SIL Translator’s Notes on Jude 2007 – Page 3

SIL Translator's Notes on Jude 1:10

In this verse, there is a contrast between 10a and 10b–c. (In the Greek text of this verse, there is a men–de relationship between 10a and 10b–c. In English, men–de is often defined as “on the one hand”…“on the other hand.” None of the English versions make this explicit in their translation. This form, when used in English, usually marks some kind of contrast. In this verse, however, both the men and the de reinforce Jude’s point, that is, the sinfulness of the fake Christians. The contrast relates to their response to what (men) they do not understand (10a) and to what (de) they do understand (10b–c). In both cases they act sinfully.) This contrast is between the response of the fake Christians to what they did not understand and their response to what they did understand. Be sure to express this contrast clearly in your translation.

10a

These men, however: The Greek pronoun that the Berean Standard Bible translates as These men refers here to the fake Christians whom Jude mentioned in verses 4 and 8a. This pronoun did not necessarily refer only to males. Many English versions use a more general expression. For example:

But these people… (Good News Translation)

For another note that talks about this matter, see “certain men” in 4a.

however: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as however indicates a contrast between this verse and verse 9. In this verse, Jude contrasted the sinful ways of the fake Christians with Michael (verse 9), who respected the Lord. Jude described these people as being like unthinking animals.

slander: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as slander is literally “blaspheme.” Forms of this word were also used in 8d and 9c, where the Berean Standard Bible translates them as “slander” and “slanderous.” Here in verse 10, the word is used in a general way. It should be translated with a general expression that could apply to either God or people. (In English, “blaspheme” would generally apply to a deity, and “slander” to other personal beings, such as angels, human beings, and possibly Jesus according to his human nature.) For example:

speak against
-or-
speak disrespectfully about
-or-
slight

what they do not understand: Jude was probably not referring here to any one thing in particular that these people did not understand. (English versions that support this interpretation include: Berean Standard Bible, God’s Word, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English, New American Standard Bible, New International Version (2011 Revision), New Jerusalem Bible, New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation.) The people spoke against anything that they did not understand. (The Contemporary English Version disagrees. It seems to say that Jude was speaking specifically about the insulting of angels (see also verse 8 in the Contemporary English Version, specifically 8d). Here in 10a, the Contemporary English Version says: “But these people insult powers they don’t know anything about.”) For example, they did not understand the Lord, the gospel message, divine authority, morality, and many other things. (The fake Christians probably claimed to have special knowledge, perhaps from their dreams. Here and later in this verse, Jude disagreed with their claim to have special understanding.) Ways to translate this include:

But these people abuse anything they do not understand (New Jerusalem Bible).
-or-
But these people mock and curse the things they do not understand (New Living Translation (2004 Revision)).
-or-
These people, however, speak disrespectfully against whatever and whomever they do not understand.

10b

like irrational animals: In general, animals do not reason or think about most things. They follow their natural desires. If they are hungry, they eat. If they are tired, they sleep. If it is time to mate, then they mate. Jude was implying that some of the desires that these people followed were sinful desires. They followed these desires without thinking about the consequences of their actions. The note on 10c discusses this further.

Other ways to say this are:

like senseless animals (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
like animals that do not reason

10c

they will be destroyed by the things they do instinctively: Jude indicates that these fake Christians were destroying themselves by doing the things that they knew by instinct. They probably did this by following their instincts in sinful ways, such as by committing sexual sins or gluttony. By such actions, they would cause the Lord to destroy them.

they will be destroyed: There is implied information here about the way that these people would be destroyed. Their sinful actions would cause the Lord to judge and punish them. The destruction would not be only the natural results of their actions, such as troubles or disease. In some languages it may be necessary to make the Lord’s role explicit. For example:

10b–cand when like animals they act on what they do understand by instinct, they cause the Lord to destroy them.

the things they do instinctively: Although there are many things that the fake Christians did not understand (10a), Jude said that they did understand some things. They understood these things instinctively. The things people do instinctively include natural urges like eating, sleeping, and having sexual relations.

instinctively: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as instinctively refers to what people naturally know to do. They understand these things, because doing them is according to their nature.

Some languages may not have a single word for instinctively. If this is true in your language, you may be able to say something like:

without thinking
-or-
according to their natural way(s)

Animals live instinctively, so Jude compared what these fake Christians do to animals, as described in the next note.

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

SIL Translator's Notes on Jude 1:9

Deuteronomy 34:5–6 says that the Lord buried Moses in the land of Moab. Jude referred in verse 9 to a story about this event. The story, called “the Assumption of Moses,” is not in the Bible. We know about it from other sources. (We do not have a copy of the Assumption of Moses. The story has been pieced together from several sources.) Jude’s readers probably knew this story.

Here is a summary of the story:

After Moses died, the Lord told the leading angel, Michael, to bury Moses’ body, but the devil argued with Michael. The devil said that Michael did not have the right to take the body and bury it. The devil argued that he himself could claim the body. (The devil argued that he had a right to claim Moses’ body, because Moses had murdered an Egyptian.) However, Michael refused to give the body to the devil. Michael did not pronounce judgment on the devil, because the Lord alone had the authority to judge. (For a reconstructed outline of this story see Kistemaker, page 386.)

But even: Jude contrasted the evil actions of the fake Christians with the correct action of the archangel Michael.

the archangel Michael: Archangels are angels who lead other angels. Michael is the only archangel mentioned by name in the Bible. Some ways to translate archangel are:

leading angel
-or-
chief angel
-or-
leader of God’s angels

The general comment at the end of the notes for 9d shows a way in which the parts of this verse may be reordered. Putting 9b at the end of the verse may be more natural in some languages.

when he disputed with the devil over the body of Moses: Michael and the devil disputed about which of them had a right to take the body of Moses. For more detail, see the introductory note at the beginning of verse 9.

disputed: The Greek text has two verbs here in 9b that express almost the same idea. The text is literally:

when with the devil disputing, he was arguing about the body of Moses.

The two Greek verbs were often used when talking about legal disputes. They do not simply mean that Michael and Satan quarreled. If your language has terms for a disagreement concerning the law, then it may be appropriate to use them here. The term(s) you select should not imply that Michael and the devil fought physically.

Since the two Greek verbs have almost the same meaning, (English versions that translate each of the two Greek verbs separately include: God’s Word, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English, King James Version, New American Standard Bible, NET Bible, New Revised Standard Version, Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation. We can see how close in meaning the two Greek verbs are by comparing how these versions translated each Greek verb.Here are versions which translate the first verb, diakrinomenos, with a form of the following verbs:argue (God’s Word, NET Bible) -or-contend (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English, King James Version, New Revised Standard Version, Revised Standard Version)-or-dispute (New American Standard Bible)These versions translate the second Greek verb, dielegeto, with a form of these verbs:argue (God’s Word, New American Standard Bible, Good News Translation)-or-dispute (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English, King James Version, New Revised Standard Version, Revised Standard Version)) there are two basic options for translation:

• Translate the two Greek verbs separately. For example:

when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
In his quarrel with the Devil, when they argued about who would have the body of Moses (Good News Translation)

• Use one expression to translate the idea of both Greek verbs, as the Berean Standard Bible and some other English versions have done. (English versions that use one verb to translate the idea of both Greek verbs include: Berean Standard Bible, Contemporary English Version, New Century Version, New International Version (2011 Revision), New Jerusalem Bible, New Living Translation (2004 Revision), Revised English Bible. They used a form of one of the following:argue (Contemporary English Version, New Century Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New Living Translation (2004 Revision)),-or-dispute (Berean Standard Bible, New International Version (2011 Revision), Revised English Bible)) For example:

when the two of them were arguing about the body of Moses. (Contemporary English Version)

Look for the most natural way in your language to translate the idea that these two Greek verbs express. In the Display, only one verb is used.

the devil: Jude referred to Satan, the leader of the fallen angels, as the devil here. The devil is the chief enemy of God and the most evil spiritual being.

did not presume: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as presume means “to be bold enough [to do something].” In this context Michael was not “bold enough” to judge the devil because he knew that only the Lord had that authority.

