6And the angels who did not keep their own position but deserted their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains in deepest darkness for the judgment of the great day.
Following are a number of back-translations of Jude 1:6:
Uma: “Remember also the angels long ago in heaven. Some of them went-beyond the bounds of their authority/power, and they left their dwelling-place. The Lord bound those angels with chains that can never be broken, he confined them in a dark dwelling-place. There they are kept confined until the time comes for him to decide their case on the terrifying day of punishment.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “And also remember the angels who left/gave-up the authority that God had given them and who left the place where God had established them. They are chained forever and they are imprisoned by God in utter darkness until the great day comes when God judges them.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Consider also his angels long ago in heaven. They abandoned the position he had given them, and they left their true dwelling place. Because of that, he imprisoned them in a very dark place. He has bound them with chains that cannot be destroyed forever, for they are being made to wait until the day in the future when he will punish them.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “Remember also the angels who were not content with the position that God gave them but rather they left/abandoned their proper dwelling-place in heaven. On-account-of their doing that, God chained them with chains that cannot be removed and he imprisoned them in the place of darkness below until the important/valued day when-he-will-judge them.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “Consider also the angels who didn’t hold fast to the job/responsibility God determined for them. Isn’t it so that they left their own place where they lived? That’s why they were caused by God to be bound in chains forever. And he imprisoned them in a place-of-darkness till they will be sentenced to judgment, at the coming of the far-from-ordinary day when judging is done.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “And remember what happened to those angels who didn’t respect the work they had, but left their work there in heaven. God has fastened them with chains in the darkness until the day comes when there will be the judgment.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
Apali: “God’s one with talk from the head” (“basically God’s messenger since head refers to any leader’s talk”) (source: Martha Wade)
Michoacán Nahuatl: “clean helper of God” (source: B. Moore / G. Turner in Notes on Translation 1967, p. 1ff.)
Noongar: Hdjin-djin-kwabba or “spirit good” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
Wè Northern (Wɛɛ): Kea ‘a “sooa or “the Lord’s soldier” (also: “God’s soldier” or “his soldier”) (source: Drew Maust)
Iwaidja: “a man sent with a message” (Sam Freney explains the genesis of this term [in this article ): “For example, in Darwin last year, as we were working on a new translation of Luke 2:6–12 in Iwaidja, a Northern Territory language, the translators had written ‘angel’ as ‘a man with eagle wings’. Even before getting to the question of whether this was an accurate term (or one that imported some other information in), the word for ‘eagle’ started getting discussed. One of the translators had her teenage granddaughter with her, and this word didn’t mean anything to her at all. She’d never heard of it, as it was an archaic term that younger people didn’t use anymore. They ended up changing the translation of ‘angel’ to something like ‘a man sent with a message’, which is both more accurate and clear.”)
Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between. One way to do this is through the usage (or a lack) of an honorific prefix as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. When the referent is God, the “divine” honorific prefix mi- (御 or み) is used as in mi-tsukai (御使い) or “messenger (of God).” (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )
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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.
One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the usage of an honorific construction where the morpheme rare (られ) is affixed on the verb as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. This is particularly done with verbs that have God as the agent to show a deep sense of reverence. Here, tojikome-rare-ru (閉じ込められる) or “confine” is used.
Quoted with permission from Arichea, Daniel C. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on The Letter from Jude. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1993. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
Jude now gives a second example, namely, that of the rebellious angels. Some scholars identify these angels with the “sons of God” in Gen 6.1-4. It is, however, more accurate to take this account of the rebellious angels as an expansion or development of the Genesis account. Using this account as the starting point, later Jewish writers created various stories about angels who rebelled against God and consequently were punished by him. It is possible that Jude may have been influenced by these stories and also by some accounts included in a non-biblical work called the Book of Enoch or 1 Enoch. While this book was not included in the Bible, there is evidence that it was widely used by Jews and Christians alike, and in fact was accepted as authoritative by some church authorities in the second century. The fact that Jude uses information from this writing shows how much it was valued in the early church, particularly by the Christian communities to whom Jude addressed his letter. In this case Jude alludes to certain passages in 1 Enoch where the angels were punished because of pride and disobedience (for example, 1 Enoch 12.4-13.1; 18.13 and following; 21.2 and following). Jude’s purpose is to show that even spiritual beings are not exempt from God’s punishment. There may be a hidden reference here to the people who claimed to be “spiritual” in contrast to others they regarded as “carnal.” Angels in a number of languages may be expressed as “heavenly messengers,” “messengers from heaven,” or “messengers from God.”
