Jude 1 · Verse 8

Jude 1:8

Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.

Jude 1:8, King James Version

Jude 1:8 in other translations

BSB	Yet in the same way these dreamers defile their bodies, reject authority, and slander glorious beings.
WEB	Yet in the same way, these also in their dreaming defile the flesh, despise authority, and slander celestial beings.
ASV	Yet in like manner these also in their dreamings defile the flesh, and set at nought dominion, and rail at dignities.
YLT	In like manner, nevertheless, those dreaming also the flesh indeed do defile, and lordship they put away, and dignities they speak evil of,
DARBY	Yet in like manner these dreamers also defile the flesh, and despise lordship, and speak railingly against dignities.
BBE	In the same way these dreamers make the flesh unclean, having no respect for authorities, and say evil of rulers.
Webster	Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.

What does Jude 1:8 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

8. also--rather, "In like manner nevertheless" (notwithstanding these warning examples) [Alford]. these ... dreamers--The Greek has not "filthy" of English Version. The clause, "these men dreaming" (that is, in their dreams), belongs to all the verbs, "defile," "despise," and "speak evil." All sinners are spiritually asleep, and their carnal activity is as it were a dream (1Th 5:6, 7). Their speaking evil of dignities is because they are dreaming, and know not what they are speaking evil of (Jude 10). "As a man dreaming seems to himself to be seeing and nearing many things, so the natural man's lusts are agitated by joy, distress, fear, and the other passions. But he is a stranger to self-command. Hence, though he bring into play all the powers of reason, he cannot conceive the true liberty which the sons of light, who are awake and in the daylight; enjoy" [Bengel]. defile the flesh--(Jude 7). dominion--"lordship." dignities--literally, "glories." Earthly and heavenly dignities.

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

Barnes' Notes

Verse 8. Likewise also. In the same way do these persons defile the flesh, or resemble the inhabitants of Sodom; that is, they practise the same kind of vices. What the apostle says is, that their character resembled that of the inhabitants of Sodom; the example which he adduces of the punishment which was brought on those sinners, leaves it to be clearly inferred that the persons of whom he was speaking would be punished in a similar manner. These filthy dreamers. The word filthy has been supplied by our translators, but there is no good reason why it should have been introduced. The Greek word (ενυπνιαζω) means to dream; and is applied to these persons as holding doctrines and opinions which sustained the same relation to truth which dreams do to good sense. Their doctrines were the fruits of mere imagination, foolish vagaries and fancies. The word occurs nowhere else in the New Testament, except in Acts 2:17, where it is applied to visions in dreams.

Defile the flesh. Pollute themselves; give indulgence to corrupt passions and appetites. 2Pet 2:10.

Despise dominion. The same Greek word is used here which occurs in 2Pet 2:10. 2Pet 2:10. And speak evil of dignities. 2Pet 2:10.

(a) "defile" 2Pet 2:10,11

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers - He means to say that these false teachers and their followers were as unbelieving and disobedient as the Israelites in the wilderness, as rebellious against the authority of God as the fallen angels, and as impure and unholy as the Sodomites; and that consequently they must expect similar punishment. Our translators, by rendering ενυπνιαζομενοι filthy dreamers, seem to have understood St. Jude to mean les pollutions nocturnes et voluntaires de ces hommes impurs, qui se livrent sans scrupule a toutes sortes des pensees; et salissant leur imagination pas la vue de toutes sortes d' objets, tombent ensuite dans les corsuptions honteuses et criminelles. See Calmet. In plain English, self-pollution, with all its train of curses and cursed effects on body, soul, and spirit. The idea of our translators seems to be confirmed by the words σαρκα μεν μιαινουσι, they indeed pollute the flesh. See what is said at the conclusion of the thirty-eighth chapter of Genesis. Despise dominion - Κυριοτητα δε αθετουσι· They set all government at nought - they will come under no restraints; they despise all law, and wish to live as they list. Speak evil of dignities - Δοξας δε βλασφημουσιν· They blaspheme or speak injuriously of supreme authority. (See 2Pet 2:10, 2Pet 2:11.) They treat governors and government with contempt, and calumniate and misrepresent all Divine and civil institutions.

