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.
Original Language Analysis
αὐτοῖς
unto them
G846
αὐτοῖς
unto them
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
2 of 21
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
ὅτι
! for
G3754
ὅτι
! for
Strong's:
G3754
Word #:
3 of 21
demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because
τῇ
G3588
τῇ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
4 of 21
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ὁδῷ
in the way
G3598
ὁδῷ
in the way
Strong's:
G3598
Word #:
5 of 21
a road; by implication, a progress (the route, act or distance); figuratively, a mode or means
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
6 of 21
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἐπορεύθησαν
they have gone
G4198
ἐπορεύθησαν
they have gone
Strong's:
G4198
Word #:
8 of 21
to traverse, i.e., travel (literally or figuratively; especially to remove (figuratively, die), live, etc.)
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
9 of 21
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
τῇ
G3588
τῇ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
10 of 21
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
πλάνῃ
the error
G4106
πλάνῃ
the error
Strong's:
G4106
Word #:
11 of 21
objectively, fraudulence; subjectively, a straying from orthodoxy or piety
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
12 of 21
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Βαλαὰμ
of Balaam
G903
Βαλαὰμ
of Balaam
Strong's:
G903
Word #:
13 of 21
balaam, a mesopotamian (symbolic of a false teacher)
μισθοῦ
for reward
G3408
μισθοῦ
for reward
Strong's:
G3408
Word #:
14 of 21
pay for service (literally or figuratively), good or bad
ἐξεχύθησαν
ran greedily after
G1632
ἐξεχύθησαν
ran greedily after
Strong's:
G1632
Word #:
15 of 21
to pour forth; figuratively, to bestow
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
16 of 21
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
τῇ
G3588
τῇ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
17 of 21
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Cross References
2 Peter 2:15Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;1 John 3:12Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.Revelation 2:14But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.Hebrews 11:4By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.Matthew 11:21Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.Isaiah 3:11Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.Isaiah 3:9The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves.Deuteronomy 23:4Because they met you not with bread and with water in the way, when ye came forth out of Egypt; and because they hired against thee Balaam the son of Beor of Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse thee.Micah 6:5O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal; that ye may know the righteousness of the LORD.Numbers 31:16Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD.
Historical Context
These three figures were proverbial in Jewish tradition as examples of various sins: Cain (jealousy, false worship, murder), Balaam (greed, corruption, false teaching for profit), and Korah (rebellion against authority, presumption). Each faced divine judgment for their sins. Jewish rabbis used these as warning examples, and early Christians adopted this interpretive tradition.
The threefold categorization identifies distinct but related errors among false teachers:
- Wrong worship and doctrine (Cain)—rejecting God's revealed way for human alternatives.
- Mercenary motives (Balaam)—using ministry for financial gain, corrupting others for profit.
- Rebellious rejection of legitimate authority (Korah)—refusing submission to God-ordained leaders and structures.
All three involve prideful autonomy: determining one's own worship, pursuing selfish gain, rejecting accountability.
First-century false teachers exhibited all three characteristics. Gnostic teachers created alternative worship systems mixing Christianity with philosophy and mysticism (Cain). Many charged fees for their teaching and promised material prosperity (Balaam). They rejected apostolic authority and church discipline, claiming direct access to divine knowledge (Korah). These same patterns recur throughout church history.
Questions for Reflection
- How do contemporary forms of ministry exhibit the patterns of Cain, Balaam, and Korah?
- What's the balance between testing teaching critically (Acts 17:11) and respecting legitimate spiritual authority?
- When should churches exercise formal discipline against false teachers, and how should this be conducted?
Analysis & Commentary
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. Jude pronounces judgment—"Woe unto them!" (Greek ouai autois, οὐαὶ αὐτοῖς)—echoing prophetic denunciations (Isaiah 5:8-23, Matthew 23:13-29). He provides three more Old Testament examples characterizing the false teachers' errors. First, "the way of Cain" (Greek tē hodō tou Kain, τῇ ὁδῷ τοῦ Κάιν) refers to Genesis 4:3-8. Cain's sin wasn't merely murder but underlying rebellion: offering unacceptable worship, rejecting God's standards, resenting God's acceptance of Abel's faith-based offering (Hebrews 11:4).
Second, "the error of Balaam for reward" (Greek tē planē tou Balaam misthou exechythēsan, τῇ πλάνῃ τοῦ Βαλαὰμ μισθοῦ ἐξεχύθησαν) references Numbers 22-25, 31:16. Balaam, though initially refusing to curse Israel, eventually taught Balak how to corrupt Israel through sexual immorality and idolatry—for financial gain. "Ran greedily" (Greek exechythēsan, ἐξεχύθησαν) means poured out, rushed headlong—eager pursuit of profit through compromise. Balaam represents using spiritual position for personal gain, corrupting others for money.
Third, "the gainsaying of Core" (Greek tē antilogia tou Kore, τῇ ἀντιλογίᾳ τοῦ Κόρε) refers to Korah's rebellion (Numbers 16). "Gainsaying" means contradiction, rebellion, speaking against authority. Korah and fellow Levites challenged Moses' and Aaron's leadership, claiming all Israel was equally holy. God's judgment was immediate and devastating—the earth swallowed the rebels. Korah represents prideful rejection of God-established authority.