Obadiah
Obadiah front
Introduction to Obadiah
Part 1: General Introduction
Outline of the Book of Obadiah
- Yahweh will judge Edom (1:1-16) A. Yahweh will destroy Edom (1:1–9) B. Why Yahweh will destroy Edom (1:10–14)
- Yahweh will judge the nations (1:15–16)
- Yahweh will deliver his people (1:17–21)
What is the Book of Obadiah about?
After the nation of Babylon destroyed Jerusalem, the Edomites (from the neighboring land of Edom) 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 people of Judah who had been captured and forced to live in Babylon.
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: How to 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 Edom’s relationship to Israel?
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 twin brothers. This made Edom’s betrayal of Israel much worse. The notes also refer to the Israelites as the people of Judah. Judah was the part of Israel that had survived the earlier destruction by the nation of Assyria and that was later captured by the nation of Babylon when the nation of Edom did not help them.
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 that neither their enemies nor Yahweh could defeat them. (See: proud, pride, prideful)
When Obadiah is addressing Edom, should I use a singular or plural form of “you?”
Since Obadiah addressed the people of Edom figuratively by referring to them as the nation of Edom, he used a singular form in the original language. But if you are using more plain language and want your translation to be clear that it is addressing the people of Edom, you can use a plural form.
Obadiah 1
Obadiah 1:1
חֲז֖וֹן עֹֽבַדְיָ֑ה
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 that message. Vision here is a metaphor for the way that God gives knowledge to people. Alternate translation: “The message that God gave to Obadiah” or “The prophecy of Obadiah” (See: Metaphor)
עֹֽבַדְיָ֑ה
Some English translations call the prophet Abdias, but Obadiah is the form of his name most commonly used in English. Use the form of the name that is used in your source language or a form that is similar that sounds like a name in your language. (See: How to Translate Names)
כֹּֽה־אָמַר֩ אֲדֹנָ֨י יְהוִ֜ה
This introduces the rest of the book as a message from God. Use a form here that is natural in your language for introducing what someone says. (See: Quotations and Quote Margins)
יְהוִ֜ה
This is the name of God that he revealed to his people in the Old Testament. (See: How to Translate Names)
לֶאֱד֗וֹם
People are being described here by the name of something closely associated with them, Edom, the land that they live in. If this is not clear in your language, you can say clearly that this message is about the people. Alternate translation: “concerning the people of Edom.” (See: Metonymy)
שָׁמַ֜עְנוּ
Obadiah is speaking as one person among the many in the nations around Edom who have heard Yahweh’s message, including the people of Israel. If your language has an inclusive form for We, use that here. (See: Exclusive and Inclusive ‘We’)
שָׁמַ֜עְנוּ
Obadiah is speaking to the people of Judah about the people of Edom. So We here is inclusive; others in Judah have also heard or are now hearing the message calling the nations to war against Edom. (See: Exclusive and Inclusive ‘We’)
וְצִיר֙…שֻׁלָּ֔ח
If it is more natural in your language, you can use the active form of the verb. Alternate translation: “I, Yahweh, have sent a messenger” (See: Active or Passive)
וְצִיר֙…שֻׁלָּ֔ח
You could specify who sent the messenger. Alternate translation: “and Yahweh has sent a messenger” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)
ק֛וּמוּ וְנָק֥וּמָה עָלֶיהָ לַמִּלְחָמָֽה
The end of the verse is not spoken by Obadiah himself. Rather, these are the words of Yahweh’s messenger. They can be presented as a quotation with an introductory formula such as “saying,” or as indirect quotation as in UST. (See: Direct and Indirect Quotations)
ק֛וּמוּ
This phrase is used to tell people to get ready, in this case to attack Edom. Alternate translation: “Get ready” (See: Idiom)
וְנָק֥וּמָה עָלֶיהָ
This is an idiom that means to violently oppose another person or nation. Alternate translation: “Let us gather our armies against Edom” (See: Idiom)
וְנָק֥וּמָה עָלֶיהָ
Here, her refers to the land of Edom, which, again, stands for the people of Edom. Alternate translation: “Let us rise up against the people of Edom” (See: Metonymy)
לַמִּלְחָמָֽה
If your readers would misunderstand this, If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind the word battle, you could express the same idea with a verbal form. Alternate translation: “to attack her” (See: Abstract Nouns)
Obadiah 1:2
הִנֵּ֥ה קָטֹ֛ן נְתַתִּ֖יךָ
The addressee changes here. This is no longer Yahweh speaking to Judah or the messenger speaking to the other nations. Now Yahweh is speaking directly to the people of Edom. If your readers would misunderstand this, you could add a quote introduction here, as in the UST. (See: Quotations and Quote Margins)
הִנֵּ֥ה
This alerts the people of Edom to pay special attention to what follows. Use a natural way of getting someone’s attention in your language. Alternate translation: “Look” or “Pay attention to what I am about to tell you”
קָטֹ֛ן נְתַתִּ֖יךָ בַּגּוֹיִ֑ם בָּז֥וּי אַתָּ֖ה מְאֹֽד
These two phrases mean similar things and are used together to emphasize that Edom will lose its important status. If it would be more natural in your language, you could combine them as in the UST. (See: Parallelism)
קָטֹ֛ן נְתַתִּ֖יךָ בַּגּוֹיִ֑ם
Something insignificant is spoken of figuratively as if it were small in size and could easily be overlooked. Alternate translation: “insignificant among the nations” (See: Metaphor)
בָּז֥וּי אַתָּ֖ה מְאֹֽד
You could state this in the active form. Alternate translation: “the people of other nations will hate you” (See: Active or Passive)
Obadiah 1:3
זְד֤וֹן לִבְּךָ֙ הִשִּׁיאֶ֔ךָ
Here, pride is spoken of figuratively as though it were a person who could deceive someone. If this is not clear, you could say this with plain language. Alternate translation: “Because you are so proud, you have deceived yourselves” (See: Personification)
זְד֤וֹן לִבְּךָ֙ הִשִּׁיאֶ֔ךָ
Here, you is singular, since it refers to the people of Edom as a single nation, but if this is confusing in your language, you can use a plural form of “you” here and throughout this book. (See: Singular Pronouns that refer to Groups)
זְד֤וֹן לִבְּךָ֙
If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind the word pride, you could express the same idea with an adjective such as “proud.” Alternate translation: “Your proud attitude” (See: Abstract Nouns)
זְד֤וֹן לִבְּךָ֙
Here, heart is used figuratively to refer to a person’s thoughts and feelings. Alternate translation: “Your proud attitude” (See: Metaphor)
שֹׁכְנִ֥י בְחַגְוֵי־סֶּ֖לַע
Here, the pronoun switches from you to he even though Yahweh is still talking to the people of Edom. If this is confusing in your language, you can continue to use you, since this is part of Yahweh’s continuing message to the people of Edom. Alternate translation: “you who live in the clefts of the rock” (See: First, Second or Third Person)
בְחַגְוֵי־סֶּ֖לַע
This means a place that is protected because it is surrounded by rocks.