The text does not imply that Michael would have judged the devil if he were bolder. Nor does the text imply that Michael was afraid of the devil. Rather, it meant that Michael refused to use authority which belonged only to the Lord. Another way to say this is:

did not dare to condemn him…by judging the devil.

to bring a slanderous charge: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as to bring a slanderous charge is literally, “to pronounce a judgment of blasphemy.” Scholars have different opinions about who was blaspheming here and against whom the blasphemy was made. Three ways to interpret this phrase are:

(1) It means that Michael did not dare to judge the devil or condemn him. Only the Lord had that authority. If Michael had done it, that would have been blasphemy against the Lord. For example:

Michael didn’t dare to hand down a judgment against the devil. (God’s Word)
-or-
Not even…Michael…dared to judge the devil guilty. (New Century Version)

(God’s Word, New Century Version, UBS Handbook) (Jude meant that Michael did not dare to condemn the devil, because pronouncing judgment against the devil would be blasphemy against the Lord. For anyone besides the Lord to make this kind of judgment is, by nature, blasphemy. Apparently, that is the reason why the New Century Version and God’s Word make blasphemy implicit in their translations. See also the discussion of Jude 9 in the UBS Handbook Handbook.)

(2) It means that Michael did not dare to slander (“blaspheme”) the devil. (Some scholars reject interpretation (2), because the devil was actually guilty. Therefore, even if Michael had condemned the devil, it would not have been slander against him.) For example:

Michael did not dare condemn the Devil with insulting words…. (Good News Translation)

(Berean Standard Bible, Contemporary English Version, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English, King James Version, New American Standard Bible, New International Version (2011 Revision), New Jerusalem Bible, Revised English Bible, Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation)

(3) It implies that the devil had committed slander (“blasphemy”), probably against Moses, (Jude contrasted the fake Christians in verse 8 with the archangel Michael, not the devil. The similar passage, 2 Peter 2:11, uses the adjectival form of the word “blasphemy.” Therefore, it is more likely that 2 Peter speaks of a “blasphemous judgment,” not a “judgment for blasphemy.” If the point of comparison is similar in Jude, this favors interpretation (1) over interpretation (3).) but Michael did not dare to accuse him. For example:

Michael…did not dare accuse Satan of blasphemy. (New Living Translation (2004 Revision))

(New Living Translation (2004 Revision))

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). Michael refused to do what the fake Christians were doing (8d), that is, blaspheme against God.

against him: The phrase against him is implied information. It does not translate a particular word or phrase in the Greek text of Jude 9. If it is not necessary in your language, you do not need to make it explicit in your translation.

but said: The Greek words that the Berean Standard Bible translates as but said introduce what Michael did in contrast to what he would not do (9c). Indicate this contrast in a natural way in your language.

The Lord rebuke you!: Since only God had the authority to judge and punish the devil, Michael left it to The Lord to do it. Although the Greek expression used here is often translated as a wish or request, (Jude probably used the optative to show Michael’s great respect for God. Michael does not even give the impression that he is telling the Lord what to do. It is the Lord’s prerogative alone to decide whom he will condemn and how he will punish him. Another way to translate this is: “Only the Lordmay condemn you.”) Michael did not doubt that The Lord would condemn the devil. The Contemporary English Version makes it clear that Michael was sure that the Lord would do this.

All Michael said was, “The Lord will punish you!”

The Lord: Here, The Lord refers to Jesus Christ. (At the time that Michael and the devil had this debate, the Christ (Messiah) was not yet incarnate.)

rebuke: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as rebuke often means “reprimand.” (“Reprimand” means to speak severely to someone because that person did something wrong.) In this verse it seems to have a harsher meaning, such as “condemn” or “punish.” See the Contemporary English Version example in the note above.

General Comment on 9a–d

In some languages, this verse will sound more natural if the order of the parts is changed. For example:

^9aBut even the archangel Michael ^9cwould not usurp the Lord’s authority by condemning the devil. ^9dInstead Michael said, “The Lord will punish you.” ^9bThis happened when Michael contended with the devil and disputed with him about whether it was right for Michael to bury the body of Moses.

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SIL Translator's Notes on Jude 1:8

Paragraph 8–10

In this paragraph, Jude wrote that the fake Christians (verse 4) had sinned in ways which were similar to the examples of sin in verses 5–7. Jude added another example to show how evil and unwise these people were (verse 9). He then said that they were like unthinking animals (verse 10).

Yet: The Greek text of this verse contains the word mentoi, which the Berean Standard Bible translates as Yet. This word helps to show how verse 8 relates to verses 5–7. Normally, it means “nevertheless.” In some languages this meaning may be implied without a connector, so some translations have left the connection implicit. In other languages a connecting word or phrase may help to make the connection clear.

Some other ways to translate mentoi here are:

Nevertheless…
-or-
Even though they know these things…
-or-
Despite knowing about these examples/warnings…

in the same way: The fake Christians whom Jude wrote about in verse 4 sinned in a manner which was similar to the three examples in verses 5–7. However, they did not commit exactly the same sins.

Some other ways that the English versions say this include:

in a similar way (God’s Word)
-or-
in like manner (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
in the very same way (New International Version (2011 Revision))

these dreamers: The phrase these dreamers refers to the fake Christians whom Jude had introduced in verse 4. Look for the most natural way in your language to indicate that these dreamers refers to the same people as the “certain men” (Berean Standard Bible) in verse 4.

Some English versions make this explicit. For example:

It is the same with these people who have entered your group. They are guided by dreams… (New Century Version)
-or-
Yet, in a similar way, the people who slipped in among you are dreamers. (God’s Word)

dreamers: In this verse, Jude described these people as dreamers. They had dreams which they claimed were from God. They thought that these dreams gave them the authority to sin in the ways that Jude mentioned in this verse. However, these dreams were not really from God.

Some ways that English versions have expressed this include:

as a result of their dreams (NET Bible)
-or-
who claim authority from their dreams (New Living Translation (2004 Revision))

defile their bodies: Most scholars agree that defile their bodies refers to sexual sin. This phrase is a figure of speech. Jude was not saying that their bodies were physically dirty. Instead he meant that their sexual sin had made them spiritually impure. Because these people sinned sexually, they were similar to the people of Sodom and Gomorrah (verse 7).

If your language has a similar idiom that associates “being dirty” with “sin,” especially sexual sin, then you may be able to use it here. However, in some languages an expression like “dirty with sin” might simply mean that these people were physically dirty and that they had sinned. If this is true in your language, then you may:

• Use an idiom that has the correct meaning in your language.

• Use a descriptive phrase with the correct meaning. For example:

contaminate/defile themselves with sexual sin
-or-
live immoral lives
-or-
act immorally
-or-
sin sexually

reject authority: Scholars have different opinions concerning whose authority or what kind of authority these fake Christians rejected. The two main interpretations are:

(1) Jude meant divine authority. For example:

reject the Lord’s authority (God’s Word)

(God’s Word, New Century Version, NET Bible note, New Jerusalem Bible, Good News Translation)

(2) Jude meant authority in general, including human authority. For example:

reject all authority (Contemporary English Version)

(Contemporary English Version)

Many English versions do not specify what kind of authority Jude meant. Jude probably intended interpretation (1), that these people rejected the Lord’s authority.

