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Introduction to Obadiah

Part 1: General Introduction

Outline of the Book of Obadiah

  1. Yahweh will judge Edom (1:1-16)
  • Yahweh will destroy Edom (1:19)
  • Why Yahweh will destroy Edom (1:1014)
  1. Yahweh will judge the nations (1:1516)
  2. Yahweh will deliver his people (1:1721)

What is the Book of Obadiah about?

After Babylon destroyed Jerusalem, the Edomites captured fleeing Jews. Then they gave these Jews over to Babylon. The Book of Obadiah is about Yahweh judging the Edomites for harming his people. This book would be comforting to the exiled people of Judah.

How should the title of this book be translated?

This book is traditionally titled “The Book of Obadiah” or just “Obadiah.” Translators may decide to use a clearer title such as “The Sayings of Obadiah.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]])

Who wrote the Book of Obadiah?

The prophet Obadiah probably wrote this book. We know nothing more about Obadiah. His name in Hebrew means “Servant of Yahweh.”

Part 2: Important Religious and Cultural Concepts

What was Edoms relationship to Israel?

Obadiah referred to Edom as Israels brother. This is because the Edomites descended from Esau, and the Israelites descended from Jacob. Jacob and Esau were brothers. This made Edom betraying Israel much worse.

Part 3: Important Translation Issues

How do I translate the concept of “pride”?

The Book of Obadiah speaks of the pride of Edom. This meant that the Edomites thought their enemies or Yahweh could not defeat them. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/proud]])

3OBA11xm1w0The vision of Obadiah

This is the title of the book. Here “vision” is used in the general sense of a message from Yahweh, rather than to indicate how Obadiah received the message. Alternate translation: “The message of Obadiah” or “The prophesy of Obadiah”

4OBA11sv9x0The Lord Yahweh says this concerning Edom

This tells the reader that the entire book is a message about Edom.

5OBA11s7if0Yahweh

This is the name of God that he revealed to his people in the Old Testament. See the translationWord page about Yahweh concerning how to translate this.

6OBA11r27rfigs-activepassive0an ambassador has been sent

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “Yahweh has sent an ambassador” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])

7OBA11pez60Rise up

“Stand up.” This phrase is used to tell people to get ready.

8OBA11c9e2figs-metonymy0rise up against her

Here “her” refers to Edom. This is a metonym for the people of Edom, so it could also be translated as “them.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])

9OBA12cc3h0Behold, I will make you

Beginning in verse 2, Obadiah records the words that Yahweh speaks directly to Edom.

10OBA12npn60Behold

This alerts the reader to pay special attention to what follows. Alternate translation: “Look” or “Pay attention to what I am about to tell you”

11OBA12l6dcfigs-parallelism0I will make you small among the nations, you will be greatly despised

These two phrases mean similar things and are used to emphasize that Edom will lose its important status. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism]])

12OBA12ec8mfigs-metaphor0I will make you small among the nations

Something that is insignificant is spoken of as if it is of small size, and can easily be overlooked. Alternate translation: “I will make you insignificant among the nations” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])

13OBA12ch1ufigs-activepassive0you will be greatly despised

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “the people of other nations will hate you” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])

14OBA13i96n0General Information:

Obadiahs vision concerning Edom continues.

15OBA13qpw7figs-metonymy0The pride of your heart has deceived you

The “heart” was associated with emotions. The Edomites pride caused them to be deceived about their security. Alternate translation: “Your pride has deceived you” or “Your pride causes you think you are safe” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])

16OBA13q6sz0in the clefts of the rock

“in the cracks in the rock.” This here has the sense of a place that is protected because it is surrounded by rocks.

17OBA13k9sw0in your lofty home

“in your home that was built in a high place”

18OBA13r5zjfigs-idiom0say in your heart

Here “in your heart” is an idiom that means “to yourself.” Alternate translation: “say to yourselves” or “think” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])

19OBA13i2hxfigs-rquestion0Who will bring me down to the ground?

