What Does Jude 1:17 Mean in the King James?
But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
Words spoken before are not relics: remembering brings them into the attention of the present.
THE MEANING
You are addressed as beloved and placed in relation to words already spoken by the apostles of Jesus. Those words remain present to your attention now; their earlier speaking does not make them irrelevant to this moment.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The verse undoes the belief that only a fresh message can matter: words already spoken can still speak to the present.
THE ROOT
μνήσθητε
mnēsthēte
GROWS FROM
μνα-/μνη- (mnā-/mnē-)
Remember, bring to mind, keep in memory.
“remember” in this verse is mnēsthēte. The Greek imperative calls for an active bringing-to-mind. Its word family joins memory with the act of remembering, so the verse shows how words spoken earlier can remain present in your attention.
ALSO GROWS
mnēmē: Memory or recollection.
μνήμη
The shared word family links remembering with what the mind holds present.
mnēmoneuō: Remember or keep in mind.
μνημονεύω
This related verb makes clear that remembering is an active keeping of something in mind.
anamnēsis: Remembrance or recollection.
ἀνάμνησις
The same memory family appears in the idea of calling something back into present awareness.
ἀποστόλων
apostolōn
GROWS FROM
ἀποστελλ-
apostell-
Send out or dispatch.
The apostles are named through the language of being sent. The verse thus connects the remembered words to messengers who carry and deliver them.
ALSO GROWS
apostellō: Send out or dispatch.
ἀποστέλλω
This verb shows the sending contained in the title used for the speakers.
apostolē: A sending, commission, or mission.
ἀποστολή
This related noun reveals the commission behind the messengers whose words remain in view.
THE PATTERN
Remembering keeps present attention connected to words and experience already given.
And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:THE THREAD
That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:The Greek memory word here belongs to the same μνα-/μνη- family as Jude’s “remember.” Peter’s verse widens the connection by placing both prophetic words and apostolic teaching within present attention.
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