Jude 1:7,8 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Bible Comments

Even as Sodom and Gomorrha See on 2 Peter 2:6-9; and the cities about them These were Admah and Zeboim. The four are mentioned Deuteronomy 29:23; Zoar, the fifth city in the plain of Sodom, was spared, at the request of Lot, for a place of refuge to him and his family. In like manner Τον ομοιον τουτοις τροπον, in a manner like to these; that is, either like to these wicked teachers, or like to the inhabitants of these wicked cities, Sodom and Gomorrah; giving themselves over to fornication The word is applicable to any sort of uncleanness; and going after strange flesh Giving themselves up to unnatural lusts; are set forth for an example To other presumptuous sinners; suffering the vengeance of eternal fire Having their lovely and fruitful country turned into a kind of hell upon earth. The meaning is, The vengeance which they suffered is an example, or type, of eternal fire. Likewise Ομοιως μεν τοι, in like manner, indeed; these filthy dreamers So our translators render the word ενυπνιαζομενοι, an epithet which the persons described undoubtedly deserved. The word, however, only signifies dreamers; or rather, persons cast into a deep sleep, namely, into a state of ignorance and insensibility, of negligence and sloth, with respect to spiritual and eternal things; sleeping and dreaming all their lives. Defile the flesh Their own bodies, which ought to be sacred, together with their spirits, to the service of God. Despise dominion Those that are invested with it by Christ, and made by him the overseers of his flock; or, he may mean that they despised their civil rulers; and speak evil of dignities Of persons in the most honourable stations. The Jews, fancying it sinful to obey the heathen magistrates, despised both them and their office. The ungodly teachers, of whom Jude speaks, carried the matter still further; they reviled all magistrates whatever, as enemies to the natural liberty of mankind.

Jude 1:7-8

7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strangeb flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

8 Likewise also these [filthy] dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.