YUD 1:12 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) These are the people who ruin your love feasts when they eat without shame and only look after themselves. They’re like clouds that are blown away by the wind without bringing the needed rain or trees that don’t produce any fruit then are doubly useless by falling over;

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT These ones are the ones in your love feasts—hidden reefs—fearlessly feasting with you, shepherding themselves; waterless clouds, carried along by winds; fruitless autumn trees—having died twice, having been uprooted,

UST These people are shamelessly eating with you. At your fellowship meals they are like rocks hidden under the water that ships crash against. They only take care of themselves. They are useless, like clouds that the wind carries away before they can give rain. They are useless, like trees that don’t bear fruit at harvest time. They are like trees that will die twice because God will uproot them.

BSB These [men] are hidden reefs[fn] in your love feasts, shamelessly feasting [with you] [but] shepherding [only] themselves. [They are] clouds without water, carried along by [the] wind; fruitless trees in autumn, twice dead after being uprooted.

BLB These are the hidden reefs, feasting together with you fearlessly in your love feasts; shepherding themselves; clouds without water, being carried about by winds; autumnal trees without fruit, twice having died, having been uprooted;

AICNT These are [the ones who are][fn] blemishes[fn] in your love feasts, feasting with you without fear, tending to themselves, waterless clouds carried {along}[fn] by winds, autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, uprooted,

1:12, the ones who are: Absent from some manuscripts. ℵ(01) BYZ TR

1:12, blemishes: The Greek word has two meanings: (1) a rocky hazard hidden by waves, a rock washed by the sea, a (hidden) reef or (2) that which soil or discolors, spit, stain (BDAG, σπιλάς)

1:12, along: Some manuscripts read “about.” TR

OEB These are the people who are blots on your “love-feasts,” when they feast together and provide without scruple for themselves alone. They are clouds without rain, driven before the winds; they are leafless trees without a vestige of fruit, dead through and through, torn up by the roots;

WEBBE These are hidden rocky reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you, shepherds who without fear feed themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;

WMBB (Same as above)

NET These men are dangerous reefs at your love feasts, feasting without reverence, feeding only themselves. They are waterless clouds, carried along by the winds; autumn trees without fruit – twice dead, uprooted;

LSV These are stains at your love-feasts, feasting together with you without fear, shepherding themselves; waterless clouds, being carried away by winds; autumnal trees without fruit, having died twice, having been uprooted;

FBV These people spoil your fellowship meals, for they are selfish shepherds that don't have the slightest sense of shame—they only take care of themselves. They're clouds blown along by the wind that bring no rain. They're bare trees without fruit—twice dead, pulled out by the roots.

TCNT These men are hidden reefs at your love feasts, feeding themselves as they feast among you without fear. They are clouds without water, carried along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, pulled up by the roots.

T4T Those teachers of false doctrine are as dangerous to you as [MET] ◄hidden rocks on a reef/rocks underneath the surface of the ocean► are to a boat. When you gather together to eat the meals that help you believers to love each other more and have a closer relationship with each other, they join you and carouse shamelessly, caring only for themselves and not for others. Because they do not do anything to help others [MET], they are as useless as clouds that are blown along by the wind {that the wind blows along} but that do not produce/give any rain. They are as disappointing as [MET] trees that do not produce fruit in the autumn as we expect them to. They are not only spiritually [MET] dead themselves, but they are not able to cause others to be alive spiritually, just like [MET] trees that have been {that someone has} uprooted and as a result are unable to produce any fruit.

