New International Versionsave others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.
New Living TranslationRescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives.
English Standard Versionsave others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.
Berean Standard Biblesave others by snatching them from the fire; and to still others show mercy tempered with fear, hating even the clothing stained by the flesh.
Berean Literal Bibleand save others, snatching them out of the fire; and show mercy to others with fear, hating even the clothing having been stained by the flesh.
King James BibleAnd others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
New King James Versionbut others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.
New American Standard Biblesave others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh.
NASB 1995save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh.
NASB 1977save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh.
Legacy Standard Bibleand for others, save, snatching them out of the fire; and on others have mercy with fear, hating even the tunic polluted by the flesh.
Amplified Biblesave others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy but with fear, loathing even the clothing spotted and polluted by their shameless immoral freedom.
Christian Standard Biblesave others by snatching them from the fire; have mercy on others but with fear, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.
Holman Christian Standard Biblesave others by snatching them from the fire; have mercy on others but with fear, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.
American Standard Versionand some save, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
Contemporary English VersionRescue any who need to be saved, as you would rescue someone from a fire. Then with fear in your own hearts, have mercy on everyone who needs it. But hate even the clothes of those who have been made dirty by their filthy deeds.
English Revised Versionand some save, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
GOD'S WORD® TranslationSave others by snatching them from the fire [of hell]. Show mercy to others, even though you are afraid that you might be stained by their sinful lives.
Good News Translationsave others by snatching them out of the fire; and to others show mercy mixed with fear, but hate their very clothes, stained by their sinful lusts.
International Standard VersionSave others by snatching them from the fire. To others, show mercy with fear, hating even the clothes stained by their sinful lives.
NET Biblesave others by snatching them out of the fire; have mercy on others, coupled with a fear of God, hating even the clothes stained by the flesh.
New Heart English Bibleand some save, snatching them out of the fire, and on some have mercy with fear; hating even the clothing stained by the flesh.
Webster's Bible TranslationAnd others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
Weymouth New Testamentothers you must try to save, as brands plucked from the flames; and on others look with pity mingled with fear, while you hate every trace of their sin. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Biblesave others with fear by snatching them from the fire, hating even the clothing stained by the flesh.
World English Bibleand some save, snatching them out of the fire with fear, hating even the clothing stained by the flesh. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand rescue others by snatching [them] out of fire; but show mercy to others in fear, hating even the coat having been stained from the flesh.
Berean Literal Bibleand save others, snatching them out of the fire; and show mercy to others with fear, hating even the clothing having been stained by the flesh.
Young's Literal Translation and some in fear save ye, out of the fire snatching, hating even the coat from the flesh spotted.
Smith's Literal TranslationAnd some save in fear, snatching out of the fire; hating also the coat stained from the flesh. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleBut others save, pulling them out of the fire. And on others have mercy, in fear, hating also the spotted garment which is carnal.
Catholic Public Domain VersionYet truly, save them, seizing them from the fire. And have mercy on others: in fear, hating even that which is of the flesh, the defiled garment.
New American Biblesave others by snatching them out of the fire; on others have mercy with fear, abhorring even the outer garment stained by the flesh.
New Revised Standard Versionsave others by snatching them out of the fire; and have mercy on still others with fear, hating even the tunic defiled by their bodies. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd when they repent, have mercy on them with compassion; despise even a garment which is spotted with the things of the flesh.
Aramaic Bible in Plain EnglishAnd when they repent, show pity upon them with respect, while you hate also the tunic that is defiled by the flesh. NT Translations Anderson New Testamentand others, save by fear, snatching them from the fire, hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
Godbey New Testament
and some save, seizing them out of the fire; and some pity in their fear, you indeed hating the garment having been spotted by carnality.
Haweis New Testament
and others save with trembling, snatching them out of the fire; though hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
Mace New Testament
of others be compassionately tender, snatching them, as it were, out of the fire: and avoid even the garment of the infected.