אֹמֵ֣ר בְּלִבּ֔וֹ
This says he and his, as if Yahweh were talking aloud about Edom rather than to Edom, but it can be translated with you as part of Yahweh’s continuing words to the people. Alternate translation: “you who say in your heart” or “you who say to yourselves” (See: First, Second or Third Person)
אֹמֵ֣ר בְּלִבּ֔וֹ
Here, the heart is used figuratively to refer to a person’s thoughts and feelings. Alternate translation: “he who says to himself” or “you who think” (See: Metaphor)
מִ֥י יוֹרִדֵ֖נִי אָֽרֶץ
This rhetorical question expresses how proud the Edomites were and how safe they felt. Alternate translation: “no one can bring me down to the ground” or “I am safe from all attackers” (See: Rhetorical Question)
Obadiah 1:4
אִם־תַּגְבִּ֣יהַּ כַּנֶּ֔שֶׁר וְאִם־בֵּ֥ין כּֽוֹכָבִ֖ים שִׂ֣ים קִנֶּ֑ךָ
These two expressions have similar meanings. This is a way of showing that something is important by saying it more than once but in slightly different ways. If this is not clear in your language, use another way of showing that this is important. Alternate translation: “Even if you had wings and could live high up among the eagles, or even up among the stars” (See: Parallelism)
אִם־תַּגְבִּ֣יהַּ כַּנֶּ֔שֶׁר וְאִם־בֵּ֥ין כּֽוֹכָבִ֖ים שִׂ֣ים קִנֶּ֑ךָ
The people of Edom think that they are safe because they live up high in the mountains. Yahweh is saying that even if they lived much higher than it is actually possible for humans to live, they would still not be safe. 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: Hyperbole)
שִׂ֣ים קִנֶּ֑ךָ
If your language does not use passive verb forms, you could use the active form of the verb. Alternate translation: “if you could make your homes” (See: Active or Passive)
מִשָּׁ֥ם אוֹרִֽידְךָ֖
Here, bring you down means “humble you” or “defeat you.” This is a spatial metaphor. Yahweh’s response to the Edomites is that there is nowhere they would be safe from his judgment and punishment. Alternate translation: “you would still not be safe there from the attackers that I am sending” (See: Metaphor)
נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה
This phrase reminds the reader that this message, including the entire book, came directly from Yahweh. Use a form of quotation that would make this clear in your language. (See: Quotations and Quote Margins)
נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה
If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind the word declaration, you could express the same idea with a verbal form. Alternate translation: “Yahweh declares this to you.” (See: Abstract Nouns)
Obadiah 1:5
אִם־גַּנָּבִ֤ים בָּאֽוּ־לְךָ֙ אִם־שׁ֣וֹדְדֵי לַ֔יְלָה
These two phrases mean the same thing. The repetition is used to emphasize the one idea that they are expressing. If this is not clear in your language, use another way of showing that this is important or you could combine them, as in the UST. (See: Doublet)
אֵ֣יךְ נִדְמֵ֔יתָה
You could use the active form of the verb, and you could specify who is doing the action. Alternate translation: “how the attackers will destroy you” (See: Active or Passive)
אֵ֣יךְ נִדְמֵ֔יתָה
Yahweh adds this phrase in the middle of another sentence to express that the punishment of Edom is shocking. Unlike thieves and grape-harvesters, those who attack Edom will leave nothing behind. If your readers would misunderstand this, you could move the phrase to the end of the verse and make it its own sentence. Alternate translation: “But attackers will destroy you completely” (See: Exclamations)
הֲל֥וֹא יִגְנְב֖וּ דַּיָּ֑ם
This is a rhetorical question. The question form is used to make a point strongly. If you do not use rhetorical questions in this way in your language, you can use a statement here. Alternate translation: “they would only steal what they wanted” (See: Rhetorical Question)
אִם־בֹּֽצְרִים֙ בָּ֣אוּ לָ֔ךְ הֲל֖וֹא יַשְׁאִ֥ירוּ עֹלֵלֽוֹת
This is a rhetorical question. The question form is used to make a point strongly. If you do not use rhetorical questions in this way in your language, you can use a statement here. Alternate translation: “they would certainly leave some grapes behind” (See: Rhetorical Question)
Obadiah 1:6
אֵ֚יךְ
Here, How introduces an exclamation to express amazement that the pillaging of Edom is so extreme. Use a natural way in your language to express this. Alternate translation: “In an extreme way” or “Completely” (See: Exclamations)
אֵ֚יךְ נֶחְפְּשׂ֣וּ עֵשָׂ֔ו
If your readers would misunderstand this, you could use the active form of this verb, and you could say who is doing the action. Alternate translation: “How the attackers will ransack the country of Edom” (See: Active or Passive)
עֵשָׂ֔ו
Here, the name Esau refers to the people of Edom. They were the descendants of Esau, who was also known as Edom. All the people of Edom are being portrayed as if they were a single person, their ancestor. If this is confusing in your language, you can refer to the people instead, as in the UST. (See: Personification)
נֶחְפְּשׂ֣וּ
Here, ransacked means that the enemies have searched through the people’s things, taken everything valuable, and left everything else in a mess or damaged.
