1
Ἰούδας Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ δοῦλος, ἀδελφὸς δὲ Ἰακώβου, τοῖς ἐν θεῷ πατρὶ ἠγαπημένοις καὶ Ἰησοῦ Χριστῷ τετηρημένοις κλητοῖς·
Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ and brother of James, to those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ:
Letter openingasyndetonThe epistolary superscription. Jude identifies himself not as 'brother of the Lord' (though tradition takes him as such, cf. Mk 6:3) but more humbly as 'slave of Jesus Christ and brother of James' — deferring to his more famous brother. The addressees are framed by two perfect participles, 'beloved' and 'kept,' bracketing the whole letter's concern: a people held secure amid the danger to come.
ἸούδαςJudeNominativesubject (nominative of superscription)Ἰούδας: 'Judah/Judas'; the sender, traditionally identified with the brother of Jesus and of James (Mk 6:3).
Ἰησοῦof JesusGenitivegenitive of possession/relation
ΧριστοῦChristGenitiveapposition to ἸησοῦΧριστός: 'Anointed,' Messiah; here a name-title. Jude is Christ's slave, belonging wholly to him.
δοῦλοςslaveNominativeapposition to Ἰούδαςδοῦλος: 'slave, bondservant'; the chosen self-title — total subjection to Christ rather than a claim of family privilege.
ἀδελφὸςbrotherNominativeapposition (second descriptor)ἀδελφός: 'brother'; Jude defers to the well-known James, leader of the Jerusalem church.
δὲandconnective particle (development)
Ἰακώβουof JamesGenitivegenitive of relationshipἸάκωβος: 'James/Jacob'; the Lord's brother and Jerusalem leader (Acts 15), whose authority Jude invokes by association.
τοῖςto thoseDativearticle (substantival, w/ participles)
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere)
θεῷGodDativeobject of ἐν (sphere of love)
πατρὶthe FatherDativeapposition to θεῷπατήρ: 'Father'; the relational name of God, the sphere within which the called are loved.
ἠγαπημένοιςbelovedPerf Pass Ptc · Dat Pl Masc · ἀγαπάωattributive participle (modifies κλητοῖς)→ intensive perfect (abiding state)ἀγαπάω: 'love'; the perfect marks a settled state — loved by God and abidingly so (a variant reads ἡγιασμένοις, 'sanctified').
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
Ἰησοῦfor JesusDativedat. of advantage/agency (w/ τετηρημένοις)
ΧριστῷChristDativeapposition to ἸησοῦΧριστός: here the one for whom (or by whom) the called are kept — guarded until his coming.
τετηρημένοιςkeptPerf Pass Ptc · Dat Pl Masc · τηρέωattributive participle (coordinate w/ ἠγαπημένοις)→ intensive perfect (abiding state)τηρέω: 'keep, guard, preserve'; a keyword of the letter (vv.6, 13, 21) — here God keeps the faithful, in contrast to the ungodly 'kept' for judgment.
κλητοῖςcalledDativesubstantival adjective (the addressees)κλητός: 'called'; the effectual divine summons that constitutes the readers' identity, the noun the two participles modify.
2
ἔλεος ὑμῖν καὶ εἰρήνη καὶ ἀγάπη πληθυνθείη.
May mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you.
Greeting / wish-prayerasyndetonThe salutation's optative blessing. Jude's distinctive triad — mercy, peace, and love (rather than the Pauline 'grace and peace') — and the optative πληθυνθείη ('may it be multiplied,' cf. 1 Pet 1:2, 2 Pet 1:2) shape the greeting as a prayer.
ἔλεοςmercyNominativesubject (nom. in wish-prayer)ἔλεος: 'mercy, compassion'; the first member of Jude's triad — fitting for a letter on judgment, and recurring at vv.21, 22, 23.
ὑμῖνto youDativedat. of recipient
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
εἰρήνηpeaceNominativesubject (coordinate)εἰρήνη: 'peace'; the Hebrew šālôm — wholeness and well-being.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἀγάπηloveNominativesubject (coordinate)ἀγάπη: 'love'; the third member, anticipating the call to keep oneself 'in the love of God' (v.21).
πληθυνθείηmay it be multipliedAor Pass Optative 3 Sg · πληθύνωmain verb (volitive optative)→ constative aorist (volitive)πληθύνω: 'multiply, increase'; the rare optative voices a wish-prayer — the same greeting-verb as 1 Pet 1:2, 2 Pet 1:2.
3
Ἀγαπητοί, πᾶσαν σπουδὴν ποιούμενος γράφειν ὑμῖν περὶ τῆς κοινῆς ἡμῶν σωτηρίας ἀνάγκην ἔσχον γράψαι ὑμῖν παρακαλῶν ἐπαγωνίζεσθαι τῇ ἅπαξ παραδοθείσῃ τοῖς ἁγίοις πίστει.
Beloved, although I was making every effort to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you appealing that you contend for the faith once for all delivered to the saints.
Statement of occasionasyndetonThe body opens with the affectionate address 'Beloved' and Jude's revised purpose: the intended letter on 'our common salvation' gives way, under necessity, to an urgent call to 'contend for the faith.' The aorist passive participle παραδοθείσῃ with ἅπαξ ('once for all delivered') treats the apostolic faith as a fixed, transmitted deposit now under threat.
ἈγαπητοίbelovedVocativevocative of addressἀγαπητός: 'beloved'; Jude's recurring address to the faithful (vv.17, 20), warmly distinguishing them from the intruders.
πᾶσανall/everyAccusativeattributive adjective
σπουδὴνdiligence/effortAccusativedirect object of ποιούμενοςσπουδή: 'haste, eagerness, diligence'; 'making all diligence' = exerting every effort.
ποιούμενοςmakingPres Mid Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · ποιέωconcessive/circumstantial participle→ present (concurrent)ποιέω (mid.): in the idiom σπουδὴν ποιούμενος, 'making haste/effort' — Jude's original eager intention, now redirected.
γράφεινto writePres Act Inf · γράφωcomplementary infinitive (w/ σπουδήν)→ present (general)γράφω: 'write'; the intended (present, ongoing) task — a fuller treatise on salvation.
ὑμῖνto youDativeindirect object
περὶaboutpreposition + genitive (reference)
τῆςtheGenitivearticle
κοινῆςcommonGenitiveattributive adjectiveκοινός: 'common, shared'; the salvation held in common by writer and readers — bonding them against the intruders.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possession
σωτηρίαςsalvationGenitiveobject of περί (reference)σωτηρία: 'salvation, deliverance'; the originally intended subject of the letter.
ἀνάγκηνnecessityAccusativedirect object of ἔσχονἀνάγκη: 'necessity, compulsion'; the pressure of the crisis compelled the change of topic.
ἔσχονI hadAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ἔχωmain verb→ constative aoristἔχω: 'have'; ἀνάγκην ἔσχον = 'I felt the necessity,' marking the urgent pivot to exhortation.
γράψαιto writeAor Act Inf · γράφωcomplementary infinitive (w/ ἀνάγκην)→ constative aoristγράφω: 'write'; the aorist (as opposed to the present γράφειν above) marks the actual, urgent letter now penned.
ὑμῖνto youDativeindirect object
παρακαλῶνappealingPres Act Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · παρακαλέωadverbial ptc. (purpose/manner)→ present (concurrent)παρακαλέω: 'urge, exhort, appeal'; the participle states the letter's purpose — to call the readers to the fight.
ἐπαγωνίζεσθαιto contendPres Mid Inf · ἐπαγωνίζομαιcomplementary infinitive (object of παρακαλῶν)→ present (ongoing/iterative)ἐπαγωνίζομαι: 'contend earnestly, fight for' (ἐπί-intensive of ἀγωνίζομαι, the athletic/military struggle); a NT hapax — the central imperative of the letter.
τῇtheDativearticle
ἅπαξonce for alladverb (modifies παραδοθείσῃ)ἅπαξ: 'once, once for all'; the faith was delivered definitively — no later 'new revelation' supplements it (contrast the intruders, v.4).
παραδοθείσῃdeliveredAor Pass Ptc · Dat Sg Fem · παραδίδωμιattributive participle (modifies πίστει)→ constative aoristπαραδίδωμι: 'hand over, transmit'; the technical verb for passing on tradition — the faith is a received deposit, not an evolving construct.
τοῖςto theDativearticle
ἁγίοιςsaintsDativeindirect object (recipients of the faith)ἅγιος: 'holy one, saint'; the whole people of God to whom the faith was once entrusted.
πίστειfaithDativeobject of ἐπαγωνίζεσθαι (dat.)πίστις: here the objective 'faith' — the body of apostolic teaching and confession, for which the readers must struggle.
4
παρεισέδυσαν γάρ τινες ἄνθρωποι, οἱ πάλαι προγεγραμμένοι εἰς τοῦτο τὸ κρίμα, ἀσεβεῖς, τὴν τοῦ θεοῦ ἡμῶν χάριτα μετατιθέντες εἰς ἀσέλγειαν καὶ τὸν μόνον δεσπότην καὶ κύριον ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν ἀρνούμενοι.
For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly ones, who pervert the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
Ground of the exhortationγάρThe reason for the urgency: intruders have stealthily entered the community. They were 'long ago written up' for judgment (in Scripture/prophecy), are characterized as ἀσεβεῖς ('ungodly,' the letter's keyword), and commit a double sin — perverting grace into license and denying the sole Master, Jesus Christ. This verse sets the agenda for the indictment of vv.5–19.
παρεισέδυσανcrept in unnoticedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · παρεισδύωmain verb→ constative aoristπαρεισδύω: 'slip in alongside, sneak in' (παρά + εἰς + δύω); a NT hapax connoting stealthy, unauthorized infiltration of the church.
γάρforexplanatory conjunction
τινεςcertainNominativeindefinite pronoun (subject)τις: 'someone, certain'; the deliberately vague 'certain men' — Jude never names them, treating them as a recognizable type.
