OBA front intro jrz8 0 # Introduction to Obadiah<br>## Part 1: General Introduction<br><br>### Outline of the Book of Obadiah<br><br>1. Yahweh will judge Edom (1:1-16)<br>- Yahweh will destroy Edom (1:1–9)<br>- Why Yahweh will destroy Edom (1:10–14)<br>1. Yahweh will judge the nations (1:15–16)<br>1. Yahweh will deliver his people (1:17–21)<br><br>### What is the Book of Obadiah about?<br><br>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.<br><br>### How should the title of this book be translated?<br><br>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]])<br><br>### Who wrote the Book of Obadiah?<br><br>The prophet Obadiah probably wrote this book. We know nothing more about Obadiah. His name in Hebrew means “Servant of Yahweh.”<br><br>## Part 2: Important Religious and Cultural Concepts<br><br>### What was Edom’s relationship to Israel?<br><br>Obadiah referred to Edom as Israel’s 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.<br><br>## Part 3: Important Translation Issues<br><br>### How do I translate the concept of “pride”?<br><br>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]])<br>
OBA 1 1 xm1w חֲז֖וֹן עֹֽבַדְיָ֑ה 1 The 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”
OBA 1 1 sv9x כֹּֽה־אָמַר֩ אֲדֹנָ֨י יְהוִ֜ה לֶאֱד֗וֹם 1 The Lord Yahweh says this concerning Edom This tells the reader that the entire book is a message about Edom.
OBA 1 1 s7if יְהוִ֜ה 1 Yahweh 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.
OBA 1 1 r27r figs-activepassive וְצִיר֙…שֻׁלָּ֔ח 1 an 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]])
OBA 1 1 pez6 ק֛וּמוּ 1 Rise up “Stand up.” This phrase is used to tell people to get ready.
OBA 1 1 c9e2 figs-metonymy וְנָק֥וּמָה עָלֶיהָ 1 rise 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]])
OBA 1 2 cc3h הִנֵּ֥ה…נְתַתִּ֖יךָ 1 Behold, I will make you Beginning in verse 2, Obadiah records the words that Yahweh speaks directly to Edom.
OBA 1 2 npn6 הִנֵּ֥ה 1 Behold 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”
OBA 1 2 l6dc figs-parallelism קָטֹ֛ן נְתַתִּ֖יךָ בַּגּוֹיִ֑ם בָּז֥וּי אַתָּ֖ה מְאֹֽ 1 I 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]])
OBA 1 2 ec8m figs-metaphor קָטֹ֛ן נְתַתִּ֖יךָ בַּגּוֹיִ֑ם 1 I 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]])
OBA 1 2 ch1u figs-activepassive בָּז֥וּי אַתָּ֖ה מְאֹֽד 1 you 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]])
OBA 1 3 qpw7 figs-metonymy זְד֤וֹן לִבְּךָ֙ הִשִּׁיאֶ֔ךָ 1 The 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]])
OBA 1 3 q6sz בְחַגְוֵי־סֶּ֖לַע 1 in 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.
OBA 1 3 k9sw מְר֣וֹם שִׁבְתּ֑וֹ 1 in your lofty home “in your home that was built in a high place”
OBA 1 3 r5zj figs-idiom אֹמֵ֣ר בְּלִבּ֔וֹ 1 say 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]])
OBA 1 3 i2hx figs-rquestion מִ֥י יוֹרִדֵ֖נִי אָֽרֶץ 1 Who 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]])
OBA 1 4 xn9f figs-hyperbole אִם־תַּגְבִּ֣יהַּ כַּנֶּ֔שֶׁר וְאִם־בֵּ֥ין כּֽוֹכָבִ֖ים שִׂ֣ים קִנֶּ֑ךָ 1 Though 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]])
OBA 1 4 bbu3 figs-idiom מִשָּׁ֥ם אוֹרִֽידְךָ֖ 1 I 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]])
OBA 1 5 w86v figs-rquestion אִם־גַּנָּבִ֤ים בָּאֽוּ־לְךָ֙…הֲל֥וֹא יִגְנְב֖וּ דַּיָּ֑ם 1 If thieves came to you…would they not steal only as much as they needed? This question is used to imply that Yahweh’s 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]])
OBA 1 5 q1pg figs-hendiadys אִם־גַּנָּבִ֤ים בָּאֽוּ־לְךָ֙ אִם־שׁ֣וֹדְדֵי לַ֔יְלָה 1 If 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 someone’s house during the night” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-hendiadys]])
OBA 1 5 w64v אִם־שׁ֣וֹדְדֵי לַ֔יְלָה 1 if robbers came by night “or if robbers came during the night”
OBA 1 5 mt7z שׁ֣וֹדְדֵי 1 robbers people who steal things from other people
OBA 1 5 b93f אֵ֣יךְ נִדְמֵ֔יתָה 1 how 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!”
