What does Jude 1:7 mean?
"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
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 1:7 in the King James Version of the Bible states, "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." This verse is part of the New Testament book of Jude, which is a short but powerful letter that serves as a warning against false teachings and immorality.
The verse is referring to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, which is described in the book of Genesis. The cities were known for their wickedness and sin, particularly their sexual immorality. The inhabitants not only engaged in fornication but also pursued "strange flesh," which likely refers to homosexuality. Their behavior was so reprehensible that it led to their ultimate destruction by fire and brimstone from heaven. The phrase "suffering the vengeance of eternal fire" emphasizes the severity of their punishment, suggesting that it was not only a temporal judgment but also an eternal one.
The theme of judgment and punishment is central to this verse. It serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of sinful behavior. The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah stands as a warning to all who would give themselves over to immorality and ungodliness. It emphasizes the holiness and justice of God, who will not tolerate sin indefinitely but will ultimately bring judgment upon those who reject his moral standards.
The context of Jude 1:7 is important to understand its significance within the larger letter. Jude is writing to a group of believers, urging them to contend for the faith and to resist the influence of false teachers who have infiltrated the church. These false teachers are characterized by their immorality and rejection of authority. Jude uses the example of Sodom and Gomorrah to illustrate the consequences of such behavior and to emphasize the need for moral purity and obedience to God's commands.
The symbolism in this verse is multifaceted. On one level, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah serves as a historical example of God's judgment on sin. It stands as a reminder of the seriousness of sexual immorality and the consequences that accompany it. At the same time, it also serves as a warning for future generations, including the readers of Jude's letter. The eternal fire that consumed the cities serves as a symbol of the final judgment that awaits all who persist in unrepentant sin.
Moreover, the mention of Sodom and Gomorrah has been a focal point for discussions on the morality of homosexuality. The phrase "going after strange flesh" has been interpreted as a reference to homosexual behavior. This interpretation has led to debates on the biblical perspective on homosexuality and the implications for modern Christian beliefs. While some argue that the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah is a condemnation of all homosexual behavior, others maintain that the primary sin of these cities was the inhospitality and lack of compassion shown to outsiders, rather than simply their sexual practices.
In conclusion, Jude 1:7 is a powerful and provocative verse that carries significant theological and moral implications. It serves as a warning against immorality and false teachings, emphasizing the severity of God's judgment on sin. The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah stands as a historical example of this judgment, while also serving as a timeless symbol of the consequences of unrepentant sin. The verse continues to provoke deep reflection and debate on issues of morality, judgment, and the nature of God's justice.
Jude 1:7 Artwork
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 1:1 - "Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:"
Jude 1:2 - "Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied."
Jude 1:22 - "And of some have compassion, making a difference:"
Jude 1:19 - "These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit."
Jude 1:8 - "Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities."
Jude 1:17 - "But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;"
Jude 1:25 - "To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen."
Jude 1:13 - "Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever."
Jude 1:18 - "How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts."
Jude 1:23 - "And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh."
Jude 1:20 - "But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,"
Jude 1:21 - "Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life."
Jude 1:24 - "Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,"
Jude 1:14 - "And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,"
Jude 1:16 - "These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage."
Jude 1:10 - "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."
Jude 1:22-23 - "Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh."
Jude 1:11 - "Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core."
Jude 1:6 - "And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day."
Jude 1:5 - "I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not."
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."
Jude 1:20-21 - "But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life."
Jude 1:15 - "To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him."
Jude 1:3 - "Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints."
Jude 1:4 - "For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ."
Jude 1:12 - "These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;"
Jude 1:14-15 - "And Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about them: “See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones to judge everyone, and to convict all of them of all the ungodly acts they have committed in their ungodliness, and of all the defiant words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”"
Jude 1:24-25 - "Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen."
Matthew 7:1 - "Judge not, that ye be not judged."