נִבְע֖וּ מַצְפֻּנָֽיו
If your readers would misunderstand this, you could use the active form of this verb, and you could say who is doing the action. Alternate translation: “They will search out all of his hidden treasures” (See: Active or Passive)
Obadiah 1:7
עַֽד־הַגְּב֣וּל שִׁלְּח֗וּךָ כֹּ֚ל אַנְשֵׁ֣י בְרִיתֶ֔ךָ
If it does not make sense in your language to say that someone would be attacked by someone with whom they have a covenant, that is, an ally, then you can add in the missing step of their betrayal, as in the UST. (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)
בְרִיתֶ֔ךָ
Yahweh is still addressing the people of Edom here, so the word your refers to them. (See: Singular Pronouns that refer to Groups)
עַֽד־הַגְּב֣וּל שִׁלְּח֗וּךָ
Here, the border could mean: (1) It could refer to the border of the country of Edom. Alternate translation: “will force you out of your country” or (2) it could refer to the border of a formerly friendly country. Alternate translation: “will reject you from taking refuge in their country”
כֹּ֚ל אַנְשֵׁ֣י בְרִיתֶ֔ךָ…אַנְשֵׁ֣י שְׁלֹמֶ֑ךָ לַחְמְךָ֗
All three phrases refer to Edom’s allies. Yahweh is showing that what he is saying is important by saying it more than once in similar ways. (See: Parallelism)
לַחְמְךָ֗ יָשִׂ֤ימוּ מָזוֹר֙ תַּחְתֶּ֔יךָ
Hebrew says simply your bread. In this poetic style, hearers and readers are expected to understand the meaning and supply the missing words The men of from the previous two lines. (See: Ellipsis)
אֵ֥ין תְּבוּנָ֖ה בּֽוֹ
This phrase could mean: (1) Yahweh could be saying this as an aside in order to express his evaluation of the people of Edom. If this would be confusing in your language, you can continue the address to Edom in the second person, as in the UST. (2) the former allies could be saying this about Edom. Alternate translation: “Then they will say to you, ‘you are not as clever as you thought you were’” (3) It could be referring to the trap just mentioned. Alternate translation: “and there is no perception of it” (4) It could be referring to the shocking situation of Edom being betrayed by its allies. Alternate translation: “There is no understanding of this” (See: Aside)
אֵ֥ין תְּבוּנָ֖ה בּֽוֹ
If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind the word understanding, you could express the same idea with a verbal form. Alternate translation: “He does not understand anything” (See: Abstract Nouns)
בּֽוֹ
Here, him probably refers to Edom, which represents the people who live there. Alternate translation: “in the people of Edom” (See: Personification)
Obadiah 1:8
הֲל֛וֹא בַּיּ֥וֹם הַה֖וּא…וְהַאֲבַדְתִּ֤י חֲכָמִים֙ מֵֽאֱד֔וֹם
This is a rhetorical question. Yahweh uses the question form here to emphasize that he will certainly do this. Alternate translation: “On that day … I will certainly destroy the wise men from Edom” (See: Rhetorical Question)
וְהַאֲבַדְתִּ֤י חֲכָמִים֙ מֵֽאֱד֔וֹם
The original audience would have known that Edom was famous for its wisdom. So this means that even their famous wisdom cannot save them from Yahweh’s destruction. If your readers would misunderstand this, you could indicate this information as in the UST. (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)
וּתְבוּנָ֖ה מֵהַ֥ר עֵשָֽׂו
This is the second part of the rhetorical question. You could also start a new sentence here. Yahweh continues the question form here to emphasize that he will certainly do this. Alternate translation: “and I will certainly destroy their understanding” or “On that day I will certainly remove understanding from the mountain of Esau” (See: Rhetorical Question)
וּתְבוּנָ֖ה מֵהַ֥ר עֵשָֽׂו
In this poetic style, the reader is expected to use the words will I not on that day destroy from the first rhetorical question in order to understand this second one. If that is not clear in your language, you can repeat those words here. Alternate translation: “and will I not on that day destroy understanding from the mountain of Esau?” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)
חֲכָמִים֙ מֵֽאֱד֔וֹם וּתְבוּנָ֖ה מֵהַ֥ר עֵשָֽׂו
In this poetic style, the same meaning is expressed twice but in different words in order to emphasize what is being said. Here, wise men and understanding both refer to people who are wise, and Edom and the mountain of Esau are both ways of referring to the country of Edom. If this is confusing in your language, you could say this only once, or emphasize the meaning in another way. Alternate translation: “all people who are wise from the country of Edom” (See: Parallelism)
וּתְבוּנָ֖ה
If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind the word understanding, you could express the same idea with a verbal form. Alternate translation: “and people who know what to do” (See: Abstract Nouns)
מֵהַ֥ר עֵשָֽׂו