OBA 1 5 k12c figs-rquestion אִם־בֹּֽצְרִים֙ בָּ֣אוּ לָ֔ךְ הֲל֖וֹא יַשְׁאִ֥ירוּ עֹלֵלֽוֹת 1 If grape gatherers came to you, would they not leave the gleanings? This question is used to imply that Yahweh’s 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]])
OBA 1 6 zsf7 figs-activepassive אֵ֚יךְ נֶחְפְּשׂ֣וּ עֵשָׂ֔ו נִבְע֖וּ מַצְפֻּנָֽיו 1 How 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]])
OBA 1 6 m9p3 עֵשָׂ֔ו 1 Esau The people of Edom were the descendants of Esau. Therefore, in this book “Edom” and “Esau” refer to the same group of people.
OBA 1 6 lf9t נֶחְפְּשׂ֣וּ 1 has been ransacked This means the enemies have search through Esau’s things, taken everything valuable, and left everything else in a mess or damaged.
OBA 1 7 a612 כֹּ֚ל אַנְשֵׁ֣י בְרִיתֶ֔ךָ…אַנְשֵׁ֣י שְׁלֹמֶ֑ךָ לַחְמְךָ֗ 1 All 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 Edom’s allies.
OBA 1 7 n3t6 בְרִיתֶ֔ךָ 1 your alliance The word “your” refers to the nation of Edom.
OBA 1 7 cr88 עַֽד־הַגְּב֣וּל שִׁלְּח֗וּךָ 1 will 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.
OBA 1 7 rc1i אֵ֥ין תְּבוּנָ֖ה בּֽוֹ 1 There 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.”
OBA 1 8 i4rg figs-rquestion הֲל֛וֹא בַּיּ֥וֹם הַה֖וּא נְאֻם־יְהוָ֑ה וְהַאֲבַדְתִּ֤י חֲכָמִים֙ מֵֽאֱד֔וֹם וּתְבוּנָ֖ה מֵהַ֥ר עֵשָֽׂו 1 Will 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]])
OBA 1 9 ljv4 figs-activepassive לְמַ֧עַן יִכָּֽרֶת־אִ֛ישׁ מֵהַ֥ר עֵשָׂ֖ו מִקָּֽטֶל 1 so 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]])
OBA 1 10 ui6g figs-metonymy אָחִ֥יךָ יַעֲקֹ֖ב 1 your 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]])
OBA 1 10 f8g6 figs-idiom תְּכַסְּךָ֣ בוּשָׁ֑ה 1 you 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]])
OBA 1 10 a113 figs-activepassive וְנִכְרַ֖תָּ לְעוֹלָֽם 1 will 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]])
OBA 1 11 w6hj עֲמָֽדְךָ֣ מִנֶּ֔גֶד 1 stood aloof “watched and did nothing to help”
OBA 1 11 s38y זָרִ֖ים 1 strangers people from other nations
OBA 1 11 rtj8 חֵיל֑ 1 his wealth The word “his” refers to “Jacob,” which is another way of referring to the people of Israel.
OBA 1 11 i8sr figs-explicit וְעַל־יְרוּשָׁלִַ֨ם֙ יַדּ֣וּ גוֹרָ֔ל 1 cast 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]])
OBA 1 11 s4y1 figs-explicit גַּם־אַתָּ֖ה כְּאַחַ֥ד מֵהֶֽם 1 you 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]])
OBA 1 12 axp9 0 General 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.
OBA 1 12 b6h1 בְּי֣וֹם נָכְר֔וֹ 1 the day of his misfortune “the time at which bad things happen to him”
OBA 1 12 f7lt בְּי֣וֹם 1 the day Each of the several occurrences of “day” refer to the time when Babylon attacked and destroyed Jerusalem.
OBA 1 12 lxg7 בְּי֣וֹם אָבְדָ֑ם 1 in the day of their destruction “at the time when their enemies destroy them”
OBA 1 12 b8al בְּי֥וֹם צָרָֽה 1 in the day of their distress “at the time when they suffer”
OBA 1 13 wg54 אֵידָ֔ם…בְּרָעָת֖וֹ 1 calamity…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.
OBA 1 13 f9q3 בְּרָעָת֖וֹ 1 over their affliction “because of the bad things that happen to them”
OBA 1 14 p7i1 לְהַכְרִ֖ית אֶת־פְּלִיטָ֑יו 1 to cut down his fugitives “to kill the people of Israel who are trying to escape” or “to catch those who were trying to escape”
OBA 1 14 qdx9 וְאַל־תַּסְגֵּ֥ר שְׂרִידָ֖יו 1 do not deliver up his survivors “do not capture those who are still alive and give them to their enemies”
OBA 1 15 bb23 0 General 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.
OBA 1 15 fa9m כִּֽי־קָר֥וֹב יוֹם־יְהוָ֖ה עַל־כָּל־הַגּוֹיִ֑ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר עָשִׂ֨יתָ֙ יֵעָ֣שֶׂה לָּ֔ךְ גְּמֻלְךָ֖ יָשׁ֥וּב בְּרֹאשֶֽׁךָ 1 For 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.
