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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Jud_1:14-16
14And it was also about these men that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, "Behold, the Lord came with many thousands of His holy ones, 15to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him." 16These are grumblers, finding fault, following after their own lusts; they speak arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of gaining an advantage.
Jud_1:14 "Enoch" Enoch was the person in the genealogical list of Genesis 5 who walked with YHWH. Everyone lived and died, but Enoch was transported to be with God. He became an example of hope and fellowship/intimacy with God. Sometime before the first century a Jewish apocalyptic book entitled I Enoch (part of the pseudepigrapha) was written and became a very influential book among Jews and Christians. The Hebrew original has been lost. All modern readers have is a much later (a.d. 600) copy from Ethiopia which has been edited by Christians. When one reads this long Ethiopian copy it becomes obvious why it was so popular: it speculates on many events that occurred in the OT (such as the flood) as well as future events (heaven, hell).
Jude, like most first century Jewish people, was familiar with the pseudographic apocalyptic writing. His using it as an illustration does not mean he thought it was inspired. But his use of "prophesied" does tend to give the book a credibility. This very issue is the reason that Jude had such a hard time being included in the canon of the NT.
Paul quotes Jewish Midrash, unnamed Jewish inter-biblical sources and Greek poets, but this does not imply a belief that they were inspired. Jude could have used "prophesied" in a non-technical sense.
The phrase "the seventh" was used of Enoch's lineage from Adam in I Enoch 60:8; 93:3. Jude was familiar with this inter-biblical book.
▣ "prophesied" Jude may have accepted I Enoch as true.
Jud_1:14-15 These verses are a quote from I Enoch 1:9 (or Ethiopian Enoch), of which only fragments were found in the Dead Sea Scrolls. There is a play on the term "godless" (asebeia). It was used in I Enoch to refer to the punishment of the angels in Genesis 6 (cf. Jud_1:15-16). The direct quote from The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha vol. 1, edited by James H. Charlesworth of I Enoch 1:9 is
"Behold, he will arrive with ten million of the holy ones in order to execute judgment upon all. He will destroy the wicked ones and censure all flesh on account of everything that they have done, that which the sinners and the wicked ones committed against him" (pp. 13-14 ).
There is a fluidity in Jude between the OT examples and the NT "these" false teachers. This context seems to apply to the contemporary heretics using I Enoch's terminology "the seventh from Adam" (cf. I Enoch 60:8; 93:3). Because I Enoch viewed Genesis 6 as involving angels and human women does not mean that it is true. The Bible is ambiguous and unspecific at many points, but the central truth of the context is clear. Our problem as modern readers is that we want very specific and detailed information about subjects and issues which revelation chooses not to clarify. These subjects are interesting, but not necessary for salvation and godly living.
▣ "with many thousands of His holy ones" This refers to the countless angelic servants that surround YHWH (cf. Deu_33:2; Dan_7:10). In this quote from I Enoch "Lord" must refer to YHWH. In the NT Jesus is often predicted as returning on the clouds of heaven with many angels (cf. Mat_16:27; Mat_25:31; Mar_8:38; Luk_9:26; 2Th_1:7).
▣ "have spoken against Him" One wonders if this phrase from I Enoch, which relates to blasphemy against YHWH, relates somehow to Jud_1:8, "reject authority." Some English translations (NASB, NKJV, New Berkley Version) capitalize this pronoun, implying a reference to God. It is possible that "grumblers" in Jud_1:16 relates to the Israelite's words toward YHWH and His chosen leadership (Moses and Aaron) during the wilderness wandering period.
Jud_1:15 "ungodly" The word is repeated four times in Jud_1:15. See note at Jud_1:4.
Jud_1:16 "grumblers" This term is used of Israel in the Septuagint to describe the wilderness wandering period (Exo_15:24; Exo_17:3; Num_14:29). This is possibly an allusion to I Enoch 5:5.
Jude characterizes "these" false teachers, as he did in Jud_1:12-13.
1. grumblers
2. finding fault
3. following their own lusts (cf. 2Pe_2:2; 2Pe_2:14; 2Pe_2:18; 2Pe_3:3)
4. speaking arrogantly (cf. 2Pe_2:10; 2Pe_2:18)
5. using flattery to seek personal gain (sexual, monetary, or power, cf. 2Pe_2:3).
These characteristics are not unique to OT or NT times, but are the result of the fall (cf. Genesis 3) with its focus on independence and personal freedom/rights/power. When these characteristics appear in the leadership of churches the continuing influence of the Adamic nature and the demonic evil becomes clear.