ἄνθρωποιmenNominativesubject (in apposition w/ τινες)ἄνθρωπος: 'person, human being'; merely 'men' — denied any spiritual standing in the indictment.
οἱthe (ones)Nominativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
πάλαιlong agoadverb (time)πάλαι: 'long ago, of old'; their condemnation was foreordained/foretold — in Scripture and prophecy (cf. the examples to follow).
προγεγραμμένοιdesignated beforehandPerf Pass Ptc · Nom Pl Masc · προγράφωattributive participle (modifies οἱ)→ intensive perfect (standing record)προγράφω: 'write beforehand, designate in advance' (προ + γράφω); they were 'written up' long since for this very judgment — the perfect marks the enduring sentence on record.
εἰςforpreposition + accusative (goal/result)
τοῦτοthisAccusativedemonstrative (attributive)
τὸtheAccusativearticle
κρίμαcondemnation/judgmentAccusativeobject of εἰς (the appointed end)κρίμα: 'judgment, verdict, condemnation'; the doom for which they were marked out, illustrated by vv.5–7.
ἀσεβεῖςungodly onesNominativeapposition to τινες ἄνθρωποιἀσεβής: 'impious, ungodly'; the leitmotif of the letter (the ἀσεβ- root tolls through vv.15, 18) — irreverence toward God that breeds immorality.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle
τοῦof theGenitivearticle
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive of source
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of relationship
χάριταgraceAccusativedirect object of μετατιθέντεςχάρις: 'grace, favor'; God's free favor — which the intruders twist into a license to sin (antinomian abuse).
μετατιθέντεςpervertingPres Act Ptc · Nom Pl Masc · μετατίθημιattributive/explanatory participle→ present (characteristic)μετατίθημι: 'change, transfer, pervert' (μετά + τίθημι); they 'shift' grace into something else — turning a gift into a pretext.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (result)
ἀσέλγειανlicentiousnessAccusativeobject of εἰς (result of the perversion)ἀσέλγεια: 'licentiousness, debauchery, unbridled lust'; shameless sensual excess — the practical fruit of their false 'grace.'
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
μόνονonlyAccusativeattributive adjectiveμόνος: 'only, sole'; the singular 'Master' — denying him is the height of their apostasy.
δεσπότηνMasterAccusativedirect object of ἀρνούμενοιδεσπότης: 'master, owner (of slaves), sovereign lord'; the strong term (cf. 2 Pet 2:1) — to deny one's δεσπότης is the ultimate disloyalty of a slave.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
κύριονLordAccusativedirect object (coordinate w/ δεσπότην)κύριος: 'Lord'; whether δεσπότην and κύριον denote one person (Christ) or two (God and Christ) is debated — taken here, with the single ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν, of Christ alone.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of relationship
ἸησοῦνJesusAccusativeapposition to δεσπότην/κύριον
ΧριστὸνChristAccusativeapposition
ἀρνούμενοιdenyingPres Mid Ptc · Nom Pl Masc · ἀρνέομαιattributive/explanatory participle (coordinate)→ present (characteristic)ἀρνέομαι: 'deny, disown, repudiate'; the second charge — by their immoral lives (and teaching) they effectively renounce Christ's lordship.
5
Ὑπομνῆσαι δὲ ὑμᾶς βούλομαι, εἰδότας ὑμᾶς ἅπαξ πάντα, ὅτι Ἰησοῦς λαὸν ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου σώσας τὸ δεύτερον τοὺς μὴ πιστεύσαντας ἀπώλεσεν,
Now I want to remind you, though you know all things once for all, that Jesus, having saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe;
First example of judgmentδὲThe first of three judgment paradigms (vv.5–7). The text-critical crux is the subject: NA28 prints the harder Ἰησοῦς ('Jesus,' read here with A B 33 and strong early support), implying Christ's pre-incarnate agency in the Exodus; other witnesses read ὁ κύριος ('the Lord') or ὁ θεός ('God'). The lesson: God saves a people, yet destroys the faithless among them — a warning to any presuming on past deliverance.
Ὑπομνῆσαιto remindAor Act Inf · ὑπομιμνῄσκωcomplementary infinitive (w/ βούλομαι)→ constative aoristὑπομιμνῄσκω: 'remind, call to mind'; Jude appeals to what the readers already know, not to novelty.
δὲnow/butconnective particle (development)
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativeaccusative subject of the infinitive
βούλομαιI wantPres Mid Indic 1 Sg · βούλομαιmain verb→ stative presentβούλομαι: 'will, wish, intend'; the deliberate purpose behind the reminder.
εἰδόταςknowingPerf Act Ptc · Acc Pl Masc · οἶδαconcessive participle ('though you know')→ perfect-as-present (state of knowledge)οἶδα: 'know'; concessive — the readers already possess the knowledge; Jude only stirs it up (cf. 2 Pet 1:12).
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativesubject of the participle (resumptive)
ἅπαξonce for alladverb (modifies εἰδότας)ἅπαξ: 'once for all'; the readers know 'all things' definitively (some witnesses link ἅπαξ instead to the Exodus clause — 'once [saved]').
πάνταall thingsAccusativedirect object of εἰδότας
ὅτιthatconjunction (content of the reminder)
ἸησοῦςJesusNominativesubject of σώσας/ἀπώλεσενἸησοῦς: read here (NA28) as the agent of the Exodus deliverance — a remarkable assertion of Christ's pre-existent activity; variants read 'the Lord' or 'God.'
λαὸνa peopleAccusativedirect object of σώσαςλαός: 'people'; Israel, the delivered nation — yet not all of them faithful.
ἐκout ofpreposition + genitive (separation)
γῆςthe landGenitiveobject of ἐκ (source)γῆ: 'land, earth'; γῆ Αἰγύπτου = 'the land of Egypt,' the house of bondage.
Αἰγύπτουof EgyptGenitivegenitive (attributive/of place)Αἴγυπτος: 'Egypt'; the place of slavery from which the people were saved.
σώσαςhaving savedAor Act Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · σῴζωantecedent (temporal) participle→ constative aorist (antecedent)σῴζω: 'save, rescue, deliver'; the salvation precedes the judgment — past grace is no guarantee against later apostasy.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (adverbial accusative)
δεύτερονsecond time/afterwardAccusativeadverbial accusative (time)δεύτερος: 'second'; τὸ δεύτερον = 'the second time, afterward' — the destruction came after the deliverance.
τοὺςthe (ones)Accusativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
μὴnotnegative particle (w/ participle)μή: the negative used with the participle, marking the class 'those who did not believe.'
πιστεύσανταςhaving believedAor Act Ptc · Acc Pl Masc · πιστεύωsubstantival participle (object of ἀπώλεσεν)→ constative aoristπιστεύω: 'believe, trust'; with μή — the unbelieving generation that perished in the wilderness (Num 14).
ἀπώλεσενhe destroyedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀπόλλυμιmain verb (ὅτι clause)→ constative aoristἀπόλλυμι: 'destroy, ruin'; the decisive judgment on the faithless — the warning's point.
6
ἀγγέλους τε τοὺς μὴ τηρήσαντας τὴν ἑαυτῶν ἀρχὴν ἀλλὰ ἀπολιπόντας τὸ ἴδιον οἰκητήριον εἰς κρίσιν μεγάλης ἡμέρας δεσμοῖς ἀϊδίοις ὑπὸ ζόφον τετήρηκεν·
and the angels who did not keep their own domain but abandoned their proper dwelling he has kept in eternal chains under gloom for the judgment of the great day;
Second example of judgmentτεThe second paradigm: the fallen angels (commonly read with Gen 6:1–4 and 1 Enoch, the 'Watchers' who left heaven). The wordplay turns on τηρέω — the angels failed to 'keep' their domain, so God has 'kept' them in chains: those who keep not are kept for judgment, the obverse of the faithful 'kept' in v.1.
ἀγγέλουςangelsAccusativedirect object of τετήρηκεν (fronted)ἄγγελος: 'angel, messenger'; the heavenly beings who rebelled — the second exemplar of judged apostasy.
τεandconnective particle (coordinates the examples)τε: 'and'; binds this example to the previous (and the next), forming the triad.
τοὺςthe (ones)Accusativearticle (substantizes ptcs.)
μὴnotnegative particle (w/ participle)
τηρήσανταςhaving keptAor Act Ptc · Acc Pl Masc · τηρέωattributive participle (modifies ἀγγέλους)→ constative aoristτηρέω: 'keep, guard'; the angels did not 'keep' their station — the verb whose passive will recoil on them ('he has kept,' below).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle
ἑαυτῶνtheir ownGenitivereflexive possessive genitive
ἀρχὴνdomain/positionAccusativedirect object of τηρήσανταςἀρχή: 'beginning, rule, office, domain'; here their assigned sphere/rank of authority, which they forsook.
ἀλλὰbutadversative conjunction
ἀπολιπόνταςhaving abandonedAor Act Ptc · Acc Pl Masc · ἀπολείπωattributive participle (coordinate)→ constative aoristἀπολείπω: 'leave behind, forsake, desert'; they deserted their proper place — the positive counterpart to 'did not keep.'
τὸtheAccusativearticle
ἴδιονown/properAccusativeattributive adjectiveἴδιος: 'one's own, proper'; the dwelling that belonged to them by appointment.
οἰκητήριονdwellingAccusativedirect object of ἀπολιπόνταςοἰκητήριον: 'dwelling-place, habitation'; their heavenly abode, abandoned in rebellion (cf. 2 Cor 5:2).
εἰςforpreposition + accusative (purpose/goal)
κρίσινjudgmentAccusativeobject of εἰς (the appointed end)κρίσις: 'judgment, trial'; the eschatological reckoning for which they are reserved.
μεγάληςgreatGenitiveattributive adjectiveμέγας: 'great'; the 'great day' — the final day of the Lord's judgment.
ἡμέραςdayGenitivegenitive (of time/quality)ἡμέρα: 'day'; the great Day of Judgment.