Weymouth New Testament
others you must try to save, as brands plucked from the flames; and on others look with pity mingled with fear, while you hate every trace of their sin.
Worrell New Testament
and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
Worsley New Testament
as snatchingthem out of the fire: hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context A Call to Persevere… 22And indeed, have mercy on those who doubt; 23saveothersby snatching themfromthe fire;andto still othersshow mercytempered withfear,hatingeventheclothingstainedbytheflesh.24Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you unblemished in His glorious presence, with great joy—…
Cross References Zechariah 3:2And the LORD said to Satan: “The LORD rebukes you, Satan! Indeed, the LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebukes you! Is not this man a firebrand snatched from the fire?”
Amos 4:11“Some of you I overthrew as I overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and you were like a firebrand snatched from a blaze, yet you did not return to Me,” declares the LORD.
1 Corinthians 3:15If it is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as if through the flames.
2 Corinthians 5:11Therefore, since we know what it means to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is clear to God, and I hope it is clear to your conscience as well.
James 5:20consider this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
1 Peter 4:18And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”
Matthew 18:15-17If your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. / But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ / If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, regard him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
1 Thessalonians 5:14And we urge you, brothers, to admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, and be patient with everyone.
Galatians 6:1Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.
2 Timothy 2:25-26He must gently reprove those who oppose him, in the hope that God may grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth. / Then they will come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, who has taken them captive to his will.
Romans 11:14in the hope that I may provoke my own people to jealousy and save some of them.
Proverbs 24:11Rescue those being led away to death, and restrain those stumbling toward the slaughter.
Ezekiel 3:18-19If I say to the wicked man, ‘You will surely die,’ but you do not warn him or speak out to warn him from his wicked way to save his life, that wicked man will die in his iniquity, and I will hold you responsible for his blood. / But if you warn a wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness and his wicked way, he will die in his iniquity, but you will have saved yourself.
Ezekiel 33:8-9If I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you will surely die,’ but you do not speak out to dissuade him from his way, then that wicked man will die in his iniquity, yet I will hold you accountable for his blood. / But if you warn the wicked man to turn from his way, and he does not turn from it, he will die in his iniquity, but you will have saved your life.
Isaiah 58:1“Cry aloud, do not hold back! Raise your voice like a ram’s horn. Declare to My people their transgression and to the house of Jacob their sins.
Treasury of Scripture And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. save. Romans 11:14 If by any means I may provoke to emulationthem which are my flesh, and might save some of them. 1 Corinthians 5:3-5 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present,concerning him that hath so done this deed, … 2 Corinthians 7:10-12 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death… pulling. Amos 4:11 I have overthrownsome of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD. Zechariah 3:2 And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee:is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? 1 Corinthians 3:15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. hating. Leviticus 13:47-59 The garment also that the plague of leprosy is in,whether it be a woollen garment, or a linen garment; … Leviticus 14:47 And he that lieth in the house shall wash his clothes; and he that eateth in the house shall wash his clothes. Leviticus 15:17 And every garment, and every skin, whereon is the seed of copulation, shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the even. Jump to Previous BrandsClothingCoatCorruptedFearFireFlamesFleshGarmentHateHatingMercyMingledOthersPityPluckedPollutedPullingSaveShowSpottedStainedTraceTryUncleanJump to Next BrandsClothingCoatCorruptedFearFireFlamesFleshGarmentHateHatingMercyMingledOthersPityPluckedPollutedPullingSaveShowSpottedStainedTraceTryUncleanJude 1 1.He exhorts them to be constant in the profession of the faith.4.false teachers crept in to seduce them, for whose evil doctrine a horrible punishment is prepared;20.whereas the godly may persevere, grow in grace, and keep the faith.save others by snatching them from the fire;This phrase emphasizes the urgency and necessity of rescuing those in spiritual danger. The imagery of "snatching from the fire" suggests a dire situation, akin to rescuing someone from imminent destruction. This can be connected to Zechariah 3:2, where Joshua the high priest is described as a "brand plucked from the fire," symbolizing God's deliverance from judgment. The fire represents judgment or the consequences of sin, and the act of saving others reflects the Christian duty to evangelize and guide others away from spiritual peril. This aligns with the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20, where believers are called to make disciples of all nations. and to still others show mercy tempered with fear,
This part of the verse advises a balanced approach when dealing with those who are in error or sin. "Show mercy" indicates compassion and understanding, recognizing that all have sinned and require grace. However, "tempered with fear" suggests a cautious approach, aware of the potential for being influenced by sin. This reflects the wisdom found inProverbs 1:7, where the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. The fear here is not terror but a reverent awareness of God's holiness and the seriousness of sin. It also echoesGalatians 6:1, which advises believers to restore others gently while being careful not to fall into temptation themselves. hating even the clothing stained by the flesh.