Some languages require a translator to specify whose authority or what type of authority Jude meant. If you need to be specific in your translation, it is recommended that you specify:

the Lord’s authority (The NET Bible has this note: “Most likely, the authority of the Lord is in view. This verse, then, echoes the indictment of v. 4: ‘they deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.’”)

However, if you have a suitable way in your language to refer to all types of authority, including divine authority, you may use it here.

slander: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as slander is literally “blaspheme.” “Blaspheme” means to insult someone in a way that could injure their reputation. (In English, “blaspheme” would generally apply to a deity, and “slander” to other personal beings, such as angels, human beings, and possibly Jesus according to his human nature.) It is often used to refer to evil or irreverent statements about God, divine beings, or holy things. It can also mean to insult or disrespect God by saying or doing something that only God has the right or ability to say or do.

glorious beings: The Greek word (This word in its plural accusative form, doxas, occurs only three times in the New Testament (1 Peter 1:11, 2 Peter 2:10, Jude 8). 2 Peter 2:10 is a parallel passage to Jude 8, and it is likely that the intended meaning is the same in both passages. 1 Peter 1:11 does not refer to angels, but rather to the glorious attributes associated with Jesus Christ. If 1 Peter and 2 Peter have a common author, then it can be assumed that divine attributes are meant in 2 Peter 2:10, and also in the parallel passage, Jude 8.) that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as glorious beings is literally the noun “glories.” Scholars have different opinions concerning what Jude meant by “glories.” Two different interpretations are:

(1) It refers to the glories of Jesus Christ; that is, to what he has done and to what he is like in his splendor and excellence. For example:

his glory (God’s Word)

(God’s Word, New Jerusalem Bible)

(2) It refers to angels, or to some type of angel. For example:

the angels (New Century Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, Contemporary English Version, New American Standard Bible, New Century Version, NET Bible, New International Version (2011 Revision), Revised English Bible, Good News Translation)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). (“Glories” has this meaning in 1 Peter 1:11. There it refers to the glorious attributes associated with Jesus Christ after his suffering on earth ended.) The general comment for 8d explains this in more detail.

In modern English it is more natural to use the singular form of the noun “glory.” (English versions of 1 Peter 1:11 often translate the plural noun doxas by singular noun “glory” (God’s Word, King James Version, New Century Version, NET Bible, New Living Translation (2004 Revision), New Revised Standard Version, Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation).) For example:

the Lord’s glory

General Comment on 8d

Jude did not specify exactly what these fake Christians did. They probably claimed that they spoke with the Lord’s authority. Actually, they opposed his true will by lying in order to justify their evil actions. (See the notes on “these dreamers” and “dreamers” in 8a.)

In this way, the fake Christians spoke falsely about the Lord and insulted him. They may also have usurped his authority by passing judgment on other people in his name, or by opposing those who taught the truth.

The situation that Jude most likely referred to was that the fake Christians “blasphemed glories” by speaking with authority that belonged only to the Lord. (This seems even more likely when verse 9 is considered, as well as 2 Peter 2:11. In 2 Peter 2:11, the judgment that angels do not bring is specified as “from the Lord.” A textual variant has, “before the Lord.” Either way, the angels are unwilling to speak a judgment that is the Lord’s to speak or to judge.) Some ways to translate this include:

and insult/disrespect the Lord’s glory
-or-
and they lie against/about our glorious Lord.
-or-
and they usurp the Lord’s authority.

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SIL Translator's Notes on Jude 1:7

In verse 7, Jude gave a third example of a group who sinned against God, and as a result, suffered terrible punishment. The people of Sodom and Gomorrah sinned sexually. The Lord destroyed them by fire.

In some languages, it may be helpful to use an introductory phrase (As mentioned in the note for 6–7, this is also true for the start of verse 6.) at the beginning of verse 7. You may use a phrase that is similar to the phrase, “I want to remind you,” in 5a.

The notes for verse 7 are based on a literal translation of the Greek text, instead of on the Berean Standard Bible. (Notice the abbreviation “lit.” before the words and phrases in the notes below.) Some of the parts of the verse have been reordered to give the notes a more natural order for English. The letters of the verse parts will follow the new order, which is indicated here:

^7aIn a similar way to these, ^7bSodom and Gomorrah and the towns around them ^7care exhibited as an example of eternal fire, ^7dthe penalty they experience, ^7ehaving committed sexual sin and gone after different flesh.

7a (reordered)

Verse 7 begins with the Greek word, hōs. It can be translated in a variety of ways, including “that” and “how.” In this context Jude used hōs to mark the beginning of this third example of punishment for sin. (Lenski (page 621) thought that Jude used hos here, instead of the hoti (5a) that governs both 5 and 6, because the evidence of what had happened to Sodom and Gomorrah could still be seen. The examples in 5 and 6 were known only through their stories being written or told. However, Jude’s readers could still find evidence of God’s punishment of Sodom and Gomorrah at the south end of the Dead Sea. As the Greek present tense verb prokeintai implies, Sodom and Gomorrah are an example that has observable evidence.) It indicates that it should be considered along with the first two examples in verse 5 and verse 6. Some ways to express this include:

Also consider that…
-or-
You also know how…
-or-
I want to remind you that…

(lit.) In a similar way to these: In order to translate verse 7, a translator must decide two issues of interpretation:

Issue 1:

Scholars have different opinions about who these refers to. The two main possibilities are: (Two other interpretations that are sometimes suggested are:(3) It refers to either the men of Sodom and Gomorrah or to the men of the surrounding towns, one of these groups being compared to the other.(4) It refers to the fake Christians (verse 4).In the Greek text, “these” is marked for both gender and number as masculine and plural. Interpretation (3) is unlikely because the Greek words for “Sodom and Gomorrah” and also for “towns” are not masculine. While some scholars suggest that “these” refers to the men in the towns, there is no compelling reason to assume this. It would require Jude to have linked the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah with the sin of the surrounding towns in a very indirect and unnecessarily complicated way. Finally, interpretation (4) is not correct. In verse 8, Jude definitely wrote about the same fake Christians as in verse 4. If “these” in verse 7 also referred to these same people, then Jude would have been repeating himself in verse 8 for no apparent reason.)

(1) It refers to both the angels whom Jude mentioned in verse 6 and to the Israelites who did not believe and were destroyed (verse 5).

(2) It refers to just the angels (verse 6).

Greek grammar would allow either interpretation, (In the Greek text, “these” is marked for both gender and number as masculine and plural. “Angels” is the closest preceding noun that is marked as masculine and plural. The unbelieving Israelites are also marked as masculine and plural.) but interpretation (1) is more likely because the conjunction used to join verses 5 and 6 indicates a close relationship between these verses. If there is a natural way to include both the angels and unbelieving Israelites in your translation, then it is recommended that you use it here. For example:

In a similar way to these unbelieving Israelites and angels

Issue 2:

Another interpretation issue is to decide in what way the people of Sodom and Gomorrah (7b) were similar to the preceding two groups, (This assumes that interpretation (1) above is correct.) which were:

(a) the angels who rebelled (verse 6),

(b) the unbelieving Israelites (verse 5).