δεσμοῖςin chains/bondsDativedat. of means/instrumentδεσμός: 'bond, chain'; the angels' custody (cf. 2 Pet 2:4, σειραῖς/σειροῖς).
ἀϊδίοιςeternalDativeattributive adjectiveἀΐδιος: 'everlasting, eternal' (cf. Rom 1:20); the chains are perpetual, holding them until judgment.
ὑπὸunderpreposition + accusative (place/extent)
ζόφονgloom/darknessAccusativeobject of ὑπό (place of confinement)ζόφος: 'gloom, nether darkness'; the murky underworld dark, recurring of the false teachers' doom in v.13 (cf. 2 Pet 2:4, 17).
τετήρηκενhe has keptPerf Act Indic 3 Sg · τηρέωmain verb→ intensive perfect (abiding custody)τηρέω: 'keep, guard'; the perfect marks their settled imprisonment — the pointed reversal: those who 'kept not' (τηρήσαντας) are now 'kept' (τετήρηκεν).
7
ὡς Σόδομα καὶ Γόμορρα καὶ αἱ περὶ αὐτὰς πόλεις, τὸν ὅμοιον τρόπον τούτοις ἐκπορνεύσασαι καὶ ἀπελθοῦσαι ὀπίσω σαρκὸς ἑτέρας, πρόκεινται δεῖγμα πυρὸς αἰωνίου δίκην ὑπέχουσαι.
as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, which in the same manner as these indulged in sexual immorality and went after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.
Third example of judgmentὡςThe third paradigm: Sodom, Gomorrah, and their neighbor cities (Gen 19), whose sexual immorality and pursuit of 'strange flesh' brought destruction. They 'lie exposed' (πρόκεινται) as a public δεῖγμα — a specimen of the fate of the ungodly, the smoking ruin a perpetual warning.
ὡςascomparative particleὡς: 'as, like'; introduces the third example, paralleling the angels and Israel.
ΣόδομαSodomNominativesubjectΣόδομα: 'Sodom'; the proverbial city of judgment (Gen 19), neuter plural in form.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ΓόμορραGomorrahNominativesubject (coordinate)Γόμορρα: 'Gomorrah'; Sodom's sister city, destroyed with it.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
αἱtheNominativearticle
περὶaroundpreposition + accusative (place)
αὐτὰςthemAccusativeobject of περί
πόλειςcitiesNominativesubject (coordinate)πόλις: 'city'; the surrounding 'cities of the plain' (Admah, Zeboiim) sharing the judgment.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (adverbial accusative)
ὅμοιονsame/similarAccusativeattributive adjectiveὅμοιος: 'like, similar'; τὸν ὅμοιον τρόπον = 'in the same manner' — likening the cities' sin to the angels' (or the intruders').
τρόπονmannerAccusativeadverbial accusative (manner)τρόπος: 'manner, way'; the mode of their transgression.
τούτοιςto theseDativedat. of comparison/associationοὗτος: 'these'; most likely the angels of v.6 (or the intruders) — the comparison drawing the parallel of presumptuous sin.
ἐκπορνεύσασαιhaving committed fornicationAor Act Ptc · Nom Pl Fem · ἐκπορνεύωadverbial (causal) participle→ constative aoristἐκπορνεύω: 'commit gross/utter fornication' (ἐκ-intensive of πορνεύω); the cities gave themselves wholly to sexual sin.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἀπελθοῦσαιhaving gone awayAor Act Ptc · Nom Pl Fem · ἀπέρχομαιadverbial participle (coordinate)→ constative aoristἀπέρχομαι: 'go away, go after'; ἀπελθοῦσαι ὀπίσω = 'going after,' a Semitic idiom for chasing illicit desire.
ὀπίσωafterimproper preposition + genitive (direction)ὀπίσω: 'behind, after'; with σαρκὸς ἑτέρας — pursuing 'other flesh.'
σαρκὸςfleshGenitiveobject of ὀπίσωσάρξ: 'flesh'; here the object of their lust.
ἑτέραςstrange/differentGenitiveattributive adjectiveἕτερος: 'other, different'; 'strange flesh' — unnatural lust (the men of Sodom sought the angelic visitors, Gen 19:5), set in pointed parallel to the angels who lusted beyond their kind.
πρόκεινταιare set forthPres Mid Indic 3 Pl · πρόκειμαιmain verb→ stative present (abiding display)πρόκειμαι: 'lie before, be set forth/exposed' (πρό + κεῖμαι); the ruined cities remain on display as a public exhibit of judgment.
δεῖγμαan exampleNominativepredicate nominative (apposition)δεῖγμα: 'specimen, example, exhibit'; a sample shown to all — the proof of God's certain judgment on the ungodly.
πυρὸςof fireGenitivegenitive (of the punishment)πῦρ: 'fire'; the fire that fell on Sodom, a type of the eternal judgment.
αἰωνίουeternalGenitiveattributive adjectiveαἰώνιος: 'eternal, everlasting'; the abiding fire of final judgment (the smoking ruin typifying it).
δίκηνpunishment/penaltyAccusativedirect object of ὑπέχουσαιδίκη: 'justice, penalty, punishment'; the just sentence they undergo.
ὑπέχουσαιundergoingPres Act Ptc · Nom Pl Fem · ὑπέχωadverbial (result/manner) participle→ present (ongoing)ὑπέχω: 'undergo, suffer, bear' (lit. 'hold under'); δίκην ὑπέχειν is the idiom 'to pay/suffer the penalty.'
8
Ὁμοίως μέντοι καὶ οὗτοι ἐνυπνιαζόμενοι σάρκα μὲν μιαίνουσιν, κυριότητα δὲ ἀθετοῦσιν, δόξας δὲ βλασφημοῦσιν.
Yet in the same way these dreamers also defile the flesh, reject lordship, and blaspheme the glories.
Application to the intrudersμέντοιJude now turns the three examples on the intruders ('these'). The contemptuous ἐνυπνιαζόμενοι ('dreaming') brands their claimed revelations as mere fancies. Three present verbs in parallel name their threefold offense: they defile the flesh (immorality), reject lordship (insubordination), and blaspheme 'the glories' (likely angelic dignities).
Ὁμοίωςlikewiseadverb (comparison)ὁμοίως: 'similarly, in the same way'; ties the intruders' sin to the three examples just rehearsed.
μέντοιyet/neverthelessconcessive/adversative particleμέντοι: 'yet, nevertheless'; despite the warnings, 'these' persist undeterred.
καὶalsoadverbial (ascensive)
οὗτοιtheseNominativesubject (demonstrative)οὗτος: 'these'; Jude's recurring contemptuous label for the intruders (vv.10, 12, 16, 19).
ἐνυπνιαζόμενοιdreamingPres Mid Ptc · Nom Pl Masc · ἐνυπνιάζομαιattributive/adverbial participle→ present (characteristic)ἐνυπνιάζομαι: 'dream'; perhaps claiming visionary authority for their license — Jude dismisses it as mere 'dreaming.'
σάρκαfleshAccusativedirect object of μιαίνουσινσάρξ: 'flesh, body'; the object of their defilement — sexual sin like Sodom's (v.7).
μὲνon the one handcorrelative particle (μέν … δέ … δέ)μέν: marks the first of three coordinated charges.
μιαίνουσινthey defilePres Act Indic 3 Pl · μιαίνωmain verb (first charge)→ customary presentμιαίνω: 'stain, defile, pollute'; the first offense — defiling their bodies by immorality.
κυριότηταlordship/authorityAccusativedirect object of ἀθετοῦσινκυριότης: 'lordship, dominion, authority'; either Christ's lordship or an order of angelic powers — at minimum, rejection of rightful authority.
δὲandcorrelative particle (δέ answering μέν)
ἀθετοῦσινthey rejectPres Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀθετέωmain verb (second charge)→ customary presentἀθετέω: 'set aside, reject, nullify'; the second offense — repudiating authority/lordship (cf. their denial of the Master, v.4).
δόξαςgloriesAccusativedirect object of βλασφημοῦσινδόξα: 'glory'; here pl. 'glories' — most likely angelic majesties/beings (cf. 2 Pet 2:10) whom the intruders rashly revile.
δὲandcorrelative particle
βλασφημοῦσινthey blasphemePres Act Indic 3 Pl · βλασφημέωmain verb (third charge)→ customary presentβλασφημέω: 'slander, revile, blaspheme'; the third offense — reviling the angelic 'glories,' the very arrogance Michael avoided (v.9).
9
ὁ δὲ Μιχαὴλ ὁ ἀρχάγγελος, ὅτε τῷ διαβόλῳ διακρινόμενος διελέγετο περὶ τοῦ Μωϋσέως σώματος, οὐκ ἐτόλμησεν κρίσιν ἐπενεγκεῖν βλασφημίας, ἀλλὰ εἶπεν· Ἐπιτιμήσαι σοι κύριος.
But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring against him a reviling judgment, but said, 'May the Lord rebuke you.'
Contrast: the restraint of MichaelδὲA foil to the intruders' blasphemy (v.8): Michael the archangel, contending with the devil himself over Moses' body — a scene drawn from the lost Assumption (or Testament) of Moses — would not presume to pronounce a reviling verdict, but deferred judgment to God ('May the Lord rebuke you,' cf. Zech 3:2). If the greatest angel showed such restraint, the intruders' reckless slander is the more outrageous.
ὁtheNominativearticle
δὲbutadversative/connective particle
ΜιχαὴλMichaelNominativesubjectΜιχαήλ: 'Michael' ('who is like God?'); the archangel and Israel's guardian (Dan 10:13, 21; Rev 12:7).
ὁtheNominativearticle
ἀρχάγγελοςarchangelNominativeapposition to Μιχαήλἀρχάγγελος: 'chief angel, archangel'; the highest order — making his restraint all the more telling.
ὅτεwhentemporal conjunctionὅτε: 'when'; introduces the temporal frame of the episode.
