Jude 7

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An Exegetical Analysis of Jude 7: The Antecedent of τούτοις and the Scope of τὸν ὅμοιον τρόπον

This exegetical study of An Exegetical Analysis of Jude 7: The Antecedent of τούτοις and the Scope of τὸν ὅμοιον τρόπον is based on a b-greek discussion from Tue Jan 4 23:41:42 EST 2000. The initial inquiry focused on the phrase τὸν ὅμοιον τρόπον τούτοις in Jude 7, specifically questioning whether it functions as an adverbial accusative and, if so, which elements of the sentence it qualifies. The participles ἐκπορνεύσασαι and ἀπελθοῦσαι were proposed as potential qualifiers, as was the predicate πρόκεινται δεῖγμα. The discussion also considered whether translations of this phrase are influenced by intertextual connections, particularly with the Book of Enoch.

The primary exegetical issue in Jude 7 revolves around two intertwined grammatical and semantic ambiguities. First, the precise scope of the adverbial accusative phrase τὸν ὅμοιον τρόπον requires clarification: does it modify the actions described by the participles (committing sexual immorality and pursuing unnatural flesh), or does it describe the state of being set forth as an example? Second, and more critically, the antecedent of the demonstrative pronoun τούτοις is highly debated. Possible antecedents include the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah themselves, the fallen angels mentioned in Jude 6, or the “ungodly men” (false teachers) introduced in Jude 4. The resolution of these ambiguities significantly impacts the interpretation of the warning presented in this verse and its broader theological implications within Jude’s epistle.

ὡς Σόδομα καὶ Γόμορρα καὶ αἱ περὶ αὐτὰς πόλεις τὸν ὅμοιον τρόπον τούτοις ἐκπορνεύσασαι καὶ ἀπελθοῦσαι ὀπίσω σαρκὸς ἑτέρας, πρόκεινται δεῖγμα πυρὸς αἰωνίου δίκην ὑπέχουσαι. (Nestle 1904)

Key differences with SBLGNT (2010):

• The Greek text of Jude 7 in the provided Nestle 1904 text is identical to that found in the SBLGNT (2010) edition. There are no textual variants to note between these two editions for this verse.

Textual Criticism (NA28) and Lexical Notes (KITTEL, BDAG)

While the textual tradition for Jude 7 is remarkably stable, as indicated by the agreement between the provided text and SBLGNT (2010), and thus presenting no significant textual variants in critical editions like NA28, the passage poses considerable challenges in its syntactic and semantic interpretation. The lack of textual variance shifts the critical focus from establishing the wording to discerning the author’s intended meaning, particularly regarding the referents and scope of certain phrases.

• τὸν ὅμοιον τρόπον (τρόπος, masc. noun): This phrase functions as an adverbial accusative, meaning “in a similar manner” or “in like fashion.” BDAG defines τρόπος as “manner, way, means.” The construction τὸν ὅμοιον τρόπον indicates a comparison of method or characteristic. The central debate concerns whether this comparison applies to the preceding actions (the participles) or the subsequent outcome (the main verb clause).
• τούτοις (οὗτος, demonstrative pronoun, masc./neut. dat. pl.): This pronoun is central to the interpretive crux. BDAG indicates that οὗτος refers to something “here” or “present” in the context, or something recently mentioned. The dative case signals an indirect object or a point of comparison (e.g., “to these”). The options for its antecedent are:
  • The “angels” (ἀγγέλους) mentioned in verse 6, who did not keep their proper domain.
  • The “ungodly men” (τινες ἄνθρωποι ἀσεβεῖς) of verse 4, who have crept in unnoticed.
  • The inhabitants of “Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them” themselves, suggesting a comparison of their collective actions. The gender agreement (masculine plural for τούτοις) would most naturally point to male individuals, potentially the “ungodly men” or the “angels,” as cities (πόλεις, fem. pl.) or Sodom/Gomorrah as places would typically be neuter. However, Greek can sometimes employ a masculine pronoun for people associated with a place.
• ἐκπορνεύσασαι (ἐκπορνεύω, aorist active participle, fem. nom. pl.): From ἐκπορνεύω, meaning “to commit gross immorality, to engage in unrestrained sexual perversion.” KITTEL emphasizes the intensified nature of the prefix ἐκ-, suggesting a complete surrender to sexual sin. The feminine plural form agrees with αἱ περὶ αὐτὰς πόλεις (the cities around them).
• ἀπελθοῦσαι ὀπίσω σαρκὸς ἑτέρας (ἀπέρχομαι, aorist active participle, fem. nom. pl. + ὀπίσω + σάρξ, gen. + ἕτερος, gen.): This phrase translates to “going after other flesh.” BDAG defines σάρξ ἑτέρας in this context as “unnatural sexual desire,” signifying sexual acts outside conventional human relations (e.g., homosexual acts, bestiality, or intercourse with non-human beings as perhaps suggested by the angels in Gen 6:2 LXX). This is seen as a distinct and more egregious form of transgression than mere fornication.
• πρόκεινται (πρόκειμαι, present indicative, 3rd pl.): “They lie before, they are set forth, they serve as.” BDAG notes its use in presenting something as an example or warning.
• δίκην ὑπέχουσαι (δίκη, fem. noun + ὑπέχω, present active participle, fem. nom. pl.): This participial phrase means “suffering punishment,” “undergoing retribution.” It indicates the consequence of their actions, serving as an enduring example.

