And have mercy on some, who are doubting;
Parallel translations
- WEB On some have compassion, making a distinction,
- KJV And of some have compassion, making a difference:
- BSB And indeed, have mercy on those who doubt;
- NKJV And on some have compassion, making a distinction;
- NLT And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering.
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
Jude instructs believers to show mercy to those who doubt, making careful distinctions among them.
Overview
Having addressed how to stand firm, Jude turns to how to help others affected by the false teaching. Toward those wavering in doubt, the response is mercy and discernment rather than harshness. The exact wording and the number of groups in verses 22 and 23 vary among manuscripts, but the consistent thrust is compassionate, wise care for people at different stages of spiritual danger.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Jas 5:19–20Brothers, if any among you wanders from the truth and someone turns him back,
- Gal 6:1Brothers, even if a man is caught in some fault, you who are spiritual must restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to yourself so that you also aren’t tempted.
- 1 Jn 5:16–18If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life for those who sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death. I don’t say that he should make a request concerning this.
- Jude 1:4–13For there are certain men who crept in secretly, even those who were long ago written about for this condemnation: ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into indecency, and denying our only Master, God, and Lord, Jesus Christ.
- Heb 6:4–8For concerning those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit,
- Ezek 34:17As for you, O my flock, thus says the Lord Yahweh: Behold, I judge between sheep and sheep, the rams and the male goats.
- Gal 4:20but I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.
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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 1:22 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.