Yet in the same way these dreamers defile their bodies, reject authority, and slander glorious beings.
Parallel translations
- WEB Yet in the same way, these also in their dreaming defile the flesh, despise authority, and slander celestial beings.
- KJV Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.
- NKJV Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries.
- NASB Yet in the same way these people also, dreaming, defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak abusively of angelic majesties.
- NLT In the same way, these people—who claim authority from their dreams—live immoral lives, defy authority, and scoff at supernatural beings.
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
In the same way these false teachers pollute their bodies, reject authority, and slander angelic beings.
Overview
Jude applies the three examples directly to the false teachers, who are likened to those judged before them. Their dreamlike self-deception leads to three sins: defiling the flesh through immorality, rejecting God-given authority, and arrogantly speaking against spiritual powers. Their conduct reveals a heart in rebellion against God's order at every level.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 21
- Heb 13:17Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch over your souls as those who must give an account. To this end, allow them to lead with joy and not with grief, for that would be of no advantage to you.
- 2 Pet 2:10–12Such 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 1:10for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave traders and liars and perjurers, and for anyone else who is averse to sound teaching
- 1 Pet 2:17Treat everyone with high regard: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.
- Exod 22:28You must not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people.
- Num 16:3They came together against Moses and Aaron and told them, “You have taken too much upon yourselves! For everyone in the entire congregation is holy, and the LORD is in their midst. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?”
- Eccl 10:20Do not curse the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich even in your bedroom, for a bird of the air may carry your words, and a winged creature may report your speech.
- 1 Cor 3:17If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.
- Jude 1:9–10But even the archangel Michael, when he disputed with the devil over the body of Moses, did not presume to bring a slanderous charge against him, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”
- Acts 23:5“Brothers,” Paul replied, “I was not aware that he was the high priest, for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’”
- Luke 19:14But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We do not want this man to rule over us.’
- Ps 2:1–6Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?
- Prov 30:11There is a generation of those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers.
- Acts 7:39But our fathers refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.
- Acts 7:27But the man who was abusing his neighbor pushed Moses aside and said, ‘Who made you ruler and judge over us?
- 1 Th 4:8Anyone, then, who rejects this command does not reject man but God, the very One who gives you His Holy Spirit.
- Prov 30:17As for the eye that mocks a father and scorns obedience to a mother, may the ravens of the valley pluck it out and young vultures devour it.
- Ps 12:3–4May the LORD cut off all flattering lips and every boastful tongue.
- Jer 38:25–28If the officials hear that I have spoken with you, and they come and demand of you, ‘Tell us what you said to the king and what he said to you; do not hide it from us, or we will kill you,’
- Num 16:12–13Then Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, but they said, “We will not come!
- Gen 3:5“For God knows that in the day you eat of it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 1:8 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.