexual perversion; L departed after different flesh]. They suffer the punishment of eternal fire, as an ·example [warning] for all to see.
8 It is the same with these people [C the false teachers; v. 4]. They are guided by dreams ·and make themselves filthy with sin [and live immoral lives/pollute their bodies; or to defile the flesh]. They ·reject [despise] ·God’s authority [L authority] and ·speak against [insult; slander; blaspheme] ·the angels [celestial beings; L glorious ones; 2 Pet. 2:10–11]. 9 Not even the archangel Michael [C a leader among God’s angels; Dan. 10:13, 21; 12:1; Rev. 12:7], when he ·argued [contended] with the devil ·about who would have [L about] the body of Moses, dared to ·judge the devil guilty [L bring a slanderous/blasphemous judgment]. Instead, he said, “The Lord ·punish [rebuke] you [C probably a story told in the Testament of Moses, a Jewish writing of the early first century ad].” 10 But these people ·speak against [slander; blaspheme] things they do not understand [2 Pet. 2:12]. And what they do know, ·by feeling [instinctively], like ·dumb [unreasoning; irrational] animals, are the very things that destroy them. 11 ·It will be terrible for them [L Woe to them!]. They have followed the way of Cain [C who murdered his brother Abel; Gen. 4], and ·for money [because of greed; L for wages] they have ·given themselves [poured themselves out] to doing the ·wrong [error] that Balaam did [Num. 22—24; 2 Pet. 2:15–16]. ·They have rebelled against God as Korah did, and like Korah, they surely will be destroyed [L In the rebellion of Korah, they were destroyed; Num. 16]. 12 They are like ·dirty spots [blemishes; or dangerous hidden reefs/rocks] in your ·special Christian meals you share [fellowship meals; love feasts]. They eat with you and have no ·fear [qualms; or shame], ·caring only for themselves [or shepherds feeding themselves]. They are clouds without ·rain [L water], which the wind blows around [2 Pet. 2:17]. They are autumn trees without fruit that are ·pulled out of the ground [uprooted]. So they are twice dead [C because they are both barren and uprooted; or perhaps a reference to both the physical and spiritual death of the false teachers]. 13 They are like wild waves of the sea, ·tossing up their own shameful actions like foam [L foaming up their own shame]. They are like ·stars that wander in the sky [C perhaps a reference to planets, whose variable positions, unlike those of the stars, provide mariners no guidance]. A place in the ·blackest darkness [L gloom of darkness; v. 7] has been kept for them forever [2 Pet. 2:17].
14 Enoch, the seventh descendant from Adam [C counting Adam first; Gen. 5:18–24], ·said [L prophesied] about these people: “·Look [T Behold], the Lord is coming with many thousands of his ·holy angels [L holy ones] to 15 judge every person. He is coming to ·punish [convict] ·all [every person/soul] who are against God for all ·the evil they have done against him [L their ungodly deeds committed in an ungodly manner]. And he will punish the ·sinners who are against God [ungodly sinners] for all the ·evil [harsh/defiant words; insults] they have said against him.” [C Jude appears to be quoting here from the nonbiblical Jewish book of 1 Enoch (1:9), although he may be drawing generally from Jewish tradition.]
16 These people ·complain and blame others [are grumblers and fault-finders], ·doing the evil things they want to do [L pursuing their own desires/lusts]. ·They brag about themselves [L Their mouths speak boastful words], and they ·flatter [impress; astound] others ·to get what they want [to gain an advantage; L for the sake of gain].
A Warning and Things to Do
17 [L But you] ·Dear friends [Beloved], remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ ·said before [predicted; prophesied; foretold; 2 Pet. 3:2]. 18 [L For] They said to you, “In the ·last times [end time] there will be ·people who laugh about God [scoffers; mockers], ·following [pursuing] their own ·evil [ungodly] ·desires [passions; lusts; 2 Pet. 3:3].” 19 These are the people who ·divide you [cause divisions], people ·whose thoughts are only of this world [who are worldly; or who live by natural instincts/desires], who do not have the Spirit [C living within them and guiding them].
20 But [L you] ·dear friends [beloved], ·use your most holy faith to build yourselves up [or build yourselves up on the foundation of your most holy faith; C the whole body of true Christian doctrine and practice], praying ·in [in dependence on; or as directed by; or according to the will of] the Holy Spirit. 21 Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ ·to give you [that leads to] ·life forever [eternal life].
22 Show mercy to ·some people who have doubts [those who waver; C in their faith]. 23 ·Take others out of the fire, and save them [L Save/Rescue others by snatching them from the fire; C fire represents judgment]. Show mercy mixed with fear to others [C fear inspired by God’s righteous judgment against sin], hating even their clothes which are ·dirty from sin [L stained by the sinful nature/flesh].
Praise God
24 ·God is strong and can [L Now to the one who is able to] ·help you not to fall [keep/guard you from falling/stumbling]. ·He can bring you [L …and to present you] before his ·glory [glorious presence] ·without any wrong in you [faultless; blameless; spotless] and ·can give you great joy [with gladness/jubilation/rejoicing]. 25 To the only God, ·the One who saves us [L our Savior], be glory, ·greatness [majesty], ·power [might], and authority through Jesus Christ our Lord for all ·time past [the ages], now, and forever. Amen.
Footnotes
- Jude 1:5 the Lord Some Greek copies read “Jesus.”