Yahweh is referring to the whole territory of Edom by using the name of one prominent part of it. The mountain of Esau may be the one now called Mount Bozrah. Alternate translation: “from the land of Edom” (See: Synecdoche)
עֵשָֽׂו
This is the name of the man who was the ancestor of the people of Edom. See how you translated this in verse 6. (See: How to Translate Names)
Obadiah 1:9
וְחַתּ֥וּ גִבּוֹרֶ֖יךָ תֵּימָ֑ן
Yahweh continues speaking to the people of Edom, but now he addresses them as Teman, which was the name of the region around their capital city. This part of Edom is now being used to represent the whole people. Alternate translation: “People of Edom, your strong soldiers will become terrified” (See: Synecdoche)
תֵּימָ֑ן
Teman is the name of a region in the land of Edom. Yahweh is referring to the whole territory of Edom by the name of one part of it. Alternate translation: “O people of Edom” (See: How to Translate Names)
לְמַ֧עַן
There is a cause-and-effect relationship here. Yahweh says in v. 8 that he will destroy the wise men in Edom, and here in v. 9 that the mighty men of Edom will be “dismayed” (that is, they will give up trying to fight). The people of Edom trusted in these two groups to protect them. So as a result of Yahweh destroying these two groups, no others in Edom will escape the invading armies, either. Alternate translation: “with the result that” (See: Connect — Goal (Purpose) Relationship)
יִכָּֽרֶת־אִ֛ישׁ
Here, cut off is a metaphor for being killed. The Edomites are pictured as part of the mountain where they live, and their death as being cut off from the mountain. Alternate translation: “your enemies will destroy all of you” (See: Metaphor)
יִכָּֽרֶת־אִ֛ישׁ
You could use an active verb form, and you could specify who will do the action. Alternate translation: “your enemies will destroy all of you” (See: Active or Passive)
אִ֛ישׁ
Here, a man is an idiom that means “each person.” Alternate translation: “all you people” (See: Idiom)
מֵהַ֥ר עֵשָׂ֖ו
As in v. 8, Yahweh is referring to the whole territory by the name of this one part of it. See how you translated it there. Alternate translation: “from the land of Edom” (See: Synecdoche)
מִקָּֽטֶל
The abstract noun slaughter intensifies the idea of being cut off or killed. If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind the word slaughter, you could express the same idea with a verbal form. Alternate translation: “violently” (See: Abstract Nouns)
מִקָּֽטֶל
Some Bible translations put this phrase with verse 10, rather than with verse 9. If you choose to do that, verse 9 would end, “…from the mountain of Esau.” Verse 10 would begin, “Because of slaughter, because of violence …” (See: Abstract Nouns)
Obadiah 1:10
אָחִ֥יךָ
The term brother is being used here to refer to members of a related people group. Use the term that is most natural in your language. Alternate translation: “your relatives who are the descendants of Jacob” (See: Metonymy)
יַעֲקֹ֖ב
Here the name Jacob refers to the people of Judah, who were his descendants. All the people are being portrayed as if they were a single person, their ancestor. (See: Personification)
תְּכַסְּךָ֣ בוּשָׁ֑ה
If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind the word shame, you could express the same idea with a verbal form. Alternate translation: “you will be dishonored” (See: Abstract Nouns)
תְּכַסְּךָ֣ בוּשָׁ֑ה
To be covered with something is an idiom for fully experiencing it. Alternate translation: “you will be completely ashamed” (See: Idiom)
וְנִכְרַ֖תָּ
If your readers would misunderstand this, you could use an active form of the verb. Alternate translation: “your enemies will destroy you” (See: Active or Passive)
וְנִכְרַ֖תָּ
You can specify who will do the action. Alternate translation: “your enemies will destroy you” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)
וְנִכְרַ֖תָּ
As in verse 5, cut off is an idiom for being destroyed. See how you translated it there. Alternate translation: “your enemies will destroy you” (See: Idiom)
Obadiah 1:11
עֲמָֽדְךָ֣ מִנֶּ֔גֶד
This is a metaphor that pictures the people of Edom as a person who was just standing around and not helping a relative. Alternate translation: “you did not help him.” (See: Metaphor)
שְׁב֥וֹת זָרִ֖ים חֵיל֑וֹ וְנָכְרִ֞ים בָּ֣אוּ שְׁעָרָ֗יו
These two phrases mean similar things. They are used together to emphasize that Judah was in a desperate situation. Invading armies were plundering the cities of Judah. (See: Parallelism)
חֵיל֑וֹ…שְׁעָרָ֗יו
Here, his refers to your brother Jacob in verse 10, meaning the people of Judah. (See: Personification)
חֵיל֑וֹ
In this context, the term translated wealth could also mean “army.” But since it clearly means “wealth” in verse 13, it seems best to translate it as “wealth” here, as well.
