DOES JUDE 7 TEACH THAT DESTRUCTION OF
Updated - 10/23/09
We
read in Jude 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.
This
verse appears to clearly teach that the destruction of
However,
a poor translation of a word in Jude 7 results in the conclusion that the
destruction of
The
Greek word translated “suffering” in this verse appears to teach that
the destruction of
However,
“suffering” is a misleading translation of the Greek word used in this
verse; “upecw
hupecho”. This word is only used once in
the Bible; which is this verse. We don’t find this Greek word anywhere else in
the Bible. There are several good New Testament words that mean “suffering”
that God could have chosen.
There
is no other Bible verse with this same Greek word translated “suffering” in
Jude 7. However, this word is made of two common words. So, we are able to get
understanding of it’s meaning.
This
word translated “suffering” in Jude 7 is made of two words that are
commonly found in the Bible.
The
first word is a verb that is used many times and means “to have”.
The
second word is a preposition that is translated many times as “of” or “under”.
So,
this Greek word has the meaning “to have under” or “to have of”.
The translators translated that as “suffering”. That was not a very good
translation. Literally, the word should be translated as “to have under”.
A
poor translation of a word in Jude 7 leads to misunderstanding
If
we literally follow what this Greek word “hupecho”
means, we would translate Jude 7 like this:
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, having under the vengeance of
eternal fire.
The
translation “having under” is literally what this Greek word “hupecho” means according to how the two root words
are used in the Bible.
What
does it mean to “have under” something?
The
Bible directly gives us the answer to that question.
The
two Greek words that make up this Greek word in Jude 7 are found in Luke 7:8.
We read there:
For I also am a man set under authority, having <2192> under <5259> me soldiers, and I say unto one,
Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do
this, and he doeth it.
The
two Greek words that make up the Greek word “hupecho” in Jude 7 are translated
“having under” in Luke 7:8.
Luke
7:8 records the words of a centurion that is talking to Jesus. He mentions “having
under me soldiers”.
This
centurion is saying that his soldiers are subject to him. God is guiding
the words that this centurion says. Here, God, through this centurion, is
defining that the phrase “having under” means “to be subject to”.
The soldiers were “subject” to their centurion. They were not “suffering” from
their centurion.
Luke
7:8 uses the same two words that make up the Greek word translated “suffering”
in Jude 7.
It
is very significant that the two Greek words translated “having” and “under”
in Luke 7:8 are the same two Greek words that make up this word “hupecho” that we find in Jude 7
Luke
7:8 uses the same two Greek words that make up the Greek word translated
“suffering” in Jude 7. With the help of Luke 7:8, God is defining that this
word in Jude 7 means “being subject to”.
To
understand this further, let’s consider an illustration:
If
I have an ant under my hand, is that ant suffering? Not necessarily. I could
make him suffer by pushing down on him. But, the fact that this ant is under my
hand is not indicating that he is actually suffering. Rather, the ant that I
have under my hand is subject to my hand or subject to my will.
So,
the translators made a leap that they should not have made in translating this
word in Jude 7 as “suffering”. “to have under” does not necessarily mean
“suffering”.
The
Bible provides further definition for the phrase “to have under”
We
see an example of the idea of “to have under” to mean “to be subject
to” in Psalm 8:6.
We
read in Psalm 8:6:
Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy
hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
This
verse has it’s fulfillment in the Lord Jesus.
The
Bible says that the Lord Jesus has all things under His feet. God has put all
things under the feet of Christ according to Psalm 8:6. Therefore, the Lord
Jesus “has under” His feet all things. The feet refer to the will.
According
to Psalm 8:6, the Lord Jesus “has under” His will all things. Psalm 8:6
helps us to understand what God means by this Greek word “hupecho” in Jude 7, which literally means “to
have under”.
The
“feet” here refer to the will. The Lord Jesus “has under” His will all things.
That
does not mean that all things are “suffering”, but rather that all
things are “subject” to the will of God.
This
agrees with the first part of Psalm 8:6 which says that Christ has dominion
over everything.
We
can say that God “has the unsaved under” his feet. That is, the unsaved are
“subject” to the feet or the will of God.
Notice
that the first part of Psalm 8:6 agrees that “to have under” means to have
“dominion”, which means “to be subject to”.
Christ
has “dominion” over all the works of God’s hand. That means that all the
works of God’s hand are “subject” to Christ. They are not “suffering”
from Christ. Rather, all things are “subject” to the will (or feet) of
Christ.
Psalm
8:6 helps us to understand what God means by this Greek word “hupecho” in Jude
7. This word means “to have under” which
signifies to be “subject to”.
God
quotes Psalm 8:4-6 in Hebrews 2:6-8 and thereby gives us more help in
understanding.
Hebrews
2:6-8 gives more help in understanding the phrase “having under”
God
quotes Psalm 8:4-6 in Hebrews 2:6-8.
We
read in Hebrews 2:5-8:
5
¶ For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof
we speak.