The word for position is literally “rule,” “dominion,” “domain,” “sphere of influence,” “authority.” Did not keep on the other hand means “lose,” or “fail to hold on to.” The verse is saying that these angels were given a certain status or sphere of authority by God, but they were not content with such a position. Instead they left their proper dwelling, that is, they aspired to a higher status and left the place where they lived. In the book of (1 Enoch 12.4; similarly 15.3, 7), the dwelling place of the angels is described as “the high, holy, and eternal heaven.” A major component of the meaning of “heaven” is the very presence of God, and the angels abandoned that also. The word for left is more properly translated “abandoned” (Good News Translation), “deserted.”
The passage does not say why the angels rebelled or why they were banished. The verb for left is active, which means that the angels were not expelled by God, but that they willfully abandoned their place of abode. Furthermore the sin of the angels is not identified in this verse; however, it is made clear in verse 7 that the angels engaged in sexual immorality, and it is possible to bring this information forward to verse 6.
As a result of their rebellion, the angels received the punishment they deserved. The one who punishes them (by him) is the Lord in Jude 1.5 (see the discussion there on “he who saved”). The word for kept is the same word as in the first part of the verse (that is, in did not keep). One of the rhetorical features of Jude’s letter is that of using repetition of words and sounds. Sometimes this is a way of emphasizing or focusing on something, but at other times it is simply a stylistic device. Here there is a play on the word “keep,” using it to describe an evil act as well as its punishment. Furthermore, the play on words carries a sense of irony: the angels were too proud to “keep” their God-given position, therefore God has “kept” them in eternal chains. It should also be noted that, in other parts of Jude’s letter, the word “keep” is used as a catchword (see for example verses 1, 13, and 21). The angels are contrasted with God’s people, who are exhorted to “keep” their position in God’s love (verse 21), and whom God will “keep” safe, not for punishment but for salvation at the end of the world (verse 1). It is of course difficult to retain these rhetorical features in translation. However, an awareness of these features opens the possibility for translators faithfully to retain the function of such features in the translation, either by retaining the features themselves where it is possible and natural, or by substituting equivalent devices as necessary.
The word for chains is often used in stories regarding the fallen angels, and again Jude may have been influenced by these writings. The chains are described as eternal, which does not seem to fit the context, since, as Revised Standard Version has it, these angels are only chained until the judgment on the last day. A translation like Revised Standard Version will therefore make little sense in some languages. In such cases the restructuring in Good News Translation will help tremendously, where the angels are represented as being chained eternally and continue to be chained even during the final judgment. Another aspect that needs to be noted is that the expression have been kept by him in eternal chains does not mean that God himself chained the angels. Rather it is likely that he had other agents who actually did the chaining. This point needs to be expressed in many languages; for example, “God had them bound with eternal chains” or “God caused them to be bound with chains eternally (or, forever).”
The nether gloom is literally “darkness” or “gloom” and is used in Greek poetry to refer to the underworld. This is also the case here, where it refers specifically to Sheol, that is, the world of the dead. Good News Translation‘s “darkness below” is an accurate translation; there may be a problem, however, if for example “below” is understood in a good sense. In such cases the focus can be put on “darkness,” since in most languages darkness is considered bad. New Revised Standard Version has “deepest darkness.”
The great day is here used as a technical term for the day of final judgment, that is, the time at the end of the world when God will judge all creation. Day of course should not be understood as equivalent to our day of twenty-four hours, but as a short definite period of time. Judgment is “punishment” or “condemnation” (Good News Translation). It is not that the angels will be brought before the court to determine their innocence or guilt, but since they are already guilty, they will at that time receive the punishment appropriate to their guilt. Have been kept … until the judgment of the great day must be restructured in certain languages; for example, “God is keeping them for that great Day when he will judge them.”
The purpose of the whole verse is to show what it means if angels, spiritual though they be, are not exempt from God’s punishment if they do evil; in the same way even members of God’s people will also be punished for their evil deeds. There is of course a great deal of similarity between the angels and the godless people, particularly in their rebellion against God and in their indulgence in sexual immorality, as verse 7 shows.
An alternative translation model for this verse is:
• You should also think about the angels (or, heavenly messengers) who were not content with the authority (or, position) that God had given them, but abandoned their home in heaven; God had them bound with eternal chains in the darkness below, where he is keeping them for that great Day on which he will condemn them.
Quoted with permission from Arichea, Daniel C. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on The Letter from Jude. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1993. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
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.
6
In verse 6, Jude gave his second example of a group that sinned against God, and as a result, suffered terrible punishments.
6a
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.
6b
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.
6c
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 keptthem 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
6d
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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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.
Living Water is produced for the Bible translation movement in association with Lutheran Bible Translators. Lyrics derived from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®).
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