Jude 1:10

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

But {G1161} these {G3778} speak evil {G987} of those things which {G3745}{G3303} they know {G1492} not {G3756}: but {G1161} what {G3745} they know {G1987} naturally {G5447}, as {G5613} brute {G249} beasts {G2226}, in {G1722} those things {G5125} they corrupt themselves {G5351}.

Complete Jewish Bible

However, these people insult anything they don’t understand; and what they do understand naturally, without thinking, like animals — by these things they are destroyed!

Berean Standard Bible

These men, however, slander what they do not understand, and like irrational animals, they will be destroyed by the things they do instinctively.

American Standard Version

But these rail at whatsoever things they know not: and what they understand naturally, like the creatures without reason, in these things are they destroyed.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jude 1:10 delivers a stark condemnation of the ungodly individuals who had infiltrated the early Christian communities, contrasting their profound spiritual ignorance with their base, animalistic understanding of the world. These false teachers presumptuously speak evil of divine realities they cannot comprehend, relying instead on natural instincts and carnal desires, which ultimately lead them into moral decay and self-destruction.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is a pivotal point within Jude's urgent and passionate epistle, serving as a direct indictment following his initial warning against apostates who have "crept in unawares" and perverted the grace of God into licentiousness ([Jude 1:4](/jude/1-4 "Jude 1:4 - The Ungodly Who Crept In")). Jude has already established the severe judgment awaiting such individuals by citing historical examples of rebellion and divine punishment ([Jude 1:5-7](/jude/1-5-7 "Jude 1:5-7 - Examples of God's Judgment")). Immediately preceding [Jude 1:10](/jude/1-10 "Jude 1:10 - The Ignorance of False Teachers"), Jude describes these false teachers as those who "defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities" ([Jude 1:8](/jude/1-8 "Jude 1:8 - Defiling the Flesh and Despising Authority")), even daring to revile angelic authorities that Michael the archangel respected ([Jude 1:9](/jude/1-9 "Jude 1:9 - Michael's Respect for Authority")). Thus, [Jude 1:10](/jude/1-10 "Jude 1:10 - The Ignorance of False Teachers") elaborates on the *nature* of their evil speech and the *source* of their corruption, setting the stage for further descriptions of their depravity and impending doom in the verses that follow ([Jude 1:11-16](/jude/1-11-16 "Jude 1:11-16 - The Woes and Characteristics of the Ungodly")).

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The early Christian church faced significant internal challenges from those who distorted Christian doctrine and morality. While Jude's epistle predates the full development of Gnosticism, it addresses similar antinomian tendencies where individuals claimed spiritual enlightenment while engaging in immoral behavior, believing themselves to be above moral law. These false teachers likely leveraged their supposed "knowledge" to gain influence, often exploiting the hospitality of believers. The cultural backdrop includes a Jewish-Christian audience familiar with the Old Testament examples of rebellion and judgment, as well as the concept of angelic hierarchies and the reverence due to spiritual authorities. The idea of "speaking evil of dignities" ([Jude 1:8](/jude/1-8 "Jude 1:8 - Despising Dignities")) would have resonated strongly within a culture that understood the importance of respecting established order, whether human or divine. Jude's strong language reflects the urgency of preserving the purity of the faith against such destructive influences, which threatened both the theological integrity and the moral fabric of the nascent Christian communities.

* **Key Themes:** [Jude 1:10](/jude/1-10 "Jude 1:10 - The Ignorance of False Teachers") significantly contributes to several key themes prevalent in the epistle. Firstly, it highlights the theme of **Spiritual Ignorance vs. Divine Truth**. The false teachers' inability to "know" spiritual realities contrasts sharply with the genuine spiritual understanding that comes from God. Their pronouncements are based on presumption, not revelation, leading them to slander what they cannot comprehend. Secondly, the verse underscores the theme of **Carnality and Moral Corruption**. By describing their knowledge as "natural, as brute beasts," Jude emphasizes their enslavement to base instincts and sensual desires, devoid of spiritual discernment. This aligns with the broader biblical warning against living according to the flesh rather than the Spirit, a concept explored in passages like [Romans 8:5-8](/romans/8-5-8 "Romans 8:5-8 - Living by the Spirit vs. the Flesh"). Finally, the verse powerfully conveys the theme of **Self-Destruction and Judgment**. Their indulgence in unbridled desires leads not only to the corruption of others but, more fundamentally, to their own moral decay and spiritual ruin, foreshadowing the ultimate judgment that awaits them, as seen in [2 Peter 2:12](/2_peter/2-12 "2 Peter 2:12 - Like Brute Beasts Led to Slaughter"), which parallels Jude's description of those who are "like natural brute beasts, made to be caught and destroyed."