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 in desperate blasphemy. This should remind all who dispute never to bring railing charges. Also learn hence, that we ought to defend those whom God owns. It is hard, if not impossible, to find any enemies to the Christian religion, who did not, and do not, live in open or secret contradiction to the principles of natural religion. Such are here compared to brute beasts, though they often boast of themselves as the wisest of mankind. They corrupt themselves in the things most open and plain. The fault lies, not in their understandings, but in their depraved wills, and their disordered appetites and affections. It is a great reproach, though unjust to religion, when those who profess it are opposed to it in heart and life. The Lord will remedy this in his time and way; not in men's blind way of plucking up the wheat with the tares. It is sad when men begin in the Spirit, and end in the flesh. Twice dead; they had been once dead in their natural, fallen state; but now they are dead again by the evident proofs of their hypocrisy. Dead trees, why cumber they the ground! Away with them to the fire. Raging waves are a terror to sailing passengers; but when they get into port, the noise and terror are ended. False teachers are to expect the worst punishments in this world and in that to come. They glare like meteors, or falling stars, and then sink into the blackness of darkness for ever. We have no mention of the prophecy of Enoch in any other part or place of Scripture; yet one plain text of Scripture, proves any point we are to believe. We find from this, that Christ's coming to judge was prophesied of, as early as the times before the flood. The Lord cometh: what a glorious time will that be! Notice how often the word "ungodly" is repeated. Many now do not at all refer to the terms godly, or ungodly, unless it be to mock at even the words; but it is not so in the language taught us by the Holy Ghost. Hard speeches of one another, especially if ill-grounded, will certainly come into account at the day of judgment. These evil men and seducers are angry at every thing that happens, and never pleased with their own state and condition. Their will and their fancy, are their only rule and law. Those who please their sinful appetites, are most prone to yield to ungovernable passions. The men of God, from the beginning of the world, have declared the doom denounced on them. Such let us avoid. We are to follow men only as they follow Christ. (Jud 1:17-23)

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Jude 1:8 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.

ὁμοίωςhomoiōsLikewiseG3668

μέντοιmentoiyetG3305

καὶkaialsoG2532

οὗτοιhoutoitheseG3778

ἐνυπνιαζόμενοιenupniazomenoidreaming [ones]G1797

σάρκαsarka[the] fleshG4561

μὲνmenindeedG3303

μιαίνουσιν,miainousindefile,G3392

κυριότηταkuriotētaauthorityG2963

δὲdehoweverG1161

ἀθετοῦσιν,athetousinthey set aside,G114

δόξαςdoxasglorious [ones]G1391

δὲdehoweverG1161

βλασφημοῦσιν.blasphēmousinthey blaspheme.G987

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

Cross references for Jude 1:8

Hebrews 13:17
Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
2 Peter 2:10-12
But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. 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;
Exodus 22:28
Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.
1 Timothy 1:10
For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
1 Peter 2:17
Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
Numbers 16:3
And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord?
Ecclesiastes 10:20
Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.
Jude 1:9-10
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. 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.
1 Corinthians 3:17
If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
Psalms 2:1-6
Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. …
Proverbs 30:11
There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.
Luke 19:14
But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

these.
Jer 38:25-28
defile.
1Co 3:17; 1Ti 1:10; 2Pe 2:10-12
despise.
Ge 3:5; Nu 16:3,12,13, 1Sa 10:27; Ps 2:1-6; 12:3-4; Lu 19:14
Ac 7:27,39; 1Th 4:8; Heb 13:17
speak.
9,10; Ex 22:28; Pr 30:11,17; Ec 10:20; Ac 23:5; 1Pe 2:17

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

Context

Jude 1:7
Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
Jude 1:8
Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.
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.

Read all of Jude 1

Jude 1:8 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	De la misma manera también estos soñadores amancillan la carne, y menosprecian la potestad, y vituperan las potestades superiores.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	De la même manière cependant, ces rêveurs aussi souillent la chair, et méprisent la domination, et injurient les dignités.
German Elberfelder 1871	Doch gleicherweise beflecken auch diese Träumer das Fleisch und verachten die Herrschaft und lästern Herrlichkeiten.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Similiter et hi carnem quidem maculant, dominationem autem spernunt, majestatem autem blasphemant.