It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones,
English Standard Version (ESV)
This ancient prophecy about the Lord's coming isn't just about judgment; it highlights the Lord's divine entourage. The phrase "ten thousands of his holy ones" emphasizes that Christ doesn't return alone, but is accompanied by a vast, majestic host, likely referring to angels, underscoring the immense power and glory of His return.
It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jude is directly addressing the threat posed by false teachers within the church, who are spreading heresy and living immoral lives. He draws from ancient traditions, even quoting from the book of Enoch, to show that such ungodly behavior has always been met with divine judgment, emphasizing that Christ's return will bring reckoning.
Jude introduces a figure so ancient, he walked with God before the great flood. Who was Enoch, and why does Jude bring him up now?
Jude doesn't just randomly pick a name; he deliberately chooses Enoch, the seventh from Adam in the lineage of Seth. This placement isn't arbitrary.
A Specific Lineage
Jude uses Enoch's extreme antiquity and special walk with God to give weight to the prophecy that follows. It’s like saying, 'This warning isn't new; it echoes from the very dawn of humanity!'
Enoch's prophecy isn't a gentle whisper; it's a thunderous announcement. What does 'ten thousands of his saints' really mean, and who are they?
Enoch’s prophecy, 'Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones,' is a powerful declaration about the future. Jude quotes this to confront the false teachers of his day.
Who are the 'Holy Ones'?
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Regardless of the precise interpretation of 'saints,' the core message is one of overwhelming divine power and authority. This isn't a quiet arrival; it's a grand, awe-inspiring manifestation of God's presence and judgment. The word 'Behold' commands attention, signaling the certainty and significance of this coming event.
Jude uses Enoch’s ancient prophecy to expose the false teachers of his time. How does this old message directly condemn them?
Enoch's prophecy wasn't just a historical prediction; it was a warning that resonated through the ages, directly applicable to the people Jude was addressing.
The Prophecy's Purpose
By citing Enoch, Jude connects the current rebellion of these false teachers to the ultimate, inescapable judgment of God, a truth known even from the earliest days of humanity.
This prophecy of Enoch, quoted by Jude, highlights the ancient and ongoing biblical theme of God's coming judgment against ungodliness, connecting the earliest days of humanity to the apostolic era and beyond.
~4004 BC
Adam created
The first man, Adam, is created by God, establishing the beginning of humanity and the first lineage from which subsequent generations, including Enoch, would descend.
~3100 BC
Enoch's translation
Enoch, known for walking closely with God, is taken directly into God's presence without experiencing death, a unique event in early human history.
~2350 BC
The Great Flood
God brings a catastrophic flood upon the earth to judge the ungodliness and violence of humanity, an event foreshadowed by Enoch's prophecy.
~166-110 BC
Book of Enoch composed
The ancient Jewish apocalyptic text known as the Book of Enoch is believed to have been written, containing a passage very similar to Jude's quotation.
c. AD 30-60— this verse
Jude writes his Epistle
Jude, the brother of Jesus, writes his short but powerful letter warning believers about false teachers who distort grace and deny Christ.
This passage describes a similar heavenly vision of judgment, with 'ten thousand times ten thousand' ministering before the Ancient of Days, mirroring the 'ten thousands of his holy ones' accompanying God's arrival in Jude.
Hebrews 11:5This verse directly mentions Enoch's unique walk with God and his translation, providing the foundation for why Jude would highlight Enoch's prophetic voice.
Zechariah 14:5This Old Testament prophecy speaks of the Lord coming with 'all his holy ones,' directly echoing the language used in Jude and pointing to a future divine appearance for judgment.
Matthew 25:31Jesus himself speaks of his glorious return with 'his holy angels,' aligning with the concept of Christ's arrival accompanied by a celestial host, as prophesied by Enoch.
Genesis 5:24This verse states that 'Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him,' setting the stage for his special communion with God and his prophetic insight, which Jude emphasizes.
gillJude 1:14: "And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,"
And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam,.... This was Enoch the son of Jared; his name signifies one "instructed", or "trained up"; as he doubtless was by his father, in the true religion, in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; and was one that had much communion with God; he walked with him, and was translated by him, body and soul, to heaven, and did not…
pulpitJude 1:14: "And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,"
Verses 14, 15. - And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these. The Revisers render it, and to these also Enoch... prophesied. In the apocryphal writing from which the passage is taken Enoch is styled, as here, "the seventh from Adam." Seven occurs in Scripture as a sacred symbolical number. Its introduction here, therefore, is very generally u…
This ancient prophecy about the Lord's coming isn't just about judgment; it highlights the Lord's divine entourage. The phrase "ten thousands of his holy ones" emphasizes that Christ doesn't return alone, but is accompanied by a vast, majestic host, likely referring to angels, underscoring the immense power and glory of His return.
Jude is directly addressing the threat posed by false teachers within the church, who are spreading heresy and living immoral lives. He draws from ancient traditions, even quoting from the book of Enoch, to show that such ungodly behavior has always been met with divine judgment, emphasizing that Christ's return will bring reckoning.
Jude is directly addressing the threat posed by false teachers within the church, who are spreading heresy and living immoral lives. He draws from ancient traditions, even quoting from the book of Enoch, to show that such ungodly behavior has always been met with divine judgment, emphasizing that Christ's return will bring reckoning.
"It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones," — This ancient prophecy about the Lord's coming isn't just about judgment; it highlights the Lord's divine entourage. The phrase "ten thousands of his holy ones" emphasizes that Christ doesn't return a…
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Last reviewed October 2026