τῷtheDativearticle
διαβόλῳdevilDativedat. (w/ διακρινόμενος / διελέγετο)διάβολος: 'slanderer, the devil' (the verbal cognate of βλασφημία) — fittingly, Satan is the great accuser whom even Michael will not match in reviling.
διακρινόμενοςdisputingPres Mid Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · διακρίνωadverbial (concurrent) participle→ present (concurrent)διακρίνω (mid.): 'dispute, contend, argue'; the same verb returns at v.22 ('those who doubt/waver') — here a legal contest over Moses' corpse.
διελέγετοhe argued/disputedImperf Mid Indic 3 Sg · διαλέγομαιmain verb (temporal clause)→ imperfect (progressive/durative)διαλέγομαι: 'discuss, dispute, reason with'; the imperfect depicts the ongoing altercation.
περὶaboutpreposition + genitive (reference)
τοῦtheGenitivearticle
Μωϋσέωςof MosesGenitivegenitive of possessionΜωϋσῆς: 'Moses'; the dispute concerned the disposal of his body (Deut 34:6 left its place unknown).
σώματοςbodyGenitiveobject of περί (reference)σῶμα: 'body'; the corpse of Moses — the object of the angelic contest in the Assumption of Moses.
οὐκnotnegative particle
ἐτόλμησενhe daredAor Act Indic 3 Sg · τολμάωmain verb→ constative aoristτολμάω: 'dare, presume'; even Michael 'did not dare' — the restraint the intruders flagrantly lack.
κρίσινjudgmentAccusativedirect object of ἐπενεγκεῖνκρίσις: 'judgment, verdict'; here the act of pronouncing condemnation — reserved to God.
ἐπενεγκεῖνto bring againstAor Act Inf · ἐπιφέρωcomplementary infinitive (w/ ἐτόλμησεν)→ constative aoristἐπιφέρω: 'bring upon, bring against' (ἐπί + φέρω); to 'level' a charge or sentence.
βλασφημίαςof blasphemy/revilingGenitivegenitive of quality (descriptive)βλασφημία: 'slander, reviling, blasphemy'; 'a judgment of reviling' = an abusive verdict — exactly what the intruders dare (v.8).
ἀλλὰbutadversative conjunction
εἶπενhe saidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb→ constative aoristλέγω: 'say'; introduces Michael's deferential reply.
Ἐπιτιμήσαιmay he rebukeAor Act Optative 3 Sg · ἐπιτιμάωmain verb (volitive optative)→ constative aorist (volitive)ἐπιτιμάω: 'rebuke, censure'; the optative is a wish — Michael leaves judgment to the Lord (echoing Zech 3:2).
σοιyouDativedat. of (dis)advantage (object of rebuke)
κύριοςthe LordNominativesubject of ἐπιτιμήσαικύριος: 'Lord'; God himself, to whom Michael defers the verdict the angel will not presume to pronounce.
10
οὗτοι δὲ ὅσα μὲν οὐκ οἴδασιν βλασφημοῦσιν, ὅσα δὲ φυσικῶς ὡς τὰ ἄλογα ζῷα ἐπίστανται, ἐν τούτοις φθείρονται.
But these people blaspheme whatever they do not understand, and whatever they do understand by instinct, like the irrational animals, by these things they are destroyed.
Contrast resumed: the intruders' double follyδὲReturning to 'these' (over against Michael), Jude exposes a double ruin: they revile the spiritual realities they cannot comprehend, while what they do grasp — mere brute instinct — corrupts them. Like 'irrational animals,' they live by appetite, and that very appetite proves their destruction (cf. 2 Pet 2:12).
οὗτοιtheseNominativesubject (demonstrative)οὗτος: 'these'; resumes the contemptuous reference to the intruders, set against Michael.
δὲbutadversative particle
ὅσαwhateverAccusativerelative pronoun (object of βλασφημοῦσιν)ὅσος: 'as much/many as, whatever'; the indefinite relative — the scope of their reviling ignorance.
μὲνon the one handcorrelative particle (μέν … δέ)
οὐκnotnegative particle
οἴδασινthey understandPerf Act Indic 3 Pl · οἶδαmain verb (rel. clause)→ perfect-as-present (state of knowledge)οἶδα: 'know, understand'; the spiritual things beyond their grasp, which they nonetheless blaspheme.
βλασφημοῦσινthey blasphemePres Act Indic 3 Pl · βλασφημέωmain verb→ customary presentβλασφημέω: 'revile, blaspheme'; they slander what they do not comprehend — the antithesis of Michael's restraint.
ὅσαwhateverAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐπίστανται)ὅσος: the second relative — the realm of their merely instinctual knowledge.
δὲandcorrelative particle (δέ answering μέν)
φυσικῶςby instinct/naturallyadverb (manner)φυσικῶς: 'naturally, by instinct'; their 'knowledge' is bare animal appetite, not understanding.
ὡςlikecomparative particle
τὰtheNominativearticle
ἄλογαirrationalNominativeattributive adjectiveἄλογος: 'without reason, irrational' (ἀ + λόγος); the brute beasts, governed by instinct (cf. 2 Pet 2:12).
ζῷαanimalsNominativesubject of the comparisonζῷον: 'living creature, animal'; the image of the intruders as mere beasts driven by appetite.
ἐπίστανταιthey understand/knowPres Mid Indic 3 Pl · ἐπίσταμαιmain verb (rel. clause)→ stative presentἐπίσταμαι: 'know, understand, be acquainted with'; the things they 'know' — only what instinct teaches.
ἐνbypreposition + dative (means/cause)
τούτοιςthese thingsDativedat. of means (the instinctual appetites)οὗτος: 'these (things)'; the very appetites they indulge are the agents of their ruin.
φθείρονταιthey are destroyed/corruptedPres Pass Indic 3 Pl · φθείρωmain verb→ present (ongoing/iterative)φθείρω: 'corrupt, ruin, destroy'; the present passive — they are being undone by their own lusts.
11
οὐαὶ αὐτοῖς, ὅτι τῇ ὁδῷ τοῦ Κάϊν ἐπορεύθησαν, καὶ τῇ πλάνῃ τοῦ Βαλαὰμ μισθοῦ ἐξεχύθησαν, καὶ τῇ ἀντιλογίᾳ τοῦ Κόρε ἀπώλοντο.
Woe to them! For they went in the way of Cain, and abandoned themselves to the error of Balaam for wages, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.
Prophetic woe-oracleasyndetonA prophetic 'woe' (cf. the prophets, and Jesus' woes) crowns the indictment with three OT types of the apostate: Cain (murderous envy/godlessness, Gen 4), Balaam (greed-driven leading astray, Num 22–24, 31), and Korah (rebellion against God-given authority, Num 16). The three aorists — 'went … poured themselves out … perished' — already pronounce their doom as good as accomplished.
οὐαὶwoeinterjection (woe-oracle)οὐαί: 'woe!'; the prophetic cry of doom and lament (cf. Mt 23) — here pronounced over the intruders.
αὐτοῖςto themDativedat. of disadvantage (object of woe)
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction
τῇtheDativearticle
ὁδῷwayDativedat. of place/manner (path walked)ὁδός: 'way, road, path'; the 'way of Cain' — godless envy issuing in violence and self-will (Gen 4).
τοῦofGenitivearticle
ΚάϊνCainGenitivegenitive (descriptive/possessive)Κάϊν: 'Cain' (indeclinable); the first murderer, type of the godless man who hates his brother (cf. 1 Jn 3:12).
ἐπορεύθησανthey went/walkedAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · πορεύομαιmain verb (first clause)→ constative aoristπορεύομαι: 'go, walk, travel'; they 'walked' Cain's path — their manner of life patterned on his.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
τῇtheDativearticle
πλάνῃerror/deceitDativedat. (sphere into which they rushed)πλάνη: 'wandering, error, deceit'; Balaam's 'error' — leading Israel astray for profit (Num 31:16).
τοῦofGenitivearticle
ΒαλαὰμBalaamGenitivegenitive (descriptive)Βαλαάμ: 'Balaam' (indeclinable); the mercenary prophet who sold his gift for gain (cf. 2 Pet 2:15).
μισθοῦfor wages/payGenitivegenitive of priceμισθός: 'wage, reward, pay'; the genitive of price — Balaam's, and the intruders', love of money.
ἐξεχύθησανthey abandoned themselvesAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · ἐκχέωmain verb (second clause)→ constative aoristἐκχέω: 'pour out'; the passive idiom 'they poured themselves out / gave themselves up' — flung headlong into Balaam's error for pay.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
τῇtheDativearticle
ἀντιλογίᾳrebellion/disputeDativedat. (sphere/cause of ruin)ἀντιλογία: 'contradiction, dispute, rebellion' (ἀντί + λόγος); Korah's 'gainsaying' — defiance of God-appointed authority (Num 16).
τοῦofGenitivearticle
ΚόρεKorahGenitivegenitive (descriptive)Κόρε: 'Korah' (indeclinable); leader of the revolt against Moses and Aaron, swallowed by the earth (Num 16).
ἀπώλοντοthey perishedAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · ἀπόλλυμιmain verb (third clause)→ constative aorist (proleptic)ἀπόλλυμι (mid.): 'perish, be destroyed'; their doom stated as accomplished — they 'perished' in Korah's rebellion.
12
οὗτοί εἰσιν οἱ ἐν ταῖς ἀγάπαις ὑμῶν σπιλάδες συνευωχούμενοι ἀφόβως, ἑαυτοὺς ποιμαίνοντες, νεφέλαι ἄνυδροι ὑπὸ ἀνέμων παραφερόμεναι, δένδρα φθινοπωρινὰ ἄκαρπα δὶς ἀποθανόντα ἐκριζωθέντα,
These are the hidden reefs at your love-feasts, feasting together without fear, shepherding only themselves; waterless clouds carried along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted;
Metaphorical indictmentasyndetonA cascade of nature-metaphors exposes the intruders' emptiness and danger. They are 'hidden reefs' (or 'blemishes') that wreck the fellowship even at the love-feasts; 'waterless clouds' that promise rain but give none; 'autumn trees' barren when fruit is due, doubly dead and uprooted. Each image marks them as deceptive, fruitless, and doomed.