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Speak evil (Greek, _blasphēméō'_):** This verb (G987) means to vilify, to speak impiously, to blaspheme, defame, or revile. In the context of [Jude 1:10](/jude/1-10 "Jude 1:10 - The Ignorance of False Teachers"), it signifies the false teachers' contemptuous and disrespectful speech directed at spiritual realities or authorities they do not understand. Their words are not merely critical but are slanderous and impious, reflecting a deep-seated rebellion against divine order.
* **Brute (Greek, _álogos'_):** Derived from a negative particle and "logos" (G249), this adjective literally means "without reason" or "irrational." When applied to the false teachers, it highlights their lack of spiritual discernment, moral reasoning, and intellectual understanding of divine truths. They operate on a purely instinctual level, devoid of the higher faculties that distinguish humans, created in God's image, from animals.
* **Corrupt themselves (Greek, _phtheírō'_):** This verb (G5351) means to shrivel, wither, spoil, or ruin, especially figuratively, to deprave. It signifies a process of decay and destruction. The reflexive nature ("themselves") indicates that their actions, driven by their base instincts, lead directly to their own moral and spiritual deterioration. Their ungodly lifestyle is not just externally damaging but internally self-destructive.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But these speak evil of those things which they know not:":** This clause introduces the core problem with the false teachers: their arrogant and blasphemous speech is directed at spiritual realities or divine authorities that are utterly beyond their comprehension. Their "knowledge not" (G1492, _eídō_) refers to a lack of true, spiritual understanding or experiential knowledge. Their condemnation is not based on insight but on ignorance, fueled by a rebellious spirit. They presume to judge and revile what is sacred and beyond their natural grasp.
* **"but what they know naturally, as brute beasts,":** This contrasting clause highlights the only sphere in which these individuals possess "knowledge" (G1987, _epístamai_): the purely "natural" (G5447, _physikōs_), or instinctive, realm. The powerful simile "as brute beasts" (G249, _álogos_ G2226, _zōon_) emphasizes their irrationality and sensuality. Like animals, they are driven by instinct, appetite, and physical sensation, lacking moral discernment or spiritual insight. Their understanding is limited to the material and carnal, devoid of any higher, God-given reason or revelation.
* **"in those things they corrupt themselves.":** The final clause reveals the dire consequence of their animalistic existence. Their indulgence in the "natural" things, guided by unbridled instincts rather than divine truth, leads to their own moral and spiritual "corruption" (G5351, _phtheírō_). This is a self-inflicted ruin; their actions are not merely harmful to others but fundamentally destructive to their own character, integrity, and eternal destiny. They are decaying from within, a direct result of their rejection of spiritual knowledge and embrace of depraved sensuality.

#### Literary Devices
Jude 1:10 employs several potent literary devices to convey its scathing indictment. The most prominent is **Contrast**, setting up a stark dichotomy between what the false teachers "know not" (spiritual truths) and what they "know naturally" (carnal instincts). This highlights their profound spiritual blindness and moral depravity. A vivid **Simile** is used when Jude compares them to "brute beasts," emphasizing their irrationality and their being driven by base instincts rather than divine reason or revelation. This comparison serves to dehumanize them in a spiritual sense, underscoring their degradation. Furthermore, there is an element of **Irony**: these individuals claim to possess superior knowledge or insight, yet Jude reveals their true state as utterly ignorant of what truly matters, while being enslaved by what is base. Their "knowledge" leads only to self-corruption, a perversion of true wisdom.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jude 1:10 profoundly connects to the biblical understanding of true wisdom versus worldly folly and the nature of spiritual discernment. The false teachers' rejection of divine truth in favor of carnal knowledge echoes the broader biblical theme that "the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned" ([1 Corinthians 2:14](/1_corinthians/2-14 "1 Corinthians 2:14 - The Natural Man Cannot Understand Spiritual Things")). Their self-corruption highlights the inherent destructive power of sin when left unchecked by God's truth and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. This verse serves as a timeless warning against intellectual arrogance and moral licentiousness, reminding believers that genuine spiritual understanding is not gained through human intellect or instinct but through divine revelation and humble submission to God's Word.