LEB No LEB YUD (JUD) 1:12 verse available

BBE These men are unseen rocks at your love-feasts, when they take part in them with you, keepers of sheep who without fear take the food of the sheep; clouds without water rushing before the wind, wasted trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots,

Moff These people are stains on your love-feasts; they have no qualms about carousing in your midst, they look after none but themselves--rainless clouds, swept along by the wind, trees in autumn without fruit, doubly dead and so uprooted,

Wymth These men—sunken rocks! —are those who share the pleasure of your love-feasts, unrestrained by fear while caring only for themselves; clouds without water, driven away by the winds; trees that cast their fruit, barren, doubly dead, uprooted;

ASV These are they who are hidden rocks in your love-feasts when they feast with you, shepherds that without fear feed themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;

DRA These are spots in their banquets, feasting together without fear, feeding themselves, clouds without water, which are carried about by winds, trees of the autumn, unfruitful, twice dead, plucked up by the roots,

YLT These are in your love-feasts craggy rocks; feasting together with you, without fear shepherding themselves; clouds without water, by winds carried about; trees autumnal, without fruit, twice dead, rooted up;

Drby These are spots in your love-feasts, feasting together [with you] without fear, pasturing themselves; clouds without water, carried along by [the] winds; autumnal trees, without fruit, twice dead, rooted up;

RV These are they who are hidden rocks in your love-feasts when they feast with you, shepherds that without fear feed themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;

SLT These are spots in your loves, feasting together fearlessly, taking care of themselves: clouds wanting water, carried about by winds; decayed trees, unfruitful, twice dead, uprooted;

Wbstr These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about by winds; withered autumnal trees, without fruit, twice dead, plucked out by the roots;

KJB-1769 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;
(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/withers, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; )

KJB-1611 These are spottes in your feasts of charitie, when they feast with you, feeding themselues without feare: cloudes they are without water, caried about of winds, trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twise dead, plucked vp by the rootes.
(These are spottes 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/withers, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots.)

Bshps These are spottes in your feastes of charitie, whe they feast with you, without al feare feedyng the selues: cloudes they are without water, caryed about of windes, corrupt trees, and without fruite, twise dead, and plucked vp by the rootes:
(These are spottes in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, without all fear feeding the selves: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds, corrupt trees, and without fruit, twice dead, and plucked up by the roots:)

Gnva These are rockes in your feasts of charitie when they feast with you, without al feare, feeding themselues: cloudes they are without water, caried about of windes, corrupt trees and without fruit, twise dead, and plucked vp by ye rootes.
(These are rocks in your feasts of charity when they feast with you, without all fear, feeding themselves: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds, corrupt trees and without fruit, twice dead, and plucked up by ye/you_all roots. )

Cvdl These are spottes which of youre kindnes feast togedder, without feare, fedynge the selues. Cloudes they are withouten water, caried about of wyndes, and trees without frute at gadringe tyme, twyse deed and plucked vp by the rotes.
(These are spottes which of your(pl) kindness feast together, without fear, feeding the selves. Cloudes they are without water, carried about of winds, and trees without fruit at gadringe time, twice deed and plucked up by the roots.)

TNT These are spottes which of youre kindnes feast to gedder with out feare fedynge them selves. Cloudes they are with outen water caried about of wyndes and trees with out frute at gadringe tyme twyse deed and plucked vp by the rotes.
(These are spottes which of your(pl) kindness feast together with out fear feeding themselves. Cloudes they are without water carried about of winds and trees with out fruit at gadringe time twice deed and plucked up by the roots. )

Wycl These ben in her metis, feestynge togidere to filthe, with out drede fedinge hemsilf. These ben cloudis with out watir, that ben borun aboute of the wyndis; heruest trees with out fruyt, twies deed, drawun vp bi the roote;
(These been in her meats, feesting together to filth, with out dread feeding himself. These been clouds with out water, that been born about of the winds; harvest trees with out fruit, twice deed, drawn up by the roote;)

Luth Diese Unfläter prassen von euren Almosen ohne Scheu, weiden sich selbst; sie sind Wolken ohne Wasser, von dem Winde umgetrieben, kahle, unfruchtbare Bäume, zweimal erstorben und ausgewurzelt,
(This/These Unfläter prassen from your(s)(pl) Almosen without Scheu, graze itself/yourself/themselves himself/itself; they/she/them are clouds without water, from to_him winds umgetrieben, balde, barrene trees, twice erstorben and ausgewurzelt,)