Jude
New King James Version
Greeting to the Called
1 Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and (A)brother of James,
To those who are (B)called, [a]sanctified by God the Father, and (C)preserved in Jesus Christ:
2 Mercy, (D)peace, and love be multiplied to you.
Contend for the Faith
3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you (E)concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting (F)you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. 4 For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord [b]God and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Old and New Apostates
5 But I want to remind you, though you once knew this, that (G)the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. 6 And the angels who did not keep their [c]proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day; 7 as (H)Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the [d]vengeance of eternal fire.
8 (I)Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and (J)speak evil of [e]dignitaries. 9 Yet Michael the archangel, in [f]contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, (K)“The Lord rebuke you!” 10 (L)But these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves. 11 Woe to them! For they have gone in the way (M)of Cain, (N)have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished (O)in the rebellion of Korah.
Apostates Depraved and Doomed
12 These are [g]spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried [h]about by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots; 13 (P)raging waves of the sea, (Q)foaming up their own shame; wandering stars (R)for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.
14 Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, 15 to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the (S)harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”
Apostates Predicted
16 These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they (T)mouth great swelling words, (U)flattering people to gain advantage. 17 (V)But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: 18 how they told you that (W)there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. 19 These are [i]sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.
Maintain Your Life with God
20 But you, beloved, (X)building yourselves up on your most holy faith, (Y)praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, (Z)looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
22 And on some have compassion, [j]making a distinction; 23 but (AA)others save [k]with fear, (AB)pulling them out of the [l]fire, hating even (AC)the garment defiled by the flesh.
Glory to God
24 (AD)Now to Him who is able to keep [m]you from stumbling,
And (AE)to present you faultless
Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
25 To [n]God our Savior,
[o]Who alone is wise,
Be glory and majesty,
Dominion and [p]power,
Both now and forever.
Amen.
Footnotes
- Jude 1:1 NU beloved
- Jude 1:4 NU omits God
- Jude 1:6 own
- Jude 1:7 punishment
- Jude 1:8 glorious ones, lit. glories
- Jude 1:9 arguing
- Jude 1:12 stains, or hidden reefs
- Jude 1:12 NU, M along
- Jude 1:19 soulish or worldly
- Jude 1:22 NU who are doubting (or making distinctions)
- Jude 1:23 NU omits with fear
- Jude 1:23 NU adds and on some have mercy with fear
- Jude 1:24 M them
- Jude 1:25 NU the only God our
- Jude 1:25 NU Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Be glory
- Jude 1:25 NU adds Before all time,
Jude
King James Version
1 Jude, 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:
2 Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.
3 Beloved, 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.
4 For 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.
5 I 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.
6 And 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.
7 Even 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.
8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.
9 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.
12 These 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;
13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
15 To 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.
16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.
17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
Jude
English Standard Version
Greeting
1 Jude, a servant[a] of Jesus Christ and brother of James,
(A)To those who are called, (B)beloved in God the Father and (C)kept for[b] Jesus Christ:
2 May (D)mercy, (E)peace, and love be multiplied to you.
Judgment on False Teachers
3 Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our (F)common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you (G)to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. 4 For (H)certain people (I)have crept in unnoticed (J)who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert (K)the grace of our God into sensuality and (L)deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
5 Now I want (M)to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that (N)Jesus, who saved[c] a people out of the land of Egypt, (O)afterward destroyed those who did not believe. 6 And (P)the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day— 7 just as (Q)Sodom and Gomorrah and (R)the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and (S)pursued unnatural desire,[d] serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.
8 Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and (T)blaspheme the glorious ones. 9 But when (U)the archangel (V)Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing (W)about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, (X)“The Lord rebuke you.” 10 (Y)But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively. 11 Woe to them! For they walked in (Z)the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain (AA)to Balaam's error and (AB)perished in Korah's rebellion. 12 These are hidden reefs[e] (AC)at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, (AD)shepherds feeding themselves; (AE)waterless clouds, (AF)swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, (AG)uprooted; 13 (AH)wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of (AI)their own shame; (AJ)wandering stars, (AK)for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever.
14 It was also about these that Enoch, (AL)the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, (AM)“Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones, 15 (AN)to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have (AO)committed in such an ungodly way, and of all (AP)the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” 16 These are grumblers, malcontents, (AQ)following their own sinful desires; (AR)they are loud-mouthed boasters, (AS)showing favoritism to gain advantage.
A Call to Persevere
17 But you must (AT)remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. 18 They[f] said to you, (AU)“In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” 19 It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, (AV)devoid of the Spirit. 20 But you, beloved, (AW)building yourselves up in your most holy faith and (AX)praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 (AY)keep yourselves in the love of God, (AZ)waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. 22 And have mercy on those who doubt; 23 save others by (BA)snatching them out of (BB)the fire; to others show mercy (BC)with fear, hating even (BD)the garment[g] stained by the flesh.
Doxology
24 (BE)Now to him who is able (BF)to keep you from stumbling and (BG)to present you (BH)blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to (BI)the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, (BJ)be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time[h] and now and forever. Amen.
Footnotes
- Jude 1:1 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface
- Jude 1:1 Or by
- Jude 1:5 Some manuscripts although you fully knew it, that the Lord who once saved
- Jude 1:7 Greek different flesh
- Jude 1:12 Or are blemishes
- Jude 1:18 Or Christ, because they
- Jude 1:23 Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin
- Jude 1:25 Or before any age
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