OBA 1 15 e5t7 כִּֽי־קָר֥וֹב יוֹם־יְהוָ֖ה עַל־כָּל־הַגּוֹיִ֑ם 1 For 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”
OBA 1 15 rd8g figs-activepassive כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר עָשִׂ֨יתָ֙ יֵעָ֣שֶׂה לָּ֔ךְ 1 As 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]])
OBA 1 15 djk9 figs-idiom גְּמֻלְךָ֖ יָשׁ֥וּב בְּרֹאשֶֽׁךָ 1 your 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]])
OBA 1 16 nf6s שְׁתִיתֶם֙ 1 For as you The word “you” is plural and probably refers to the people of Judah.
OBA 1 16 fu2y figs-metaphor כִּ֗י כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֤ר שְׁתִיתֶם֙ 1 as 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]])
OBA 1 16 ujj9 הַ֣ר קָדְשִׁ֔י 1 my holy mountain This was a way of referring to Jerusalem.
OBA 1 16 qz7p figs-metaphor יִשְׁתּ֥וּ כָֽל־הַגּוֹיִ֖ם תָּמִ֑יד 1 so will all the nations drink continually Yahweh’s 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]])
OBA 1 16 a8v3 figs-metaphor וְשָׁת֣וּ וְלָע֔וּ וְהָי֖וּ כְּל֥וֹא הָיֽוּ 1 They 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]])
OBA 1 17 zi69 0 General Information: In verses 16-21, Yahweh speaks through Obadiah to tell the people of Judah that they will possess the land of Edom.
OBA 1 17 cc36 figs-explicit פְלֵיטָ֖ה 1 those 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]])
OBA 1 17 y9pz וְהָ֣יָה קֹ֑דֶשׁ 1 it will be holy The word “it” refers to “mount Zion.”
OBA 1 17 b4sh figs-metonymy בֵּ֣ית יַֽעֲקֹ֔ב 1 the house of Jacob The word “house” is a metonym for the family that lives in the house. In this case it refers to Jacob’s descendants. Alternate translation: “descendants of Jacob” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])
OBA 1 18 rm2e figs-metaphor וְהָיָה֩ בֵית־יַעֲקֹ֨ב אֵ֜שׁ וּבֵ֧ית יוֹסֵ֣ף לֶהָבָ֗ה 1 house 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]])
OBA 1 18 wf4e וְלֹֽא־יִֽהְיֶ֤ה שָׂרִיד֙ לְבֵ֣ית עֵשָׂ֔ו 1 There will be no survivors to the house of Esau “Not one person of the house of Esau will survive”
OBA 1 18 yt8j figs-metonymy לְבֵ֣ית עֵשָׂ֔ו 1 the house of Esau The word “house” is a metonym for the family that lives in the house. In this case it refers to Esau’s descendants. Alternate translation: “descendants of Esau” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])
OBA 1 18 c5jr כִּ֥י יְהוָ֖ה דִּבֵּֽר 1 for Yahweh has spoken it This is an oath formula that means it will certainly happen because Yahweh said it.
OBA 1 19 d241 0 General Information: In verses 16-21, Yahweh speaks through Obadiah to tell the people of Judah that they will possess the land of Edom.
OBA 1 19 ep84 וְיָרְשׁ֨וּ הַנֶּ֜גֶב אֶת־הַ֣ר עֵשָׂ֗ו 1 Those from the Negev will possess the mount of Esau “The Israelites in the Negev will take the land of the Edomites”
OBA 1 19 m7qk וְהַשְּׁפֵלָה֙ 1 those of the Shepelah This refers to Israelites in the western foothills of Israel who will capture the land of the Philistines in battle.
OBA 1 19 x15u וְיָרְשׁוּ֙ 1 They will possess Here “They” appears to refer to the people of Israel in general.
OBA 1 19 gup4 וּבִנְיָמִ֖ן 1 Benjamin will possess “the tribe of Benjamin will possess” or “the descendants of Benjamin will possess”
OBA 1 20 b7al 1 General Information: In verses 16-21, Yahweh speaks through Obadiah to tell the people of Judah that they will possess the land of Edom.
OBA 1 20 xw8x וְגָלֻ֣ת הַֽחֵל־הַ֠זֶּה לִבְנֵ֨י יִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל 1 The 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.
OBA 1 20 r8cn translate-names עַד־צָ֣רְפַ֔ת 1 as 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]])
OBA 1 20 u5t1 וְגָלֻ֥ת יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם 1 The 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.
OBA 1 20 x6yt translate-names בִּסְפָרַ֑ד 1 Sepharad 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]])
OBA 1 21 j7nf וְעָל֤וּ מֽוֹשִׁעִים֙ בְּהַ֣ר צִיּ֔וֹן לִשְׁפֹּ֖ט אֶת־הַ֣ר עֵשָׂ֑ו 1 Deliverers 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”
OBA 1 21 hyg2 מֽוֹשִׁעִים֙ 1 Deliverers 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.
OBA 1 21 wy7x וְהָיְתָ֥ה לַֽיהוָ֖ה הַמְּלוּכָֽה 1 the kingdom will belong to Yahweh This phrase emphasizes that Yahweh will personally rule over the kingdom. Alternate translation: “Yahweh will be their king”
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