שְׁעָרָ֗יו
Here, gates stands for “city.” The gates, the part of a city through which people would come and go, are being used to represent the whole city. Alternate translation: “all the cities of Judah” (See: Synecdoche)
וְעַל־יְרוּשָׁלִַ֨ם֙ יַדּ֣וּ גוֹרָ֔ל
There are two possibilities for what this could mean: (1) This is a figurative way of saying that the foreigners had complete control of Jerusalem, with Jerusalem pictured as something that everybody wants to have, but it cannot be divided, so they cast lots to see who will get it. Alternate translation: “they even plundered Jerusalem” or (2) The name of the city may be standing for the wealth of the city. Alternate translation: “and they divided the wealth of Jerusalem among themselves” (See: Metaphor)
גַּם־אַתָּ֖ה כְּאַחַ֥ד מֵהֶֽם
The people of Edom did not do exactly the same things as the strangers and foreigners did, but they were like them because they did not help the people of Judah, who were a related people group. If your readers would misunderstand this, you could include this information, as in the UST. (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)
Obadiah 1:12
וְאַל…וְאַל…וְאַל
Yahweh uses a repetitive series of sentences in verses 12–14 to show how badly the people of Edom have treated the people of Judah. This repetitive style of speaking or writing is called a “litany.” This is a list of the charges against the people of Edom. Yahweh goes on to say in verses 15 and 16 that he has found them guilty of all of these charges and that he will punish them. Use a form in your language that someone would use to list things that someone has done wrong. (See: Litany)
וְאַל־תֵּ֤רֶא
Here, you should not have looked implies that the people of Edom were looking on the disaster in Judah with pleasure. To make this clear, you can include this information in the way that you translate. Alternate translation: “you should not have enjoyed looking” or “it was very bad that you enjoyed looking” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)
בְיוֹם־אָחִ֨יךָ֙ בְּי֣וֹם נָכְר֔וֹ
The two phrases on the day of your brother and on the day of his misfortune work together to mean “on the day of your brother’s misfortune.” If having the two phrases is confusing, you can combine them into one phrase, as in the UST. (See: Hendiadys)
בְיוֹם
Here, on the day is an idiom that refers to an undefined period of time that could extend from one to very many days. Alternate translation: “at the time of” (See: Idiom)
אָחִ֨יךָ֙
As in verse 10, Yahweh describes the people of Judah as a brother to the descendants of Esau, because their ancestor, Jacob, was the brother of Esau (Edom). (See: Personification)
לִבְנֵֽי־יְהוּדָ֖ה
Here, the word sons does not refer only to men. It refers to all of the descendants of Jacob’s son Judah, and more broadly to all of the Israelites from a number of the different tribes of Israel who had come to live in the kingdom of Judah at this time. Alternate translation: “over the Israelites” (See: When Masculine Words Include Women)
וְאַל־תַּגְדֵּ֥ל פִּ֖יךָ
This is an idiom for bragging or mocking. In this context of observing someone else’s misfortune, mocking makes better sense. Alternate translation: “You should not have mocked them” (See: Idiom)
Obadiah 1:13
בְּי֣וֹם אֵידָ֔ם…בְּי֣וֹם אֵיד֑וֹ…בְּי֥וֹם אֵידֽוֹ
In this poetic style, the same phrase is used at the end of each line to emphasize how terrible the calamity was. If this style does not work in your language to communicate an increased emphasis, then you could combine the three occurrences into one and communicate that this was a very bad thing in another way, as in the UST. (See: Parallelism)
אֵידָ֔ם…אֵיד֑וֹ…אֵידֽוֹ
In the first line of this verse, their refers to my people. In the second and third lines, God’s people are once again pictured as their ancestor Jacob, and so the singular pronoun his is used (see verse 10). If this change is confusing in your language, you can avoid the personification and refer to the people with plural pronouns in all three lines. (See: Personification)
גַם־אַתָּ֛ה
Yahweh is accusing the people of Edom directly, and he adds this exclamation to emphasize this. This exclamation expresses anger, demands their attention, and also may be a warning that they cannot claim to be innocent. If it is confusing to have this in the middle of another sentence, you could make this a separate sentence ending in an exclamation mark, either before or after the current sentence. Alternate translation: “I am talking to you” (See: Exclamations)
אַל־תֵּ֧רֶא
In this context, looked on is an idiom for “enjoyed looking at.” See how you translated this in verse 12. Alternate translation: “you should not have gloated” (See: Idiom)
וְאַל־תִּשְׁלַ֥חְנָה בְחֵיל֖וֹ
Here, the word translated as you is feminine and plural. In the rest of Obadiah, it is masculine and singular. It may be that God is addressing the women specifically here in case they thought that they were not also guilty. So use a feminine plural form here, or mark this in some other way so that it means “you women.” (See: Forms of You)
Obadiah 1:14
הַפֶּ֔רֶק
A crossroads is a place where two roads come together. (See: Translate Unknowns)
לְהַכְרִ֖ית
Here, to cut down is a metaphor that means “to kill.” It is likely a comparison to the way grain is cut down at harvest time. See how you translated this same metaphor in verse 9. (See: Metaphor)
וְאַל־תַּסְגֵּ֥ר שְׂרִידָ֖יו
If your readers would misunderstand this, you can make explicit to whom the Edomites delivered the Judean survivors. Alternate translation: “You should not have captured the survivors and delivered them over to the enemy soldiers” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)
Obadiah 1:15
כִּֽי־קָר֥וֹב יוֹם־יְהוָ֖ה עַל־כָּל־הַגּוֹיִ֑ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר עָשִׂ֨יתָ֙ יֵעָ֣שֶׂה לָּ֔ךְ גְּמֻלְךָ֖ יָשׁ֥וּב בְּרֹאשֶֽׁךָ
Bible experts are not certain whether verse 15 goes with verse 14 as the end of the previous section or if it goes with verse 16 as the beginning of the new section. Many Bibles put a section break and a heading before verse 15, such as “God Will Judge the Nations.”