οὗτοίtheseNominativesubject (demonstrative)οὗτος: 'these'; opening the metaphor-string that runs through v.13.
εἰσινarePres Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίcopula→ stative presentεἰμί: 'be'; links the intruders to the predicate images.
οἱthe (ones)Nominativearticle (substantival)
ἐνat/inpreposition + dative (place/occasion)
ταῖςtheDativearticle
ἀγάπαιςlove-feastsDativeobject of ἐν (the occasion)ἀγάπη: here pl. 'love-feasts' (agapē) — the communal Christian meals the intruders defile by their presence (cf. 2 Pet 2:13).
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession
σπιλάδεςhidden reefsNominativepredicate nominativeσπιλάς: 'hidden reef, rock' (on which ships founder); or 'spot, blemish' — the wordplay (cf. σπίλος, 2 Pet 2:13) marks them as unseen perils to the fellowship.
συνευωχούμενοιfeasting togetherPres Mid Ptc · Nom Pl Masc · συνευωχέομαιadverbial (attendant circumstance) participle→ present (concurrent)συνευωχέομαι: 'feast together, banquet with' (σύν + εὐωχέομαι); they share the meal while corrupting it.
ἀφόβωςwithout fearadverb (manner)ἀφόβως: 'fearlessly, without reverence' (ἀ + φόβος); their shameless presumption — no fear of God.
ἑαυτοὺςthemselvesAccusativereflexive direct object of ποιμαίνοντεςἑαυτοῦ: 'themselves'; they tend only themselves — false shepherds feeding their own appetites (cf. Ezek 34:2).
ποιμαίνοντεςshepherdingPres Act Ptc · Nom Pl Masc · ποιμαίνωadverbial participle (coordinate)→ present (characteristic)ποιμαίνω: 'shepherd, tend'; with the reflexive — they pastor themselves, not the flock.
νεφέλαιcloudsNominativepredicate nominative (apposition)νεφέλη: 'cloud'; the next image — clouds promising rain but yielding none.
ἄνυδροιwaterlessNominativeattributive adjectiveἄνυδρος: 'waterless, dry' (ἀ + ὕδωρ); rainless clouds — all show and no substance (cf. 2 Pet 2:17, 'waterless springs').
ὑπὸbypreposition + genitive (agency)
ἀνέμωνwindsGenitivegenitive of agentἄνεμος: 'wind'; the winds that drive the empty clouds aimlessly along.
παραφερόμεναιcarried alongPres Pass Ptc · Nom Pl Fem · παραφέρωattributive participle (modifies νεφέλαι)→ present (ongoing)παραφέρω: 'carry past/away' (παρά + φέρω); the clouds (and the men) blown about — rootless, unstable.
δένδραtreesNominativepredicate nominative (apposition)δένδρον: 'tree'; the third image — barren autumn trees.
φθινοπωρινὰof late autumnNominativeattributive adjectiveφθινοπωρινός: 'belonging to late autumn'; the harvest season — yet these trees bear nothing when fruit is due.
ἄκαρπαfruitlessNominativeattributive adjectiveἄκαρπος: 'unfruitful, barren' (ἀ + καρπός); no fruit — the mark of a worthless life (cf. Mt 7:19).
δὶςtwiceadverb (numeral)δίς: 'twice'; 'twice dead' — barren and now uprooted, dead beyond recovery.
ἀποθανόνταhaving diedAor Act Ptc · Nom Pl Neut · ἀποθνῄσκωattributive participle (modifies δένδρα)→ constative aoristἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; the trees are dead — fruitless and lifeless.
ἐκριζωθένταuprootedAor Pass Ptc · Nom Pl Neut · ἐκριζόωattributive participle (coordinate)→ constative aoristἐκριζόω: 'uproot, pull up by the roots' (ἐκ + ῥίζα); the final image of total judgment — torn out, fit only for burning (cf. Mt 15:13).
13
κύματα ἄγρια θαλάσσης ἐπαφρίζοντα τὰς ἑαυτῶν αἰσχύνας, ἀστέρες πλανῆται οἷς ὁ ζόφος τοῦ σκότους εἰς αἰῶνα τετήρηται.
wild waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of darkness has been reserved forever.
Metaphorical indictment (continued)asyndetonTwo final images close the string. 'Wild sea-waves' fling up their shame like the sea's froth and refuse (cf. Isa 57:20); 'wandering stars' (planets/comets that leave their course) are doomed to the blackest dark — the same τηρέω motif recurs: the gloom 'has been reserved' for them, as the angels were 'kept' (v.6).
κύματαwavesNominativepredicate nominative (apposition)κῦμα: 'wave'; the fourth image — turbulent breakers casting up debris.
ἄγριαwildNominativeattributive adjectiveἄγριος: 'wild, savage, untamed'; the waves' violent, ungovernable surge.
θαλάσσηςof the seaGenitivegenitive (of source/relation)θάλασσα: 'sea'; the restless sea, image of the godless (Isa 57:20).
ἐπαφρίζονταfoaming upPres Act Ptc · Nom Pl Neut · ἐπαφρίζωattributive participle (modifies κύματα)→ present (characteristic)ἐπαφρίζω: 'foam up, foam out' (ἐπί + ἀφρίζω); a rare word — the sea spews foam as they spew forth their shameless deeds.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle
ἑαυτῶνtheir ownGenitivereflexive possessive genitive
αἰσχύναςshameful deedsAccusativedirect object of ἐπαφρίζοντααἰσχύνη: 'shame, disgrace, shameful thing'; the pl. 'shames' — their disgraceful acts thrown up for all to see, like sea-foam and wrack.
ἀστέρεςstarsNominativepredicate nominative (apposition)ἀστήρ: 'star'; the fifth and climactic image.
πλανῆταιwanderingNominativeattributive (apposition) nounπλανήτης: 'wanderer, planet' (cf. πλάνη, v.11); stars that leave their course — no fixed guide, but lost themselves and misleading others.
οἷςfor whomDativerelative pronoun (dat. of advantage/possession)
ὁtheNominativearticle
ζόφοςgloomNominativesubject of τετήρηταιζόφος: 'gloom, nether darkness'; the same word as v.6 — the murky dark reserved for the angels now reserved for these.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle
σκότουςdarknessGenitivegenitive (epexegetical/of apposition)σκότος: 'darkness'; 'the gloom of darkness' — the blackest dark, the antithesis of stars' light, their fitting end.
εἰςforpreposition + accusative (extent of time)
αἰῶναeverAccusativeobject of εἰς (duration)αἰών: 'age, eternity'; εἰς αἰῶνα = 'forever' — their doom is permanent.
τετήρηταιhas been reservedPerf Pass Indic 3 Sg · τηρέωmain verb (rel. clause)→ intensive perfect (settled reservation)τηρέω: 'keep, reserve'; the τηρέω motif climaxes — the darkness 'has been kept' for them, as judgment was kept for the angels (v.6).
14
Προεφήτευσεν δὲ καὶ τούτοις ἕβδομος ἀπὸ Ἀδὰμ Ἑνὼχ λέγων· Ἰδοὺ ἦλθεν κύριος ἐν ἁγίαις μυριάσιν αὐτοῦ,
It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, 'Behold, the Lord came with his holy myriads,
Prophetic citation (1 Enoch)δὲJude clinches the indictment with a citation of 1 Enoch 1:9, naming Enoch 'the seventh from Adam' (Gen 5). The prophetic aorist ἦλθεν ('came') views the Lord's future coming in judgment as certain and as good as accomplished — he comes with his 'holy myriads' (the angelic hosts of judgment).
ΠροεφήτευσενprophesiedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · προφητεύωmain verb→ constative aoristπροφητεύω: 'prophesy, speak as a prophet'; Jude treats Enoch's words as genuine prophecy fulfilled in 'these.'
δὲandconnective particle (development)
καὶalsoadverbial (ascensive)
τούτοιςabout theseDativedat. of reference (object of the prophecy)οὗτος: 'these'; the prophecy 'concerns these' — the intruders are its referent.
ἕβδομοςseventhNominativeattributive (predicate of position)ἕβδομος: 'seventh'; 'seventh from Adam' (Adam, Seth, Enosh, Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared, Enoch — Gen 5), a phrase from 1 Enoch lending him venerable antiquity.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (origin/reckoning)
ἈδὰμAdamGenitiveobject of ἀπό (point of reckoning)Ἀδάμ: 'Adam' (indeclinable); the first man, from whom Enoch's generations are counted.
ἙνὼχEnochNominativesubject of προεφήτευσενἙνώχ: 'Enoch' (indeclinable); the antediluvian who 'walked with God' (Gen 5:24); the cited prophecy is from 1 Enoch 1:9.
λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · λέγωadverbial participle (introduces direct speech)→ present (concurrent)λέγω: 'say'; λέγων introduces the quotation (a Septuagintal idiom).
Ἰδοὺbeholdinterjection (attention-marker)ἰδού: 'behold, look!'; the prophetic 'behold' summoning attention to the vision of the coming.
ἦλθενcameAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἔρχομαιmain verb (within the quotation)→ prophetic (proleptic) aoristἔρχομαι: 'come'; the prophetic aorist — the future judgment-coming spoken of as already done, so certain is it.
κύριοςthe LordNominativesubject of ἦλθενκύριος: 'Lord'; in 1 Enoch, God; Jude doubtless hears it of the Lord Jesus coming in judgment (cf. v.21).
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (accompaniment)
ἁγίαιςholyDativeattributive adjectiveἅγιος: 'holy'; the 'holy ones' — the angelic hosts attending the Lord's judgment (cf. Deut 33:2, Zech 14:5).
