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 1:15KJV
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Jude 1:15 (KJV)

What does Jude 1:15 mean?

Jude 1:15 describes a coming time when judgment will be carried out on everyone, especially focusing on those who have lived in an ungodly way, highlighting both their actions and their harsh words spoken against God. The verse emphasizes that no act or word of ungodliness will be overlooked when this judgment happens.

Jude, the brother of James, is writing to warn early Christians about people who have secretly joined their community but live in ways that oppose God. In this verse, Jude is quoting from ancient Jewish tradition to stress that God will not ignore ungodliness—both in deeds and in speech. The verse is part of a larger warning about the seriousness of rejecting God’s ways.

The Greek behind Jude 1:15

  • ἀσεβής (asebēs, "ungodly"): This word appears several times in the verse, underlining the focus on people who show no respect or reverence for God. The repetition stresses just how central ungodliness is to Jude’s warning.
  • σκληρός (sklērós, "hard"): This word describes the harsh or defiant things spoken against God. It suggests not just rudeness but a stubborn, resistant attitude.
  • ἔργον (ergon, "deed"): The Greek here points to concrete actions, not just attitudes or thoughts. Jude is clear that both what people do and what they say matter in God’s judgment.
  • κρίνω (krinō, "to judge") and ἐλέγχω (elenchō, "to convince" or "to expose"): The words used for judgment and convincing carry the sense of exposing wrongdoing and making it clear to all, not just punishing but revealing the truth about each person’s life.

Why Jude 1:15 matters

  • Jude 1:15 clarifies that judgment is not just about obvious, outward sins but also about words and attitudes that oppose God, which might otherwise be overlooked.
  • The verse highlights the seriousness with which God views both actions and speech, showing that nothing is hidden or insignificant in His eyes.
  • This verse connects to Jude’s larger warning about false teachers and those who distort the faith, reminding readers that God will ultimately deal with all forms of rebellion, even those that seem hidden or only spoken.

Where else these words appear

“committed” Greek G764 · used in 2 verses

  • 2 Peter 2:6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;

“ungodly” Greek G763 · used in 6 verses

  • Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
  • Romans 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
  • Titus 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

“hard” Greek G4642 · used in 6 verses

  • Matthew 25:24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
  • John 6:60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?
  • Acts 26:14 And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

“ungodly” Greek G765 · used in 8 verses

  • Romans 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
  • 1 Timothy 1:9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
  • 2 Peter 2:5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;