Jude 1:11
“Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jude pronounces woe on these men, comparing them to Cain, Balaam, and Korah, three figures who rebelled against God and came to ruin.
What Does Jude 1:11 Mean?
Jude pronounces a woe, a cry of grief and warning, and reaches for three figures his readers knew. They have gone in the way of Cain, whose jealousy led to violence. They ran greedily after the error of Balaam, who traded his gift for reward. And they perished in the gainsaying of Korah, who rose up against God-given authority and was swallowed by judgment.
Each name marks a path: envy, greed, and rebellion. Together they sketch a single trajectory away from God and toward destruction. Jude speaks of their ruin as already certain, so settled is the end of that road. Yet a woe is not only condemnation; it carries sorrow, the ache of seeing souls choose self over their Maker. Jude holds up these mirrors so the church will recognize and refuse the same paths, and walk instead the way of life.