Jude 1:16
What does Jude 1:16 mean?
A plain-English look at Jude 1:16 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Jude 1:16 means
Jude sketches their daily conduct: they are murmurers and complainers, never satisfied with God’s ways. They walk after their own lusts, letting desires dictate direction. Their mouths speak great swelling words—impressive-sounding speech that lacks truth and humility. They show respect of persons for advantage, flattering the influential to gain benefit. This portrait contrasts true godliness, which is content under God’s rule, self-controlled, truthful, and impartial. Jude equips believers to spot the spirit of these teachers not only in doctrine but in demeanor. Where habitual grumbling, self-indulgence, boastfulness, and manipulative favoritism prevail, a heart estranged from the Lord’s Spirit is exposed.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their lusts (and their mouth speaketh great swelling words), showing respect of persons for the sake of advantage.
KJV
King James Version · 1611These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their lusts (and their mouth speaketh great swelling words), showing respect of persons for the sake of advantage.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949These are the men who make trouble, ever desiring change, going after evil pleasures, using high-sounding words, respecting men's position in the hope of reward.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862These are murmurers, repiners; according to their desires walking, and their mouth doth speak great swellings, giving admiration to persons for the sake of profit;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752These are murmurers, full of complaints, walking according to their own desires: and their mouth speaketh proud things, admiring persons, for gain's sake.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their lusts; and their mouth speaks swelling words, admiring persons for the sake of profit.
Context
Having declared the certainty of judgment in verses 14–15, Jude returns to present evidence. The sins listed here mirror the earlier charges, adding concrete, everyday behaviors. Verses 17–19 will then counsel believers to remember that the apostles predicted such mockers in the last time, and will label them as divisive and devoid of the Spirit. This transition sets up practical instructions in verses 20–23 for how the faithful should respond—by building themselves up, praying, keeping in God’s love, and showing mercy with discernment.
v.15to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their works of ungodliness which they have ungodly wrought, and of all the hard things which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
v.16This passage
v.17But ye, beloved, remember ye the words which have been spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Numbers 16:11
Therefore thou and all thy company are gathered together against Jehovah: and Aaron, what is he that ye murmur against him?
- Job 32:21
Let me not, I pray you, respect any man’s person; Neither will I give flattering titles unto any man.
- Jude 1:15
to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their works of ungodliness which they have ungodly wrought, and of all the hard things which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
- Jude 1:18
that they said to you, In the last time there shall be mockers, walking after their own ungodly lusts.
- 1 Corinthians 10:10
Neither murmur ye, as some of them murmured, and perished by the destroyer.
- Job 34:19
That respecteth not the persons of princes, Nor regardeth the rich more than the poor; For they all are the work of his hands.
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