Jude 1:19 kjv

These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.

Jude 1:19 nkjv

These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.

Jude 1:19 niv

These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.

Jude 1:19 esv

It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit.

Jude 1:19 nlt

These people are the ones who are creating divisions among you. They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God's Spirit in them.

Jude 1 verses

Jude 1 19 Meaning

Jude 1:19 identifies specific characteristics of the false teachers who had infiltrated the early Christian communities. They are marked by their actions of causing divisions, behaving as unspiritual people governed by natural, earthly desires, and crucially, lacking the indwelling Holy Spirit. This verse exposes the spiritual emptiness behind their deceptive influence and warns believers against their disruptive presence and destructive impact on the fellowship of Christ.

Jude 1 19 Context

Jude's letter is a fervent plea to "contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 3). The author is deeply concerned about ungodly individuals who have "crept in unnoticed" (Jude 4) into the Christian community, perverting the grace of God and denying Christ. He likens them to past examples of apostasy and judgment, such as the Israelites in the wilderness (Jude 5), fallen angels (Jude 6), and Sodom and Gomorrah (Jude 7). Throughout the epistle, Jude details the immoral and defiant characteristics of these false teachers, stating that they defile the flesh, reject authority, and revile glories (Jude 8). He describes them as grumblers, faultfinders, people who follow their own sinful passions, utter boastful words, and flatter for personal gain (Jude 16). Verse 19 directly follows a reminder of the apostles' prophetic warnings that "in the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions" (Jude 17-18). Thus, Jude 1:19 serves as an identification: these very people fitting the description of scoffers are the ones causing problems, exposing their spiritual root cause as being "devoid of the Spirit."

Jude 1 19 Word analysis

• These are (οὗτοί εἰσιν): The opening phrase directly points to the false teachers described throughout the preceding verses (especially 4-16 and echoing the description of scoffers in 17-18). It's a definitive identification.
• the ones who (οἱ): A definite article highlighting a specific class or group of people who possess the stated characteristic.
• cause divisions (ἀποδιορίζοντες - apodiorizontes): This Greek word is a particple meaning "to mark off by boundaries," "to separate completely," or "to draw distinct lines." It can imply both a withdrawal from a main group (seceding) or creating divisions within a group by promoting factions, schisms, or cliquishness based on their false teachings and carnal desires. It signifies a deliberate act of fracturing the unity of the body of Christ. This action contrasts sharply with biblical calls for unity (Eph 4:3) and love among believers.
• worldly people (ψυχικοί - psychikoi): This term is critical. It derives from psychē (ψυχή), meaning "soul" or "natural life." In a theological context, psychikos describes someone dominated by their natural human faculties, desires, and understanding, apart from the influence of the Holy Spirit. They operate on a purely natural, unregenerated level, often emphasizing intellectualism, sensual appetites, or human reason rather than divine revelation or spiritual discernment. It stands in contrast to pneumatikos (πνευματικός), "spiritual," which characterizes one led by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 2:14-15; 3:1). The KJV translation "sensual" captures part of this meaning, focusing on the pursuit of physical pleasures, but "worldly" or "soulish" is broader.
• devoid of (μὴ ἔχοντες - mē echontes): Literally "not having." The negative particle mē denotes an absolute and permanent lack, emphasizing that they truly do not possess something essential.
• the Spirit (πνεῦμα - pneuma): In this context, it refers unequivocally to the Holy Spirit. This phrase means they do not have the indwelling Holy Spirit, who empowers, illuminates, guides, and unites true believers. This is the root cause of their divisions and worldliness. Without the Spirit, they are outside the realm of true spiritual life and connection to God, despite any outward profession. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is the mark of a true Christian (Rom 8:9).
• Words-group Analysis:
• "These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly people...": This identifies the individuals and immediately highlights their disruptive actions and carnal nature. Their lack of unity stems from their inner spiritual state.
• "...devoid of the Spirit.": This final phrase is the most damning, providing the ultimate reason for their negative characteristics. Their inability to live godly lives, their divisive actions, and their worldly orientation are all rooted in their lack of spiritual regeneration and empowerment by the Holy Spirit. They are spiritually dead, acting from natural impulses only.

Jude 1 19 Bonus section

The strong terminology used in Jude 1:19 emphasizes that the issue with these false teachers is not merely theological error or moral failure, but a complete lack of spiritual life. This underscores the binary distinction between those who possess the Spirit and those who do not, serving as a boundary for Christian fellowship. This verse also implicitly highlights the crucial role of the Holy Spirit in Christian life – without Him, one cannot live a truly godly life, maintain unity, or understand spiritual truths. Furthermore, the apodiorizontes ("cause divisions") can be seen as a direct counter-witness to the unity and peace that Christ sought for His followers (John 17:21). The characterization of them as psychikoi serves as a strong warning against intellectual pride or a reliance on human reason that dismisses the spiritual, which is particularly relevant in periods when philosophy or worldly wisdom sought to redefine or diminish the simplicity and truth of the gospel. The ultimate distinction made in Jude 1:19 paves the way for Jude's subsequent exhortation to true believers in verses 20-21: "But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life." This clearly shows the path for Spirit-filled believers contrasts sharply with the emptiness of the Spirit-less false teachers.

Jude 1 19 Commentary

Jude 1:19 profoundly characterizes the false teachers not just by their observable destructive behaviors, but by their fundamental spiritual deficiency. The verse paints a clear picture: these individuals, described in earlier verses as immoral, defiant, and driven by ungodly passions, are fundamentally distinct from true believers because they "cause divisions" within the community of faith. This isn't merely disagreement, but an active, deliberate fragmentation of unity, potentially drawing followers to themselves and away from Christ. Their very nature is "worldly" or "soulish," meaning they operate solely on human intuition, desires, and reasoning, apart from divine revelation or the supernatural work of God. This contrasts sharply with a spiritual person who discerns truth through the Spirit (1 Cor 2:14-15). The climactic revelation of the verse is that they are "devoid of the Spirit," indicating they lack the very essence of spiritual life and are not genuinely regenerated believers. The Holy Spirit indwells true Christians, guiding them into truth, convicting them of sin, and producing godly fruit (Gal 5:22-23). The absence of the Spirit in these false teachers explains their destructive theology, immoral conduct, and inability to build up the church, marking them as unredeemed imposters. This serves as a stark warning to believers to discern those who, despite outward appearances, do not possess the animating power and presence of the Spirit of God.