μυριάσινmyriadsDativeobject of ἐν (accompaniment)μυριάς: 'ten thousand, myriad, countless host'; the innumerable angelic armies of judgment.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession
15
ποιῆσαι κρίσιν κατὰ πάντων καὶ ἐλέγξαι πᾶσαν ψυχὴν περὶ πάντων τῶν ἔργων ἀσεβείας αὐτῶν ὧν ἠσέβησαν καὶ περὶ πάντων τῶν σκληρῶν ὧν ἐλάλησαν κατ' αὐτοῦ ἁμαρτωλοὶ ἀσεβεῖς.
to execute judgment on all and to convict every soul concerning all their works of ungodliness that they have done in an ungodly way, and concerning all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.'
Purpose of the coming (citation continued)asyndetonThe purpose of the Lord's coming: to judge and convict 'all.' The verse hammers the ἀσεβ- root five-fold (works of ungodliness, ungodly deeds, ungodly sinners) — the leitmotif of v.4 driven home: it is precisely the ungodly and their ungodly words and works that meet judgment.
ποιῆσαιto executeAor Act Inf · ποιέωinfinitive of purpose→ constative aoristποιέω: 'do, make, execute'; ποιῆσαι κρίσιν = 'to render judgment' — the purpose of the coming.
κρίσινjudgmentAccusativedirect object of ποιῆσαικρίσις: 'judgment, sentence'; the verdict the Lord comes to pronounce.
κατὰagainstpreposition + genitive (opposition)
πάντωνallGenitiveobject of κατά (the judged)
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἐλέγξαιto convictAor Act Inf · ἐλέγχωinfinitive of purpose (coordinate)→ constative aoristἐλέγχω: 'convict, expose, reprove'; to bring every soul to account and prove its guilt.
πᾶσανeveryAccusativeattributive adjective
ψυχὴνsoulAccusativedirect object of ἐλέγξαιψυχή: 'soul, life, person'; 'every soul' — each individual brought under conviction.
περὶconcerningpreposition + genitive (reference)
πάντωνallGenitiveattributive adjective
τῶνtheGenitivearticle
ἔργωνworksGenitiveobject of περί (reference)ἔργον: 'work, deed'; their deeds — the substance of the indictment.
ἀσεβείαςof ungodlinessGenitivegenitive of quality (attributive)ἀσέβεια: 'ungodliness, impiety'; the keyword noun — their works are 'works of ungodliness.'
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession
ὧνwhichGenitiverelative pronoun (cognate gen. w/ ἠσέβησαν)
ἠσέβησανthey committed ungodlinessAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀσεβέωmain verb (rel. clause)→ constative aoristἀσεβέω: 'be ungodly, act impiously'; the cognate verb — 'the ungodly deeds they ungodlily did,' a deliberate hammering of the root.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
περὶconcerningpreposition + genitive (reference)
πάντωνallGenitiveattributive adjective
τῶνtheGenitivearticle
σκληρῶνharsh thingsGenitivesubstantival adjective (object of περί)σκληρός: 'hard, harsh, rough'; the 'harsh words' — their insolent speech against the Lord (cf. v.16).
ὧνwhichGenitiverelative pronoun (cognate/object gen.)
ἐλάλησανthey spokeAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λαλέωmain verb (rel. clause)→ constative aoristλαλέω: 'speak, utter'; the arrogant speech they hurled against the Lord.
κατ'againstpreposition + genitive (opposition)
αὐτοῦhimGenitiveobject of κατά (the one reviled)
ἁμαρτωλοὶsinnersNominativesubject (apposition) of ἐλάλησανἁμαρτωλός: 'sinner, sinful'; the late-placed subject naming the speakers — 'ungodly sinners.'
ἀσεβεῖςungodlyNominativeattributive adjective (w/ ἁμαρτωλοί)ἀσεβής: 'ungodly, impious'; the keyword adjective sealing the citation — 'ungodly sinners.'
16
οὗτοί εἰσιν γογγυσταί, μεμψίμοιροι, κατὰ τὰς ἐπιθυμίας ἑαυτῶν πορευόμενοι, καὶ τὸ στόμα αὐτῶν λαλεῖ ὑπέρογκα, θαυμάζοντες πρόσωπα ὠφελείας χάριν.
These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own lusts; and their mouth speaks arrogant things, flattering people for the sake of advantage.
Characterization of the intrudersasyndetonJude profiles the intruders' speech and motives, echoing the 'harsh words' of v.15: they are 'grumblers' (like rebellious Israel) and 'fault-finders,' driven by their own desires, mouthing 'bombast,' yet fawning on the influential 'for advantage' — proud toward God and servile toward men whom they can exploit.
οὗτοίtheseNominativesubject (demonstrative)οὗτος: 'these'; resuming the indictment of the intruders directly (after the citation).
εἰσινarePres Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίcopula→ stative presentεἰμί: 'be'; links them to the predicate nouns of character.
γογγυσταίgrumblersNominativepredicate nominativeγογγυστής: 'grumbler, murmurer'; echoing Israel's wilderness murmuring (Num 14; 1 Cor 10:10) — discontent with God's ordering.
μεμψίμοιροιmalcontentsNominativepredicate nominative (apposition)μεμψίμοιρος: 'complaining of one's lot, fault-finding' (μέμφομαι + μοῖρα); blaming their portion in life — discontented with providence.
κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (standard/norm)
τὰςtheAccusativearticle
ἐπιθυμίαςlusts/desiresAccusativeobject of κατά (the norm of their walk)ἐπιθυμία: 'desire, craving, lust'; their own appetites are their only law (recurs vv.18).
ἑαυτῶνtheir ownGenitivereflexive possessive genitive
πορευόμενοιgoing/walkingPres Mid Ptc · Nom Pl Masc · πορεύομαιattributive/adverbial participle→ present (characteristic)πορεύομαι: 'go, walk, conduct oneself'; their manner of life is governed by lust (cf. v.18).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
τὸtheNominativearticle
στόμαmouthNominativesubject of λαλεῖστόμα: 'mouth'; the organ of their boastful, blasphemous speech.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession
λαλεῖspeaksPres Act Indic 3 Sg · λαλέωmain verb→ customary presentλαλέω: 'speak, utter'; their mouth habitually pours out arrogance.
ὑπέρογκαarrogant thingsAccusativedirect object of λαλεῖ (substantival)ὑπέρογκος: 'swollen, bombastic, arrogant' (ὑπέρ + ὄγκος, 'bulk'); 'overblown' words — pompous, boastful speech.
θαυμάζοντεςadmiring/flatteringPres Act Ptc · Nom Pl Masc · θαυμάζωadverbial participle (manner/attendant circ.)→ present (characteristic)θαυμάζω: 'admire, marvel at'; θαυμάζοντες πρόσωπα = 'showing partiality, flattering faces' — a Semitic idiom for fawning favoritism.
πρόσωπαfaces/personsAccusativedirect object of θαυμάζοντεςπρόσωπον: 'face, person'; 'admiring faces' = courting the influential, with an eye to gain.
ὠφελείαςof advantage/profitGenitivegenitive (w/ χάριν, 'for the sake of')ὠφέλεια: 'benefit, advantage, profit'; their flattery is mercenary — like Balaam, for gain (v.11).
χάρινfor the sake ofimproper preposition + genitive (purpose)χάριν: 'for the sake of, on account of' (postpositive, w/ gen.); marks the self-serving motive — 'for profit's sake.'
17
Ὑμεῖς δέ, ἀγαπητοί, μνήσθητε τῶν ῥημάτων τῶν προειρημένων ὑπὸ τῶν ἀποστόλων τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ,
But you, beloved, remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Turn to the readers / apostolic reminderδὲThe emphatic Ὑμεῖς ('but you') turns from the intruders to the faithful, again addressed as 'beloved.' Jude grounds their security in apostolic prophecy: they are to 'remember' what the apostles foretold — the appearance of such mockers belongs to the expected pattern of the last days, not a surprise.
ὙμεῖςyouNominativesubject (emphatic, fronted)σύ: 'you' (pl.); the emphatic pronoun sets the faithful in sharp contrast to 'these.'
δέbutadversative particle
ἀγαπητοίbelovedVocativevocative of addressἀγαπητός: 'beloved'; the warm address resumes (cf. vv.3, 20).
μνήσθητεrememberAor Pass Impv 2 Pl · μιμνῄσκομαιmain verb (imperative)→ constative aorist (commanding)μιμνῄσκομαι: 'remember, call to mind'; the first imperative addressed to the readers — recall the apostolic warning.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle
ῥημάτωνwordsGenitivegenitive (object of μνήσθητε)ῥῆμα: 'word, saying, utterance'; the apostles' spoken predictions, here recalled.
τῶνthe (ones)Genitivearticle (w/ participle)
προειρημένωνspoken beforehandPerf Pass Ptc · Gen Pl Neut · προλέγωattributive participle (modifies ῥημάτων)→ intensive perfect (standing prediction)προλέγω: 'say beforehand, foretell' (προ + λέγω); the apostles' standing prediction, still in force — the perfect marks its abiding validity.
ὑπὸbypreposition + genitive (agency)
τῶνtheGenitivearticle
ἀποστόλωνapostlesGenitivegenitive of agentἀπόστολος: 'apostle, sent one'; the authoritative messengers of Christ — Jude appeals to their teaching as already received (and places himself among their hearers).
τοῦof theGenitivearticle
κυρίουLordGenitivegenitive (whose apostles)κύριος: 'Lord'; the apostles belong to and represent the Lord Jesus Christ.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of relationship
ἸησοῦJesusGenitiveapposition to κυρίου
ΧριστοῦChristGenitiveapposition
18
ὅτι ἔλεγον ὑμῖν· Ἐπ' ἐσχάτου χρόνου ἔσονται ἐμπαῖκται κατὰ τὰς ἑαυτῶν ἐπιθυμίας πορευόμενοι τῶν ἀσεβειῶν.
that they were saying to you, 'In the last time there will be scoffers, following after their own ungodly lusts.'
