Jude 1:7 kjv

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 1:7 nkjv

as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

Jude 1:7 niv

In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.

Jude 1:7 esv

just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.

Jude 1:7 nlt

And don't forget Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring towns, which were filled with immorality and every kind of sexual perversion. Those cities were destroyed by fire and serve as a warning of the eternal fire of God's judgment.

Jude 1 verses

Jude 1 7 Meaning

Jude 1:7 vividly portrays the severe judgment meted out upon Sodom, Gomorrah, and their neighboring cities. Their destruction by fire served as a clear divine judgment for their widespread and excessive sexual immorality, specifically highlighting their pursuit of "unnatural desire" or "other flesh." This historical act of divine wrath functions as a permanent, enduring warning, demonstrating God's certain and dire consequences for those who flagrantly disregard His moral order, foreshadowing an eternal judgment by fire for unrepentant sin.

Jude 1 7 Context

Jude is a short but forceful letter primarily written to warn believers about false teachers and ungodly individuals who had infiltrated the early Christian communities. These infiltrators perverted God's grace, turning it into a license for immoral behavior, and denied the exclusive authority of Jesus Christ. Jude’s epistle passionately calls the faithful to "contend earnestly for the faith." To underscore the certainty of God's judgment against such perversion, Jude employs a rapid succession of three historical examples of divine wrath: the unbelieving Israelites who perished in the wilderness (Jude 1:5), the angels who rebelled against God (Jude 1:6), and in verse 7, the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. This tripartite structure builds a compelling case, demonstrating a consistent pattern of God's severe and inescapable judgment on all who defy His will. The historical context indicates that the specific mention of Sodom and Gomorrah, with their "unnatural desire," was a direct and potent rebuke against the sexual licentiousness and deviation from God-given design promoted by these false teachers, whose behaviors mirrored the depravity of these condemned cities.

Jude 1 7 Word analysis

• Just as (ὡς - hōs): Introduces a comparison, indicating that the judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah follows the pattern of previous divine judgments cited in Jude, namely, those on Israel in the wilderness and the fallen angels. It reinforces the idea that God’s actions against sin are consistent.
• Sodom and Gomorrah (Σόδομα καὶ Γόμορρα - Sodoma kai Gomorra): These are notorious cities mentioned extensively in the Old Testament, representing profound human wickedness and God's absolute judgment. Their destruction is a well-known historical benchmark for divine retribution.
• and the cities around them: Refers primarily to Admah and Zeboiim (Deut 29:23, Hos 11:8), indicating that the judgment extended beyond the two most famous cities due to widespread participation in similar grave sins, underscoring the pervasive nature of their corruption.
• which likewise (τὸν ὅμοιον τρόπον - ton homoion tropon): Meaning "in a similar manner" or "in a like fashion." This explicitly draws a parallel between the sins of these cities and the type of sinful behavior being promoted by the false teachers, further justifying the upcoming judgment on them.
• indulged in sexual immorality (ἐκπορνεύσασαι - ekporneusasai): A strong compound verb, ekporneúō, meaning to give oneself over entirely to immorality, to practice gross fornication, or to commit fornication habitually. It signifies not merely a single act but a deep, pervasive state of sexual perversion.
• and pursued unnatural desire (ἀπελθοῦσαι ὀπίσω ἑτέρας σαρκός - apelthousai opisō heteras sarkos): Lit. "having gone away after other flesh." This phrase distinctly refers to a departure from God-ordained sexual relations. "Other flesh" highlights desire for a type of flesh not intended by God for sexual intimacy within His design for humanity, specifically pointing to same-sex relations as depicted in the Gen 19 narrative concerning the men of Sodom. This is a crucial clarification, emphasizing the particular nature of their perversion beyond general sexual sin. It signals acts "against nature," echoing concepts found in Rom 1.
• serve as an example (πρόκεινται δεῖγμα - prokeitai deigma): Means "they are set forth as a display," a clear illustration, a public exhibit. Their destruction is not just a past event but serves as a present and enduring warning, a visual aid, of God's judgment for similar sins.
• by undergoing a punishment of (ὑπέχουσαι δίκην - hypéchousai dikēn): Denotes enduring or suffering the penalty. It indicates that the cities were subjected to and are currently experiencing the consequences of their actions in a demonstrative way.
• eternal fire (πυρὸς αἰωνίου - pyros aiōniou): Describes the nature of their judgment. While the physical destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah by fire was a historical event (Gen 19), "eternal fire" points to the type of judgment—enduring and without end in its consequences and symbolism. It prefigures or is symbolic of the eternal, eschatological judgment of unquenchable fire reserved for the wicked, demonstrating that this is not merely a temporal consequence but holds eternal implications. The destructive power and its enduring warning are "eternal."

Jude 1 7 Bonus section

The inclusion of Sodom and Gomorrah as the third example in Jude's triad (after Israel and the angels) reveals a progression of God's judicial pattern: from those under the Law (Israel), to spiritual beings (angels), and finally to a widespread society. This breadth of judgment ensures that no category of being or group escapes divine accountability. The historical reality of the destroyed cities acts as tangible evidence of divine justice, reinforcing the certain fate of the ungodly false teachers whom Jude confronts. The term "unnatural desire" directly refutes any contemporary Gnostic tendencies that might have decoupled the physical body from spiritual salvation, affirming God’s absolute authority over both physical actions and spiritual truths.

Jude 1 7 Commentary

Jude 1:7 functions as a grave admonition against apostasy and license within the Christian community, specifically targeting those who embrace immorality under the guise of "grace." By invoking Sodom and Gomorrah, Jude presents an unambiguous and infamous historical precedent of God’s uncompromising judgment against profound wickedness. The reference to "indulging in sexual immorality" captures their pervasive licentiousness, while "pursuing unnatural desire" zeroes in on their unique and condemned deviation from God’s design for human sexuality, clearly linked to homosexual acts. The ongoing visible evidence of their desolation serves as an enduring "example," a standing monument of divine wrath, not just for Jude's contemporary false teachers but for all generations. This historical judgment by fire becomes a potent type or symbol of the future, irreversible "eternal fire" awaiting all who reject God's moral standards. It underlines that while God is merciful, He is also righteous, and His justice demands punishment for rebellion against His holy order, particularly when it distorts the created order of human relationships.