כִּֽי־קָר֥וֹב יוֹם־יְהוָ֖ה עַל־כָּל־הַגּוֹיִ֑ם
Here Yahweh is giving the people of Edom the reason why they should not have done all of the bad things that they did to the Israelites that were listed in verses 11-14, and instead of that, helped them. It is because Yahweh will soon judge all nations for the way that they have treated others. If your readers would misunderstand this, you can make this explicit, as in the UST. (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)
יוֹם־יְהוָ֖ה
The day of Yahweh is an expression that refers to a specific time when God punishes people for their sins. Alternate translation: “the time when I, Yahweh, will judge and punish people for their sins” (See: Idiom)
קָר֥וֹב
In this context, near means “close in time.” Alternate translation: “will soon happen”
יֵעָ֣שֶׂה לָּ֔ךְ
If you prefer an active verb you can use one here and you can specify who will do this action. Alternate translation: “I will do those same things to you” (See: Active or Passive)
גְּמֻלְךָ֖ יָשׁ֥וּב בְּרֹאשֶֽׁךָ
This is a metaphor that pictures the Edomites as having sent bad things out to others, and now those things are going to come back and hurt them as they land on their heads. Alternate translation: “those same things will soon happen to you” (See: Metaphor)
בְּרֹאשֶֽׁךָ
The head is being used to represent the whole person. Alternate translation: “to you” (See: Synecdoche)
Obadiah 1:16
כִּ֗י כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֤ר שְׁתִיתֶם֙
As at the beginning of verse 15, here also the connecting word For indicates that this is a reason why the people of Edom should have helped the Israelites instead of joining in attacking them. Here also Yahweh describes how he will soon judge all nations for the way that they have treated others. There are two possibilities for how you can make this explicit, If your readers would misunderstand this. Choosing between these possibilities depends on how you interpret the referent of the word you. The word you here is masculine plural, the first and only time it occurs in this form in the book. Throughout the book, the nation of Edom was addressed with the masculine singular form. This is also the last occurrence of the second person in the book. (1) Because of these observations, the use of drinking here and throughout the Bible as a metaphor for suffering punishment, and the location of this suffering on Mount Zion in Jerusalem, it seems that here Obadiah stops addressing the people of Edom and returns to addressing the people of Israel. At the beginning of the book, Obadiah included the people of Israel when he said, “We have heard a report from Yahweh.” Now, near the end of the book, he addresses them again, giving them assurance that the people of Edom will be punished for what they did to the people of Israel. See the UST. (2) This word you could refer to the people of Edom. Alternate translation: “You should have helped the people of Israel, because just as you drank” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)
כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֤ר שְׁתִיתֶם֙
Throughout the book of Obadiah, the nation of Edom is addressed with a masculine singular form of “you.” (The one feminine plural form in verse 13 only addresses the women of Edom). Here, however, you is masculine plural. There are two possibilities for who is being addressed here. (1) It refers to the people of Israel. This would explain the shift from singular to plural. Just as Obadiah addressed the people of Israel in the plural in verse 1, so he addresses them in the plural now. This interpretation also fits with the metaphor used here and throughout the Bible that pictures suffering and divine punishment as drinking something that makes a person stagger, fall, and die. The people of Israel suffered and died in Jerusalem when the city was destroyed. This also allows the comparison in this verse to fit with the idea in the previous verse that Edom will suffer in the same way that they made Israel to suffer. See the UST. (2) It refers to the people of Edom. In this case, the comparison is between how the people of Edom literally drank wine in celebration of Jerusalem’s destruction with how the nations will metaphorically drink God’s punishment. Either that, or the verb must be forced into a future meaning, and the comparison is between how God will punish the people of Edom in Jerusalem and how God will punish all the nations. Alternate translation: “just as I will punish you” (See: Pronouns — When to Use Them)
שְׁתִיתֶם֙
The image of drinking something is often used in the Bible as a metaphor for suffering or for being punished by God. Alternate translation: “you suffered” or “I punished you” (See: Metaphor)
עַל־הַ֣ר קָדְשִׁ֔י
The mountain of my holiness refers to Mount Zion and therefore to the city of Jerusalem. So here Jerusalem is being referred to by the name of something closely associated with it, the mountain that the city is built on. Alternate translation: “in my holy city, Jerusalem” (See: Metonymy)
יִשְׁתּ֥וּ כָֽל־הַגּוֹיִ֖ם תָּמִ֑יד
Here the metaphor continues, using drink to mean “suffer” or “be punished.” Alternate translation: “I will punish all of the nations continually” (See: Metaphor)
וְשָׁת֣וּ וְלָע֔וּ
The words translated drink and swallow mean very similar things and are used together to intensify the one meaning. If your language does not have two such similar words, you can use one of the words and intensify the meaning in another way. Alternate translation: “They will drink all of it down” (See: Doublet)
וְשָׁת֣וּ וְלָע֔וּ
Here the metaphor continues, using drink and swallow as images for suffering or being punished. Alternate translation: “I will make them suffer a lot” (See: Metaphor)
Obadiah 1:17
וּבְהַ֥ר צִיּ֛וֹן תִּהְיֶ֥ה פְלֵיטָ֖ה
The abstract noun escape refers to the people of Israel who will still be alive in Jerusalem after Yahweh has finished punishing the other nations. As 1:16 says, those other nations will disappear completely, but the descendants of Jacob will continue as a people. Alternate translation: “But in Jerusalem some people will remain” (See: Abstract Nouns)
וּבְהַ֥ר צִיּ֛וֹן
This is a figure of speech that refers to Jerusalem by the name of something closely associated with it, the mountain that the city is built on. Alternate translation: “But in Jerusalem” (See: Metonymy)
וְהָ֣יָה קֹ֑דֶשׁ
If your language does not use abstract nouns, you can translate the word holiness by using an adjective. Alternate translation: “and it will be a holy place” (See: Abstract Nouns)
בֵּ֣ית יַֽעֲקֹ֔ב
