Jude 1:9 kjv

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 1:9 nkjv

Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!"

Jude 1:9 niv

But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, "The Lord rebuke you!"

Jude 1:9 esv

But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, "The Lord rebuke you."

Jude 1:9 nlt

But even Michael, one of the mightiest of the angels, did not dare accuse the devil of blasphemy, but simply said, "The Lord rebuke you!" (This took place when Michael was arguing with the devil about Moses' body.)

Jude 1 verses

Jude 1 9 Meaning

Jude 1:9 describes an incident where Michael the archangel, in a dispute with the Devil over the body of Moses, refrained from bringing a slanderous accusation against him. Instead, Michael chose to declare, "The Lord rebuke you!" This verse serves as a profound illustration of humility, proper respect for divine authority, and the appropriate manner of engaging in spiritual conflict, particularly when contrasted with the insolent behavior of the false teachers Jude is condemning. It highlights that even the highest of angels defers judgment and power to God, modeling a crucial principle for believers.

Jude 1 9 Context

The Epistle of Jude is a short, urgent letter primarily warning against ungodly false teachers who had infiltrated the early Christian communities. Jude's purpose is to encourage believers to "contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 1:3). The immediate context of Jude 1:9 is Jude's denunciation of these false teachers, whom he describes as defiling the flesh, rejecting authority, and reviling "glorious ones" or "dignitaries" (Jude 1:8). Michael's encounter with the Devil is presented as a sharp contrast to their behavior. While these teachers act boldly and slanderously even towards spiritual authorities they should respect, Michael, a powerful archangel, demonstrates humility and defers to God's ultimate authority even when dealing with the epitome of evil, the Devil himself. The verse implies an appeal to common Jewish understanding or tradition regarding such a dispute, perhaps alluding to the non-canonical book The Assumption of Moses, which, though not authoritative Scripture, provides a backdrop for the audience's grasp of this specific incident. This context highlights Jude's strong polemic against the arrogant and rebellious nature of the false teachers.

Jude 1 9 Word analysis

• Michael: (Greek: Michaēl, from Hebrew: מִיכָאֵל, Mikha'el meaning "Who is like God?"). One of the chief angels or archangels. He is mentioned in Daniel as a protector of Israel and in Revelation as leading the angelic armies against Satan. His name itself points to God's uniqueness and ultimate power.
• the archangel: (Greek: archangelos, meaning "chief angel" or "first angel"). This title denotes his supreme rank among angels, indicating a high level of authority and power. Despite this elevated status, he does not act independently in this specific conflict.
• when he contended: (Greek: hote diekrineto, from diakrino, meaning "to judge through," "to dispute," "to contend"). This implies a judicial or verbal dispute, an argument over a legal right or possession, rather than a mere physical altercation.
• with the devil: (Greek: diabolos, meaning "slanderer," "accuser"). Refers to Satan, the primary antagonist of God and humanity. His character is fundamentally one of malicious accusation and opposition.
• and disputed: (often included in the meaning of diekrineto, reiterating the nature of the encounter).
• about the body of Moses: While not explicitly detailed in canonical Scripture beyond Deut 34:6 (God buried Moses and no one knows the place of his grave), this indicates a specific dispute. The reasons for the dispute are debated, possibly related to preventing the devil from misusing Moses' body for idolatry or superstitious worship, or to deny the devil any claim over the body of a man so used by God. It points to unseen spiritual battles over significant individuals or relics.
• dared not bring against him: Michael's restraint. Not from fear of the Devil's power, but from reverence for God's divine authority and judgment. He knew his boundaries as a created being.
• a railing accusation: (Greek: blasphēmias, meaning "blasphemy," "slander," "reviling speech," "abusive language"). This refers to speaking abusively or contemptuously. Michael, despite dealing with pure evil, refrained from reviling language, even when provoked by the Devil's nature or actions. This contrasts sharply with the false teachers whom Jude condemns for their unrestrained, blasphemous speech against spiritual authorities.
• but said: This marks an active, intentional statement, not merely an omission. Michael responds appropriately by deferring judgment.
• "The Lord rebuke you!": (Greek: epitimēsai soi Kyrios, directly paralleling Zech 3:2 where the LORD himself rebukes Satan). This phrase means "May the Lord rebuke you!" or "The Lord forbid you!" It demonstrates reliance on divine authority for judgment and condemnation. Michael understands that ultimate judgment belongs to God, not to any created being, however powerful. This models proper conduct in spiritual warfare: letting God handle vengeance and ultimate justice.

