Jude is a name found in the King James Bible, appearing 1 time in the text.
Who This Was
Jude, also known as Judas, was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus. He is described in the source note as the author of the Epistle of Jude, the short letter that bears his name. In the opening verse of that letter, he identifies himself as “the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James.” This self-description places him within the early circle of Jesus’ followers and links him to James, a prominent figure in the early church. The Bible text itself gives no further biographical detail about Jude in this verse; it simply names him and states his relationship to Christ and to James.
The setting of Jude’s appearance in Scripture is the opening of his epistle. He writes to a group of believers whom he describes as “sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called.” These are people set apart by God, kept safe in Christ, and summoned by Him. Jude does not begin with an elaborate greeting or a lengthy account of his own life; instead, he immediately directs attention to the spiritual identity of his readers and to his own posture as a servant of Jesus Christ.
What Scripture says of Jude in this verse is brief but meaningful. He is a servant of Jesus Christ, a brother of James, and the author of a letter addressed to sanctified, preserved, and called believers. The text does not record his travels, his death, or his later ministry. It presents him as one who wrote to encourage and instruct those who belong to Christ, grounding his authority not in personal prominence but in his service to the Lord and his connection to James.
The Name
The name Jude is the English form of the Greek name Ioudas, which corresponds to the Hebrew name Judah. The meaning of Judah is well established: it is commonly understood as “praised” or “let him be praised.” In the New Testament, the same Greek name appears in various forms, sometimes rendered “Judas” and sometimes “Jude.” The source note identifies this Jude as also known as Judas, one of the twelve apostles. So the name carries the sense of praise, though the text of Jude 1:1 itself does not explain or emphasize that meaning. It simply uses the name to identify the letter’s author.
A Closing Thought
Jude’s opening words remind us that identity in Christ does not require a long list of accomplishments. He calls himself a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James, then turns immediately to the believers who are sanctified, preserved, and called. His example encourages us to define ourselves by our relationship to the Lord and to His people rather than by status or recognition. Even a single verse can show a heart oriented toward service and toward the spiritual good of others. May we, like Jude, be content to be known simply as servants of Jesus Christ.
At a Glance
- Gender: Male
- Testament: New
- Mentions in the KJV: 1
Where It Appears in Scripture
- Jude 1:1 — Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called: