These men are discontented grumblers, following after their own lusts; their mouths spew arrogance; they flatter others for their own advantage.
Parallel translations
- WEB These are murmurers and complainers, walking after their lusts (and their mouth speaks proud things), showing respect of persons to gain advantage.
- KJV These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.
- NKJV These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage.
- NASB These are grumblers, finding fault, following after their own lusts; they speak arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of gaining an advantage.
- NLT These people are grumblers and complainers, living only to satisfy their desires. They brag loudly about themselves, and they flatter others to get what they want.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
These people are grumblers and faultfinders who follow their own desires, boast arrogantly, and flatter others for personal gain.
Overview
Jude summarizes the character of the false teachers: discontented complainers, like the murmuring wilderness generation, who are driven by their cravings. Their speech is marked by boastful pride and by flattery offered only when it profits them. This portrait of self-centered, manipulative living stands opposed to the humble, God-honoring faith Jude commends.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 36
- 2 Pet 2:18With lofty but empty words, they appeal to the sensual passions of the flesh and entice those who are just escaping from others who live in error.
- Phil 2:14Do everything without complaining or arguing,
- 2 Pet 2:10Such punishment is specially reserved for those who indulge the corrupt desires of the flesh and despise authority. Bold and self-willed, they are unafraid to slander glorious beings.
- 1 Tim 6:5and constant friction between men of depraved mind who are devoid of the truth. These men regard godliness as a means of gain.
- 2 Pet 3:3Most importantly, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.
- Jude 1:18when they said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow after their own ungodly desires.”
- 1 Pet 2:11Beloved, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul.
- 1 Cor 10:10And do not complain, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel.
- Jas 1:14–15But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed.
- 1 Pet 4:2Consequently, he does not live out his remaining time on earth for human passions, but for the will of God.
- Lev 19:15You must not pervert justice; you must not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the rich; you are to judge your neighbor fairly.
- John 6:61Aware that His disciples were grumbling about this teaching, Jesus asked them, “Does this offend you?
- Ps 15:4who despises the vile but honors those who fear the LORD, who does not revise a costly oath,
- 1 Pet 1:14As obedient children, do not conform to the passions of your former ignorance.
- 2 Pet 2:1–3Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.
- Ps 73:9–11They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongues strut across the earth.
- Num 16:11Therefore, it is you and all your followers who have conspired against the LORD! As for Aaron, who is he that you should grumble against him?”
- Isa 29:24Then the wayward in spirit will come to understanding, and those who grumble will accept instruction.”
- Gal 5:16So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
- Jude 1:15to execute judgment on everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of every ungodly act of wickedness and every harsh word spoken against Him by ungodly sinners.”
- Ps 17:10They have closed their callous hearts; their mouths speak with arrogance.
- Luke 15:2So the Pharisees and scribes began to grumble: “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
- Prov 28:21To show partiality is not good, yet a man will do wrong for a piece of bread.
- Job 34:19who is not partial to princes and does not favor rich over poor? For they are all the work of His hands.
- John 6:41At this, the Jews began to grumble about Jesus because He had said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.”
- Ps 106:25They grumbled in their tents and did not listen to the voice of the LORD.
- Job 17:4–5You have closed their minds to understanding; therefore You will not exalt them.
- Job 32:21I will be partial to no one, nor will I flatter any man.
- 2 Tim 4:3For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires.
- 1 Th 4:5not in lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God;
- Num 14:36So the men Moses had sent to spy out the land, who had returned and made the whole congregation grumble against him by bringing out a bad report about the land—
- Jas 2:1–9My brothers, as you hold out your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, do not show favoritism.
- Luke 19:7And all who saw this began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinful man!”
- Gal 5:24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
- Luke 5:30But the Pharisees and their scribes complained to Jesus’ disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”
- Deut 1:27You grumbled in your tents and said, “Because the LORD hates us, He has brought us out of the land of Egypt to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites to be annihilated.
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Christ at the center
Christ is the one who keeps his people from stumbling and presents them blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy — the object of contending faith.
How Jude 1:16 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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