Jude identifies himself as the writer of this letter and greets his readers. He was probably the half-brother of Jesus. There are two other Judes mentioned in the New Testament. The word "you" in this letter refers to the Christians to whom Jude was writing and is always plural.
Jude is the brother of James. Alternate translation: "I am Jude, a servant of"
James and Jude were half brothers of Jesus.
"may mercy, peace, and love be increased many times for you." These ideas are spoken of as if they were objects that could grow in size or number. This can be restated to remove the abstract nouns "mercy," "peace," and "love." Alternate translation: "May God continue to be merciful to you so that you live peacefully and love one another more and more
The word "our" in this letter includes both Jude and believers.
Jude tells the believers his reason for writing this letter.
"the salvation we share"
"I felt a great need to write" or "I felt an urgent need to write"
"to encourage you to defend the true teaching"
"finally and completely"
"For some men have come in among the believers without drawing attention to themselves"
This can also be put into the active voice. Alternate translation: "These were men whom God chose to condemn"
God's grace is spoken of as if it were a thing that could be changed into something horrible. Alternate translation: "who teach that God's grace permits one to continue to live in sexual sin"
Possible meanings are 1) they teach that he is not God or 2) these men do not obey Jesus Christ.
Jude gives examples from the past of those who did not follow the Lord.
"the Lord rescued the Israelites long ago from Egypt"
Some texts read "Jesus."
"the responsibilities God entrusted to them"
The proper dwelling place of angels is heaven.
"God has put these angels in a dark prison from which they will never escape"
Here "darkness" is a metonym which represents the place of the dead or hell. Alternate translation: "in utter darkness in hell"
the final day when God will judge everyone
Here "Sodom," "Gomorrah," and "cities" represent the people who lived in them. Alternate translation: "the people of Sodom and Gomorrah and the people in the cities around them"
"engaged in every kind of sexual immorality and all of the perverse sexual acts they desired." The sexual sins of Sodom and Gomorrah were the result of the same kind of rebellion as the angels' evil ways.
The destruction of the people of Sodom and Gomorrah became an example of the fate of all who reject God.
These are the people who disobey God, probably because they claim to have seen visions that gave them authority to do so.
The people sinning is spoken of as if they were making their bodies unclean. Alternate translation: "sin and defile themselves"
"they speak insults about"
This refers to spiritual beings, such as angels.
Balaam was a prophet who refused to curse Israel for an enemy but then taught that enemy to get the people to marry unbelievers and become idol worshipers. Korah was a man of Israel who rebelled against Moses's leadership and Aaron's priesthood.
"did not dare to speak anything evil against him" or "did not dare to insult or condemn him"
the ungodly people
"anything of which they do not know the meaning." Possible meanings are 1) "everything good that they do not understand" or 2) "the glorious ones, which they do not understand" (Jude 1:8).
"Walked in the way" here is a metaphor for "lived in the same way as." Alternate translation: "lived the same way Cain lived"
Jude uses a series of metaphors to describe the ungodly men. He tells the believers how to recognize these men when they are among them.
The word "These" refers to the "ungodly men" of Jude 1:4.
Reefs are large rocks that are very close to the surface of water in the sea. Because sailors cannot see them, they are very dangerous. Ships can easily be destroyed if they hit these rocks.
These words contain two metaphors for dead people and apply them both to "these people."
This is the first metaphor for dead people. Trees in autumn look dead because their leaves have all fallen off, as has the fruit of fruit trees.
This is the second metaphor for dead people. After these "autumn trees" have lost their leaves and fruit, they die their first metaphorical death. Then people uproot them, and they die their second metaphorical death.
completely pulled out of the ground so their roots dry out
As the sea's waves are blown by a strong wind, so the ungodly people are easily moved in many directions.
As wind causes wild waves to stir up dirty foam—so these men, through their false teaching and actions, shame themselves. Alternate translation: "and just as waves bring up foam and dirt, these men pollute others with their shame"
wandering stars
Those who studied the stars in ancient times noticed that some "stars,"—what we call planets—do not move the way that stars do, so they called them "wandering stars." Alternate translation: "They are like moving stars"
Here "darkness" is a metonym that represents the place of the dead or hell, and "the gloom of complete darkness" is an idiom that means "a totally dark place." The phrase "has been reserved" can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "and God will put them in the gloom and complete darkness of hell forever"
If Adam is counted as the first generation of mankind, Enoch is the seventh. If Adam's son is counted as the first, Enoch is sixth in line.
"Listen" or "Pay attention to this important thing I am going to say"
Possible meanings are 1) "angels" or 2) "saints" or 3) "angels and saints"
"to make judgment on" or "to judge"
People who do not want to obey and speak against godly authority. "Grumblers" tend to speak quietly, while "complainers" speak openly.
They praise themselves so that others can hear.
"giving false praise to others"
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Ungodly desires are spoken of as if they were a path that a person will follow. Alternate translation: "mockers who will continue to dishonor God by doing the evil things they wish to do"
"It is these mockers" or "These mockers are the ones"
Here "worldly" describes someone who is concerned with things of the world rather than things of God. Often in the Bible "world" represents all things opposed to God. Alternate translation: "they are only concerned with doing what is evil"
The Holy Spirit is spoken of as if he were something that people can possess. Alternate translation: "the Spirit is not within them"
Jude tells the believers how they should live and how they should treat others.
"Do not be like them, beloved. Instead"
Becoming increasingly able to trust in God and obey him is spoken of as if it were the process of constructing a building.
Remaining able to receive God's love is spoken of as if one were keeping oneself in a certain place.
"eagerly look forward to"
Here "mercy" stands for Jesus Christ himself, who will show his mercy to the believers by making them live forever with him.
"those who do not yet believe that Jesus is God"
The picture is that of pulling people from a fire before they start to burn. Alternate translation: "doing for them whatever needs to be done to keep them from dying without Christ. This is like pulling them from the fire"
"be kind to others, but be afraid of sinning the way they do"
Jude exaggerates to warn his readers that they can become like those sinners. Alternate translation: "treating them as though you could become guilty of sin just by touching their clothes"
Jude closes with a blessing.
His glory is brilliant light that represents his greatness. Alternate translation: "and to allow you to enjoy and worship his glory"
Here sin is spoken of as if it were dirt on one's body or a flaw on one's body. Alternate translation: "glorious presence, where you will be without sin and have"
"to the only God, who saved us because of what Jesus Christ did." This emphasizes that God the Father as well as the Son is the Savior.
God has always had, now has, and always will have glory, absolute leadership, and complete control of all things.