ClVg Hi sunt in epulis suis maculæ, convivantes sine timore, semetipsos pascentes, nubes sine aqua, quæ a ventis circumferentur, arbores autumnales, infructuosæ, bis mortuæ, eradicatæ,[fn]
(They are in/into/on food to_his_own spots, convivantes without with_fear, themselves pascentes, clouds without water, which from the_winds are_carried_around, trees autumnales, infructuosæ, twice dead, eradicated, )

1.12 Maculæ. Non solum in comessationibus et ebrietatibus carnalibus pereunt et maculantur, sed etiam sunt maculæ illorum, et alios secum perdunt, Domini gratiam in luxuriam transferentes. Nubes. Comparat se prædicatoribus pluentibus justitiam, coruscantibus per miracula, sed hæretici sunt nubes obscurantes solem, ponentes in cœlum os suum, perversa superbe docendo, sine aqua sapientiæ. Arbores autem. Impii et pseudoapostoli comparant se arboribus bonum fructum ferentibus, sed sunt arbores autumnales: tarde enim ferunt bonum fructum sicut arbor in autumno plantata, vel quia tunc folia cadunt et fructus, vel si supercrescit fructus, adulterinus est et inutilis. Si quid enim faciunt impii quod bonum videatur, non bona intentione id agunt, sed ut bona quæ sunt in aliis exstirpent. Bis mortuæ. BEDA. Semel moritur quæ non facit fructum, etc., usque ad in qua sancti dicuntur radicati.

1.12 Maculæ. Not/No only in/into/on comessationibus and ebrietatibus carnal pereunt and blemish/stainntur, but also are spots of_them, and others with_him perdunt, Master grace in/into/on luxury/extravagancem transferentes. Nubes. Comparat himself preachers pluentibus justice, coruscantibus through miracles, but heretics are clouds darkntes the_sun, placing in/into/on sky mouth his_own, perverted superbe by_teaching, without water of_wisdom. Arbores however. The_wicked and pseudoapostoli comparant himself trees good fruit almostntibus, but are trees autumnales: tarde because they_carry good fruit like arbor in/into/on autumno plant(n)ta, or because then leaves(n) cadunt and fruit, or when/but_if supercrescit fruit, adulterinus it_is and useless. When/But_if what because they_do wicked that good it_seems, not/no good(s) intention that they_act, but as good(s) which are in/into/on to_others exstirpent. Bis dead. BEDA. Semel he_dies which not/no he_does fruit, etc., until to in/into/on which holy are_said radicati.

UGNT οὗτοί εἰσιν οἱ ἐν ταῖς ἀγάπαις ὑμῶν, σπιλάδες συνευωχούμενοι ἀφόβως, ἑαυτοὺς ποιμαίνοντες, νεφέλαι ἄνυδροι ὑπὸ ἀνέμων παραφερόμεναι, δένδρα φθινοπωρινὰ ἄκαρπα δὶς ἀποθανόντα ἐκριζωθέντα,
(houtoi eisin hoi en tais agapais humōn, spilades suneuōⱪoumenoi afobōs, heautous poimainontes, nefelai anudroi hupo anemōn paraferomenai, dendra fthinopōrina akarpa dis apothanonta ekrizōthenta,)

SBL-GNT οὗτοί εἰσιν ⸀οἱ ἐν ταῖς ἀγάπαις ὑμῶν σπιλάδες συνευωχούμενοι, ἀφόβως ἑαυτοὺς ποιμαίνοντες, νεφέλαι ἄνυδροι ὑπὸ ἀνέμων παραφερόμεναι, δένδρα φθινοπωρινὰ ἄκαρπα δὶς ἀποθανόντα ἐκριζωθέντα,
(houtoi eisin ⸀hoi en tais agapais humōn spilades suneuōⱪoumenoi, afobōs heautous poimainontes, nefelai anudroi hupo anemōn paraferomenai, dendra fthinopōrina akarpa dis apothanonta ekrizōthenta,)

