Jude 1:8
in Jude 1Yet in the same way these dreamers defile their bodies, reject authority, and slander glorious beings.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Yet in like manner these also in their dreamings defile the flesh, and set at nought dominion, and rail at dignities.
KJV
Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.
⋯
This verse in Jude 1
Commentary
12 notes on this verse"Similarly to the same," he says, "also those dreamers,"—that is, who dream in their imagination lusts and wicked desires, regarding as good not that which is truly good, and superior to all good,—"defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of majesty," that is, the only Lord, who is truly our Lord, Jesus Christ, and alone worthy of praise. They "speak evil of majesty," that is, of the angels.
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.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
Likewise, these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme glorious beings. Furthermore, what he says: "Likewise, these dreamers defile the flesh," it is worthy of admiration that Jude has expressed the speech so modestly. For he indeed testifies much filthiness and nerve about them, …
The Medieval Church3 voices
Jude calls them "dreamers" because they have no idea of the truth but fantasize as if they were dreaming and concoct doctrines full of impiety. They say that our flesh, that is to say, our body, is the work of the devil and blaspheme the …
Similarly, those who indeed defile the flesh, etc. It must be understood that these, like the Sodomites who defiled the flesh, are also to be damned, like the unbelieving people who blasphemed the majesty of divine power, like the angels who despised the dominion of …
Having set forth the examples just mentioned, the apostle left it to the listener himself to infer the conclusion from them. What conclusion? If God dealt thus with those people, not regarding their former good lot, then will today's impious ones be saved by the …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
In like manner these dreamers - Sleeping and dreaming all their lives. Despise authority - Those that are invested with it by Christ, and made by him the overseers of his flock.
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh,.... Which may be literally understood, either of the Jewish doctors, who pretended to be interpreters of dreams, as R. Akiba, R.
Then (as specially suitable to his argument) he cites an ancient prophecy of Enoch foretelling and describing the future judgment,
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
Likewise also these filthy dreamers - He means to say that these false teachers and their followers were as unbelieving and disobedient as the Israelites in the wilderness, as rebellious against the authority of God as the fallen angels, and as impure and unholy as the Sodomites; and that consequently they must expect similar punishment.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
also--rather, "In like manner nevertheless" (notwithstanding these warning examples) [ALFORD]. these . . . dreamers--The Greek has not "filthy" of English Version. The clause, "these men dreaming" (that is, in their dreams), belongs to all the verbs, "defile," "despise," and "speak evil." All sinners are spiritually asleep, and their carnal activity is as it were a dream (1Th 5:6, 7).
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Likewise also - In the same way do these persons defile the flesh, or resemble the inhabitants of Sodom; that is, they practice the same kind of vices. What the apostle says is, that their character resembled that of the inhabitants of Sodom; the example which he adduces of the punishment which was brought on those sinners, leaves it to be clearly inferred that the persons of whom he was speaking would be punished in a similar manner. These filthy dreamers - The word “filthy” has been supplied by our translators, but there is no good reason why it should have been introduced. The Greek word (ἐνυπνιάζω enupniazō) means to dream; and is applied to these persons as holding doctrines and opinions which sustained the same relation to truth which dreams do to good sense. Their doctrines were the fruits of mere imagination, foolish vagaries and fancies. The word occurs nowhere else in the New Testament, except in Act 2:17, where it is applied to visions in dreams. Defile the flesh - Pollute themselves; give indulgence to corrupt passions and appetites. See the notes at 2Pe 2:10. Despise dominion - The same Greek word is used here which occurs in 2Pe 2:10. See the notes at that verse. And speak evil of dignities - See the notes at 2Pe 2:10.
The words behind it
14 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ὁμοίως | homoios | Likewise | G3668 → | |
| μέντοι | mentoi | yet | G3305 → | |
| καὶ | kai | also | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| οὗτοι | houtoi | these | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| ἐνυπνιαζόμενοι | enupniazomenoi | dreaming [ones] | G1797 → | |
| σάρκα | sarka | [the] flesh | G4561 → | 146 times |
| μὲν | men | indeed | G3303 → | 176 times |
| μιαίνουσιν, | miainousin | defile, | G3392 → | |
| κυριότητα | kurioteta | authority | G2963 → | |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ἀθετοῦσιν, | athetousin | they set aside, | G114 → | |
| δόξας | doxas | glorious [ones] | G1391 → | 165 times |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| βλασφημοῦσιν. | blasphemousin | they blaspheme. | G987 → |
ὁμοίωςLikewise
homoiosG3668 →
μέντοιyet
mentoiG3305 →
καὶalso
kaiG2532 →9120 times
οὗτοιthese
houtoiG3778 →1381 times
ἐνυπνιαζόμενοιdreaming [ones]
enupniazomenoiG1797 →
σάρκα[the] flesh
sarkaG4561 →146 times
μὲνindeed
menG3303 →176 times
μιαίνουσιν,defile,
miainousinG3392 →
κυριότηταauthority
kuriotetaG2963 →
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
ἀθετοῦσιν,they set aside,
athetousinG114 →
δόξαςglorious [ones]
doxasG1391 →165 times
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
βλασφημοῦσιν.they blaspheme.
blasphemousinG987 →
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
Hebrews 13:17Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch over your souls as those who must give an account. To this end, allow them to lead with joy and not with grief, for…
it leads to
- 1 Peter 5:5
Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:12–13
But we ask you, brothers, to acknowledge those who work diligently among you, who preside over you in the Lord and give you instruction.
- 1 Timothy 5:17
Elders who lead effectively are worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
- Hebrews 13:7
Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.
- Acts 20:28
Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.
- 1 Peter 5:5
Through
1 Peter 2:17Treat everyone with high regard: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.
it leads to
- Romans 12:10
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.
- Proverbs 24:21
My son, fear the LORD and the king, and do not associate with the rebellious.
- Romans 12:10
Through
1 Timothy 1:10for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave traders and liars and perjurers, and for anyone else who is averse to sound teaching
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 6:9–10
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual…
- 1 Corinthians 6:9–10
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies14
On this verse
On this chapter
About Jude
This page draws on 11 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; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on Jude and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Jude.