Here, the house of Jacob is an idiom that means “the descendants of Jacob” and by extension, all of the people of Israel. Alternate translation: “the people of Israel” (See: Idiom)
אֵ֖ת מוֹרָֽשֵׁיהֶם
Here, possessions refers to the land that was supposed to be passed down from generation to generation to each of the Israelite families and clans. If using a plural term is confusing, you can translate it with a singular word. Alternate translation: “the land that belongs to each of them”
Obadiah 1:18
וְהָיָה֩ בֵית־יַעֲקֹ֨ב אֵ֜שׁ וּבֵ֧ית יוֹסֵ֣ף לֶהָבָ֗ה
These two expressions have similar meanings. Yahweh is showing that what he is saying is important by saying it more than once. Both house of Jacob and house of Joseph stand for all of the Israelites. Alternate translation: “The Israelites will be like a fire. Yes, they will be like a flame” If saying this twice is confusing, you could combine them into one expression, as in the UST. (See: Parallelism)
בֵית־יַעֲקֹ֨ב
Here, the word house means all of the people descended from a particular person. All of the descendants of Jacob are being described figuratively as if they were one household living together. Alternate translation: “the Israelites” (See: Metonymy)
וּבֵ֧ית יוֹסֵ֣ף
The descendants of Joseph are also being described figuratively as if they were one household. Joseph was the son of Jacob, and his descendants made up a large part of the people of Israel. So Yahweh is using his descendants to represent the whole nation. (See: Synecdoche)
וּבֵ֤ית עֵשָׂו֙…לְבֵ֣ית עֵשָׂ֔ו
The descendants of Esau (Edom) are also being described figuratively as if they were one household. Alternate translation: “the people of Edom” (See: Metonymy)
אֵ֜שׁ…לֶהָבָ֗ה…לְקַ֔שׁ
In this metaphor, Yahweh is saying that the Israelites will be like fire and flame, that the people of Edom will be like dry grass, and that the Israelites will do to the people of Edom what fire and flame do to dry grass. In other words, just as fire and flame burn up dry grass until it is all gone, the Israelites who survive will conquer all of Edom. If this metaphor is not clear in your language, you could make it a simile, as in the UST. (See: Metaphor)
לְקַ֔שׁ
The word stubble means the dry pieces of plants that are left in the ground after their stalks have been cut. Alternate translation: “like dry grass” (See: Translate Unknowns)
וְדָלְק֥וּ בָהֶ֖ם וַאֲכָל֑וּם
Burn and consume mean almost the same thing. Yahweh uses the words together to intensify the meaning. If you do not have two similar words in your language or if it would be confusing to say this twice, you can combine them into one phrase and intensify the meaning in another way. Alternate translation: “and they will burn them until they are all burned up” or “and they will burn them up completely” (See: Doublet)
כִּ֥י
Here, For indicates that what follows is the reason for what came before. Yahweh is reminding the reader that these things will certainly happen, because this message comes from him. If your readers would misunderstand this, you can say this explicitly, as in the UST. (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)
כִּ֥י יְהוָ֖ה דִּבֵּֽר
Yahweh is speaking of himself in the third person here. If that is confusing in your language, you can change it to first person, as in the UST. (See: First, Second or Third Person)
Obadiah 1:19
וְיָרְשׁ֨וּ
This verse as a whole describes people who live in different parts of Israel conquering the territories next to them. Alternate translation: “will conquer”
הַנֶּ֜גֶב
The Negev is the name of the southern region of Judea that is dry, rocky, and barren. It is being used to represent the people who live there. The people are being described by the name of something closely associated with them, the land that they live in. Alternate translation: “The Israelites who live in the Negev” (See: Metonymy)
הַ֣ר עֵשָׂ֗ו
This was one of the mountains in Edom. See how you translated this in verses 8 and 9. Yahweh is referring to the whole territory of Edom by using the name of one prominent part of it. Alternate translation: “the country of Edom” (See: Synecdoche)
וְהַשְּׁפֵלָה֙
The Shephelah is the name of the western foothills in the land of Israel. That location is being used figuratively to represent the people who live there. The people are being described by the name of something closely associated with them, the land that they live in. Alternate translation: “the Israelites who live in the western foothills.” (See: Metonymy)
וְהַשְּׁפֵלָה֙ אֶת־פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים
Here, the reader is expected to supply the verb will possess from the previous clause. Alternate translation: “and the Israelites who live in the Shephelah will possess the land of the Philistines” (See: Ellipsis)
פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים
The Philistines were people who occupied the territory to the west of Israel. Here, the people are used to represent that territory, also known as the region of Phoenicia. Alternate translation: “the region of the Philistines” (See: Metonymy)
וְיָרְשׁוּ֙
Alternate translation: “The people of Israel will possess”
אֶת־שְׂדֵ֣ה אֶפְרַ֔יִם וְאֵ֖ת שְׂדֵ֣ה שֹׁמְר֑וֹן
Here, field refers to a large, open area, and represents the whole territory that belonged to the tribe of Ephraim and that surrounded the city of Samaria. Alternate translation: “all of the territory that had belonged to the people of Ephraim and all of the area around Samaria” (See: Synecdoche)
וּבִנְיָמִ֖ן
Here, Benjamin represents the people of the tribe of Benjamin. All the people are being portrayed as if they were a single person, their ancestor. See the UST. (See: Personification)
וּבִנְיָמִ֖ן אֶת־הַגִּלְעָֽד
Here, the reader is expected to supply the verb will possess from the previous clause. Alternate translation: “and the people of the tribe of Benjamin will possess the land of Gilead” (See: Ellipsis)
הַגִּלְעָֽד
Gilead is a region east of the land of Israel, across the Jordan River. It is being used to represent the areas to the east. See the UST. (See: Synecdoche)
Obadiah 1:20
וְגָלֻ֣ת הַֽחֵל־הַ֠זֶּה
Here, exile is a collective singular noun that includes all of the people who were exiled. Alternate translation: “All of the large group of people who were captured and taken away from their homes” (See: Collective Nouns)
הַֽחֵל
Here, the word translated as army can also mean “a large number of people.” In this context, the large number of people are also described as capturing territory, so they will be acting as an army. If you have a term that can mean both of these things, use it here. If not, then choose the term that fits best.
