save others by snatching them from the fire; and to still others show mercy tempered with fear, hating even the clothing stained by the flesh.
Parallel translations
- WEB and some save, snatching them out of the fire with fear, hating even the clothing stained by the flesh.
- KJV And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
- NKJV but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.
- NASB save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh.
- NLT Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives.
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
Some must be urgently rescued from judgment, while others are to be shown mercy mixed with fear, hating even sin's contamination.
Overview
Jude continues his counsel on rescuing others, calling believers to snatch some from the fire of impending judgment with urgency. Toward those more deeply entangled, mercy is shown with caution, hating even the garment stained by their sin, an image warning against being drawn into the very corruption one seeks to oppose. The balance of compassion and holy vigilance reflects the gospel's heart to save sinners while taking sin seriously.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- 1 Tim 4:16Pay close attention to your life and to your teaching. Persevere in these things, for by so doing you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
- 1 Cor 15:33Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
- Rev 3:4But you do have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments, and because they are worthy, they will walk with Me in white.
- 2 Cor 7:10–12Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
- 2 Th 3:14Take note of anyone who does not obey the instructions we have given in this letter. Do not associate with him, so that he may be ashamed.
- Rom 11:14in the hope that I may provoke my own people to jealousy and save some of them.
- Zech 3:2–5And the LORD said to Satan: “The LORD rebukes you, Satan! Indeed, the LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebukes you! Is not this man a firebrand snatched from the fire?”
- Rev 3:18I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, white garments so that you may be clothed and your shameful nakedness not exposed, and salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.
- Isa 64:6Each of us has become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.
- 1 Cor 5:3–5Although I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, and I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present.
- Lam 4:14They wandered blind in the streets, defiled by this blood, so that no one dared to touch their garments.
- 1 Cor 5:9–11I wrote you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people.
- Amos 4:11“Some of you I overthrew as I overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and you were like a firebrand snatched from a blaze, yet you did not return to Me,” declares the LORD.
- Lev 13:47–59If any fabric is contaminated with mildew—any wool or linen garment,
- Lev 14:47And anyone who sleeps in the house or eats in it must wash his clothes.
- 1 Cor 3:15If it is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as if through the flames.
- Lev 15:17Any clothing or leather on which there is an emission of semen must be washed with water, and it will remain unclean until evening.
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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 1:23 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.