Jude 1:16

These men are discontented grumblers, following after their own lusts; their mouths spew arrogance; they flatter others for their own advantage.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Jude addresses believers, identifying the false teachers who have secretly infiltrated the community. This description sits between the coming judgment (v.15) and the call to remember apostolic teaching (v.17).

The words — γογγυσταί (gongystai, "grumblers") and μεμψίμοροι (mempsimoiroi, "fault-finders") are the same terms used of Israel's wilderness complaints. The pairing marks these intruders as a new generation of the old grumbling.

The thread — 2 Peter 2:18 and 2:10 describe the same profile: sensual exploitation and contempt for authority. Philippians 2:14 commands the opposite — doing everything without grumbling or arguing.

Why it lands — The verse identifies flattery-for-advantage as a diagnostic marker of the false teacher, not a sign of genuine community. A reader is asked to test whether praise in the assembly serves the praised or the one doing the praising.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

οὗτοίhoutoiThese εἰσινeisinare γογγυσταὶgongustaigrumblers μεμψίμοιροι,mempsimoiroidiscontented,κατὰkataafter τὰςtasthe ἐπιθυμίαςepithumiaslusts ἑαυτῶνhe'autōnof themselves πορευόμενοι,poreuomenoifollowing,καὶkaiand τὸtothe στόμαstomamouth αὐτῶνautōnof them λαλεῖlaleispeaks ὑπέρογκα,huperogkagreat swelling [words],θαυμάζοντεςthaumazontesflattering πρόσωπαprosōpafaces ὠφελείαςōpheleiasof profit χάριν.¶charinbecause.

King James Version

These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.

Cross-references

2 Peter 2:18 With lofty but empty words, they appeal to the sensual passions of the flesh and entice those who are just escaping from others who live in error.
Philippians 2:14 Do everything without complaining or arguing,
2 Peter 2:10 Such punishment is specially reserved for those who indulge the corrupt desires of the flesh and despise authority. Bold and self-willed, they are unafraid to slander glorious beings.
1 Timothy 6:5 and constant friction between men of depraved mind who are devoid of the truth. These men regard godliness as a means of gain.
1 Corinthians 10:10 And do not complain, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel.
James 1:14 But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed.
1 Peter 2:11 Beloved, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul.
1 Peter 4:2 Consequently, he does not live out his remaining time on earth for human passions, but for the will of God.
2 Peter 3:3 Most importantly, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.
Jude 1:18 when they said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow after their own ungodly desires.”