RP-GNT Οὗτοί εἰσιν ἐν ταῖς ἀγάπαις ὑμῶν σπιλάδες, συνευωχούμενοι, ἀφόβως ἑαυτοὺς ποιμαίνοντες· νεφέλαι ἄνυδροι, ὑπὸ ἀνέμων παραφερόμεναι· δένδρα φθινοπωρινά, ἄκαρπα, δὶς ἀποθανόντα, ἐκριζωθέντα·
(Houtoi eisin en tais agapais humōn spilades, suneuōⱪoumenoi, afobōs heautous poimainontes; nefelai anudroi, hupo anemōn paraferomenai; dendra fthinopōrina, akarpa, dis apothanonta, ekrizōthenta;)

TC-GNT Οὗτοί εἰσιν [fn]ἐν ταῖς ἀγάπαις ὑμῶν σπιλάδες, [fn]συνευωχούμενοι, ἀφόβως ἑαυτοὺς ποιμαίνοντες· νεφέλαι ἄνυδροι, ὑπὸ ἀνέμων [fn]παραφερόμεναι· δένδρα φθινοπωρινά, ἄκαρπα, δὶς ἀποθανόντα, ἐκριζωθέντα·
(Houtoi eisin en tais agapais humōn spilades, suneuōⱪoumenoi, afobōs heautous poimainontes; nefelai anudroi, hupo anemōn paraferomenai; dendra fthinopōrina, akarpa, dis apothanonta, ekrizōthenta; )

1:12 εν [85.7%] ¦ οι εν CT [14.1%]

1:12 συνευωχουμενοι [83.6%] ¦ συνευωχουμενοι υμιν SCR [16.4%]

1:12 παραφερομεναι [87.4%] ¦ περιφερομεναι TR [4.7%]

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 5–19: Jude gave illustrations to prove that the Lord would punish the fake Christians

In this section, Jude described the sins of the fake Christians in more detail. He also foretold that the Lord would punish them. He used a special Jewish styleAs mentioned in the Outline, this style was called “midrash.” Jewish rabbis sometimes used this text-application style of presentation. in these verses. He referred to different examples, often taken from the Bible. Then he applied these examples to the situation about which he was writing.

Jude organized this part of his letter as follows:

Example	Application
verses 5–7	verse 8Verse 8 is the application for the examples in 5–7 and could end that paragraph. Verse 8 also introduces 9–10 and could begin that paragraph. These Notes show the paragraph division between verse 7 and verse 8, as does almost every English version.
verse 9	verse 10
verse 11	verses 12–13
verses 14–15	verse 16
verses 17–18	verse 19

The main purpose of the section was to show that the Lord would certainly punish these fake Christians. Jude compared them with well-known individuals and groups mentioned in the Old Testament and in other Jewish writings. He also used things found in nature to describe their sinful ways. Through these examples, he explained that these fake Christians deserved the punishment which they would receive.

Paragraph 11–13

In this paragraph, Jude compared the fake Christians to three men from the Old Testament (verse 11). These three men were Cain, Balaam, and Korah. They were famous because they had sinned greatly. Jude used these three men to show that the Lord would condemn the fake Christians, because they had sinned like these three men had sinned. Jude also illustrated the wickedness of the fake Christians by comparing them to objects from nature (verses 12–13).

12–13

In these two verses, Jude illustrated the wickedness of the fake Christians by comparing them to objects from nature.

12a

These men are hidden reefs in your love feasts,

These people are like dangerous rocks hidden under the water, as they are with you^(plur) at your fellowship meals.
Just as hidden rocks in the water/sea are dangerous to boats, these people are dangerous to you^(plur) at the special meals you^(plur) share as believers.
They are a danger/hazard to you^(plur) when you meet for your^(plur) fellowship meals.

These men: Jude referred here to the same fake Christians whom he mentioned in verses 4, 8a, and 10–11. The Greek pronoun that the BSB translates here as These men did not necessarily refer only to males. Many English versions use a more general expression. For example:

These people… (REB)

They… (NCV)

Other notes that discuss this matter are “certain men” in 4a and “these men” in 10a.

are hidden reefs: The Greek word that the BSB translates here as hidden reefs is used here as a figure of speech. Scholars have interpreted the word in two different ways in this context:

