Jude 1:4
What does Jude 1:4 mean?
A plain-English look at Jude 1:4 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Jude 1:4 means
Jude exposes the crisis: certain men have slipped in unnoticed. Their presence is no surprise to God; long ago their condemnation was spoken of beforehand. They are ungodly, showing they lack reverence toward God. They twist the grace of our God into license for immorality, using forgiveness as an excuse to sin. Worse, they deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ—rejecting His authority and uniqueness. To deny Him is to reject the very heart of the faith. Jude’s point is sharp: false teachers are dangerous because they corrupt both doctrine and life, and judgment awaits such corruption, no matter how quietly it entered the fellowship.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000For there are certain men crept in privily, even they who were of old written of beforehand unto this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
KJV
King James Version · 1611For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901For there are certain men crept in privily, even they who were of old written of beforehand unto this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For certain men have come among you secretly, marked out before in the holy Writings for this evil fate, men without the fear of God, turning his grace into an unclean thing, and false to our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862for there did come in unobserved certain men, long ago having been written beforehand to this judgment, impious, the grace of our God perverting to lasciviousness, and our only Master, God, and Lord--Jesus Christ--denying,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For certain men are secretly entered in (who were written of long ago unto this judgment), ungodly men, turning the grace of our Lord God into riotousness and denying the only sovereign Ruler and our Lord Jesus Christ.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890For certain men have got in unnoticed, they who of old were marked out beforehand to this sentence, ungodly [persons], turning the grace of ourGod into dissoluteness, and denying our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ.
Context
Having called believers to contend, Jude now identifies the adversaries and their traits. Verse 4 forms the hinge between purpose and proof. The following verses (5–7) will marshal three Old Testament examples—rebellious Israel, fallen angels, and Sodom and Gomorrah—to show that God consistently judges unbelief and immorality. Verses 8–13 will then apply those lessons to the present intruders, describing their conduct and destiny. The early identification of denying Jesus Christ keeps the focus Christ-centered: the battle is ultimately about allegiance to the Lord.
v.3Beloved, while I was giving all diligence to write unto you of our common salvation, I was constrained to write unto you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints.
v.4This passage
v.5Now I desire to put you in remembrance, though ye know all things once for all, that the Lord, having saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Titus 1:15
To the pure all things are pure: but to them that are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.
- Acts 11:23
who, when he was come, and had seen the grace of God, was glad; and he exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord:
- Acts 15:24
Forasmuch as we have heard that certain who went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls; to whom we gave no commandment;
- Romans 6:1
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
- Hebrews 12:15
looking carefully lestthere beany man that falleth short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby the many be defiled;
- 2 Peter 2:10
but chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of defilement, and despise dominion. Daring, self-willed, they tremble not to rail at dignities:
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