But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's easy to miss is that Michael the archangel, even in a spiritual battle with the devil, refused to speak with condemnation. Instead of issuing his own harsh judgment, he deferred to God's authority, echoing the very words used in Zechariah 3:2 when the Lord addressed Satan. This shows that even the highest angelic beings operate under divine restraint and don't overstep their appointed roles.
But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jude is contrasting the arrogant, slanderous speech of the false teachers with the humble respect shown by the archangel Michael. The incident Jude refers to, a dispute with the devil over Moses' body, isn't detailed in the Old Testament but was likely a known tradition among his readers. Michael's refusal to utter a harsh judgment, instead deferring to the Lord's authority, serves as a powerful example for believers facing similar spiritual opposition.
Ever feel tempted to unleash your full fury when someone wrongs you? Even the greatest heavenly warriors face this challenge. Discover the power of restraint in the face of accusation.
In this dramatic scene, Jude highlights Michael the archangel, a powerful figure who stands as a champion for God's people.
A Fierce Defender
Michael is no ordinary angel; he's an 'archangel' – a chief prince, the ultimate defender of Israel. We see him in Daniel battling spiritual forces and in Revelation leading the angelic armies. Here, he's in a heated 'dispute' – a verbal clash – with the devil himself over the body of Moses.
The Restraint of Reverence
Despite the immense stakes and the devil's accusatory presence, Michael doesn't resort to hurled insults or curses. The text says he 'did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment.' This wasn't out of fear of Satan, but out of profound reverence for God's authority. Michael understood that judgment and condemnation belong to the Lord alone.
His response, 'The Lord rebuke you,' echoes the very words God uses against Satan in Zechariah 3:2. This wasn't a passive surrender, but an active deferral of judgment to the One who has the ultimate right to judge.
Why would the devil be so interested in Moses' body? And what does this dispute reveal about spiritual warfare?
The specific details of the dispute over Moses' body are not found in the canonical Old Testament, suggesting Jude is referencing a tradition familiar to his readers, possibly from extra-biblical sources like the 'Assumption of Moses.'
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Satan's Accusation
Commentators suggest several reasons for Satan's claim:
Michael's Defense
Regardless of the precise nature of the dispute, Michael's role was to defend. His deferral to God's judgment implies that the ultimate authority over life, death, and even the disposition of a prophet's body rests with God. Michael’s restraint highlights that even in a spiritual battle, the method of engagement matters, and God's authority is paramount.
Understand the original words
archangelos · Greek Noun
A high-ranking angel; one who holds a superior position among the angelic host, traditionally associated with leadership in spiritual warfare.
diabolos · Greek Noun
The adversary of God and humanity, the leader of the fallen angels, and the primary agent of temptation, deception, and accusation.
The story of Michael and the devil disputing over Moses' body comes from Jewish tradition, not the Old Testament itself. Jude uses it to show that even heavenly beings respect divine authority, urging believers to resist false teachers with similar restraint, not reviling.
c. 1400 BC
Moses Dies
Moses, the great leader and lawgiver of Israel, dies at the age of 120 and is buried by God in an unknown location. This event marks the end of the Israelites' journey through the wilderness and their preparation to enter the Promised Land.
c. 500 BC
Book of Daniel Written
The prophet Daniel receives visions, including one where Michael the archangel is described as the great prince who stands up for the people of Israel.
c. 500 BC
Book of Zechariah Written
The prophet Zechariah records a vision where the Lord rebukes Satan who is standing to accuse Joshua the high priest. The Lord declares, 'The Lord rebuke you, O Satan!'
c. AD 50 - AD 100— this verse
The Assumption of Moses Circulated
A Jewish religious text, likely written in the first century AD, describes the death of Moses and an alleged dispute between Michael and Satan over his body. Jude likely drew upon this tradition.
c. AD 90
Jude Writes His Epistle
Jude writes his letter to warn believers against false teachers, citing the example of Michael the archangel's restrained speech when confronting the devil over Moses' body.
This passage shows the Lord rebuking Satan, echoing Michael's words in Jude and highlighting the cosmic conflict between God's accuser and His champion.
Revelation 12:7This verse describes a war in heaven between Michael and his angels against the dragon and his angels, directly paralleling the 'contending' mentioned by Jude and identifying Michael as God's warrior.
2 Peter 2:11Peter speaks generally of angels not bringing railing accusations against even evil spiritual beings, providing a broader principle that Jude illustrates with the specific, dramatic example of Michael and the devil.
Daniel 10:13Here, Michael is described as 'one of the chief princes,' reinforcing his high status and role as a protector of God's people, which makes his restraint in Jude even more significant.
jfbJude 1:9: "Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee."
- Michael, the archangel—Nowhere in Scripture is the plural used, "archangels"; but only ONE, "archangel." The only other passage in the New Testament where it occurs, is 1Th 4:16, where Christ is distinguished from the archangel, with whose voice He shall descend to raise the dead; they therefore err who co…
gillJude 1:9: "Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee."
Yet Michael the archangel,.... By whom is meant, not a created angel, but an eternal one, the Lord Jesus Christ; as appears from his name Michael, which signifies, "who is as God": and who is as God, or like unto him, but the Son of God, who is equal with God? and from his character as the archangel, or Princ…
What's easy to miss is that Michael the archangel, even in a spiritual battle with the devil, refused to speak with condemnation. Instead of issuing his own harsh judgment, he deferred to God's authority, echoing the very words used in Zechariah 3:2 when the Lord addressed Satan. This shows that even the highest angelic beings operate under divine restraint and don't overstep their appointed roles.
Jude is contrasting the arrogant, slanderous speech of the false teachers with the humble respect shown by the archangel Michael. The incident Jude refers to, a dispute with the devil over Moses' body, isn't detailed in the Old Testament but was likely a known tradition among his readers. Michael's refusal to utter a harsh judgment, instead deferring to the Lord's authority, serves as a powerful example for believers facing similar spiritual opposition.
Jude is contrasting the arrogant, slanderous speech of the false teachers with the humble respect shown by the archangel Michael. The incident Jude refers to, a dispute with the devil over Moses' body, isn't detailed in the Old Testament but was likely a known tradition among his readers. Michael's refusal to utter a harsh judgment, instead deferring to the Lord's authority, serves as a powerful example for believers facing similar spiritual opposition.
"But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.”" — What's easy to miss is that Michael the archangel, even in a spiritual battle with the devil, refused to speak with condemnation. Instead of issuing his own harsh judgment, he deferred to God's autho…
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Last reviewed October 2026