The two main possibilities are:

(1) The three groups were similar because all were examples and warnings that the Lord punishes sinners. For example:

We should also be warned by what happened to the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah…. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
What happened to Sodom and Gomorrah…is an example…of the punishment…. The people of these cities suffered the same fate that God’s people and the angels did…. (God’s Word)

(Contemporary English Version, God’s Word, New Living Translation (2004 Revision))

(2) The sexual sin committed by the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, was similar in nature to the sins that the angels (Scholars who accept this view interpret Genesis 6:1–4 as talking about angelic beings taking human wives. No clear biblical evidence exists that angels are capable of having sexual relations with human beings or that angels and human beings have had children together.) and the unbelieving Israelites (While the Israelites who left Egypt did commit sexual sin (Exodus 32:6, Numbers 25:1), verse 5 probably referred to what happened to the Israelites who refused to follow the advice of Joshua and Caleb. They died in the desert because they refused to enter the land that God was giving to them.) had committed. According to this interpretation, Jude used three examples of sexual sin. For example:

Sodom and Gomorrah…which, in the same manner as they, indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural lust… (New Revised Standard Version (It is possible that the New Revised Standard Version is comparing the people of Sodom and Gomorrah only to the angels, and not to the Israelites that Jude mentioned. Other English versions that clearly compare the people of Sodom and Gomorrah to the angels but not to the Israelites, are the NET Bible, Revised English Bible and Good News Translation. All four of these versions imply that Jude was indicating sexual immorality as a similarity between the people of Sodom and Gomorrah and the angels.))

(New Revised Standard Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).

7b (reordered)

(lit.) Sodom and Gomorrah: Jude reminded his readers of what happened to the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. God destroyed these cities with fire because of the sexually immoral behavior of the people who lived there. You may read about this in Genesis 18:20–22, 19:1–29.

It was not just the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah themselves (with the buildings and possessions) that were destroyed. All the people who lived there were killed. In some languages it may help to make this explicit. For example:

the people of Sodom and Gomorrah

(lit.) and the towns around them: This phrase refers to the towns near Sodom and Gomorrah that God destroyed at the same time. (The names of two of these towns were Admah and Zeboiim (Deuteronomy 29:23). Another nearby town named Zoar was spared.) Some ways to say this include:

and the neighboring towns
-or-
and the surrounding towns
-or-
and the towns that were nearby

7c–d (reordered)

(lit.) are exhibited as an example of eternal fire, the penalty they experience: Scholars have different opinions about how the expression eternal fire relates to the other words in this verse. The two main interpretations are:

(1) eternal fire relates primarily to the word example in 7c. What happened to the people of Sodom and Gomorrah was an example and warning that sinful people will be punished by eternal fire in hell. For example:

are a warning of the eternal fire that will punish all who are evil. (New Living Translation (2004 Revision))

(God’s Word, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English, New Living Translation (2004 Revision))

(2) Eternal fire relates primarily to the word penalty in 7d. Sodom and Gomorrah and the towns were experiencing the penalty of eternal fire. (Many scholars who accept interpretation (2) do not think that Jude meant the eternal fire of hell. According to them, the eternal fire is the fire whose smoke could still be seen at the south end of the Dead Sea, where these cities once stood.) For example:

are put before us as an example since they are paying the penalty of eternal fire. (New Jerusalem Bible)

(Berean Standard Bible, King James Version, New American Standard Bible, New Century Version, NET Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Revised English Bible, Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation)

The Greek grammar of this verse allows for either or both to be correct. It is recommended that, if possible, you translate as if both interpretations (Jude and his readers were very aware that these cities were destroyed by fire. Implicit in his example is the manner in which God destroyed these cities. The horrible fire that God used in this destruction made Sodom and Gomorrah especially fitting as an illustration or example of what the end will be for all who continue in willful sin—the eternal fire of hell.) are correct. However, if you must choose between them, it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), which has more support in the commentaries.

The following examples show how this verse may be translated with both interpretations.

Like these people and angels, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns are a warning of eternal fire, the penalty they suffer because they committed sexual sin and went after different flesh.
-or-
In a similar way to these unbelieving Israelites and angels, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns are exhibited as an example of the punishment of eternal fire. Their people suffer the penalty of eternal fire, because they committed sexual sin and went after different flesh.

7c (reordered)

(lit.) are exhibited as an example: Other ways to translate this include:

they are an apparent/clear example.
-or-
they…are now displayed as an example. (NET Bible)
-or-
By looking at them, people can see that…

In some languages, it may be better to say explicitly that this type of example is a warning. For example:

Those cities…are a warning… (New Living Translation (2004 Revision))
-or-
as a plain warning… (Good News Translation)

(lit.) eternal fire: This expression refers to the eternal fire of hell. It is recommended that you not indicate explicitly that this refers to hell, unless that is necessary in your language.

7d (reordered)

(lit.) the penalty they experience: Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns were destroyed by fire. At the time when Jude wrote this letter, people could still see evidence of this punishment. They could go to the Dead Sea and see signs of destruction where those cities had been.

However, the penalty for the people who lived there involved more than their death at the time when the cities were destroyed. They were also to spend eternity in the fire of hell. That is an even greater penalty, and Jude may have been thinking of it also.

(lit.) penalty: Their penalty was punishment for their sins (7e).

(lit.) they experience: What they experience is punishment. In some languages, it may be more natural to indicate explicitly that this is an experience of punishment or suffering. For example:

they suffer the punishment (Good News Translation)
-or-
undergoing a punishment (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
they are paying the penalty (New Jerusalem Bible)

7e (reordered)

(lit.) having committed sexual sin and gone after different flesh: Jude gave the information in this part of the verse as the reason that God punished the people of Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighboring towns. They were guilty of sexual sin. Their sexual immorality was so bad that God caused them and their cities to be destroyed. Some ways to indicate this reason are:

because they committed sexual sins and… (God’s Word)
-or-
since they indulged in sexual immorality and… (NET Bible)

Jude was probably referring to sexual sin that the people of Sodom and Gomorrah did regularly. It was the habit of these people to sin sexually. If your language normally marks habitual action, you may do so here. For example:

habitually/regularly committed sexual sin

(lit.) having committed sexual sin: This phrase is a literal translation of one Greek word. It could refer to any kind of sexual sin. Look for the most natural way in your language to refer to sexual sin in general, rather than to a specific type of sexual sin.

(lit.) gone after different flesh: Pursuing different flesh was the way that Jude referred to homosexual acts; (Scholars have different opinions concerning what sin Jude described as “having gone after different flesh.” The main interpretations are:(1) It refers to homosexual acts; that is, men having sex with men.(2) It refers to bestiality.(3) It refers to the men of Sodom trying to have sex with the two angels who visited Lot (Genesis chapter 19).It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). Many scholars say that this going after different flesh was homosexual acts, and they are probably correct.The last interpretation is unlikely, because God had already decided to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding town before the incident with the angels at Lot’s house happened. Also, only the men of Sodom tried to have sex with the angels, and God destroyed more than Sodom. In addition, there is no evidence that the men of Sodom knew that the two visitors to Lot’s house were angels. Another reason to reject this last opinion is that Jude said that these men went after different “flesh,” and angels are spirit beings who do not have “flesh.”) that is, men having sex with other men. Some ways that English versions have translated this include:

engaged in homosexual activities. (God’s Word)
-or-
indulged in unnatural lust (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
sexual relations that God does not allow. (New Century Version)

Languages often have more than one way to refer to this type of sexual activity. Look for the most natural way in your language that is suitable for reading in worship meetings where people of all ages and both sexes may be present.

