Jude 1:10
What does Jude 1:10 mean?
A plain-English look at Jude 1:10 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Jude 1:10 means
Jude says these people slander whatever they do not understand, and in the limited things they do grasp by mere natural instinct—like unreasoning animals—they are ruined. Their speech is reckless because it is rooted in ignorance. Their conduct is sensual because it is driven by appetite rather than the Spirit. The tragic irony is that they boast of superior insight yet live beneath true wisdom. Sin darkens the mind and enslaves the heart, leading to self-destruction. Jude’s words warn believers against admiring loud confidence or clever talk when it is divorced from reverence, truth, and holiness. What is merely "natural" apart from God proves deadly.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000But 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
King James Version · 1611But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901But these rail at whatsoever things they know not: and what they understand naturally, like the creatures without reason, in these things are they destroyed.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949But these men say evil about such things as they have no knowledge of; and the things of which they have natural knowledge, like beasts without reason, are the cause of their destruction.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and these, as many things indeed as they have not known, they speak evil of; and as many things as naturally (as the irrational beasts) they understand, in these they are corrupted;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752But these men blaspheme whatever things they know not: and what things soever they naturally know, like dumb beasts, in these they are corrupted.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890But these, whatever things they know not, they speak railingly against; but what even, as the irrational animals, they understand by mere nature, in these things they corrupt themselves.
Context
Following Michael’s humility in verse 9, verse 10 exposes the opposite spirit in the intruders—ignorant arrogance and instinct-driven living. This prepares for the thrice-fold example of verse 11 (Cain, Balaam, Korah), which shows their path is not new but echoes infamous rebels. Verses 12–13 will then paint vivid metaphors of their destructive presence and certain doom. Jude’s argument builds layer by layer: reckless speech springs from spiritual blindness, which produces patterns long judged by God, ending in shame and darkness unless there is repentance.
v.9But Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing judgment, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.
v.10This passage
v.11Woe unto them! for they went in the way of Cain, and ran riotously in the error of Balaam for hire, and perished in the gainsaying of Korah.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 2 Peter 2:12
But these, as creatures without reason, born mere animals to be taken and destroyed, railing in matters whereof they are ignorant, shall in their destroying surely be destroyed,
- Romans 1:21
because that, knowing God, they glorified him not as God, neither gave thanks; but became vain in their reasonings, and their senseless heart was darkened.
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