This question expresses that the Edomites were proud and felt safe. Alternate translation: “No one can bring me down to the ground.” or “I am safe from all attackers.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]])

20OBA14xn9ffigs-hyperbole0Though you soar high like the eagle and though your nest is set among the stars

Both of these exaggerations say that Edom is built in a very high place by saying it is built much higher than possible. Alternate translation: “And I tell you that even if you had wings and could fly higher than eagles fly, and if you could make your homes among the stars” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-hyperbole]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism]])

21OBA14bbu3figs-idiom0I will bring you down from there

Pride is associated with height while humility is associated with being low. To “bring down” is an idiom that means to humble someone. Alternate translation: “I will humble you” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])

22OBA15y8jh0General Information:

Yahweh continues giving Obadiah his message to Edom.

23OBA15w86vfigs-rquestion0If thieves came to you…would they not steal only as much as they needed?

This question is used to imply that Yahwehs punishment of Edom would be worse than what thieves would do when they steal. This can be stated explicitly. Alternate translation: “If thieves came to you…they would only steal as much as they needed, but I will take everything from you!” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])

24OBA15q1pgfigs-hendiadys0If thieves came to you, if robbers came by night

These two phrases mean the same thing and are used to emphasize people who steal. They can be combined. Alternate translation: “When thieves break into someones house during the night” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-hendiadys]])

25OBA15w64v0if robbers came by night

“or if robbers came during the night”

26OBA15mt7z0robbers

people who steal things from other people

27OBA15b93f0how you will be ruined!

Yahweh adds this phrase in the middle of another sentence to express that the punishment of Edom is shocking. Alternate translation: “you are completely destroyed!”

28OBA15k12cfigs-rquestion0If grape gatherers came to you, would they not leave the gleanings?

This question is used to imply that Yahwehs punishment of Edom would be more thorough than what grape gatherers would do when they harvest grapes. This can be stated explicitly. Alternate translation: “If grape gatherers came to you, they would leave some grapes, but I will take everything from you!” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])

29OBA16zsf7figs-activepassive0How Esau has been ransacked, his hidden treasures will be searched out

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “Ah, enemies have stolen everything from Esau; they have found his hidden treasure” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])

30OBA16m9p30Esau

The people of Edom were the descendants of Esau. Therefore, in this book “Edom” and “Esau” refer to the same group of people.

31OBA16lf9t0has been ransacked

This means the enemies have search through Esaus things, taken everything valuable, and left everything else in a mess or damaged.

32OBA17xk3q0General Information:

Yahweh continues giving Obadiah his message to Edom.

33OBA17a6120All the men of your alliance…The men who were at peace with you…They who eat your bread

All three of these phrases refer to Edoms allies.

34OBA17n3t60your alliance

The word “your” refers to the nation of Edom.

35OBA17cr880will send you on your way to the border

“will send you out of their land.” The people of Edom will try to take refuge in the land of their allies, but their allies will not let the people of Edom stay in their land.

36OBA17rc1i0There is no understanding in him.

Possible meanings are 1) the allies say this about Edom. Alternate translation: “They say, Edom does not understand anything.’” or 2) this is a statement about the betrayal of the allies. Alternate translation: “No one can understand why they did this.”

37OBA18i4rgfigs-rquestion0Will I not on that day,” says Yahweh, “destroy…mountain of Esau?

Yahweh uses this question to emphasize the certainty of the destruction of Edom. Alternate translation: “On that day, says Yahweh, I surely will destroy…mountain of Esau.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]])

38OBA18z8tf0the mountain of Esau

Most of the land of Esau was mountains, so this is one way of referring to the land of Edom.

39OBA19e7d90Your mighty men will be dismayed

“Your strong warriors will be afraid”

40OBA19qvg3translate-names0Teman

This is the name of a region in the land of Edom. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]])

41OBA19ljv4figs-activepassive0so that every man may be cut off from the mountain of Esau by slaughter

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “so that there will be no more people in the mountains of Esau because enemies killed them” or “so that they will slaughter every person in the mountain of Esau” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])

42OBA19q6s70be cut off

“be destroyed”

43OBA110ypi30General Information:

Yahweh continues giving Obadiah his message to Edom.

