“Likewise,
Sodom
And Gomorrah
And the surrounding cities,
In the same manner as them,
Indulged in sexual immorality.
They pursued unnatural
Strange lust.
They serve as an example
By undergoing
A punishment
Of eternal fire.”
ὡς Σόδομα καὶ Γόμορρα καὶ αἱ περὶ αὐτὰς πόλεις, τὸν ὅμοιον τρόπον τούτοις ἐκπορνεύσασαι καὶ ἀπελθοῦσαι ὀπίσω σαρκὸς ἑτέρας, πρόκεινται δεῖγμα πυρὸς αἰωνίου δίκην ὑπέχουσαι.
This Jude said, “Likewise (ὡς), Sodom (Σόδομα) and Gomorrah (καὶ Γόμορρα) and the surrounding cities (καὶ αἱ περὶ αὐτὰς πόλεις), in the same manner (τὸν ὅμοιον τρόπον) as them (τούτοις), indulged in sexual immorality (ἐκπορνεύσασαι) and pursued unnatural strange lust (καὶ ἀπελθοῦσαι ὀπίσω σαρκὸς ἑτέρας), serve as (πρόκεινται) an example (δεῖγμα) by undergoing (ὑπέχουσαι) a punishment (δίκην) of eternal fire (πυρὸς αἰωνίου).” This is the only time in the NT writings that these words appear, here in Jude, the word ἐκπορνεύσασαι, that means to give oneself up to fornication or be guilty of fornication, as well as the word δεῖγμα, that means a thing shown, specimen, an example, or a type, and the word ὑπέχουσαι, that means to hold or put under, to undergo, to submit, or suffer. This is a comparison similar to 2 Peter, chapter 2:6, where that author said, “God burned to ashes (τεφρώσας) the cities (καὶ πόλεις) of Sodom (Σοδόμων) and Gomorrah (καὶ Γομόρρας). He condemned them (κατέκρινεν) to extinction (καταστροφῇ). He made them (τεθεικώς) an example (ὑπόδειγμα) of what is coming (μελλόντων) to the ungodly (ἀσεβεῖν).” The example of Sodom and Gomorrah can be found in Genesis, chapters 18-19. God condemned these two cities into extinction. Thus, they would forever remain an example of what was going to happen to the ungodly. These two cities were a memory and an example of ungodly behavior that was punished. Jude emphasized the sexual bad behavior, but also used these two cities as examples. Do you think that bad behavior should be punished?
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 