* [Proverbs 1:7](/proverbs/1-7 "Proverbs 1:7 - The Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Knowledge"): This verse establishes that "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction," directly contrasting with the false teachers' ignorance and contempt for divine wisdom.
* [Romans 1:21-22](/romans/1-21-22 "Romans 1:21-22 - Professing Themselves to Be Wise, They Became Fools"): Paul describes those who "became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools," a parallel to Jude's description of those who speak evil of what they know not.
* [2 Peter 2:12](/2_peter/2-12 "2 Peter 2:12 - Like Natural Brute Beasts"): Peter's parallel passage describes false teachers as "natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed," reinforcing the animalistic and self-destructive nature of their rebellion.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jude 1:10 serves as a powerful and enduring warning for believers in every age to cultivate spiritual discernment and to guard their hearts and minds against influences that deny divine truth or promote carnal living. In a world saturated with information and competing ideologies, it is crucial to distinguish between genuine spiritual wisdom, which comes from God's Spirit and His revealed Word, and worldly knowledge or instinctual understanding. We are called to be discerning, testing every spirit and every teaching against the plumb line of Scripture. This verse challenges us to examine the source of our understanding and the motivations behind our actions. Are we seeking to grow in knowledge of God and His ways, or are we allowing our natural inclinations and worldly desires to dictate our beliefs and behaviors? The self-corrupting nature of the false teachers' actions reminds us that indulging in ungodly practices, even under the guise of "freedom," ultimately leads to spiritual decay and separation from God. Therefore, we must actively pursue holiness, submitting our natural instincts to the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, and building ourselves up in the most holy faith ([Jude 1:20](/jude/1-20 "Jude 1:20 - Building Up Your Faith")).

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be speaking or acting on assumptions rather than true spiritual understanding?**
* **How do I differentiate between "natural" knowledge (instinct, worldly wisdom) and spiritual discernment in my daily decisions?**
* **What specific steps can I take to cultivate a deeper reliance on the Holy Spirit for understanding and guidance, rather than on my own carnal instincts?**
* **Am I aware of any subtle influences in my life or community that, like the false teachers, promote a disregard for biblical truth or moral boundaries, leading to self-corruption?**

### FAQ

**Who are "these" individuals that Jude refers to in this verse?**

Answer: "These" refers to the ungodly false teachers and apostates who had infiltrated the early Christian communities. Jude describes them throughout his epistle as individuals who have "crept in unawares" ([Jude 1:4](/jude/1-4 "Jude 1:4 - Ungodly Men Who Crept In")), perverting the grace of God into licentiousness and denying Jesus Christ. They are characterized by their immoral behavior, rebellious attitude towards authority, and their deceptive teachings, which threatened to corrupt the faith of true believers.

**What does it mean to "know naturally, as brute beasts"?**

Answer: This phrase highlights the profound spiritual deficiency of the false teachers. To "know naturally" (Greek: _physikōs_) means to understand things purely by instinct, sensation, or unregenerate human reason, without any spiritual insight or divine revelation. The comparison to "brute beasts" (Greek: _álogos zōon_ - irrational animals) emphasizes that their understanding is devoid of moral reasoning, spiritual discernment, or the capacity for higher thought that comes from God. Like animals, they are driven by their base appetites and impulses, leading them to act without regard for divine truth or ethical boundaries, ultimately resulting in their own corruption. This stands in stark contrast to the spiritual knowledge that comes from God's Spirit, as described in [1 Corinthians 2:14](/1_corinthians/2-14 "1 Corinthians 2:14 - The Natural Man Cannot Understand Spiritual Things").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jude 1:10, with its depiction of those who speak evil out of ignorance and corrupt themselves through carnal knowledge, finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is the ultimate antidote to the spiritual ignorance and self-corruption described. Where the false teachers "know not" divine truths, Christ is the very embodiment of divine wisdom and knowledge, for "in him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" ([Colossians 2:3](/colossians/2-3 "Colossians 2:3 - Treasures of Wisdom in Christ")). He is the true Light that shines in the darkness, revealing the Father and bringing understanding to those who were spiritually blind ([John 1:9](/john/1-9 "John 1:9 - The True Light"), [John 8:12](/john/8-12 "John 8:12 - Jesus, the Light of the World")). Unlike those who corrupt themselves through their natural instincts, Christ lived a perfectly holy life, untainted by sin, offering himself as the spotless Lamb of God to cleanse us from our corruption ([1 Peter 1:18-19](/1_peter/1-18-19 "1 Peter 1:18-19 - Redeemed by Christ's Precious Blood")). Through His atoning sacrifice and resurrection, He provides the means for believers to be transformed from living "as brute beasts" into new creations, empowered by the Holy Spirit to walk in spiritual discernment and righteousness ([Romans 8:4-6](/romans/8-4-6 "Romans 8:4-6 - Walking According to the Spirit"), [2 Corinthians 5:17](/2_corinthians/5-17 "2 Corinthians 5:17 - New Creation in Christ")). Thus, Christ is not only the source of true knowledge that dispels ignorance but also the power that delivers us from the self-destructive grip of sin and carnal living, leading us into eternal life.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

2 Peter 2:12

But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;

Romans 1:21

Because that, when they knew God, they glorified [him] not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Romans 1:22

Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,