Content of the apostolic predictionὅτιThe substance of the apostles' warning (closely paralleling 2 Pet 3:3): in the last age 'scoffers' would arise, walking by their own ungodly desires. By identifying the intruders as the foretold mockers, Jude assures the readers that the crisis confirms, rather than refutes, the apostolic gospel.
ὅτιthatconjunction (content/recitative)ὅτι: 'that'; introduces the content of the apostolic prediction (here recitative, w/ direct speech).
ἔλεγονthey were sayingImperf Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb→ imperfect (customary/repeated)λέγω: 'say'; the imperfect marks the apostles' repeated, customary teaching.
ὑμῖνto youDativeindirect object
Ἐπ'inpreposition + genitive (time)ἐπί: 'on, in, at'; ἐπ' ἐσχάτου χρόνου = 'in the last time' — the eschatological period.
ἐσχάτουlastGenitiveattributive adjectiveἔσχατος: 'last, final'; the closing age before the Lord's coming — already begun (cf. 1 Jn 2:18).
χρόνουtimeGenitiveobject of ἐπί (time)χρόνος: 'time, period'; the appointed final span.
ἔσονταιthere will beFut Mid Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίmain verb (within quotation)→ predictive futureεἰμί: 'be'; the future of the prophecy — now being fulfilled in 'these.'
ἐμπαῖκταιscoffersNominativepredicate nominative (subject of ἔσονται)ἐμπαίκτης: 'mocker, scoffer' (from ἐμπαίζω, 'mock'); those who deride the truth and the coming judgment (cf. 2 Pet 3:3).
κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (norm/standard)
τὰςtheAccusativearticle
ἑαυτῶνtheir ownGenitivereflexive possessive genitive
ἐπιθυμίαςlustsAccusativeobject of κατά (the norm of their walk)ἐπιθυμία: 'desire, lust'; their cravings rule them (cf. v.16) — the link confirming the scoffers are 'these.'
πορευόμενοιwalkingPres Mid Ptc · Nom Pl Masc · πορεύομαιattributive participle (modifies ἐμπαῖκται)→ present (characteristic)πορεύομαι: 'go, walk, conduct oneself'; their life governed by lust — the same idiom as v.16.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle
ἀσεβειῶνungodlyGenitivegenitive of quality (attributive)ἀσέβεια: 'ungodliness, impiety'; 'lusts of ungodliness' = their ungodly cravings — the keyword root once more (cf. vv.4, 15).
19
Οὗτοί εἰσιν οἱ ἀποδιορίζοντες, ψυχικοί, πνεῦμα μὴ ἔχοντες.
These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit.
Final characterizationasyndetonJude's last 'these are' caps the indictment with three damning marks: they 'set up divisions' (factious separatists, perhaps boasting an elite spirituality), they are ψυχικοί ('soulish, merely natural'), and — the decisive verdict — they do 'not have the Spirit.' For all their pretensions, they are spiritually empty.
ΟὗτοίtheseNominativesubject (demonstrative)οὗτος: 'these'; the final summarizing reference to the intruders.
εἰσινarePres Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίcopula→ stative presentεἰμί: 'be'; links them to the closing predicates.
οἱthe (ones)Nominativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
ἀποδιορίζοντεςcausing divisionsPres Act Ptc · Nom Pl Masc · ἀποδιορίζωsubstantival participle (predicate)→ present (characteristic)ἀποδιορίζω: 'make distinctions, separate off, cause divisions' (ἀπό + διά + ὁρίζω); a NT hapax — they draw factional boundaries, perhaps claiming superior spirituality.
ψυχικοίworldly/naturalNominativepredicate nominative (apposition)ψυχικός: 'natural, unspiritual, soulish' (from ψυχή); governed by the natural life, not the Spirit (cf. 1 Cor 2:14) — the irony: the spiritual elitists are merely 'soulish.'
πνεῦμαSpiritAccusativedirect object of ἔχοντεςπνεῦμα: 'Spirit'; the Holy Spirit (cf. v.20) — which they conspicuously lack, the root verdict on them.
μὴnotnegative particle (w/ participle)
ἔχοντεςhavingPres Act Ptc · Nom Pl Masc · ἔχωattributive participle (modifies οὗτοι)→ present (characteristic)ἔχω: 'have, possess'; with μή — 'not having the Spirit,' the conclusive mark of their unregeneracy.
20
Ὑμεῖς δέ, ἀγαπητοί, ἐποικοδομοῦντες ἑαυτοὺς τῇ ἁγιωτάτῃ ὑμῶν πίστει, ἐν πνεύματι ἁγίῳ προσευχόμενοι,
But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,
Exhortation to the faithfulδὲAgain the emphatic Ὑμεῖς … ἀγαπητοί turns to the readers, opening the closing exhortation (vv.20–23). Two participles — 'building up' on the faith and 'praying in the Holy Spirit' — define the means by which they are to keep themselves (v.21). Note the Trinitarian shape: Spirit (v.20), God (v.21a), Lord Jesus Christ (v.21b).
ὙμεῖςyouNominativesubject (emphatic, fronted)σύ: 'you' (pl.); the contrast with 'these' (v.19) sharpened — the faithful's calling against the intruders' emptiness.
δέbutadversative particle
ἀγαπητοίbelovedVocativevocative of addressἀγαπητός: 'beloved'; the affectionate address opening the final exhortation.
ἐποικοδομοῦντεςbuilding upPres Act Ptc · Nom Pl Masc · ἐποικοδομέωadverbial participle (means, w/ τηρήσατε v.21)→ present (ongoing)ἐποικοδομέω: 'build up upon' (ἐπί + οἰκοδομέω); the readers build themselves up on the foundation of the faith (cf. 1 Cor 3:10–12).
ἑαυτοὺςyourselvesAccusativereflexive direct objectἑαυτοῦ: 'yourselves'; the community edifying one another (and itself).
τῇtheDativearticle
ἁγιωτάτῃmost holyDativeattributive adjective (superlative)ἅγιος (superl. ἁγιώτατος): 'most holy'; the faith — the once-delivered deposit (v.3) — is the holy foundation on which they build.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession
πίστειfaithDativedat. of basis/foundation (on which they build)πίστις: here the objective 'faith' (as v.3) — the body of truth that is their foundation.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere/means)
πνεύματιSpiritDativeobject of ἐν (sphere/means of prayer)πνεῦμα: 'Spirit'; prayer 'in the Holy Spirit' — the very Spirit the intruders lack (v.19).
ἁγίῳHolyDativeattributive adjectiveἅγιος: 'holy'; the Holy Spirit, by whom true prayer is offered (cf. Rom 8:26–27).
προσευχόμενοιprayingPres Mid Ptc · Nom Pl Masc · προσεύχομαιadverbial participle (means, coordinate)→ present (ongoing)προσεύχομαι: 'pray'; the second means of self-keeping — Spirit-empowered prayer.
21
ἑαυτοὺς ἐν ἀγάπῃ θεοῦ τηρήσατε προσδεχόμενοι τὸ ἔλεος τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ εἰς ζωὴν αἰώνιον.
keep yourselves in the love of God, awaiting the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Central exhortationasyndetonThe main imperative of the exhortation: 'keep yourselves in the love of God.' The τηρέω keyword turns positive — the faithful actively keep themselves in the very love God set on them (v.1). The participle 'awaiting the mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life' fixes their hope on his coming, the obverse of the judgment awaiting the ungodly.
ἑαυτοὺςyourselvesAccusativereflexive direct object of τηρήσατεἑαυτοῦ: 'yourselves'; the readers' own responsibility — to remain within God's love.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere)
ἀγάπῃloveDativeobject of ἐν (sphere)ἀγάπη: 'love'; 'the love of God' — most likely God's love for them (cf. v.1, 'beloved in God'), the sphere in which they abide.
θεοῦof GodGenitivegenitive (subjective: God's love)
τηρήσατεkeepAor Act Impv 2 Pl · τηρέωmain verb (imperative)→ constative aorist (commanding)τηρέω: 'keep, guard, preserve'; the central command — the τηρέω keyword (vv.1, 6, 13) at its positive climax.
προσδεχόμενοιawaitingPres Mid Ptc · Nom Pl Masc · προσδέχομαιadverbial participle (manner/attendant circ.)→ present (ongoing)προσδέχομαι: 'await, look for, welcome'; eager expectation of Christ's coming mercy.
τὸtheAccusativearticle
ἔλεοςmercyAccusativedirect object of προσδεχόμενοιἔλεος: 'mercy'; the mercy of Christ at his coming (cf. v.2) — the faithful's hope, over against the judgment on the ungodly.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle
κυρίουLordGenitivegenitive (whose mercy)κύριος: 'Lord'; Jesus Christ, who shows mercy at his return (cf. 2 Tim 1:18).
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of relationship
ἸησοῦJesusGenitiveapposition to κυρίου
ΧριστοῦChristGenitiveapposition
εἰςuntopreposition + accusative (goal/result)
ζωὴνlifeAccusativeobject of εἰς (goal)ζωή: 'life'; the goal to which the mercy leads — eternal life.
αἰώνιονeternalAccusativeattributive adjectiveαἰώνιος: 'eternal, everlasting'; the life of the age to come — the believers' destiny, opposite the 'eternal fire' (v.7) of the ungodly.
22
καὶ οὓς μὲν ἐλεᾶτε διακρινομένους,
And have mercy on those who waver;
Pastoral application: mercy toward the waveringκαὶThe text of vv.22–23 is notoriously disturbed. The longer three-clause reading (followed here) gives a graded pastoral response: mercy to the 'doubting/wavering' (διακρινομένους — the same verb as Michael's 'disputing,' v.9). A shorter two-clause text (so P72, B) reads 'snatch some, save some' or has 'reprove (ἐλέγχετε) those who dispute.' The believers, kept in God's love, must reach out to rescue others.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
οὓςthose whomAccusativerelative pronoun (οὓς μέν … οὓς δέ, 'some … others')ὅς: here οὓς μέν = 'some' — the first group, the wavering, in the partitive construction.
