What Does Jude 1:8 Mean in the King James?
Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.
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
What English calls “dignities” is Greek for glories: things bearing honor and weight, which their speech tries to strip away.
THE MEANING
The verse speaks now of a posture that joins dreaming to defiling flesh, rejecting dominion, and slandering glories. Dreaming alone is not the charge; the verse names the conduct that accompanies it.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
A dream does not make defilement clean, rebellion rightful, or slander harmless.
THE ROOT
δόξας
doxas
GROWS FROM
δοκ- (dok-), the word family of δοκέω (dokeō)
To think or regard; δόξα develops as reputation, honor, or glory, what is regarded as weighty.
The KJV word “dignities” can sound like a rank or title, while δόξας names glories: what bears honor and weight. The verse’s accusation is that their speech strikes at what they refuse to honor.
ALSO GROWS
doxa: Glory, honor, reputation
δόξα
This is the singular form behind Jude’s “glories,” naming what their speech reviles.
doxazō: To glorify, honor
δοξάζω
The related verb shows the same family can describe giving honor, the opposite direction from slander.
endoxos: Held in honor, glorious
ἔνδοξος
This related word names the honored standing that the verse says they speak against.
κυριότητα
kyriotēta
GROWS FROM
κυρι- (kyri-), the word family of κύριος (kyrios)
Lord or master; by extension, lordship and the exercise of authority.
“Despise dominion” reaches beyond disliking a title: the word belongs to the family for lordship and ruling. The verse places rejection of rule beside the defiling of flesh and the slandering of glory.
ALSO GROWS
kyrios: Lord, master
κύριος
The source word names the one who holds authority, making clear what “dominion” involves.
kyrieuō: To rule, exercise lordship
κυριεύω
This related verb shows dominion as active rule, not merely status.
μιαίνουσιν
miainousin
GROWS FROM
μιαιν-
miain-
To stain, pollute, or make unclean.
“defile” in this verse is miainousin. The verb gives defilement the force of staining or pollution: the charge concerns what is done to flesh, not only an inward idea. Its placement beside rejected dominion and reviled glory joins bodily conduct to the posture of contempt.
ALSO GROWS
miasma: Pollution, stain
μίασμα
This noun makes the image of defilement concrete: something has been stained.
miasmos: Defilement, pollution
μιασμός
This related noun names the condition produced by staining, echoing the verse’s charge against the flesh.
THE PATTERN
Contempt becomes visible in the body, in resistance to rule, and in speech against what is honored.
Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.THE THREAD
But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.Second Peter repeats Jude’s linked language about despising dominion and speaking evil of glories. That shared wording lets the charges read as one posture of contempt, joining bodily conduct, rejection of rule, and slander.
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us