Lexical Summary deigma: Example, Specimen Original Word: δεῖγμα Strong's Exhaustive Concordance example. From the base of deiknuo; a specimen (as shown) -- example. see GREEK deiknuo NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom deiknumi Definition a thing shown, specimen NASB Translation example (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1164: δεῖγμαδεῖγμα, δειγματος, τό (δείκνυμι); a. properly, thing shown. b. a specimen of anything, example, pattern: πυρός αἰωνίου, set forth as a warning, Jude 1:7. (From Xenophon, Plato, Isocrates down.) The word translated “example” in Jude 1:7 describes something exhibited publicly so that observers may learn from it. The term points beyond a mere illustration to a warning set forth in full view, urging sober reflection and decisive response. Sole New Testament Occurrence: Jude 1:7 “Likewise, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns, which indulged in sexual immorality and pursued strange flesh, are on display as an example, suffering the punishment of eternal fire.” (Berean Standard Bible) In Jude’s brief but urgent epistle, the apostle marshals historic judgments to expose the danger of false teachers who pervert grace into license (Jude 1:4). Sodom and Gomorrah serve as a visible, enduring lesson of God’s unchanging opposition to moral rebellion. The single appearance of this noun heightens its force; Jude selects it deliberately to frame the cities’ destruction as a public demonstration that cannot be ignored. Old Testament Foreshadowing Genesis 19 narrates the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, emphasizing both the gravity of sin and the mercy extended to Lot. Later, Moses reminds Israel: “The whole land will be a burning waste… like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah” (Deuteronomy 29:23). Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, and Zephaniah all invoke the same catastrophe as a cautionary model for subsequent generations. Jude gathers this prophetic thread and directs it toward the church, affirming the continuity of divine righteousness across covenants. Theological Significance 1. Holiness and Justice: The example underscores that God’s moral standards never relax. The New Testament does not dilute Old Testament holiness; it illuminates it with greater clarity through Christ. Didactic Purpose The term functions pedagogically. As Israel’s elders were to recount the Exodus, so the church is to remember historic judgments. Peter employs the same strategy: “He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction… making them an example of what is coming” (2 Peter 2:6). The Spirit directs pastors and parents alike to present biblical history not as distant lore but as living instruction. Ministry Implications • Preaching: Sermons may draw on Jude 1:7 to confront cultural norms that mirror ancient immorality, coupling warning with the promise of deliverance for those who repent. Connection to Christ and the Gospel While Sodom’s fire displays judgment, Calvary displays mercy. Jesus bore the wrath that rightly falls on human rebellion, providing the only refuge from eternal fire. Jude concludes, “To Him who is able to keep you from stumbling… be glory” (Jude 1:24-25). The same God who punished Sodom now keeps believers through the finished work of His Son. Contemporary Relevance Modern society’s celebration of sin parallels the days of Lot (Luke 17:28-30). The biblical example remains urgent: it calls the church to steadfast holiness, compassionate evangelism, and unwavering confidence in Scripture’s reliability. As the ruins of Sodom still lie beneath the Dead Sea basin, so the testimony of Jude 1:7 endures in the canon, an ever-present exhibit of divine truth. |
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