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SIL Translator's Notes on Jude 1:6

6–7

In some languages it may be helpful to use an introductory phrase at the start of verse 6, and maybe also verse 7. This phrase would be similar to “I want to remind you” in 5a. For example:

6
And remember the angels…. 7Also remember the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah…. (New Century Version)

Several other English versions, including the New Living Translation (2004 Revision), Revised English Bible, and Good News Translation, have a phrase like this.

In verse 6, Jude gave his second example of a group that sinned against God, and as a result, suffered terrible punishments.

the angels: Here Jude referred to angels who had rebelled against the Lord. He did not refer to all angels, but only to those who rebelled.

Many other angels have always obeyed God. In some languages, it may be necessary to make it clear that Jude was not referring to all angels. For example, it might be helpful to say:

some angels
-or-
certain angels

In other languages, it may be better to put this information in a footnote.

Translators should avoid using a term that implies that angels are the spirits of human beings, either alive or dead.

In the Greek text there is no definite article (the) before the word for angels. Some scholars believe that this emphasizes the high status of angels. (Several commentaries understand “angels” without the definite article in this case to be qualitative, emphasizing their high status, or contrasting them with the human beings described in the examples before and after (verses 5 & 7). The meaning seems to be that the Lord punishes even angels who rebel against him. If a translator wanted to include this, then verse 6 could be started like this: “And the Lord has punished even certain angels….”) For example:

And the very angels… (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

who did not stay within their own domain:

Jude frequently used the Greek verb, tēreō, which the Berean Standard Bible translates as stay. He used a form of tēreō in 1f, 6a, 6c, 13d (where the Berean Standard Bible uses the verb “reserved”), and 21a. Though it was possible for Jude to use one verb in all these places, the meanings translated into natural English require the use of more than one English verb.) Here Jude described the way in which these angels had sinned. God had given authority to the angels by giving each of them certain responsibilities. The angels whom Jude mentioned here rebelled. They left their own domains, refusing to fulfill the responsibilities which God had assigned to them. Some other ways to say this include:

didn’t do their work (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
refused to do their duty

Jude did not say why these angels left their positions of authority. (Most English versions also do not state the reason (Berean Standard Bible, Contemporary English Version, God’s Word, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English, King James Version, New American Standard Bible, New Century Version, New International Version (2011 Revision), New Jerusalem Bible, New Revised Standard Version, Revised Standard Version).) A few English versions have indicated that they abandoned these positions because they were not content or felt limited in some way. (English versions that indicate a reason why these angels abandoned their positions of authority are: NET Bible, New Living Translation (2004 Revision), Revised English Bible and Good News Translation.) For example:

who did not stay within the limits of their proper authority (Good News Translation)
-or-
who were not content to maintain the dominion assigned to them, (Revised English Bible)

their own domain: In this context the Greek word archē, which the Berean Standard Bible translates as domain means “rule” or “positions of authority.” It indicates that these angels were in charge of something. However, they had received each domain from God, and they were accountable to him. You may be able to use a term that describes the kind of authority that a king or chief gives to someone else to manage his wealth or property.

but: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as but marks contrast. The contrast is:

6a
having their own domain

but

6b
abandoned the places where they have that domain

In some languages, it may be more natural to connect 6a and 6b in a different way. A conjunction like “and” would indicate connection and similarity between:

6a
not keeping their own domain

“and”

6b
abandoning the places where they have that domain

For example:

didn’t do their work and left their proper places. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
failed in their high duties and abandoned their proper sphere (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

abandoned their proper dwelling: The Greek word oikētērion occurs only twice in the New Testament. (The only other use of oikētērion in the New Testament is by Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:2. There the Berean Standard Bible translates this word as “dwelling.” The context in 2 Corinthians is talking about the resurrection body.) Here it includes two ideas:

(a) Its literal meaning is home. In this verse, it implies that the angels left their place of residence. For example:

abandoned their own place of residence (NET Bible)
-or-
abandoned their own dwelling place (Good News Translation)

(b) It has an extended meaning that includes the activities that should occur at a home or place. In this context, these angels abandoned their places, including the activities that God had assigned to them to do. (Louw and Nida, classify oikētērion as one of the Greek words that imply “abandoned their proper dwelling.” (Subdomain E, starting at 85.67, footnote 864.)) For example:

abandoned their assigned place. (God’s Word)
-or-
abandoned their proper sphere (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

The second meaning is more in focus in this context. In your translation, it will be helpful to use an expression that includes this idea. (If your language has a word or phrase which, like oikētērion, can mean home or place of residence, but also implies the activities that happen there, you may be able to use it here.) Such an expression will also help to indicate that both 6a and 6b describe the way that these angels rebelled against God.

abandoned: In this context, the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as abandoned means “left completely.” These angels left permanently. Try to avoid using a verb that would cause your readers to think that these angels left but intended to return later.

these: The word these refers to the angels about whom Jude wrote in 6a–b. The Berean Standard Bible has supplied the word these in order to help clarify that the actions in 6c–d happened to these angels.

He has kept in eternal chains under darkness:

The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as
under can mean that these angels were under the control of darkness, that is, unable to escape it.) Jude did not explain what he meant by darkness. However, it is clear that the Lord put these angels in some kind of dark prison/place and kept them there. This agrees with what Jude mentioned about eternal chains in this verse.

In some languages, it may be necessary to mention first that the Lord put the angels under darkness before saying that he kept them there. For example:

He put them in darkness, and he has kept them there.
-or-
The Lord put these angels in a dark place where he still keeps them.

He:

The Greek text of this verse does not contain either “God” or “Lord.” The English versions refer to the agent, i.e. who it was who “kept” the angels in darkness, in three different ways.

He (Berean Standard Bible, God’s Word, King James Version, New American Standard Bible, NET Bible, New International Version (2011 Revision), New Jerusalem Bible, New Revised Standard Version). The pronoun He refers back to “Jesus” in 5b. If it is not natural or not clear to use the pronoun He here, then you may say “the Lord.” For example:

The Lord has kept these angels in darkness. (New Century Version)

has kept:

Jude frequently used the Greek verb, tēreō, that the Berean Standard Bible translates as kept. He used a form of tēreō in 1f, 6a, 6c, 13d (where the Berean Standard Bible uses the verb “reserved”), and 21a. Though it was possible for Jude to use one verb in all these places, the meanings translated into natural English require the use of more than one English verb.) In this verse, Jude used a play on words. The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as has kept is a form of the verb that was translated “stay” in 6a. In this way, Jude used a type of irony: the angels would not “keep” their proper places so the Lord has kept them in a place of punishment.

In some languages, it may be possible to express the irony in a similar way. However, in some languages it may not be natural to use the same verb in both of these contexts. If that is true in your language, you may express the irony in another way or let it be implied by the context. (If it is not natural to do this through the verb, the translator may be able to express irony through the use of “place,” that is, “abandoned their place” (6b) versus “place of darkness” (6c).)

in eternal chains: When Jude wrote this letter, it was common to restrain prisoners. Jude used this practice to describe a spiritual reality. These angels were deprived of freedom. It was impossible for them to escape.

chains: The chains used in Jude’s time were made of strong metal. In some cultures people may not be familiar with the practice of using chains to bind or restrain someone. If that is true in your culture, it may be better to use a more general expression. For example:

restrained
-or-
imprisoned
-or-
bound with steel
-or-
tied securely

bound: The Berean Standard Bible has supplied the verb bound. When talking about chains, bound is a more natural verb in English than “has kept” in 6c. The verb “has kept” in 6c applies also to 6d.