It means dangerous rocks or reefs. Jude compared the fake Christians to rocks or reefs hidden in the water that are dangerous to ships that might come too close and hit them. For example:
These men are dangerous reefs at your love feasts. (NET) (BSB, JBP, NASB, NET, NJB, NLT, REB)
It refers to dirty spots or stains. Jude indicated that the behavior of the fake Christians at the love feasts disgraced or dishonored the true Christians. For example:
With their shameless carousing they are like dirty spots in your fellowship meals. (GNT) (CEV, GW, KJV, NCV, NIV, NRSV, RSV, GNT)

Both interpretations are possible. You may want to use the same interpretation that the Bible of the major language in your area uses. It is recommended that you place the other interpretation in a footnote.

hidden reefs: In some cultures, where people live far from the sea, they may not understand clearly how rocks in the sea would be dangerous. If this illustration would not be clear to your readers, here are other options:

Use a different figure of speech that readers in your culture will understand to mean dangerous.
Translate without using a figure of speech. For example:
They are a dangerous hazard. (NJB)

love feasts: Early in the history of the church, Christians gathered together often and had a meal. At these meals they celebrated the Lord’s SupperSome passages in the New Testament that speak about the Lord’s Supper are: Matthew 26:26–30, Mark 14:22–26, Luke 22:19–20, I Corinthians 10:15–16, I Corinthians 11:23–26. (sometimes referred to as the Eucharist or Communion). They called these meals love feasts. Other ways to say this include:

fellowship meals (NLT, GNT)

special Christian meals you share (NCV)

See love, Meaning 2, in the Glossary.

12b

shamelessly feasting with you

When they eat with you,^(plur) they are bold and do not feel ashamed.
Even though they act shamefully at these meals, they do not feel afraid or ashamed of their shameful actions.

shamelessly feasting with you: This refers to the attitude of the fake Christians. In this context, the Greek word that the BSB translates as shamelessly expresses two aspects of their attitude:

They were not ashamed, even though they should have felt ashamed.
They were without fear. They were bold, even though they should have felt afraid.

Scholars have different opinions about how this Greek word relates to the other parts of this verse. There are two possibilities:

It is connected to the first part of 12b, feasting with you. For example:
They eat with you and don’t feel ashamed. (GW)
they eat in your company without a qualm. (JBP) (BSB, GW, JBP, NASB, NCV, NET, NIV, NRSV, REB, GNT)
It is connected to 12c, “shepherds who are shepherding only themselves.” For example:
^12b…and quite shamelessly ^12c only looking after themselves. (NJB) (KJV, NJB, NLT)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), as most English versions do. The fake Christians behaved badly at the fellowship meals. They should have felt ashamed of how they acted, but they did not feel ashamed. Their behavior showed that they did not respect the love feasts as a time of fellowship. It also showed that they did not respect the real Christians with whom they ate, or God.

12c

but shepherding only themselves.

They are like shepherds who only feed themselves but neglect their sheep.
They are like shepherds who only take care of themselves; they do not help other people.
They care for no one but themselves, like shepherds who only benefit themselves and do not tend the sheep.

but shepherding only themselves: Leaders of the Christian church were often called “shepherds.” Jude implied that the fake Christians were leaders in the church to which Jude wrote. Instead of shepherding the real believers by teaching them the truth from God’s word, they were only interested in gaining benefit for themselves. This description of the fake Christians is similar to Ezekiel 34:2 where God said:

Disaster is in store for the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Are not shepherds meant to feed a flock? (NJB)

“Shepherds” is a figure of speech that is commonly used in the Bible, so you will want to use it in your translation. In this context it is used as a metaphor. You may need to look for ways to make this metaphor clearer in your language: Here are some possibilities:

Keep the shepherd metaphor, but use a verb like “look after” or “take care of,” instead of shepherding. For example:
They are shepherds who only take care only of themselves. (REB)
Use a simile instead of a metaphor. For example:
They are like shepherds who only take care of themselves.
Add implied information to indicate the specific way in which these people were like the selfish shepherds. For example:
Like shepherds who only feed themselves but do not feed their sheep, these people only help themselves, not other people.

