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).

8a

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))

8b

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

8c

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.

8d

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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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.