For some languages, it is more natural to use an active verb and specify who imprisoned the angels. The note for “he” in 6c explains that the Lord imprisoned them in this way. For example:

he has bound them…

for judgment on that great day: The Lord has imprisoned these angels in darkness until the time comes for them to be judged. This will happen on what Jude called that great day.

The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as for can refer to time. In this case, it can mean until the great Day. For example:

until the judgment of the great day. (Revised Standard Version, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English) (The New Jerusalem Bible has the same wording, but capitalizes the D of Day, that is, “the great Day.”)
-or-
until the great day of judgment. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
waiting for the day of judgment. (New Living Translation (2004 Revision))

judgment: The outcome of this judgment was not in doubt. The judgment which Jude referred to here included condemnation and punishment for rebelling against God. In some languages, it may be better to use a more specific word, like “condemned.” For example:

that great Day on which they will be condemned. (Good News Translation)

that great day: The phrase that great day refers to the day when Christ will deliver the final judgment on angels and people. In other places in the Bible, this day is referred to as, “the great and glorious day of the Lord” (Acts 2:20), and “the great day of God Almighty” (Revelation 16:14).

General Comment on 6a–e

In some languages it may be clearer to reorder this verse. For example:

^6aAnd the Lord punished certain angels. ^6cHe has put them in a dark place, and he keeps them there in everlasting chains, ^6dwaiting to be judged on the great Day. ^6aThese are the angels who did not keep their positions of authority. ^6bInstead they abandoned their place. (In 6c, the note on “has kept” explains that Jude expressed irony through his use of the same Greek verb. If it is not natural to do this through the verb, the translator may be able to express irony through use of “place,” that is, “abandoned their place” (6b) versus “place of darkness” (6c).)

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SIL Translator's Notes on Jude 1:5

Paragraph 5–7

In these verses, Jude reminded his readers about three well-known groups who had sinned, and as a result had suffered terrible punishments:

(a) The Israelites had been slaves in Egypt, and the Lord brought them out from there. However, afterwards he destroyed those among them who did not trust in him.

(b) Some angels had rebelled against the Lord, so he placed them in chains in a dark place until the day when he would judge them.

5a–b

The general comment at the end of the notes for 5b discusses an issue that affects 5a–b. You will want to consider this issue before you make a final decision about how to translate this verse.

Although you are fully aware of this, I want to remind you that: Jude realized that the three examples which he used in verses 5–7 were familiar to his readers. He was careful to mention that he knew this fact, probably so that he would not offend them. Some ways to express this meaning include:

I want to remind you of some things you already know: (New Century Version)
-or-
Although you already know all these things/facts, I want to remind you that…
-or-
I want you to consider some things/facts that you already know.

Jesus: There is a textual issue here:

(1) Some copies of the Greek text have Lord. For example:

that the Lord, after saving a people (New American Standard Bible)

(Contemporary English Version, God’s Word, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English, King James Version, New American Standard Bible, New Century Version, New International Version (2011 Revision), New Jerusalem Bible, New Living Translation (2004 Revision), New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, Good News Translation)

(2) Other copies of the Greek text have Jesus. For example:

that Jesus, having saved the people (NET Bible)

(Berean Standard Bible, NET Bible; notes in New American Standard Bible, New International Version (2011 Revision), New Living Translation (2004 Revision), New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, Good News Translation)

Scholars have different opinions about what Jude originally wrote. While most modern versions follow option (1) and have “Lord,” there is also strong evidence for option (2), Jesus. (The NET Bible argues the case for Jude having written “Jesus.” The NET Bible does this in two notes at Jude 5 and another at 1 Corinthians 10:9 for “Christ.” (See Jude 5 in NET Bible and 1 Corinthians 10:9 in NET Bible.)) If Jude wrote “Lord,” then in this context (4f), “Lord” would refer to Jesus Christ before he became a human being.

In your translation, you can follow the major language version in your area. If you follow option (1) (“Lord”), it is recommended that you include a footnote saying that Jude may have written Jesus.

had delivered His people out of the land of Egypt: Jude referred here to the time when the Lord freed the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and led them away from there. This is recorded in the book of Exodus.

had delivered: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as delivered includes these ideas:

(a) to free someone from something bad,

(b) to rescue/save,

Some ways to translate delivered include:

released

rescued

saved/freed from slavery

His people: The phrase His people refers to the Israelites. The Greek word for His is not explicit in the text. Therefore, you do not need to translate the word His. For example:

a people (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
the people (NET Bible)
-or-
the people of Israel (Good News Translation)

out of the land of Egypt: Egypt was the country where the Israelites had been slaves. It was from slavery in this country that the Lord delivered them. It may be more natural in your language to make the idea of slavery explicit. For example:

The Lord rescued his people from slavery, bringing them out of Egypt.
-or-
The Lord freed his people from Egypt where they were slaves.

General Comment on 5a–b

The Greek text for verse 5 contains the word hapax. This Greek word can be translated literally as “once” or “once for all.” Many English versions leave it implicit (Berean Standard Bible, Contemporary English Version, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English, New Century Version, New International Version (2011 Revision), New Living Translation (2004 Revision)).

Copies of the Greek text differ about where hapax is placed in this verse. This affects which verb hapax relates to. Two options are:

(1) It relates to the verb translated as “delivered” in 5b. For example:

The Lord once saved his people from Egypt. (God’s Word)

(God’s Word, New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, Good News Translation)

(2) It relates to the verb translated as “fully aware” in 5a. For example:

you have been fully informed of these facts once for all. (NET Bible)

(King James Version, New American Standard Bible, NET Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Revised Standard Version)

If you translate this Greek word, it is recommended that you follow option (1). Option (1) gives a better contrast with 5c than option (2) does. Most of the English versions that do not translate hapax probably also follow option (1).

5b–c

after Jesus had delivered His people out of the land of Egypt, He destroyed those who did not believe: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as after is literally “the second” and occurs at the beginning of 5c. With this phrase, Jude indicated that the event in 5c happened after the Lord saved the Israelites out of Egypt. This after action by the Lord contrasts with the saving action he did earlier. Some versions include “but” to indicate this contrast and place the phrase at the beginning of 5c. For example:

^5bthe Lord rescued the nation from Egypt, ^5cbut afterwards he still destroyed the people who refused to believe him (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
^5bThe Lord once saved his people from Egypt. ^5cBut on another occasion he destroyed those who didn’t believe. (God’s Word)

He destroyed: The Lord destroyed some of the people whom he freed from Egypt. He destroyed them by causing them to die in the wilderness.

those who did not believe: The Lord destroyed those Israelites who did not believe in him. In some languages it is necessary for a verb like believe to have a stated object. For example:

did not believe in him
-or-
did not have faith in him
-or-
did not trust him

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SIL Translator's Notes on Jude 1:4

In this verse, Jude explained the problem that faced the Christians to whom he was writing. People who did not really believe the truth about God were gathering with the real Christians. They were fake Christians. (In verse 4, Jude first mentioned the people who had secretly slipped into the Christian congregation. Jude mentioned them many more times in this letter, but he referred to them with a pronoun, not a name or descriptive phrase. In order to refer to them clearly in these Notes, they are called fake Christians. This matches Jude’s distinctive description of them here in verse 4.) (Other writers have referred to these people as “false teachers,” “ungodly men,” or “ungodly people.” Each of these has some difficulty:False teachers: While the texts from which Jude chose his illustrations may imply that these people were teachers or leaders, Jude nowhere directly described them as such. The people Jude had in mind may have included some people who were not teachers or leaders.Ungodly men: Were there no women among these fake Christians? Jude does not say specifically.Ungodly men and ungodly people: To call these fake Christians “ungodly men” or “ungodly people” does not distinguish them from other groups of people in this letter. Jude also referred to ungodly people who were not part of this group, for example, the “ungodly” in verse 15.Therefore, in these Notes, “fake Christians” refers to the people whom Jude described as people who had secretly slipped in among the true believers.)