This phrase uses vivid imagery to convey the need for purity and separation from sin. The "clothing stained by the flesh" symbolizes the corrupting influence of sinful behavior. In biblical times, clothing often represented one's status or condition, and stained garments would be seen as defiled. This can be linked toIsaiah 64:6, where human righteousness is compared to "filthy rags." The call to hate even the clothing stained by sin underscores the importance of maintaining holiness and avoiding any association with sin. It reflects the call in1 Peter 1:16 to "be holy, because I am holy," emphasizing the need for believers to pursue righteousness and avoid contamination by sin. Persons / Places / Events 1. JudeThe author of the epistle, traditionally understood to be Jude, the brother of James and half-brother of Jesus. He writes to warn believers about false teachers and to encourage them to contend for the faith. 2. False TeachersThe primary concern of Jude's letter, these individuals were leading believers astray with immoral teachings and practices. 3. The RecipientsEarly Christians who were being influenced by false teachings and needed guidance on how to respond to those who were straying. 4. The FireSymbolic of judgment or destruction, from which believers are urged to save others. 5. The Clothing Stained by the FleshA metaphor for the corrupting influence of sin, indicating the need for purity and caution in dealing with sin. Teaching Points Urgency in EvangelismJude emphasizes the urgency of rescuing those who are in spiritual danger. Believers are called to be proactive in sharing the gospel and guiding others away from destructive paths. Discernment in MercyWhile showing mercy is essential, it must be balanced with discernment and caution. Believers should be compassionate but also aware of the potential influence of sin. Hatred of SinJude's instruction to hate even the clothing stained by the flesh underscores the need for a strong aversion to sin. Christians are called to maintain purity and avoid any association with sinful practices. Fear of the LordThe fear mentioned in Jude is a reverent awe of God, which should guide believers in their interactions with others, ensuring that mercy is shown with a consciousness of God's holiness. Community ResponsibilityThe call to save others highlights the communal aspect of the Christian faith. Believers are responsible for one another, encouraging and correcting each other in love. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1.What is the meaning of Jude 1:23?
2.How can we "save others by snatching them from the fire" today?
3.What does "hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh" mean for Christians?
4.How does Jude 1:23 connect with Jesus' teachings on loving sinners?
5.In what ways can we show mercy while maintaining personal holiness?
6.How can Jude 1:23 guide our approach to evangelism and discipleship?
7.What does Jude 1:23 mean by "snatching others from the fire"?
8.How does Jude 1:23 relate to the concept of salvation?
9.What is the significance of "hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh" in Jude 1:23?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Jude 1?
11.What are the Divine Comedy and Dante's Inferno?
12.What is the definition and meaning of heresy?
13.Revelation 1:14-15 - Can the description of Christ's fiery eyes and bronze feet be taken literally, and does this contradict other portrayals in Scripture?