12d

They are clouds without water, carried along by the wind;

They are useless, like clouds that do not produce rain because the wind blows them past/away.
They are like clouds that the wind blows over dry/thirsty land without giving any rain. They promise much, but give nothing.

clouds without water, carried along by the wind: The area of the world in which Jude’s readers lived was dry. People needed rain to grow food and to have water for them and their animals to drink. Sometimes clouds appeared, but no rain fell. The wind blew the clouds along quickly, and they passed over without any rain falling. Such clouds were useless and disappointing.Proverbs 25:14 says, “Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of gifts he does not give” (NIV).

These fake Christians also were useless and disappointing. Jude compared them to clouds without water, because they did nothing to help the real Christians to whom Jude wrote.

In some languages this figure of speech may not express this meaning. In that case, it may be necessary to indicate the meaning by adding implied information. For example:

They are like clouds which the wind blows over dry land without rain falling. They promise much but produce/give nothing.

12e

fruitless trees in autumn, twice dead after being uprooted.

They are like trees at harvest time that have no fruit. Like trees that have been uprooted, they are completely dead.
They are as useless as fruit trees that have no fruit at harvest time. Like uprooted fruit trees they cannot produce/do anything good.

fruitless trees in autumn: The Greek word that the BSB translates as autumn probably referred to late autumn.This is the only place that this Greek word is found in the New Testament. This is the time of year when trees would be expected to have fruit ready to pick.There is another way to interpret this metaphor: Late autumn was after the harvest was over, and the trees had lost their leaves. A tree like that cannot have “fruit.” Therefore, according to this interpretation, the meaning of this expression is “ trees that can have no “fruit” because harvest time is over.” Like “fruit trees” cannot have “fruit” after the harvest is over and their leaves have fallen off, these fake Christians cannot do anything good. Some English versions have translated according to this interpretation without mentioning late autumn. Instead they mention the condition of the “trees” at that time. For example:They are like leafless trees…unable to produce fruit (CEV).-or-they are withered…without any fruit (GW).

The meaning of 12e is almost the same as 12d. In both metaphors, Jude illustrated how useless and unhelpful these people were. They are like fruit trees that should have fruit, but have none. Some ways to say this are:

They are like trees that bear no fruit, even in autumn. (GNT)

They are like fruit trees that have no fruit even at harvest time.

twice dead: Jude described these people as trees that are twice dead. The phrase twice dead meant that they were completely dead. They were useless, totally incapable of producing anything good.Two other interpretations of twice dead are:(1) They were spiritually dead because of their moral corruption, and were already marked/destined to receive the second death on Judgment Day. The phrase twice dead with this interpretation is similar in meaning to “they have been destroyed” in 11d.(2) They were dead in sin prior to conversion, then were brought to life through conversion and baptism, and now were dead a second time because they had become apostates. Other ways to say this include:

completely dead (GNT)

doubly dead (JBP, NASB)

not only dead but doubly dead. (NLT)

after being uprooted: Jude used the metaphor of uprooted trees to illustrate how completely unable the fake Christian were to do good. They were as useless as uprooted trees that can never give fruit. They could not do anything good to please God or help his people.Some scholars interpret uprooted here to mean that God would destroy these people, like a farmer would uproot a fruit tree that never bears fruit. However, Jude did not make this meaning explicit, and there are other reasonable interpretations. It is recommended that you do not follow the interpretation that uprooted means that God would destroy these fake Christians.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-pronouns

οὗτοί

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Οὗτοι εἰσίν οἱ ἐν ταῖς ἀγάπαις ὑμῶν σπιλάδες συνευωχούμενοι ἀφόβως ἑαυτούς ποιμαίνοντες νεφέλαι ἄνυδροι ὑπό ἀνέμων παραφερόμεναι δένδρα φθινοπωρινά ἄκαρπα δίς ἀποθανόντα ἐκριζωθέντα)

Here, These ones refers to the false teachers introduced in verse 4. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this phrase explicitly. Alternate translation: [These false teachers]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

σπιλάδες

stains

Here, reefs are large rocks that are very close to the surface of water in the sea. Because sailors cannot see them, they are very dangerous. Ships can easily be destroyed if they hit these rocks. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this metaphor with a simile or plainly. Alternate translation: [they are like hidden reefs] or [although they are inconspicuous, these people are extremely dangerous]