In some languages it may be more natural to reorder 4a–c as shown in the Display. The Notes will use this order in the discussion that follows.

4a_

For: The Greek conjunction gar that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as For connects verse 4 with verse 3. It indicates that verse 4 is a reason for an idea (There are two interpretations as to what this was in verse 3:(1) The presence of these fake Christians was the reason Jude wrote this letter.(2) The presence of these fake Christians was the reason why the true believers needed to contend for the Christian faith.Most English versions are ambiguous, allowing for either interpretation. For languages that must select one of the two interpretations, interpretation (1) is recommended in the Notes, because it implies both interpretations. Because Jude said in verse 3 that he wrote this letter in order to encourage the readers to contend for the Christian faith, translating according to interpretation (1) implies interpretation (2) as well.) in verse 3. If your language requires you to say what that idea is, the context shows that it is the reason that Jude wrote this letter. In order to make this connection clear, you may need to make this explicit. For example:

I am writing these things to you because there are certain men among you…

For languages that normally place the reason first, it may be more natural to change the order of verses 3 and 4. See the general comment on 3–4 at the end of the notes for 4f for an example.

certain men: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as men can also refer to people in general. For example:

Certain people (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
certain persons (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
Some people (God’s Word, New Century Version)

4bhave crept in among you unnoticed: This is a metaphor. Jude used it to describe how the fake Christians had deceived the true Christians. When the fake Christians joined the church, the true Christians were unaware that these fake Christians did not really believe the truth.

unnoticed: Jude indicated here that the fake Christians hid their wrong beliefs when they joined this group of believers. It was not a secret that they had joined the group. Jude’s readers did not realize that these fake Christians did not really believe the truth. Some ways to say this are:

^4acertain people ^4bhave infiltrated your group.
-or-
^4acertain people ^4bwho pretend to believe have joined your group.
-or-
^4acertain people, ^4bwho say they believe, but who really do not, have joined your group.

A general comment at the end of the notes for 4f shows that 4a–f may be reordered, with 4d placed earlier in the verse. In some languages, this may be more natural.

ungodly ones: Jude described the fake Christians as ungodly, because they did not respect God or his authority. Because these people did not respect God’s authority over them, they lived sinful lives. Other ways to say this include:

They do not respect God.
-or-
They do not respect the authority of God over them.

ones: The Berean Standard Bible has supplied the word ones to refer to people in general. For example:

godless people (Good News Translation)
-or-
ungodly persons (New American Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version)

4dwho were designated long ago for condemnation: Jude described the people he had mentioned in 4a as people who were designated long ago for condemnation.

were designated: In this context there are several ways to interpret the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as were designated:

(1) It means written about. For example:

the prophets wrote about these people (New Century Version)

(Contemporary English Version, God’s Word, New Century Version, New International Version (2011 Revision), Good News Translation)

(2) It means that either the people or their punishment was designated or determined. For example:

The fate of such people was determined long ago. (New Living Translation (2004 Revision))
-or-
who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation. (New American Standard Bible)

(Berean Standard Bible, King James Version, New Living Translation (2004 Revision), New Revised Standard Version, Revised Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, NET Bible, New Jerusalem Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). Jude probably meant that their condemnation was written about in the Old Testament. This interpretation is used in the Meaning Lines of the Display.

In the main section of this letter, verses 5–19, Jude used many examples from the Old Testament. However, he also used some examples that are not from the Old Testament (see verses 9, 14–15, 17–18). Therefore, it is best not to specify where the condemnation of these people was written about. However, if your language requires you to make explicit where this was written, you may use your key term for “scripture.” For example:

scripture (Revised English Bible)

the Scriptures (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version)

Jude did not mean that the scriptures contained a list of the names of these people. Instead, he meant that God had said in the scriptures that he would punish people who sinned like these people did.

condemnation: The word condemnation refers here to God judging (From the parallel passage of 2 Peter 2:9, Jude was apparently referring to the judgment which God will speak against them on the last day. This is true regardless of which letter was written first.) these people and condemning them. This condemnation implies two ideas:

(a) God would judge them and pronounce them “guilty” of certain sins. Jude listed these sins in 4e–f.

(b) This condemnation also included the punishment that they would receive because of these sins.

Some English versions also imply both of these ideas. For example:

…long ago the Scriptures warned that these godless people were doomed (Contemporary English Version)

4e–f

In 4e–f, Jude mentioned two ways in which these people showed that they did not respect God.

They turn the grace of our God into a license for immorality: These fake Christians were using God’s grace as an excuse to do whatever they wanted to do. They were saying that since God is kind and forgives people when they sin, it was therefore acceptable to continue to behave immorally. (Paul spoke against this false teaching in Romans 5:20–6:2.)

the grace: In this context, grace refers to God’s kindness towards human beings and his desire to forgive their sins. God showed this kindness by sacrificing his Son, Jesus Christ, to enable people to have fellowship with God. The grace of God made Jesus willing to suffer and die to save human beings from being damned because of their sins. For example, the New Living Translation (2004 Revision) translates the grace as:

God’s forgiveness (New Living Translation (2004 Revision))

our God:

Several versions omit
our (Contemporary English Version, God’s Word, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English, New Living Translation (2004 Revision)). The Greek text includes this idea.) Jude referred to God as our God, to indicate the close relationship that he and the true believers had with God.

However, in some languages, using a pronoun like our with God might communicate a wrong meaning, such as:

(a) God belonged to Jude and his readers like a possession.

(b) There is another god.

If saying our God might communicate wrong meaning (a), you could say:

the God we worship
-or-
God, whom we worship

If saying our God might communicate wrong meaning (b) or (c), you could omit our.

a license for immorality: The fake Christians acted as if they could sin freely. Some other ways this has been translated are:

to excuse their immoral ways (Good News Translation)
-or-
an opportunity for immorality (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
a reason for sexual sin (New Century Version)
-or-
allows us to live immoral lives (New Living Translation (2004 Revision))

immorality: The immorality to which Jude referred included sexual sin, but also other sins. If your language has a word, phrase, or idiom that definitely includes sexual sin but could also include other sins, it may be a good choice here.

and they deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ:

It is recommended that you do not use the King James Version as a model for translating 4f. The King James Version followed some copies of the Greek text that contain the word “God” in 4f. However, we can tell from other better copies that “God” was not part of what Jude wrote in 4f.
) In 4f, Jude mentioned another way that the fake Christians showed that they did not respect God: they denied Jesus Christ.

deny: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as deny means “reject [someone] or refuse to accept [him].” Some ways to translate this are:

reject (New Jerusalem Bible)

refuse to accept (New Century Version)

disowning (Revised English Bible)

The manner in which these fake Christians were denying Jesus Christ may have been:

(a) by what they said, in words only.

(b) by their actions, by what they did.

From what Jude wrote in this letter, it is obvious that the fake Christians denied and rejected Jesus by both their words and their actions. Therefore, it is good to use an expression that includes both words and actions. However, if you need to choose between words and actions, it is recommended that you refer to sinful actions.

Christ: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as Christ is part of the name, Jesus Christ, so it should be translated as a name.

Master and Lord: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as Master described the someone over the servants or slaves, the head of a household, or a ruler with absolute authority.

