Jude 1:10
in Jude 1These men, however, slander what they do not understand, and like irrational animals, they will be destroyed by the things they do instinctively.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But these rail at whatsoever things they know not: and what they understand naturally, like the creatures without reason, in these things are they destroyed.
KJV
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.
⋯
This verse in Jude 1
Commentary
11 notes on this verseSpeak evil of those things which they know not - They do not understand the origin and utility of civil government; they revile that which ever protects their own persons and their property. This is true in most insurrections and seditions. But what they know naturally - They are destitute of reflection; their minds are uncultivated; they follow mere natural instinct, and are slaves to their animal propensities. As brute beasts - Ὡς τα αλογα ζωα· Like the irrational animals; but, in the indulgence of their animal propensities, they corrupt themselves, beyond the example of the brute beasts.
This site's exposition
these dreamers defile their bodies
on Jude 1:8-10
These dreamers defile their bodies, reject authority, and slander glorious beings, doxas. Michael, in an account the fathers traced to the Assumption of Moses, answered the devil only with The Lord rebuke you, echoing Zechariah 3:2. These men, however, slander what they do not understand.
This site's exposition
These men, however, slander what they do not understand
Jude sets these men against Michael, who held back before a power he knew, while they slander what they do not understand. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown read the things they do instinctively as blind appetite, the one knowledge they share with irrational animals.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
Yet Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the Devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not think to pronounce a condemning judgment against him, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!" But these people blaspheme what they do not understand, and they are …
A commentator
Clement of AlexandriaFrom the Latin Translation of Cassiodorus · Written before 215.
proposed
"But these," he says, "speak evil of those things which they know not; but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves." He means that they eat, and drink, and indulge in uncleanness, and says that they do other things that are common to them with animals, devoid of reason.
The Medieval Church2 voices
Michael, he says, did not endure the blasphemies of the devil against a man, that is, Moses, yet these compose blasphemous speeches against teachings which they do not know; and what they know by natural inclination, confusedly, like irrational animals, they pursue like horses.
Not knowing the true doctrine, these people concoct blasphemies for themselves. They are so caught up in lust that they are no different from dumb animals.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
But these speak evil of those things which they know not,....
3 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
But what they know naturally, &c. It is hard, if not impossible, to find any obstinate enemies to the Christian religion, who do not in their stated course live in open or secret contradiction to the very principles of natural religion: this many think hard and uncharitable; but I am afraid it will appear too true in the day of the revelation of the righteous judgment of God.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
(2Pe 2:12.) those things which--Greek, "all things whatsoever they understand not," namely, the things of the spiritual world. but what . . . naturally--Connect thus, "Whatever (so the Greek) things naturally (by natural, blind instinct), as the unreasoning (so the Greek) animals, they know," &c.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
But these speak evil of those things which they know not - These false and corrupt teachers employ reproachful language of those things which lie wholly beyond the reach of their vision. Notes, 2Pe 2:12. But what they know naturally - As mere men; as animals; that is, in things pertaining to their physical nature, or in which they are on a level with the brute creation. The reference is to the natural instincts, the impulses of appetite, and passion, and sensual pleasure. The idea of the apostle seems to be, that their knowledge was confined to those things. They did not rise above them to the intelligent contemplation of those higher things, against which they used only the language of reproach. There are multitudes of such men in the world. Towards high and holy objects they use only the language of reproach. They do not understand them, but they can rail at them. Their knowledge is confined to the subjects of sensual indulgence, and all their intelligence in that respect is employed only to corrupt and destroy themselves. As brute beasts - Animals without intelligence. Notes, 2Pe 2:12. In those things they corrupt themselves - They live only for sensual indulgence, and sink deeper and deeper in sensual gratifications.
The words behind it
18 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| οὗτοι | houtoi | These | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ὅσα | hosa | as much as | G3745 → | |
| μὲν | men | indeed | G3303 → | 176 times |
| οὐκ | ouk | not | G3756 → | |
| οἴδασιν | oidasin | they understood | ||
| βλασφημοῦσιν· | blasphemousin | they denigrate; | G987 → | |
| ὅσα | hosa | as much as | G3745 → | |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| φυσικῶς | phusikos | naturally | G5447 → | |
| ὡς | hos | as | G5613 → | |
| τὰ | ta | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἄλογα | aloga | irrational | G249 → | |
| ζῷα | zoa | animals | G2226 → | |
| ἐπίστανται, | epistantai | they understand, | G1987 → | |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| τούτοις | toutois | these things | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| φθείρονται. | phtheirontai | they corrupt themselves. | G5351 → |
οὗτοιThese
houtoiG3778 →1381 times
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
ὅσαas much as
hosaG3745 →
μὲνindeed
menG3303 →176 times
οὐκnot
oukG3756 →
οἴδασινthey understood
oidasin
βλασφημοῦσιν·they denigrate;
blasphemousinG987 →
ὅσαas much as
hosaG3745 →
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
φυσικῶςnaturally
phusikosG5447 →
ὡςas
hosG5613 →
τὰthe
taG3588 →19766 times
ἄλογαirrational
alogaG249 →
ζῷαanimals
zoaG2226 →
ἐπίστανται,they understand,
epistantaiG1987 →
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
τούτοιςthese things
toutoisG3778 →1381 times
φθείρονται.they corrupt themselves.
phtheirontaiG5351 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
5 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
2 Peter 2:12These men are like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be captured and destroyed. They blaspheme in matters they do not understand, and like such creatures, they too will be destroyed.
it leads to
- Jeremiah 12:3
But You know me, O LORD; You see me and test my heart toward You. Drag away the wicked like sheep to the slaughter and set them apart for the day of carnage.
- Galatians 6:8
The one who sows to please his flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; but the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
- 2 Peter 2:19
They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves to depravity. For a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.
- Psalms 92:6
A senseless man does not know, and a fool does not understand,
- Jeremiah 4:22
“For My people are fools; they have not known Me. They are foolish children, without understanding. They are skilled in doing evil, but they know not how to do good.”
- Jeremiah 12:3
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies14
On this verse
On this chapter
About Jude
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Andreas of Caesarea, CATENA; Clement of Alexandria, From the Latin Translation of Cassiodorus; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on Jude and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Jude.