Jude 1:7
“Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them, having, in the same way as these, given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are shown as an example, suffering the punishment of eternal fire.”
What does Jude 1:7 mean?
Jude is warning his readers by pointing to Sodom and Gomorrah as cautionary examples of what happens when people persistently reject God's design and pursue destructive desires. The phrase "strange flesh" refers to sexual acts that violate God's natural order, and Jude uses these ancient cities to illustrate that such choices have real consequences, both in this life and beyond. The historical context helps here: ancient Jewish and Christian readers would have been familiar with the Genesis account of these cities being destroyed by fire from heaven. Jude isn't being sensational by bringing them up, but rather drawing on a story his audience already knew to make a spiritual point. He's essentially saying, "Look at what happened then, look at what's happening now in similar ways, and understand that God takes these matters seriously." This passage can feel heavy, especially for those wrestling with questions about sexuality or judgment. But Jude's underlying concern isn't to condemn people, but to call believers back toward faithfulness during a time when false teachers were leading others astray. The warning is ultimately about recognizing which direction leads toward life with God and which leads away.