14.Can angels commit sin?What Does Jude 1:23 Mean Save othersJude calls believers to an active concern for those drifting toward error or judgment. Rather than standing back in criticism, we move toward them with the purpose of rescue. Paul models this inGalatians 6:1, “Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness, but watch yourself, or you also may be tempted”. The command presumes we know and love the truth well enough to recognize danger and value a soul more than our comfort.
Snatching them from the fireThe picture is urgent—pulling someone out of flames moments before they are consumed.Amos 4:11 uses similar language when God says, “I overthrew some of you as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah; you were like a firebrand snatched from the blaze”. Eternal judgment is real (Matthew 25:41), so decisive intervention matters. Practical steps: • Speak the gospel plainly, trustingRomans 1:16—“the power of God for salvation.” • Warn of the consequences of rejecting Christ (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9). • Pray persistently (1 Timothy 2:1-4).
Show mercy tempered with fearNot everyone is in the same place spiritually. Some are deceived but still reachable through patient compassion (2 Timothy 2:24-26). We show mercy—kindness, patience, listening—yet always with “fear,” a reverent awareness of sin’s contagion and God’s holiness (Proverbs 1:7). We never compromise truth to appear merciful; we demonstrate mercy by lovingly leading them to it (Ephesians 4:15).
Hating even the clothing stained by the fleshSin defiles everything it touches. Jude borrows everyday imagery: garments contaminated by immoral living. Believers are to loathe sin’s pollution while still loving the sinner (Psalm 97:10;Revelation 3:4). Healthy boundaries protect us from being drawn into the same corruption: • Reject entertainment or influences that normalize impurity (Ephesians 5:3-4). • Maintain accountability when ministering to those ensnared in sin (1 Corinthians 10:12). • Pursue personal holiness through confession and obedience (1 Peter 1:14-16).
summaryJude 1:23 calls us to a balanced rescue mission—urgent action to pull people from destruction, compassionate engagement that remembers our own frailty, and uncompromising hatred for sin’s defilement. We love souls enough to confront, we rely on God’s truth and power to save, and we safeguard our own walk by clinging to holiness.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek saveσῴζετε(sōzete)Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4982:To save, heal, preserve, rescue. From a primary sos; to save, i.e. Deliver or protect.othersοὓς(hous)Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3739:Who, which, what, that.by snatching [them]ἁρπάζοντες(harpazontes)Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 726:To seize, snatch, obtain by robbery. From a derivative of haireomai; to seize.fromἐκ(ek)Preposition
Strong's 1537:From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.[the] fire;πυρὸς(pyros)Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 4442:Fire; the heat of the sun, lightning; fig: strife, trials; the eternal fire. A primary word; 'fire'.andδὲ(de)Conjunction
Strong's 1161:A primary particle; but, and, etc.to still others,οὓς(hous)Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3739:Who, which, what, that.show mercyἐλεᾶτε(eleate)Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 1653:To pity, have mercy on. From eleos; to compassionate.[ tempered ] withἐν(en)Preposition
Strong's 1722:In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.fear,φόβῳ(phobō)Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5401:(a) fear, terror, alarm, (b) the object or cause of fear, (c) reverence, respect. From a primary phebomai; alarm or fright.hatingμισοῦντες(misountes)Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3404:To hate, detest, love less, esteem less. From a primary misos; to detest; by extension, to love less.evenκαὶ(kai)Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.theτὸν(ton)Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.clothingχιτῶνα(chitōna)Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5509:A tunic, garment, undergarment. Of foreign origin; a tunic or shirt.stainedἐσπιλωμένον(espilōmenon)Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4695:To defile, spot, stain, soil. From spilos; to stain or soil.byἀπὸ(apo)Preposition
Strong's 575:From, away from. A primary particle; 'off, ' i.e. Away, in various senses.theτῆς(tēs)Article - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.flesh.σαρκὸς(sarkos)Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 4561:Flesh, body, human nature, materiality; kindred.
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NT Letters: Jude 1:23 And some save snatching them out (Jud. Ju Jd) |