Translation Variants with Grammatical & Rhetorical Analysis

The different English translations of Jude 7 highlight the exegetical challenges regarding the antecedent of τούτοις and the precise scope of τὸν ὅμοιον τρόπον. Each translation makes interpretive choices that affect the nuance of the comparison being drawn.

• King James Version (KJV): “Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.”

  Analysis: The KJV places “in like manner” (τὸν ὅμοιον τρόπον) immediately after the cities, appearing to qualify the participles (“giving themselves over…” and “going after…”). The antecedent of “in like manner” is left implicit, but syntactically, it most naturally refers to the general idea of prior examples or the activity described. It does not explicitly link to the angels or the ungodly men, preserving some ambiguity.

• NET Bible: “So also Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighboring towns, since they indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire in a way similar to these angels, are now displayed as an example by suffering the punishment of eternal fire.”

  Analysis: The NET Bible provides an explicit interpretation of τούτοις, identifying “these angels” as the antecedent. This translation clearly understands τὸν ὅμοιον τρόπον as modifying the participles, emphasizing that the cities’ actions were “similar to these angels.” This strong interpretive choice grounds the comparison in the specific transgression of the angels from verse 6, linking the two examples of divine judgment.

• Phillips: “Sodom and Gomorrah and the adjacent cities who, in the same way as these men today, gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion, stand in their punishment as a permanent warning.”

  Analysis: Phillips offers another explicit identification for τούτοις, translating it as “these men today.” This refers to the “ungodly men” or false teachers mentioned in Jude 4, making the Sodomites’ actions a direct parallel and warning for the epistle’s immediate audience. Like NET, Phillips sees “in the same way” as qualifying the participles (“gave themselves up…”). This interpretation underscores Jude’s polemical purpose, directly connecting ancient judgment to contemporary threats.

• Rotherham Emphasized Bible: “As, Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them, having in like manner to these given themselves over to fornication, and gone away after other kind of flesh, lie exposed as an example, a penalty of age-abiding fire, undergoing.”

  Analysis: Rotherham maintains a literal approach, “having in like manner to these given themselves over…” The phrase “to these” (τούτοις) is rendered somewhat ambiguously, not explicitly naming an antecedent but allowing for the reader to infer it. Grammatically, “in like manner to these” clearly modifies the participial actions, not the consequence, consistent with the KJV and other translations that prioritize the actions as the point of comparison.

• New International Version (NIV): “In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.”

  Analysis: The NIV’s rendering “In a similar way” functions broadly to qualify the entire statement about Sodom and Gomorrah’s actions and their subsequent punishment. It avoids explicitly translating τούτοις as referring to either angels or “men,” instead making the comparison internal to the statement about Sodom’s conduct. This approach suggests the cities’ actions were “in a similar way” to each other or to a general standard of depravity, rather than directly comparing them to a specific external group. It implicitly qualifies the actions (giving themselves up to immorality) as the point of similarity.

Conclusions and Translation Suggestions

The scholarly consensus, supported by semantic probability and syntactical feasibility, tends to favor τὸν ὅμοιον τρόπον qualifying the participles ἐκπορνεύσασαι καὶ ἀπελθοῦσαι. The main point of comparison lies in the nature of the cities’ activities rather than solely their judgment. The debate regarding the antecedent of τούτοις remains central. Given the context of Jude’s preceding and subsequent examples of ungodliness and rebellion (angels in v.6, false teachers in v.4), identifying the antecedent as either the angels or the ungodly men provides a strong rhetorical and theological parallel. The argument for the angels is strengthened by the explicit mention in v.6 of similar divine judgment and a non-standard sexual transgression (leaving their proper abode), while the argument for the ungodly men directly applies the warning to Jude’s audience.

1. “Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, acting in the same manner as these [angels from v.6], committed sexual immorality and pursued unnatural flesh, they are set forth as an example, suffering the punishment of eternal fire.”

   Explanation: This translation foregrounds the angels as the specific comparative referent for τούτοις, emphasizing a shared pattern of transgression (abandoning natural boundaries or roles for sexual deviancy) that led to divine judgment.

2. “Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, in the same way as these [ungodly men of v.4], indulged in sexual immorality and went after unnatural desires, they are displayed as an example, enduring the punishment of eternal fire.”

   Explanation: This rendering interprets τούτοις as referring to the ‘ungodly men’ (false teachers) of verse 4, making the historical judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah a direct parallel and warning for the contemporary recipients of Jude’s epistle concerning similar immoral behavior.

3. “Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, themselves committing sexual immorality and pursuing unnatural flesh in a similar fashion, are set forth as an example, suffering the punishment of eternal fire.”

   Explanation: This option understands τούτοις as broadly referring to the collective actions and nature of the cities’ inhabitants themselves, making the comparison an internal one or to a general standard of their shared depravity, thus emphasizing the inherent nature of their transgression as the basis for their judgment.

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