6 But one in a certain place testified, saying,
What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou
visitest him?
7 Thou madest him a little lower than the
angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the
works of thy hands:
8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under
his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that
is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.
Let’s
compare that to Psalm 8:6. We read there:
Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy
hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
Notice
that Psalm 8:6 is quoted in Hebrews 2:7-8. However, God has changed the verse a
little to give more information.
In
Psalm 8:6 God said “thou hast put all things under his feet.”. In
Hebrews 2:8 God changed that a little to give us more definition. God said “Thou
hast put all things in subjection under his feet.”
We
see that God has interpreted the phrase “put all things under his
feet” to mean “in subjection”.
This
same Greek word translated “subjection” in Hebrews 2:8 is used in these
verses also:
Luke 10:17 And the seventy
returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject <5293> unto us through thy name.
Romans 13:1 Let every soul
be subject <5293> unto the higher powers. For there is no
power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Ephesians 1:22 And hath put
<5293> all things under his feet, and
gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
Ephesians 5:24 Therefore as
the church is subject <5293> unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own
husbands in every thing.
Notice
how Ephesians 1:22 uses the idea of “to put under” to mean “subjection”.
If
all things are “put under” Christ’s feet or will, then that means that
Christ “has all things under” His will. All things are “subject”
to His will.
This
is further confirmation that “to have under” means “to be subject to”.
Psalm
8:6 and Hebrews 2:8 declare that the Lord Jesus has all things under His will
(or feet). That means, that all things are subject to His will. All things are
not suffering from His will.
In
Luke 7:8, Psalm 8:6, and Hebrews 2:8, God defines that “having under” means “to
be subject to”
The
translation “subject to” of this Greek word in Jude 7 fits the
definition given by Psalm 8:6, Luke 7:8 and the other verses. This would give
us a translation of Jude 7 like:
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, being subject to the
vengeance of eternal fire.
The
translation “being subject to” is an accurate translation. This
translation also fits what we will learn about
Jude
7 is saying that the destruction of
The
rest of the Bible teaches that this eternal fire is coming and Jude 7 teaches
that when it comes,
This
fits the rest of the Bible that declares that when the unsaved die from this world
there is no more possibility of salvation for them. They are subject to the
vengeance of eternal fire, the wrath of God. God is the consuming fire in view.
As
we go through the Bible and see these various destructions, we are warned about
our standing before God. We are also taught that those destroyed are “subject”
to the wrath of God because they died from this world unsaved.
There
is other information in Jude 7 and 2 Peter 2:6 that help us to see that the
translation, “being subject to”, is correct.
Let’s
examine the word “example” in Jude 7
The
word “example” in Jude 7 makes us think that the destruction at the end
of the world is the same as that of
However,
we should take a closer look at this Greek word translated “example” in
Jude 7.
The
Greek word translated “example” in Jude 7 is only used in this one verse. So,
we don’t get any help from any other verse in the Bible to get a definition for
it.
This
word “example” is only used in Jude 7. The closest related word is a verb
translated “make a show” in Colossians 2:15 where we read:
And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made
a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
Here,
the Lord Jesus “showed” openly on the cross His triumph over the dominion of
Satan.
In
the same way, Jude 7 is saying that the
The
destruction of
There
is also another verb that is close to the Greek word translated “example” in
Jude 7. It appears in the New Testament 30 times and is always translated
“show”.
Here
are some verses with that Greek word:
Matthew 4:8
Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and
sheweth <1166> him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of
them;
John 2:18
Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou <1166> unto us, seeing that
thou doest these things?
Hebrews 8:5
Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was
admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he,
that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed <1166> to thee in the
mount.
James 3:13
Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him
shew <1166> out of a good conversation his works with meekness of
wisdom.
Therefore,
if we let other verses guide us to understand the meaning of the word “example”
in Jude 7, then we see that it is very close to a “showing”.
With
these two translation corrections, we obtain this translation of Jude 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 a showing, being subject to
the vengeance of eternal fire.
Related
to these translation corrections, we learn:
1.
The destruction of
2.
Their destruction shows that they are “subject” to the vengeance of
eternal fire.
2
Peter 2:6 provides help in understanding Jude 7
We
have some trouble understanding what God is teaching in Jude 7 because there
are two words in that verse, “suffering” and “example” that are only used once
and are poorly translated, so that we easily arrive at the wrong conclusion.
However,
God has provided 2 Peter 2:6 which has a key word that is used several times in
the Bible. This verse provides a Biblical understanding of the destruction of
God
gives help in understanding the destruction of
And turning the cities of
This
verse is also talking about the destruction of
The
benefit that the word “ensample” in 2 Peter 2:6 is that it is used in other
parts of the Bible and therefore is more clearly defined by the Bible.
This
word “ensample” is a key word with Strong’s number <5262> and is used in two verses in Hebrews
where we read:
Hebrews
8:5 Who serve unto the example <5262> and shadow of heavenly things, as
Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See,
saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to
thee in the mount.
