Obadiah - Chapter 1

Obadiah 1.1 The vision of Obadiah. Thus saith the Lord GOD concerning Edom; We have heard a rumour from the LORD, and an ambassador is sent among the heathen, Arise ye, and let us rise up against her in battle. Obadiah 1.2 Behold, I have made thee small among the heathen: thou art greatly despised. Obadiah 1.3 The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground? Obadiah 1.5 If thieves came to thee, if robbers by night, (how art thou cut off!) would they not have stolen till they had enough? if the grapegatherers came to thee, would they not leave some grapes? Obadiah 1.6 How are the things of Esau searched out! how are his hidden things sought up! Obadiah 1.7 All the men of thy confederacy have brought thee even to the border: the men that were at peace with thee have deceived thee, and prevailed against thee; that they eat thy bread have laid a wound under thee: there is none understanding in him. Obadiah 1.9 And thy mighty men, O Teman, shall be dismayed, to the end that every one of the mount of Esau may be cut off by slaughter. Obadiah 1.10 For thy violence against thy brother Jacob shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off for ever. Obadiah 1.11 In the day that thou stoodest on the other side, in the day that the strangers carried away captive his forces, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even thou wast as one of them. Obadiah 1.12 But thou shouldest not have looked on the day of thy brother in the day that he became a stranger; neither shouldest thou have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; neither shouldest thou have spoken proudly in the day of distress. Obadiah 1.13 Thou shouldest not have entered into the gate of my people in the day of their calamity; yea, thou shouldest not have looked on their affliction in the day of their calamity, nor have laid hands on their substance in the day of their calamity; Obadiah 1.14 Neither shouldest thou have stood in the crossway, to cut off those of his that did escape; neither shouldest thou have delivered up those of his that did remain in the day of distress. Obadiah 1.15 For the day of the LORD is near upon all the heathen: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head. Obadiah 1.16 For as ye have drunk upon my holy mountain, so shall all the heathen drink continually, yea, they shall drink, and they shall swallow down, and they shall be as though they had not been. Obadiah 1.17 But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions. Obadiah 1.18 And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall kindle in them, and devour them; and there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau; for the LORD hath spoken it. Obadiah 1.19 And they of the south shall possess the mount of Esau; and they of the plain the Philistines: and they shall possess the fields of Ephraim, and the fields of Samaria: and Benjamin shall possess Gilead. Obadiah 1.20 And the captivity of this host of the children of Israel shall possess that of the Canaanites, even unto Zarephath; and the captivity of Jerusalem, which is in Sepharad, shall possess the cities of the south. Obadiah 1.21 And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’s.

Obadiah : Chapter 1

The Book of Obadiah: Prophecy and God's Sovereignty

Obadiah, the shortest book in the Old Testament, constitutes a powerful prophecy against Edom. But why does God condemn this neighboring nation? This concise text denounces Edom's pride and Judah's betrayal. It predicts divine judgment on Edom while also announcing the eventual restoration of Israel. Obadiah thus establishes fundamental principles about the consequences of pride and lack of compassion. The book ends with a clear affirmation of God's sovereignty over all nations.

We invite you to consider with us five biblical passages that shed light on the themes of divine justice and restoration expressed in this unique prophetic book.

Jeremiah 49:14

"I heard a message from the Lord; a messenger was sent to the nations, saying, 'Gather yourselves to attack! Prepare for battle!'" This verse echoes the opening of Obadiah, showing a similar prophetic theme against Edom.

Amos 9:12

"That they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations that are called by My name, declares the Lord, who will do these things." Amos also prophesies against Edom, aligning himself with Obadiah's message.

Psalms 137:7

"Remember, O Lord, the Edomites and what they did when Jerusalem was destroyed, when they cried, 'Destroy it! Tear it down to its foundations!'" This psalm recalls Edom's hostility toward Jerusalem, Obadiah's central theme.

Ezekiel 35:15

"As you rejoiced when the inheritance of the nation of Israel was laid waste, so will I do to you. You will be laid waste, O Mount Seir, you and all Edom. Then they will know that I am the Lord." Ezekiel prophesies against Edom in the same way as Obadiah, emphasizing divine judgment.

Malachi 1:3-4

"But I rejected Esau, turned his mountains into a wilderness, and gave his inheritance to the jackals of the desert. Although Edom say, "We have been crushed, but we will rebuild the ruins." Thus says the Lord of hosts: "They may build, but I will tear down. They shall be called the wicked land, a people against whom the Lord is forever angry." Malachi reiterates the judgment against Edom, echoing Obadiah's themes. May these reflections encourage us to remain humble and compassionate, recognizing God's sovereignty over our lives and over all nations.