This comparative analysis deals with Jude 22 and 23. What appears to be a simple, straight-forward passage actually has numerous variations, although the basic admonition is virtually the same in the various versions.
Versions Compared
- BNT – Barclay New Testament
- CENT – Common English New Testament
- CEV – Contemporary English Version
- CNT – Cassirer New Testament
- CTNT – Centenary Translation of the New Testament
- EDW – The Emphatic Diaglott
- EVD – English Version for the Deaf
- HBME – The Holy Bible in Modern English
- IV – Inspired Version
- KJV – King James Version
- KLNT – Kleist-Lilly New Testament
- KTC – Knox Translation
- LBP – Lamsa Bible
- MSNT – The Modern Speech New Testament
- NLT – New Living Translation
- NNT – Noli New Testament
- NSNT – Norlie’s Simplified New Testament
- SGAT – An American Translation (Smith-Goodspeed)
- SISR – The Scriptures (ISR)
- TJB – The Jerusalem Bible
- TM – The Message
- WAS – Worrell New Testament
- WET – Wuest Expanded Translation
- WMF – The Word Made Fresh
- WNT – Williams New Testament
- WTNT – William Tindale Newe Testament
Jude 22, 23
BNT – Some, who cannot make up their minds, you must treat with pity. Some you must rescue by snatching them from the fire. With some you must deal with mingled pity and fear. You must hate even clothes stained by contact with a sensual man.
CENT – And some refute when they are contending; but others save, snatching them out of the fire; and others compassionate with fear, hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
CEV – Rescue any who need to be saved, as you would rescue someone from a fire. Then with fear in your own hearts, have mercy on everyone who needs it. But hate even the clothes of those who have been made dirty by their filthy deeds.
CNT – There are some wavering souls for whom you should feel nothing but pity. Snatch them from the fire and bring them salvation. With others, again, your pity should have an admixture of fear. You must hold them in abhorrence, and learn to shun even the outward trappings of those contaminated by sensuality.
CTNT – Pity some who are wavering, and save by dragging them out of the fire; others pity, but with caution, hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
EDW – And, making a difference, Some indeed do you pity;
but Others save by Fear, snatching them out of the FIRE, hating even the GARMENT SPOTTED by the FLESH.
EVD – Help the people that have doubts. You need to save some people. You will be pulling them out of the fire. But be careful when you want to help other people [that are sinners]. Hate even their clothes that are dirty from sin.
HBME – Some indeed, pity, with fear; some indeed reprove – making a difference; but pitying, save from the fire; hating even the clothing which has been polluted with sensuality.
IV – And of some have compassion, making a difference;
And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
KJV – And of some have compassion, making a difference;
And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
KLNT – Reprove those who are judged to be wrong; save others by snatching them out of the fire. To still others show mercy tempered with fear, hating even the garment soiled by carnal passions.
KTC – To some you must give a hearing, and confute them; others you must pluck out of the fire, and rescue them; others again you can only pity, while you shun them; even the outward fringe of what the flesh has defiled must be hateful to you.
Footnote: “While you shun them;” literally, “in fear.” Some Greek manuscripts only give two classes of men here, instead of three. “The outward fringe of what the flesh has defiled;” literally, “the garment defiled by the flesh.”
LBP – And on some of them, whoever they may be, heap coals of fire;
And when they repent, have mercy on them with compassion; despise even a garment which is spotted with things of the flesh.
MSNT – Some, when they argue with you, you must endeavour to convince; others you must try to save, as brands plucked from the flames; and on others look with pity mingled with fear, while you hate every trace of their sin.
Footnote: As brands plucked from the flames: Apparently quoted from Amos 4: 11 and Zechariah 3: 2.
Footnote: While you hate, etc.: Perhaps there may be an allusion also in “hating even the tunic that has been spotted by the flesh” to the filthy garments which are taken from Joshua as a sign that his iniquities are taken away (Zechariah 3: 4), and in order that he may be clothed with a new priestly tunic reaching to the feet. See Zechariah 3: 4 in LXX.
NLT – Show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. There are still others to whom you need to show mercy, but be careful that you aren’t contaminated by their sins.
NNT – Pity even those about whom you have doubts. Save even those of whom you are afraid. Snatch them from the fire, even if you hate to touch their sin-soaked garments.
NSNT – Convince those who are in doubt. Save others by snatching them out of the fire. To others show mercy, but use fear, showing that you are even by the very clothing befouled by their lusts.
SGAT – Those whom you pity in their uncertainty, save, snatching them from the fire, and look on others with pity mixed with fear, loathing even the clothes their animal nature has stained.
SISR – And show compassion toward some who are doubting,
but others save with fear, snatching them out of the fire, hating, even the garments defiled by the flesh.
TJB – When there are some who have doubts, reassure them; when there are some to be saved from the fire, pull them out; but there are others to whom you must be kind with great caution, keeping your distance even from outside clothing which is contaminated by vice.
TM – Go easy on those who hesitate in the faith. Go after those who take the wrong way. Be tender with sinners, but not soft on sin. The sin itself stinks to high heaven.
WAS – And on some have compassion, while contending with you; and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment spotted by flesh.
Footnote: 22: This verse has various readings.
Footnote: 23: Others save, with fear, pulling them out of the fire; use alarming methods to arouse them from their slumbers; as you would were they asleep in a burning house. Hating even the garment; abhorring everything that looks towards lewdness, or that reminds of that brutal sin.
WET – And on some, on the one hand, be showing mercy, on those who are in doubt; be saving them, snatching them out of the fire; to others, on the other had, be showing mercy in fear, hating even the undergarment completely defiled by the faith.
WMF – Use common sense, too, helping some persons with real compassion and understanding, while with others you will have to scare them with hellfire, but save people.
WNT – Some people, who continue to waver through doubts, you must pity and save, snatching them out of the fire; and others you must pity with dread, loathing even the clothes that are soiled by their lower nature.
WTNT – And have compassion on some, separating them: and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, and hate the filthy vesture of the flesh.