Hebrews
9:23 ¶ It was therefore necessary that the patterns <5262> of things in the heavens should be
purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices
than these.
In
these two verses this Greek word translated “ensample” in 2 Peter 2:6 is
used to describe the Old Testament ceremonial system.
These
two verses in Hebrews make an important point. Namely, the Old Testament
ceremonial system was an “ensample” or “pattern” of the heavenly things, but
was not actual heavenly things themselves.
This
is a key point: This word “ensample” in 2 Peter 2:6 signifies a pattern of
spiritual truth, but not the actual spiritual truth itself
That
is, the word “ensample” as used in Hebrews 8:5 & 9:23 describes
something that is a pattern of spiritual truth but not the actual spiritual
truth itself. The Old Testament ceremonial law system was a pattern of God’s
salvation program. However, the Old Testament ceremonial law system was not the
actual salvation program itself. This truth is explained in Hebrews 9:23 above.
For
example, the Passover was a pattern of the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus for sin
but it was not the actual sacrifice. The Passover teaches some truths about the
sacrifice of Christ, but is not the actual sacrifice.
The
Passover was a pattern that pointed to the sacrifice that the Lord Jesus would
make to pay for sins. But, the Passover ceremony itself did not pay for any
sins. The Lord Jesus in His sacrifice paid for the sins.
In
that way, the ceremony of the Passover was a pattern that taught about the
salvation program but was not the actual salvation program itself.
Likewise,
the destruction of
This
same Greek word translated “ensample” in 2 Peter 2:6 is also found in
John 13:15.
We
read in John 13:12-16:
12 So after he had washed their feet, and had
taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I
have done to you?
13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well;
for so I am.
14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have
washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.
15 For
I have given you an example <5262>, that ye should do
as I have done to you.
16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant
is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent
him.
In
this passage, the Lord Jesus has washed the disciples feet with water. In verse
15, Jesus says that He has given them an “example” for what they should
do for others. This word “example” in verse 15 is the same Greek word
translated “ensample” in 2 Peter 2:6.
If
we think about what the Lord is teaching in John 15:13 we realize that this
word really means “pattern”. The washing of the disciples’ feet was a “pattern”
of the Gospel.
Jesus
washed the disciple’s feet with water and called that an “example” for
them to follow.
We
realize that God has not commanded us to literally wash peoples’ feet. Rather,
we are to bring them the Gospel. When God saves someone, then God washes away
their sins. He becomes clean in the sight of God. The feet often represent the
will of man. When God saves us, He washes our will in the sense that He is
directing our will to do His will. In that way our will (our feet) are washed.
We
can see that Jesus washing the disciples feet was a “pattern” for bringing the
Gospel, but not the literal task of bringing the Gospel. In the same way, this
Greek word directs us to see that the destruction of
God
uses this same word “ensample” in 2 Peter 2:6 to describe the
destruction of
Going
back to the Passover lamb. That lamb was killed in the Passover service. That
lamb was a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ that was killed in payment for the
believers’ sins. That Passover lamb was only a pattern of payment for sin. It
was not the actual payment for sins. In the same way, 2 Peter 2:6 teaches that
the destruction of
God
indicates that there are other differences between the destruction of
Regarding
the judgment of the unsaved at the end of the world, God says:
Revelation
14:11 And the smoke of their torment
ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who
worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
Revelation
19:3 And again they said, Alleluia. And
her smoke rose up for ever and ever.
Revelation
20:10 And the devil that deceived them
was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false
prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
In
these verses we can see two differences between the judgment of the unsaved and
the destruction of
1.
The smoke of the unsaved ascends forevermore. The smoke of
Revelation
14:11 and 19:3 teach that the smoke of the unsaved ascends forevermore.
Some
try to argue that the phrase “for ever and ever” in Revelation 14:11 and 19:3
does not mean forevermore. A study has been prepared that shows that it does
mean forevermore.
PLEASE SEE THE STUDY: IS
“FOR EVER AND EVER” REALLY FOREVERMORE
God
is clear that the smoke of the unsaved ascends forevermore.
People
will say that their smoke does not really ascend forevermore. However, God says
that it does.
There
are no verses that nullify the statement that the smoke of the unsaved ascends
forevermore.
A
“pattern” will match in many ways but usually not in every way. In the
“pattern” of
2.
The unsaved are tormented “day and night”. The inhabitants of
Revelation
14:9-11 & 20:10 clearly say that the unsaved at Judgment Day will be
tormented “day and night”. Torment is a conscious affliction.
In
the case of
Those
burnt up by a literal fire are not tormented “day and night”. They go
unconscious in a few seconds or minutes.
These
two differences between the destruction of
Jude
7 and 2 Peter 2:6 are not teaching that the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah
about 4,000 years is the actual suffering of the vengeance of eternal fire, but
rather it is a pattern of the coming vengeance of God like the Old Testament
ceremonial laws were patterns of God’s salvation program. That destruction also
indicates that