Jude 1:23
in Jude 1save others by snatching them from the fire; and to still others show mercy tempered with fear, hating even the clothing stained by the flesh.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
and some save, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
KJV
And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
⋯
This verse in Jude 1
Commentary
15 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
And others - Another class; those who were of such a character, or in such circumstances, that a more bold, earnest, and determined manner would be better adapted to them. Save with fear - That is, by appeals adapted to produce fear. The idea seems to be that the arguments on which they relied were to be drawn from the dangers of the persons referred to, or from the dread of future wrath.
This site's exposition
praying in the Holy Spirit
on Jude 1:20-23
Verses 20 and 21 give one command, keep yourselves in the love of God, carried out by building, praying and waiting. Verses 22 and 23 turn to rescue, snatching them from the fire as in Zechariah 3:2. The manuscripts give these two verses in two-clause and three-clause forms.
This site's exposition
save others by snatching them from the fire
Verses 22 and 23 name three groups. Wesley pictures the snatching as the work of a swift and strong hand, and the third group is shown mercy tempered with fear. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown read the stained clothing as a proverb for keeping clear of what sin has touched.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
A commentator
Clement of AlexandriaFrom the Latin Translation of Cassiodorus · Written before 215.
proposed
"But some," he says, "save, plucking them from the fire;" "but of some have compassion in fear," that is, teach those who fall into the fire to free themselves. "Hating," he says, "that spotted garment, which is carnal:" that of the soul, namely; the spotted garment is a spirit polluted by carnal lusts.
And those, if they separate from you (for this is what "to distinguish" means), rebuke them, that is, make their wickedness evident to all. If they are aimed at healing, do not reject them, but receive them with your love, snatching them out of the …
What if, even here, you should conceive to reply that communion is indeed denied to sinners, very especially such as had been "polluted by the flesh," but (only) for the present; to be restored, to wit, as the result of penitential suing: in accordance with that clemency of God which prefers a sinner's repentance to his death? -for this fundamental ground of your opinion must be universally attacked.
The Medieval Church2 voices
Receive them, however, with mercy and with fear, being careful that receiving them, through your careless disposition toward them, does not become a cause of perdition for yourselves, because they drag even those who are firm in the faith into the flood of their impiety, …
So then, receive them, but approach them with fear, that is, with caution, and combine mercy toward them with hatred for their vile deeds; even toward the garment defiled by their flesh, have loathing and aversion, because through contact with the flesh it itself becomes …
7 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church4 voices
If someone can use the word of God to rescue those who have already fallen into the all-embracing fire set alight by the flaming arrows of the devil, he will snatch the most promising ones from the fire. For this person is not called to …
Hating even the garment stained by the flesh. By "garment of the flesh" he means our body. However, we should not hate our body, but we should hate this stained condition in every way, and as much as we can act to make it spotless, …
And of some have compassion, making a difference: others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh, etc. What he said with fear must be joined to all three things he proposed. Because whoever reproves apostates …
What is meant by "a cloak stained by corrupted flesh"? This is said of those who have a life stained by the lusts of the flesh. We all have clothes which bear the marks of our life, whether we are righteous or not. The person …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
And others save with fear,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Sin is the only thing which God hates: so ought we. even the garment--a proverbial phrase: avoiding the most remote contact with sin, and hating that which borders on it. As garments of the apostles wrought miracles of good in healing, so the very garment of sinners metaphorically, that is, anything brought into contact with their pollution, is to be avoided.
And others save with fear - “Some of them snatch from the fire: but when they repent, have mercy upon them in fear.” - Syriac. “And some of them rebuke for their sins; and on others have mercy when they are convicted; and others save from the fire and deliver them.” - Erpen’s Arabic. Mr. Wesley’s note has probably hit the sense. “Meantime watch over others as well as yourselves; and give them such help as their various needs require. For instance, 1. Some that are wavering in judgment, staggered by others’ or by their own evil reasoning, endeavor more deeply to convince of the truth as it is in Jesus. 2. Some snatch with a swift and strong hand out of the fire of sin and temptation. 3. On others show compassion, in a milder and gentler way; though still with a jealous fear, lest you yourselves be infected with the disease you endeavor to cure. See therefore that, while ye love the sinners, ye retain the utmost abhorrence of their sins, and of any, the least degree of or approach to them.” Having even the garment spotted by the flesh - Fleeing from all appearance of evil. Dictum sumptum, ut apparet, a mulieribus sanguine menstruo pollutis, quarum vestes etiam pollutae censebantur: or there may be an allusion to a case of leprosy, for that infected the garments of the afflicted person, and these garments were capable of conveying the contagion to others.
The words behind it
19 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| οὓς | hous | others | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| σῴζετε | sozete | do save | G4982 → | |
| ἐκ | ek | from | G1537 → | |
| πυρὸς | puros | fire | G4442 → | |
| ἁρπάζοντες, | harpazontes | snatching , | G726 → | |
| οὓς | hous | to others | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| δὲ | de | then | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ἐλεᾶτε | eleate | do show mercy | G1653 → | |
| ἐν | en | with | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| φόβῳ, | phobo | fear, | G5401 → | |
| μισοῦντες | misountes | hating | G3404 → | |
| καὶ | kai | even | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τὸν | ton | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀπὸ | apo | by | G575 → | |
| τῆς | tes | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| σαρκὸς | sarkos | flesh | G4561 → | 146 times |
| ἐσπιλωμένον | espilomenon | stained | G4695 → | |
| χιτῶνα.¶ | chitona | clothing. | G5509 → |
οὓςothers
housG3739 →1405 times
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
σῴζετεdo save
sozeteG4982 →
ἐκfrom
ekG1537 →
πυρὸςfire
purosG4442 →
ἁρπάζοντες,snatching ,
harpazontesG726 →
οὓςto others
housG3739 →1405 times
δὲthen
deG1161 →2765 times
ἐλεᾶτεdo show mercy
eleateG1653 →
ἐνwith
enG1722 →2738 times
φόβῳ,fear,
phoboG5401 →
μισοῦντεςhating
misountesG3404 →
καὶeven
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τὸνthe
tonG3588 →19766 times
ἀπὸby
apoG575 →
τῆςthe
tesG3588 →19766 times
σαρκὸςflesh
sarkosG4561 →146 times
ἐσπιλωμένονstained
espilomenonG4695 →
χιτῶνα.¶clothing.
chitonaG5509 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 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
1 Corinthians 15:33Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
it leads to
- Proverbs 13:20
He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.
- Matthew 24:4
Jesus answered, “See to it that no one deceives you.
- 1 Corinthians 5:6
Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven works through the whole batch of dough?
- Proverbs 9:6
Leave your folly behind, and you will live; walk in the way of understanding.”
- Ephesians 5:6
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.
- Proverbs 13:20
Through
1 Timothy 4:16Pay close attention to your life and to your teaching. Persevere in these things, for by so doing you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
it leads to
- Titus 1:9
He must hold firmly to the faithful word as it was taught, so that he can encourage others by sound teaching and refute those who contradict it.
- Titus 2:7
In everything, show yourself to be an example by doing good works. In your teaching show integrity, dignity,
- 2 John 1:8–9
Watch yourselves, so that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be fully rewarded.
- Titus 1:9
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies14
On this verse
On this chapter
About Jude
This page draws on 12 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; Bede, Commentary on the Catholic Epistles; 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); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Maximus the Confessor, CATENA; Oecumenius, Commentary on Jude; Tertullian, On Modesty and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Jude.