Jude
From the Greek Codex Sinaiticus
About
Jude is a short letter for general circulation to the Christian congregations.
Its text states that it was written by Jude the brother of James and half-brother of JesusYeshuaIshoa through Mary. If so, it was probably written around AD 50-70. However, some favor later dates around AD 90-110 because of its attack on heretical groups.
Does it quote Enoch?
This is one of the last books to be included in the Bible canon and some Bible scholars question its authenticity and inspiration. Why? In verses 14-15, the writer appears to quote from 1 Enoch 1:9, a book widely considered uninspired and even fraudulent.
However, it’s possible that both The Book of Enoch and Jude were quoting a now-lost third source, or that both were merely quoting a popular interpretation (known as a midrash) of Deuteronomy 33:2.
Not accepted by Aramaic speakers at first
The Aramaic version of this letter was probably translated from Greek several centuries after it was first written. Therefore, the Aramaic is not very helpful when translating this text, as it was translated so late that it would just copy across any early corruptions in the Greek. For this reason, we don’t automatically defer to the Aramaic text in this book if it disagrees with the Greek. If we do, it will be marked in a translator note.
This happened because Jude was one of the ‘Western Five’ books (2 Peter, 2 John, 3 John, Jude, and Revelation) that were not originally accepted as inspired by Aramaic-speaking Christians, and were therefore not included in the Peshitta (the standard Aramaic/Syriac Bible) until later.
They may well have believed it to be a genuine letter from the Apostle, but believing that a letter is genuine and believing it’s inspired are two very different things.
- Article: Which Bible Books are Inspired?
- Timeline: Bible Canon Formation
Source
We’ve translated it from Codex Sinaiticus, one of the oldest and most complete Greek manuscripts dating from the 300s AD.
Translation
- Known and suspected fake words and phrases commonly included in popular translations are
[greyed-out], followed by a link to our spurious texts article. - Alternative translations and editor notes appear [like this].
- Text that’s missing from our source manuscript, but filled in from another source, is marked with [[double brackets]].
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- The original texts had no chapter or verse numbers, paragraph breaks, line breaks, margins, punctuation, or capital letters. These are all added for clarity, but be aware that they can sometimes subtly alter the meaning. Learn more.
- Words [inserted] by the translator for clarity are always in [brackets]. These are not part of the original source text. Learn more.
Approval
This translated text has been proofread against our original Greek source manuscript. It was approved by the editor on July 19, 2025.
1
Introduction
1Jude, [a] slave of JesusYeshuaIshoa the Anointed One and [a] brother of James, to those who are loved in God the Father and watched over in JesusYeshuaIshoa the Anointed One; yes, [to] those who’ve been called:
2May you see ever greater mercy, peace, and love!
A Warning About Immoral Men
3Loved ones,
Although I really wanted to write to you about the salvation and life that we have in common, I instead found it necessary to write to encourage you to keep on struggling for the faith that the Holy Ones have passed on to you, 4because some men have slipped in among you whose judgment was written about long ago.
These are godless men who are turning the loving care of our God into something that’s immoral, and they’re denying our only Master and Lord, JesusYeshuaIshoa the Anointed One.
5Now, despite the fact that you already know all this, I want to remind you:
Even though [Jehovah][Yahweh]“Lord” once delivered our people from the land of Egypt, he later destroyed the ones who didn’t show enough faith.
6He also locked up those [heavenly] messengers that didn’t keep their position and left the place they lived. He’s been keeping them in perpetual darkness where they’re awaiting their judgment on the Great Day. 7It’s like how Sodom, GomorRah, and the cities around them (having practiced sexual immorality and chased after strange flesh in the same way as these), are presented as [an] example of undergoing the judicial punishment of age-long fire.
8Similarly, however, these delusional [ones are] indeed [also] polluting the flesh, rejecting authority, and blaspheme glorious ones.
9Indeed, when MichaEl (the Highest Messenger [of God]) had an argument with the Slanderer over the body of Moses, he didn’t dare [to overstep his authority] and bring [a] blasphemous judgment against him. All he said was:
‘May [[Jehovah][Yahweh]“Lord”] reprimand you!’
10However, these men continue to speak disrespectfully about many things that they don’t understand. And they, as senseless animals, are being corrupted by what they do understand.
11So, woe to them, because they’ve gone the way of Cain, they’ve gone headlong into BalaAm’s error for a reward, and they’ve perished in KorAh’s rebellion!
12[Yet,] they’re at your loving [congregational] meals, [like] reefs hidden [below water], feasting alongside you, fearlessly shepherding [only] themselves!
[They’re like] dry clouds blown along by every wind, fruitless trees of late autumn that have died twice and been uprooted, 13wild waves of the sea foaming shameful things on themselves, [and] wandering stars for whom the gloom of age-long darkness has been reserved.
14Remember that the 7th man from Adam, Enoch, prophesied about them when he said:
‘Look! The Lord will arrive with tens of thousands of his holy messengers 15to condemn them and to convict every soul for all the irreverent things that they’re doing, as well as for all the harsh words these godless sinners said against him.’ [1 Enoch 1:9 or a midrash of Deuteronomy 33:2]
16For these men are grumblers and complainers, as they keep on following their own desires. Their mouths speak arrogantly, and they’re [only] admiring people in order to gain [something out of it].
17But as for you, loved ones, remember what you were once told by the Apostles of our Lord JesusYeshuaIshoa the Anointed. 18They used to tell you that:
‘At the end of the season, scoffers will come, following their own desires, [desires] of ungodly ones. 19These are divisive ones, carnal, not having the breath [of God]!’
20However, as for you, loved ones:
Keep building yourselves up in your most holy faith, praying in holy breath 21and keep yourselves in God’s love while you’re expecting the mercy of our Lord JesusYeshuaIshoa the Anointed One and into age-long life.
22Also, be merciful to those who are unsure… 23Whom you save by snatching [them] from the fire; but [to] others, show them mercy in fear, hating even the undergarment that’s been stained by the flesh.
24Now, to the One who is able to protect you from stumbling and present you blameless in the presence of his glory with great joy… 25Yes, to our only God (our Savior), through JesusYeshuaIshoa the Anointed One (our Lord), may there be glory, majesty, might, and authority before all the age, and now, and throughout the ages…
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