Words-group analysis

• "Michael the archangel": Establishes the divine hierarchy and the nature of the participant. Michael's high rank underscores the significance of his humble behavior; if he, being so powerful, defers, then certainly human beings should.
• "contended with the devil about the body of Moses": Identifies the direct antagonists and the specific subject of their contention. It highlights a cosmic spiritual battle over sacred objects or persons, revealing the devil's insidious intent to exploit or corrupt even holy legacies. This serves as an ancient testament to the ongoing spiritual war.
• "dared not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, 'The Lord rebuke you!'": This phrase is the heart of the verse. It encapsulates the core message of humility, proper decorum in spiritual conflict, and deference to God's sovereign authority. It directly counters the prideful, unrestrained, and disrespectful behavior of the false teachers by providing a divine example of proper conduct, even towards an adversary like the Devil. It shows that judgment and ultimate vengeance are God's prerogative.

Jude 1 9 Bonus section

The reference to "the body of Moses" is thought to draw from an extrabiblical Jewish tradition, specifically from the non-canonical text known as "The Assumption of Moses" (though only fragments of this work survive and not all details of the dispute are fully known). Jude's use of this event suggests that his audience was familiar with this narrative, or at least the underlying tradition it represented. The precise reason for the Devil's interest in Moses' body is debated among scholars: possibilities include the Devil wishing to misuse the body for idolatry, to stir up Israel to venerate Moses (violating God's prohibition), or to assert some kind of demonic claim over it due to Moses' human sinfulness or a misunderstanding of his covenantal relationship with God. Regardless of the exact reason, the narrative functions to powerfully illustrate that even in a dispute of such cosmic significance involving sacred persons, the highest angels operate strictly within the bounds of God's appointed authority and proper reverence. This sets a very high standard for Christians who face any form of spiritual opposition, urging reliance on God's power and judgment over human presumption or retaliation.

Jude 1 9 Commentary

Jude 1:9 stands as a pivotal verse, illustrating a profound lesson in spiritual warfare and righteous conduct. Michael, a chief angelic authority, provides an antithetical example to the audacious false teachers described by Jude. Unlike them, who "blaspheme the glorious ones" with irreverent speech and disrespect for spiritual authority (Jude 1:8, 10), Michael exercises profound humility and self-restraint even when directly opposing the arch-enemy, the Devil.

The dispute over Moses' body underscores the reality of unseen spiritual battles and the Devil's ceaseless attempts to corrupt or desecrate that which God considers sacred. Michael's refusal to hurl a "railing accusation" is not born of weakness or fear of the Devil, but rather from a recognition of his own boundaries as a creature and deep respect for God's ultimate prerogative. He understands that justice and judgment belong to the Lord alone. His response, "The Lord rebuke you!" mirrors God's own direct rebuke to Satan in Zechariah 3:2. This demonstrates Michael's perfect alignment with divine will and his absolute deference to God's authority in meting out judgment.

For believers, Michael's example is paramount: it teaches us to combat spiritual evil not with our own personal curses or reviling words, but by trusting in and invoking the superior authority and judgment of the Lord. It highlights the principle of yielding our "rights" to judge or avenge to God (Rom 12:19), especially when confronted by forces beyond our human capacity to truly confront. This deferral to God maintains our purity and righteousness, preventing us from descending to the level of our adversaries or taking on authority that belongs only to the Almighty.