The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Lord is the word that New Testament writers normally used to speak of Jesus as leader or chief.

The two Greek words, translated Master and Lord, have almost the same meaning. Jude used them together to emphasize that Jesus has total or absolute authority.

Try to find two words or phrases in your language that speak about the highest authorities. If possible, make sure that one of these is how you normally refer to Jesus as Lord. However, if you can find only one suitable word or phrase, then translate these two Greek words with one expression.

General Comment on 3–4

As the notes for 4a mentioned, verse 4 gives the reason for verse 3. Because of the fake Christians, Jude felt that he needed to write this letter urging his readers to defend the faith.

In many languages, it is normal to put the reason for an action first. If this is true in your language, you may need to reorder verses 3 and 4. For example:

^4aBecause certain people ^4bwho pretend to believe have joined your group, ^3dI felt the need to write this letter to you ^3eto urge you to defend the faith….
-or-
^4aHowever, certain people ^4bwho say they believe in God, but who really do not, have joined your group. ^3dTherefore, I must write ^3eto ask you to contend for the faith….

General Comment on 4a–f

In some languages it is more natural to reorder 4a–f, placing 4d later in the verse. There are two options:

• 4d may be placed right after 4b. For example:

^4aFor certain persons ^4bhave crept in unnoticed, ^4dthose who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ^4cungodly persons ^4ewho turn the grace of our God into licentiousness ^4fand deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. (New American Standard Bible)

• 4d may be placed after 4f. For example:

^4aFor some ^4cgodless people ^4bhave slipped in unnoticed among us, ^4epersons who distort the message about the grace of our God in order to excuse their immoral ways, ^4fand who reject Jesus Christ, our only Master and Lord. ^4dLong ago the Scriptures predicted the condemnation they have received. (Good News Translation)

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SIL Translator's Notes on Jude 1:3

Section 3–4

Jude urged believers to defend the true teaching that they believed

In this section Jude expressed his reason for writing this particular letter. Because ungodly people had come into their church, the Christians to whom Jude was writing had to defend what they believed. These ungodly people were especially dangerous because the true believers had not recognized that the ungodly people were not really Christians. They were “fake” Christians.

Beloved: Jude used this word to address his readers whom he loved. He used it in this way three times—in 3a, 17a and 20a. (Most recent English versions translate it as something similar to “Dear friends.” (New International Version (2011 Revision), Contemporary English Version, God’s Word, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English, New Century Version, New English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New Living Translation (2004 Revision), Revised English Bible, Good News Translation).)

Languages may have different types of direct address that would be natural in this context. For example:

Dearly loved friends (New Living Translation (2004 Revision))

Look for the most natural way in your language to express the idea.

Languages differ in the most natural placement for a direct address. In some languages it may be most natural to begin the sentence with a direct address like this. In other languages, it is natural to put the direct address after the verb. In your translation, look for the position that is most natural for your language.

I made every effort to write to you: This clause probably indicates that Jude had been planning to write another letter, but that he had not yet started it. (The Good News Translation seems to favor the interpretation that Jude had actually started writing the other letter, but then he changed his mind and wrote this letter instead.) Some ways to say this are:

I very much wanted to write to you.
-or-
I had been eagerly planning to write to you.
-or-
I earnestly intended to write to you.

about the salvation we share: The Greek expression that the Berean Standard Bible translates as about the salvation we share is literally, “about our common salvation.” Jude’s readers had salvation in common, that is, each person had experienced the same salvation. Jude implied that he could have written a letter about the way that God had saved them and what this salvation meant for them.

In some languages it may not be natural to say that people share something like salvation. If that is true in your language, it may be helpful to express this idea in a different way. For example:

about what we(incl) have in common, which is that God saved us(incl)
-or-
about the salvation that unites us(incl)

salvation: Through the sacrifice of his son, Jesus Christ (25a, 25c), God had saved Jude and his readers from sin and death and had given them new life.

I felt it necessary to write: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as I felt it necessary to is literally, “I had a necessity to.” Jude felt that he must write a different letter than he had first planned to write (3b–c). Some ways to translate this phrase are:

I felt compelled to write
-or-
I realized that I must write
-or-
I realized that it was/is necessary for me to write

and urge you to contend earnestly for the faith: Jude encouraged his readers to contend…for the faith. The word faith here does not refer to the act of believing, but to what Jude and his readers believed. Jude meant that they were to struggle hard to defend from error the true Christian teaching that they had been taught and had believed. He also meant they were to promote the faith by living according to what it taught them (see verses 20–23).

urge you: Jude told the readers what he wanted them to do in a polite way. He was encouraging them to follow his advice. For example:

to encourage you (New Century Version)
-or-
encouraging you (New Jerusalem Bible)

You may be able to translate this as a request. For example:

and ask you (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
to appeal to you

you: In Greek there is no pronoun (you) after the verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates here in 3e as “urge.” In the Greek text, the pronoun (literally “to you”) occurs after the verb “write” in 3d. Literally, it is “write to you.” However, the Berean Standard Bible chose to place the pronoun after the verb “urge” in 3e. You should place the pronoun where it is most natural in your language. It may be necessary to use a pronoun with both “write” and “urge.”

to contend earnestly: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as to contend is translated by many English versions as “fight.” (Modern English versions with a form of “fight” are God’s Word, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English, New Century Version, New Jerusalem Bible, and Good News Translation.) For example:

to fight hard (New Jerusalem Bible)

However, Jude did not mean that his readers should fight physically. He was urging them to use all their strength and ability to resist, counteract, and defeat false teaching. Specifically, Jude wanted them to resist the false teaching of the ungodly people whom he would write about in verse 4. He did not want his readers to be harmed by participating in the sinful actions of those ungodly people.

the faith: Here Jude referred to the true Christian teaching as the faith. He called it the faith, because it is what Jude and his readers believed.

entrusted once for all to the saints: This part of the verse further describes the “faith,” which Jude mentioned in 3e.

once for all: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as once for all may also be translated as “one time for all times” (see Jude 1:3 in UBS Handbook). It indicates that “the faith” is unique and that it does not change. (Someone might try to change the faith, the true teaching. The Contemporary English Version and New Living Translation (2004 Revision) imply this when they use “to defend” to translate the Greek word which the Berean Standard Bible translates as “contend.” (See the note above for “contend.”) ) No one is allowed to change it.

To translate once for all, you may be able to find a word or phrase that communicates the three parts of its meaning:

(a) God only had to give this faith to the believers one time.

(b) Its teachings would never change throughout the rest of time.

Other ways to say this are:

once to last forever
-or-
unique and unchangeable throughout all time

entrusted: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible (Other versions that translate this as “entrusted” are New International Version (2011 Revision), God’s Word, NET Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New Revised Standard Version and Revised English Bible.) translates as entrusted can also be translated as:

delivered (Revised Standard Version)

committed (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

given (Good News Translation)

The verb implies that the first Christians received the true teachings, and they had the responsibility pass these true teachings faithfully to other people. The text does not say who entrusted the teachings to the first Christians. It could have been God or Jesus or the apostles. If you need to specify who entrusted the teachings to the Christians, it is recommended that you say God.

the saints: The Greek expression that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the saints is literally “the holy (ones)” and means “the holy people.” This expression was used by many New Testament authors to refer to Christians, the people who believe in Jesus Christ. When used in this way, it refers to all Christians, including Jude and his readers. Some ways to translate this phrase are:

God’s holy people.
-or-
those who believe/trust in Jesus Christ.
-or-
people dedicated to God.

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Source: SIL Translator's Notes on Jude 2007

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