My children’s spouses joke that our family has its own language. We say funny words or make references to places and moments that only make sense to us. Is your family like that? Here Jude was definitely referencing something that was super familiar to the Messianic Jews of his day, but is not on most of our readers.

I read a hilarious little book once called Shakespearean Insults. The Bard definitely had a way with words. In these two verses, Jude as well used eloquence to cut to the core of these ungodly people. Let’s look at a few references that are used in other places in the Bible as well.

Did you know there were talking animals in the Bible? In the story of Balaam (Numbers 22-25 and 31:16), we read a fascinating account. On his way to curse the Israelites, this prophet for profit, was stopped by an unmovable donkey. Balaam was so mad that he started to beat the poor animal.

Today we will look at the person Jude mentions named Korah. Korah was from the same family line as Moses and Aaron. One day, Korah decided that he would be a better leader for God’s people than Moses and Aaron. He incited 250 others against them. Moses was heartbroken at this, and God was angry. God destroyed Korah and those who rebelled against Moses by causing the earth to open and swallow them up. 

There are several people mentioned in Jude verse 11 who we can read about in the Old Testament. First we have Cain. You can read his story in Genesis 4. Cain was born to Adam and Eve, along with his brother Abel. Cain offered “some” of his harvest to the Lord, while Abel gave God the “first fruits.” Because of their heart posture, God received Abel’s offering and not Cain's. This made Cain jealous and angry, and he killed his own brother.