לִבְנֵ֨י יִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל
Here, there are two possibilities for the meaning of the sons of Israel: (1) In this context, Israel is identified as occupying territory in the north and is in contrast with Jerusalem, so it seems that the sons of Israel is referring to people who are from the northern kingdom of Israel. Alternate translation: “from northern Israel” (2) It could refer to all of the descendants of Israel. Alternate translation: “of the people of Israel” (See: Metaphor)
אֲשֶֽׁר־כְּנַעֲנִים֙
The land of Canaan is where the people of Israel lived before they were exiled. So the people are being called by the name of the place where they lived, and where they will live again. Alternate translation: “who lived in the land of Canaan” (See: Metonymy)
עַד־צָ֣רְפַ֔ת
Zarephath was a Phoenician city north of Israel on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea between Tyre and Sidon. Alternate translation: “as far north as Zarephath” (See: How to Translate Names)
עַד־צָ֣רְפַ֔ת
The reader is expected to supply the verb “will possess” or “will capture” from the previous sentence. Alternate translation: “will capture the territory as far north as Zarephath” (See: Ellipsis)
וְגָלֻ֥ת יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם
Here, exile is a collective singular noun that includes all of the people who were captured and taken away from their homes in Jerusalem. Alternate translation: “The people who were captured and taken away from their homes in Jerusalem” (See: Collective Nouns)
בִּסְפָרַ֑ד
Sepharad is the name of a place whose location is unknown to modern scholars. Some experts suggest that it refers to the city of Sardis in the region of Lydia. This would be in Asia Minor, northwest of Israel, in what is now the country of Turkey. Alternate translation: “currently live in Sepharad” (See: How to Translate Names)
יִֽרְשׁ֕וּ
In order to conquer the cities of the Negev, these exiles first will return from the distant lands where they are living. If your readers would misunderstand this, you can say that explicitly. Alternate translation: “they will come back and conquer” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)
הַנֶּֽגֶב
The Negev is the name of the southern region of Judea that is dry, rocky, and barren. See how you translated this in verse 19 Alternate translation: “the southern Judean wilderness” (See: How to Translate Names)
Obadiah 1:21
וְעָל֤וּ מֽוֹשִׁעִים֙ בְּהַ֣ר צִיּ֔וֹן לִשְׁפֹּ֖ט אֶת־הַ֣ר עֵשָׂ֑ו
Even though the mountain of Zion is a figurative name for Jerusalem, it would be good to keep the imagery of this high place in Jerusalem where God’s temple was, if possible. This would also allow the comparison with the mountain of Esau. Edom had boasted that it was up high and that no one could bring it down. But with this figurative imagery, Yahweh is saying that he will bring it down and place his own people up high instead. You can also choose to express this meaning in plain language if that is how you have been translating the book and if the mountain of Zion would be misunderstood. Alternate translation: “Israel’s saviors will go up to Jerusalem and will rule over Edom, who thought that they were so high, from up there” (See: Metonymy)
מֽוֹשִׁעִים֙
Here, saviors refers to Israelite military leaders whom God will use to defeat the nation of Edom. Alternate translation: “the leaders who have saved Israel”
בְּהַ֣ר צִיּ֔וֹן
Yahweh is referring to Jerusalem figuratively by the name of something closely associated with it, the mountain that the city is built on. See how you translated this in verses 16 and 17. Alternate translation: “to Jerusalem” (See: Metonymy)
הַ֣ר עֵשָׂ֑ו
This phrase refers to the mountainous territory where Esau, the brother of Jacob and the ancestor of the Edomites, went and settled. So it means “the hill country that came to belong to Esau and his descendants.” See how you translated this in verses 8, 9, and 19. Alternate translation: “the land of Edom” (See: Synecdoche)
וְהָיְתָ֥ה לַֽיהוָ֖ה הַמְּלוּכָֽה
This phrase emphasizes that Yahweh will personally rule over the kingdom of Israel as they rule over Edom. Alternate translation: “Yahweh will be the king over all”