44OBA110ui6gfigs-metonymy0your brother Jacob

Here “Jacob” represents his descendants. Because Jacob was the brother of Esau, the people of Edom are spoken of as if they were the brothers of the descendants of Jacob. Alternate translation: “your relatives who are the descendants of Jacob” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])

45OBA110f8g6figs-idiom0you will be covered with shame

To be covered with something is an idiom for fully experiencing it. Alternate translation: “you will be completely ashamed” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])

46OBA110a113figs-activepassive0will be cut off forever

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “will never exist again” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])

47OBA111w6hj0stood aloof

“watched and did nothing to help”

48OBA111s38y0strangers

people from other nations

49OBA111rtj80his wealth

The word “his” refers to “Jacob,” which is another way of referring to the people of Israel.

50OBA111i8srfigs-explicit0cast lots for Jerusalem

This phrase means “they cast lots to decide who would get the valuable things that they took from Jerusalem.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])

51OBA111s4y1figs-explicit0you were like one of them

“it was as though you were one of these strangers and foreigners.” This implies that they did not help the Israelites. This can be made explicit. Alternate translation: “you were like one of the enemies and did not help Israel” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])

52OBA112axp90General Information:

Yahweh continues giving Obadiah his message to Edom. Verses 12-14 consist of a series of negative commands that Yahweh gives to tell the people of Edom how not to treat the Israelites.

53OBA112e7cd0do not gloat over

“do not be happy because of” or “do not take pleasure in”

54OBA112q8md0your brothers day

Here “your brother” refers to the people of Israel because Jacob and Esau were brothers.

55OBA112b6h10the day of his misfortune

“the time at which bad things happen to him”

56OBA112f7lt0the day

Each of the several occurrences of “day” refer to the time when Babylon attacked and destroyed Jerusalem.

57OBA112lxg70in the day of their destruction

“at the time when their enemies destroy them”

58OBA112b8al0in the day of their distress

“at the time when they suffer”

59OBA113wg540calamity…disaster…ruin

These are all different translations of the same word. If your language has one word that can translate all three of these ideas, you could use it here.

60OBA113f9q30over their affliction

“because of the bad things that happen to them”

61OBA113jz380do not loot their wealth

“do not take their wealth” “or “do not steal their wealth”

62OBA114ixs70crossroads

a place where two roads come together

63OBA114p7i10to cut down his fugitives

“to kill the people of Israel who are trying to escape” or “to catch those who were trying to escape”

64OBA114qdx90do not deliver up his survivors

“do not capture those who are still alive and give them to their enemies”

65OBA115bb230General Information:

Yahweh concludes his message to Edom in verse 15. In verses 16-21, Yahweh speaks through Obadiah to tell the people of Judah that they will possess the land of Edom.

66OBA115fa9m0For the day of Yahweh is near…will return on your own head

Bible experts are not certain whether verse 15 goes with verse 14 as the end of the previous section, or goes with verse 16 as the beginning of the new section.

67OBA115e5t70For the day of Yahweh is near upon all the nations

“Soon the time will come when Yahweh will show all the nations that he is Lord”

68OBA115rd8gfigs-activepassive0As you have done, it will be done to you

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “I will do to you the same things that you did to others” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])

69OBA115djk9figs-idiom0your deeds will return on your own head

Here “return on your own head” means they will be punished for those things. Alternate translation: “you will suffer the consequences for the things you have done” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])

70OBA116nf6s0For as you

The word “you” is plural and probably refers to the people of Judah.

71OBA116fu2yfigs-metaphor0as you have drunk

The punishment that Judah received from the enemy nations is spoken of as if a bitter liquid that they drank. Alternate translation: “as you have drunk suffering” or “as I have punished you” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])

72OBA116ujj90my holy mountain

This was a way of referring to Jerusalem.