Note 3 topic: translate-unknown

ταῖς ἀγάπαις

the love_feasts

Here, love feasts refers to gatherings of Christians where they ate a meal together. These feasts took place in the early church and most likely included sharing the bread and wine to remember the death of Jesus, which Paul calls “the Lord’s Supper” in 1 Corinthians 11:20. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express some of this information explicitly. Alternate translation: [communal meals with fellow believers]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἑαυτοὺς ποιμαίνοντες

Here Jude speaks of the false teachers selfishly taking care of their own needs as if they are shepherds who feed and care for themselves instead of their flocks. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this metaphor with a simile or plainly. Alternate translation: [like shepherds that feed themselves instead of their flocks] or [only caring for themselves]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

νεφέλαι ἄνυδροι ὑπὸ ἀνέμων παραφερόμεναι

clouds waterless (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Οὗτοι εἰσίν οἱ ἐν ταῖς ἀγάπαις ὑμῶν σπιλάδες συνευωχούμενοι ἀφόβως ἑαυτούς ποιμαίνοντες νεφέλαι ἄνυδροι ὑπό ἀνέμων παραφερόμεναι δένδρα φθινοπωρινά ἄκαρπα δίς ἀποθανόντα ἐκριζωθέντα)

Jude speaks of the false teachers to describe their uselessness. People expect clouds to provide water to grow crops, but waterless clouds disappoint farmers by being blown away by the wind without giving rain. In the same way, false teachers, although they promise many things, are unable to do what they promise. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this metaphor by translating this plainly or turn the metaphor into a simile. Alternate translation: [These false teachers never give what they promise] or [These false teachers disappoint like clouds without water]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ὑπὸ ἀνέμων παραφερόμεναι

If your language does not use the passive form carried along, you could express this with an active form. Alternate translation: [which the wind carries along]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

δένδρα φθινοπωρινὰ ἄκαρπα

trees (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Οὗτοι εἰσίν οἱ ἐν ταῖς ἀγάπαις ὑμῶν σπιλάδες συνευωχούμενοι ἀφόβως ἑαυτούς ποιμαίνοντες νεφέλαι ἄνυδροι ὑπό ἀνέμων παραφερόμεναι δένδρα φθινοπωρινά ἄκαρπα δίς ἀποθανόντα ἐκριζωθέντα)

Here Jude again speaks of the false teachers to describe their uselessness. People expect trees in the autumn to provide fruit, but fruitless autumn trees disappoint them. In the same way, false teachers, although they promise many things, are unable to do what they promise. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this metaphor by translating this plainly or turn the metaphor into a simile. Alternate translation: [never giving what they promise] or [like barren fruit trees]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / pastforfuture

δὶς ἀποθανόντα ἐκριζωθέντα

Here Jude is using the past tense in order to refer to something that will happen in the future. He is doing this to show that the event will certainly happen. If this is not clear in your language, you could use the future tense. Alternate translation: [they will certainly die twice, they will certainly be uprooted]

δὶς ἀποθανόντα ἐκριζωθέντα

Here, having died twice could mean: (1) the trees are considered to be dead firstly because they do not produce fruit, but doubly dead because they are uprooted in response to their lack of fruit. Alternate translation: [having died twice by being fruitless and uprooted] (2) the trees, which represent the false teachers, are spiritually dead but will also be physically dead when God kills them. “being spiritually dead and then physically dead when they were uprooted”

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἐκριζωθέντα

˓having_been˒_uprooted

Jude describes God’s judgment of these false teachers like trees that have been completely pulled out of the ground by their roots. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this metaphor plainly. Alternate translation: [having been destroyed]

Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἐκριζωθέντα

˓having_been˒_uprooted

If your language does not use this passive form, you could this with an active form and say who did the action. Alternate translation: [God uprooted them]

Parallel YUD 1:12

Section 5–19: Jude gave illustrations to prove that the Lord would punish the fake Christians

Paragraph 11–13

12–13

12a

12b

12c

12d

12e