Jude 1 · Verse 10

Jude 1:10

But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.

Jude 1:10, King James Version

Jude 1:10 in other translations

BSB	These men, however, slander what they do not understand, and like irrational animals, they will be destroyed by the things they do instinctively.
WEB	But these speak evil of whatever things they don’t know. They are destroyed in these things that they understand naturally, like the creatures without reason.
ASV	But these rail at whatsoever things they know not: and what they understand naturally, like the creatures without reason, in these things are they destroyed.
YLT	and these, as many things indeed as they have not known, they speak evil of; and as many things as naturally (as the irrational beasts) they understand, in these they are corrupted;
DARBY	But these, whatever things they know not, they speak railingly against; but what even, as the irrational animals, they understand by mere nature, in these things they corrupt themselves.
BBE	But these men say evil about such things as they have no knowledge of; and the things of which they have natural knowledge, like beasts without reason, are the cause of their destruction.
Webster	But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.

What does Jude 1:10 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

10. (2Pe 2:12.) those things which--Greek, "all things whatsoever they understand not," namely, the things of the spiritual world. but what ... naturally--Connect thus, "Whatever (so the Greek) things naturally (by natural, blind instinct), as the unreasoning (so the Greek) animals, they know," &c. The Greek for the former "know" implies deeper knowledge; the latter "know," the mere perception of the "animal senses and faculties."

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 10. But these speak evil of those things which they know not. These false and corrupt teachers employ reproachful language of those things which lie wholly beyond the reach of their vision. 2Pet 2:12.

But what they know naturally. As mere men; as animals; that is, in things pertaining to their physical nature, or in which they are on a level with the brute creation. The reference is to the natural instincts, the impulses of appetite, and passion, and sensual pleasure. The idea of the apostle seems to be, that their knowledge was confined to those things. They did not rise above them to the intelligent contemplation of those higher things, against which they used only the language of reproach. There are multitudes of such men in the world. Towards high and holy objects they use only the language of reproach. They do not understand them, but they can rail at them. Their knowledge is confined to the subjects of sensual indulgence, and all their intelligence in that respect is employed only to corrupt and destroy themselves.

As brute beasts. Animals without intelligence. 2Pet 2:12. In those things they corrupt themselves. They live only for sensual indulgence, and sink deeper and deeper in sensual gratifications.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 10 Speak evil of those things which they know not - They do not understand the origin and utility of civil government; they revile that which ever protects their own persons and their property. This is true in most insurrections and seditions. But what they know naturally - They are destitute of reflection; their minds are uncultivated; they follow mere natural instinct, and are slaves to their animal propensities. As brute beasts - Ὡς τα αλογα ζωα· Like the irrational animals; but, in the indulgence of their animal propensities, they corrupt themselves, beyond the example of the brute beasts. A fearful description; and true of many in the present day.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Jude 1:8-16

False teachers are dreamers; they greatly defile and grievously wound the soul. These teachers are of a disturbed mind and a seditious spirit; forgetting that the powers that be, are ordained of God, Ro 13:1. As to the contest about the body of Moses, it appears that Satan wished to make the place of his burial known to the Israelites, in order to tempt them to worship him, but he was prevented, and vented his rage…

Read the full comment on Jude 1:8-16 →

Jude 1:10 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

οὗτοιhoutoiTheseG3778

δὲdehoweverG1161

ὅσαhosaas much asG3745

μὲνmenindeedG3303

οὐκouknotG3756

οἴδασινoidasinthey understood

βλασφημοῦσιν·blasphēmousinthey denigrate;G987

ὅσαhosaas much asG3745

δὲdehoweverG1161

φυσικῶςphusikōsnaturallyG5447

ὡςhōsasG5613

τὰtatheG3588

ἄλογαalogairrationalG249

ζῷαzōaanimalsG2226

ἐπίστανται,epistantaithey understand,G1987

ἐνeninG1722

τούτοιςtoutoisthese thingsG3778

φθείρονται.phtheirontaithey corrupt themselves.G5351

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Jude 1:10

2 Peter 2:12
But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;
Romans 1:21-22
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

speak.
2Pe 2:12
in those.
Ro 1:21,22

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Jude 1:9
Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.
Jude 1:10
But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.
Jude 1:11
Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

Read all of Jude 1

Jude 1:10 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Pero éstos maldicen las cosas que no conocen; y las cosas que naturalmente conocen, se corrompen en ellas, como bestias brutas.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Mais ceux-ci, ils injurient tout ce qu’ ils ne connaissent pas, et se corrompent dans tout ce qu’ils comprennent naturellement comme des bêtes sans raison.
German Elberfelder 1871	Diese aber lästern, was sie nicht kennen; was irgend sie aber von Natur wie die unvernünftigen Tiere verstehen, darin verderben sie sich.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Hi autem quæcumque quidem ignorant, blasphemant: quæcumque autem naturaliter, tamquam muta animalia, norunt, in his corrumpuntur.