73OBA116qz7pfigs-metaphor0so will all the nations drink continually

Yahwehs punishment of the other nations is spoken of as if it was a bitter liquid that he will cause them to drink continually. Alternate translation: “so all the nations will drink in suffering continually” or “so I will punish all of the nations without stopping” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])

74OBA116a8v3figs-metaphor0They will drink and swallow and it will be as though they had never existed

Yahweh continues the metaphor of drinking punishment. Here “swallow” expresses that they will fully experience the punishment, with the result that it will destroy them completely. Alternate translation: “They will drink in my punishment fully until they cease to exist” or “I will continue to punish them fully until I completely destroy them” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])

75OBA117zi690General Information:

In verses 16-21, Yahweh speaks through Obadiah to tell the people of Judah that they will possess the land of Edom.

76OBA117cc36figs-explicit0those that escape

These are the people of Jerusalem that are still alive after Yahweh has finished punishing the city. This can be made explicit. Alternate translation: “some of the Israelites who escape the punishment of Yahweh” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])

77OBA117y9pz0it will be holy

The word “it” refers to “mount Zion.”

78OBA117b4shfigs-metonymy0the house of Jacob

The word “house” is a metonym for the family that lives in the house. In this case it refers to Jacobs descendants. Alternate translation: “descendants of Jacob” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])

79OBA118rm2efigs-metaphor0house of Jacob will be a fire…Joseph a flame

Yahweh speaks of the houses of Jacob and Joseph as if they were fire because they will destroy Esau like a fire that quickly and completely burns up straw. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])

80OBA118hj8x0stubble

The dry pieces of plants that are left in the ground after the stalks have been cut.

81OBA118bte30and they

The word “they” refers to the house of Jacob and the house of Joseph.

82OBA118jk840will burn them

The word “them” refers to the descendants of Esau, who are the nation of Edom.

83OBA118wf4e0There will be no survivors to the house of Esau

“Not one person of the house of Esau will survive”

84OBA118yt8jfigs-metonymy0the house of Esau

The word “house” is a metonym for the family that lives in the house. In this case it refers to Esaus descendants. Alternate translation: “descendants of Esau” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])

85OBA118c5jr0for Yahweh has spoken it

This is an oath formula that means it will certainly happen because Yahweh said it.

86OBA119d2410General Information:

In verses 16-21, Yahweh speaks through Obadiah to tell the people of Judah that they will possess the land of Edom.

87OBA119ep840Those from the Negev will possess the mount of Esau

“The Israelites in the Negev will take the land of the Edomites”

88OBA119m7qk0those of the Shepelah

This refers to Israelites in the western foothills of Israel who will capture the land of the Philistines in battle.

89OBA119x15u0They will possess

Here “They” appears to refer to the people of Israel in general.

90OBA119gup40Benjamin will possess

“the tribe of Benjamin will possess” or “the descendants of Benjamin will possess”

91OBA120b7al0General Information:

In verses 16-21, Yahweh speaks through Obadiah to tell the people of Judah that they will possess the land of Edom.

92OBA120xw8x0The exiles of this host of the people of Israel

Possible meanings are 1) this refers to the exiles taken to Assyria from the northern kingdom of Israel or 2) this refers to the people of Judah who lived outside of Jerusalem and were taken to exile in Babylon.

93OBA120t8hm0host

a very large group of people

94OBA120r8cntranslate-names0as far as Zarephath

Zarephath was a Phoenician city north of Israel on the coast of the Mediterranean between Tyre and Sidon. Alternate translation: “as far north as Zarephath” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]])

95OBA120u5t10The exiles of Jerusalem

This group is contrasted with either the Israelites from the northern kingdom, or with the people of Judah who lived outside of Jerusalem.

96OBA120x6yttranslate-names0Sepharad

This is the name of a place whose location is unknown. Some experts suggest it refers to the city of Sardis in the region of Lydia. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]])

97OBA121j7nf0Deliverers will go up to Mount Zion to rule over the hill country of Esau

“Deliverers will go up to Jerusalem and rule over Edom from there”

98OBA121hyg20Deliverers

Possible meanings are 1) this refers to various Israelite military leaders whom God will use to defeat the nation of Edom or 2) the text should read “Those who will be delivered” and refers to the returning Jewish exiles.

99OBA121wy7x0the kingdom will belong to Yahweh

This phrase emphasizes that Yahweh will personally rule over the kingdom. Alternate translation: “Yahweh will be their king”