μὲνon the one handcorrelative particle (μέν … δέ, vv.22–23)μέν: marks the first group of the graded response.
ἐλεᾶτεhave mercy onPres Act Impv 2 Pl · ἐλεάωmain verb (imperative)→ present (general/ongoing)ἐλεάω: 'have mercy, show compassion' (variant of ἐλεέω; cf. ἔλεος, vv.2, 21); the mercy received is to be extended.
διακρινομένουςwho waver/doubtPres Mid Ptc · Acc Pl Masc · διακρίνωsubstantival participle (object of ἐλεᾶτε)→ present (ongoing)διακρίνω (mid.): 'doubt, waver, dispute, be in two minds'; the same verb as v.9 — here the wavering/doubting (or 'disputing'), toward whom mercy is shown.
23
οὓς δὲ σῴζετε ἐκ πυρὸς ἁρπάζοντες, οὓς δὲ ἐλεᾶτε ἐν φόβῳ, μισοῦντες καὶ τὸν ἀπὸ τῆς σαρκὸς ἐσπιλωμένον χιτῶνα.
and others save, snatching them out of the fire; and to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.
Pastoral application (continued)δὲThe remaining clauses of the graded response (still within the disputed text): some are to be 'saved by snatching from the fire' (an urgent rescue, cf. Zech 3:2; Amos 4:11) — others met with mercy 'in fear,' with such caution that they hate 'even the garment stained by the flesh,' lest the rescuer be contaminated. Compassion is paired with vigilant abhorrence of the corruption.
οὓςothers whomAccusativerelative pronoun (second group, οὓς δέ)ὅς: οὓς δέ = 'others' — the second group, to be snatched from the fire.
δὲandcorrelative particle (δέ answering μέν)
σῴζετεsavePres Act Impv 2 Pl · σῴζωmain verb (imperative)→ present (general/ongoing)σῴζω: 'save, rescue, deliver'; the rescue of those in immediate peril.
ἐκout ofpreposition + genitive (separation)
πυρὸςthe fireGenitiveobject of ἐκ (the danger)πῦρ: 'fire'; the fire of judgment (cf. v.7) — a brand to be plucked from the burning (Zech 3:2; Amos 4:11).
ἁρπάζοντεςsnatchingPres Act Ptc · Nom Pl Masc · ἁρπάζωadverbial (means) participle→ present (concurrent)ἁρπάζω: 'seize, snatch, carry off by force'; the urgent grasping of one in danger of the flames.
οὓςothers whomAccusativerelative pronoun (third group, οὓς δέ)ὅς: the third group in the graded response, met with cautious mercy.
δὲandcorrelative particle
ἐλεᾶτεhave mercy onPres Act Impv 2 Pl · ἐλεάωmain verb (imperative)→ present (general/ongoing)ἐλεάω: 'have mercy'; mercy again — but now tempered with caution ('in fear').
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (manner/attendant circ.)
φόβῳfearDativedat. of mannerφόβος: 'fear, reverence, caution'; mercy 'with fear' — wary of contamination, reverent before the danger of sin's defilement.
μισοῦντεςhatingPres Act Ptc · Nom Pl Masc · μισέωadverbial (attendant circ.) participle→ present (characteristic)μισέω: 'hate, detest'; even while showing mercy, the rescuer abhors the sin's defilement.
καὶevenadverbial (ascensive)
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
ἀπὸby/frompreposition + genitive (source/agency)
τῆςtheGenitivearticle
σαρκὸςfleshGenitiveobject of ἀπό (source of the staining)σάρξ: 'flesh'; the corrupt human nature whose defilement stains even the clothing (cf. Zech 3:3–4).
ἐσπιλωμένονstainedPerf Pass Ptc · Acc Sg Masc · σπιλόωattributive participle (modifies χιτῶνα)→ intensive perfect (resulting state)σπιλόω: 'stain, defile, spot' (cf. σπιλάδες, v.12); the garment 'spotted' by contact with the flesh — defilement so contagious even the clothing is to be loathed.
χιτῶναgarment/tunicAccusativedirect object of μισοῦντεςχιτών: 'tunic, undergarment'; the inner garment next to the skin — its very staining marks how near the corruption comes.
24
Τῷ δὲ δυναμένῳ φυλάξαι ὑμᾶς ἀπταίστους καὶ στῆσαι κατενώπιον τῆς δόξης αὐτοῦ ἀμώμους ἐν ἀγαλλιάσει,
Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to set you before his glory blameless, with great joy —
Doxology (part 1: the One praised)δὲThe closing doxology (vv.24–25), among the grandest in the NT, answers the whole letter: in a world of stumbling apostates, God 'is able to keep' (φυλάξαι — the divine 'keeping' that completes the τηρέω theme) the faithful from falling and to present them faultless and exultant before his glory. Human vigilance (v.21) rests on divine power.
Τῷto the (one)Dativearticle (substantizes ptc.; dat. of the doxology)
δὲnowconnective particle (transition to doxology)
δυναμένῳwho is ablePres Mid Ptc · Dat Sg Masc · δύναμαιsubstantival participle (the One praised)→ stative presentδύναμαι: 'be able, have power'; the doxology hails God by his power — able to do what the readers cannot do for themselves.
φυλάξαιto keep/guardAor Act Inf · φυλάσσωcomplementary infinitive (w/ δυναμένῳ)→ constative aoristφυλάσσω: 'guard, protect, keep'; God's keeping (cf. τηρέω, vv.1, 21) — he preserves them from falling.
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativedirect object of φυλάξαι
ἀπταίστουςfrom stumblingAccusativepredicate adjective (object complement)ἄπταιστος: 'without stumbling, sure-footed' (ἀ + πταίω, 'stumble'); a NT hapax — kept from the fatal fall of the apostates.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
στῆσαιto set/presentAor Act Inf · ἵστημιcomplementary infinitive (coordinate)→ constative aoristἵστημι: 'set, place, present, make stand'; to present them upright and accepted before God's glory (cf. Col 1:22).
κατενώπιονbeforeimproper preposition + genitive (place)κατενώπιον: 'before, in the presence of' (κατά + ἐνώπιον); in the very presence of God's glory.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle
δόξηςgloryGenitiveobject of κατενώπιον (place)δόξα: 'glory, splendor'; the radiant presence of God, before which they stand blameless.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession
ἀμώμουςblamelessAccusativepredicate adjective (object complement)ἄμωμος: 'without blemish, blameless' (ἀ + μῶμος); the sacrificial term for an unblemished offering — they are presented faultless (contrast the 'blemishes,' v.12).
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (manner/attendant circ.)
ἀγαλλιάσειexultation/great joyDativedat. of mannerἀγαλλίασις: 'exultation, exuberant joy, gladness'; the jubilant joy — whether God's or the redeemed's — that attends the presentation.
25
μόνῳ θεῷ σωτῆρι ἡμῶν διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν δόξα μεγαλωσύνη κράτος καὶ ἐξουσία πρὸ παντὸς τοῦ αἰῶνος καὶ νῦν καὶ εἰς πάντας τοὺς αἰῶνας· ἀμήν.
to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and unto all the ages. Amen.
Doxology (part 2: the ascription)asyndetonThe ascription completes the doxology. Glory is given to 'the only God our Savior' — recalling the 'only Master' the intruders denied (v.4) — mediated 'through Jesus Christ our Lord.' The fourfold honor (glory, majesty, dominion, authority) is extended across all time: before the ages, now, and to all the ages — sealed with 'Amen.'
μόνῳonlyDativeattributive adjectiveμόνος: 'only, sole'; 'the only God' — the monotheistic affirmation, echoing 'the only Master' denied in v.4.
θεῷGodDativedat. (the one to whom glory is ascribed)θεός: 'God'; the recipient of the doxology.
σωτῆριSaviorDativeapposition to θεῷσωτήρ: 'savior, deliverer'; God as the one who saves — the ground of the readers' hope (cf. v.21).
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of relationship
διὰthroughpreposition + genitive (mediation/agency)διά: 'through'; the glory reaches the Father 'through' Christ the mediator (a Christological addition rare in OT doxologies).
ἸησοῦJesusGenitiveobject of διά (the mediator)
ΧριστοῦChristGenitiveapposition to Ἰησοῦ
τοῦtheGenitivearticle
κυρίουLordGenitiveapposition to Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦκύριος: 'Lord'; the mediator's title — through whom alone glory ascends to God.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of relationship
δόξαgloryNominativenominative (predicate of implied ἔστω/εἴη)δόξα: 'glory, splendor, honor'; the first of the fourfold ascription.
μεγαλωσύνηmajestyNominativenominative (coordinate)μεγαλωσύνη: 'majesty, greatness'; the divine grandeur ascribed in praise.
κράτοςdominion/mightNominativenominative (coordinate)κράτος: 'might, dominion, power'; the ruling strength of God.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἐξουσίαauthorityNominativenominative (coordinate)ἐξουσία: 'authority, right, power'; the fourth member — rightful sovereign authority.
πρὸbeforepreposition + genitive (time)πρό: 'before'; the praise reaches back before all time.
παντὸςallGenitiveattributive adjective
τοῦtheGenitivearticle
αἰῶνοςage/timeGenitiveobject of πρό (time)αἰών: 'age, eternity'; 'before all the age' = before all time began.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
νῦνnowadverb (time)νῦν: 'now'; the present moment — God is glorified now.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
εἰςuntopreposition + accusative (extent of time)
πάνταςallAccusativeattributive adjective
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle
αἰῶναςagesAccusativeobject of εἰς (duration)αἰών: 'age'; εἰς πάντας τοὺς αἰῶνας = 'unto all the ages' — forever; the threefold span (past, present, future) embraces all time.
ἀμήνamenindeclinable (liturgical affirmation)ἀμήν: 'amen, so be it' (Hebrew loanword); the congregation's affirming seal to the doxology.