Judgment on Edom

Obadiah 1

The prophet Obdias receives a vision announcing that the Lord will bring down proud Edom from its rocky strongholds for the violence it did against its brother Jacob, standing aside and even joining in when foreigners plundered Jerusalem and cast lots for the city. The chapter declares that the day of the Lord is near for all nations, that Edom will be repaid as it repaid others, and closes with a promise that deliverance and a sanctuary will be found on mount Sion, whose house shall possess the mount of Esau, for the kingdom shall belong to the Lord.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonTHE vision of Obadiah: Thus saith the Lord God to Idumea, (I heard the report from the Lord, when He sent a message to the nations,—Arise and let us go up against her to battle):

BrentonThe vision of Obdias. Thus saith the Lord God to Idumea; I have heard a report from the Lord, and he has sent forth a message to the nations.

GreekὍΡΑΣΙΣ Ὀβδίου. Τάδε λέγει Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς τῇ Ἰδουμαίᾳ, ἀκοὴν ἤκουσα παρὰ Κυρίου, καὶ περιοχὴν εἰς τὰ ἔθνη ἐξαπέστειλεν· ἀνάστητε, καὶ ἐξαναστῶμεν ἐπʼ αὐτὴν εἰς πόλεμον.

KJV—

JPSThe vision of Obadiah. Thus saith the Lord GOD concerning Edom: We have heard a message from the LORD, And an ambassador is sent among the nations: ‘Arise ye, and let us rise up against her in battle.’

Thomson—

BrentonArise ye, and let us rise up against her to war.

GreekἸδοὺ ὀλιγοστὸν δέδωκά σε ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν, ἠτιμωμένος εἶ σὺ σφόδρα.

KJVThe 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.

JPS—

ThomsonThe pride of thy heart puffed thee up, dwelling in the clefts of rocks. (Having made his habitation high, he said in his heart, Who can bring me down to the ground?)

BrentonBehold, I have made thee small among the Gentiles: thou art greatly dishonoured. The pride of thine heart has elated thee, dwelling as thou dost in the holes of the rocks, as one that exalts his habitation, saying in his heart, Who will bring me down to the ground?

GreekὙπερηφανία τῆς καρδίας σου ἐπῇρέ σε κατασκηνοῦντα ἐν ταῖς ὀπαῖς τῶν πετρῶν· ὑψῶν κατοικίαν αὐτοῦ, λέγων ἐν καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ, τίς κατάξει με ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν;

KJVBehold, I have made thee small among the heathen: thou art greatly despised.

JPSThe pride of thy heart hath beguiled thee, O thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, Thy habitation on high; That sayest in thy heart: ‘Who shall bring me down to the ground?’

ThomsonThough thou shouldst soar aloft like an eagle, and make thy nest among the stars; thence I will pull thee down, saith the Lord.

BrentonIf thou shouldest mount up as the eagle, and if thou shouldest make thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the Lord.

GreekἘὰν μετεωρισθῇς, ὡς ἀετὸς, καὶ ἐὰν ἀναμέσον τῶν ἄστρων θῇς νοσσιάν σου, ἐκεῖθεν κατάξω σε, λέγει Κύριος.

KJVThough thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the LORD.

JPSThough thou make thy nest as high as the eagle, And though thou set it among the stars, I will bring thee down from thence, saith the LORD.

ThomsonIf thieves come to thee, or robbers by night, in what place soever thou mayst be cast, would they not steal what suited themselves? And if grape-gatherers came to thee, would they leave no gleaning?

BrentonIf thieves came in to thee, or robbers by night, where wouldest thou have been cast away? would they not have stolen just enough for themselves? and if grape-gatherers went in to thee, would they not leave a gleaning?

GreekΕἰ κλέπται εἰσῆλθον πρὸς σὲ, ἢ λῃσταὶ νυκτὸς, ποῦ ἂν ἀπεῤῥίφης; οὐκ ἂν ἔκλεψαν τὰ ἱκανὰ ἑαυτοῖς; καὶ εἰ τρυγηταὶ εἰσῆλθον πρὸς σὲ, οὐκ ἂν ἐπελείποντο ἐπιφυλλίδα;

KJVIf 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?

JPSIf thieves came to thee, if robbers by night— How art thou cut off!— Would they not steal till they had enough? If grape-gatherers came to thee, Would they not leave some gleaning grapes?

ThomsonHow Esau hath been searched! are even his hidden stores left? They have driven thee to the borders.

BrentonHow has Esau been searched out, and how have his hidden things been detected?

GreekΠῶς ἐξηρευνήθη Ἡσαῦ, καὶ κατελήφθη τὰ κεκρυμμένα αὐτοῦ;

KJVHow are the things of Esau searched out! how are his hidden things sought up!

JPSHow is Esau searched out! How are his hidden places sought out!

ThomsonAll the men in league with thee, have risen up against thee. Thy men of peace prevailed against thee. They laid snares under thee. They have no understanding.

BrentonThey sent thee to thy coasts: all the men of thy covenant have withstood thee; thine allies have prevailed against thee, they have set snares under thee: they have no understanding.

GreekἝως τῶν ὁρίων ἐξαπέστειλάν σε· πάντες οἱ ἄνδρες τῆς διαθήκης σου ἀντέστησάν σοι, ἠδυνάσθησαν πρὸς σὲ ἄνδρες εἰρηνικοί σου, ἔθηκαν ἔνεδρα ὑποκάτω σου, οὐκ ἔστι σύνεσις αὐτοῖς.

KJVAll 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; they that eat thy bread have laid a wound under thee: there is none understanding in him.

JPSAll the men of thy confederacy Have conducted thee to the border; The men that were at peace with thee Have beguiled thee, and prevailed against thee; They that eat thy bread lay a snare under thee, In whom there is no discernment.

ThomsonIn that day, saith the Lord, I will destroy wise men out of Idumea, and understanding out of the mount of Esau.

BrentonIn that day, saith the Lord, I will destroy the wise men out of Idumea, and understanding out of the mount of Esau.

GreekἘν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ, λέγει Κύριος, ἀπολῶ σοφους ἐκ τῆς Ἰδουμαίας, καὶ σύνεσιν ἐξ ὄρους Ἡσαῦ.

KJVShall I not in that day, saith the LORD, even destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of the mount of Esau?

JPSShall I not in that day, saith the LORD, Destroy the wise men out of Edom, And discernment out of the mount of Esau?

ThomsonAnd thy warriors from Thaiman shall be dismayed, that man may be removed from the mountain of Esau.

BrentonAnd thy warriors from Thæman shall be dismayed, to the end that man may be cut off from the mount of Esau.

GreekΚαὶ πτοηθήσονται οἱ μαχηταί σου οἱ ἐκ Θαιμὰν, ὅπως ἐξαρθῇ ἄνθρωπος ἐξ ὄρους Ἡσαῦ.

KJVAnd 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.

JPSAnd thy mighty men, O Teman, shall be dismayed, To the end that every one may be cut off from the mount of Esau by slaughter.

ThomsonOn account of the impious slaughter of thy brother Jacob, shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off forever.

BrentonBecause of the slaughter and the sin committed against thy brother Jacob, shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off for ever.

GreekΔιὰ τὴν σφαγὴν, καὶ τὴν ἀσέβειαν ἀδελφοῦ σου Ἰακὼβ, καλύψει σε αἰσχύνη, καὶ ἐξαρθήσῃ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα.

KJVFor thy violence against thy brother Jacob shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off for ever.

JPSFor the violence done to thy brother Jacob shame shall cover thee, And thou shalt be cut off for ever.

ThomsonFrom the day that thou didst become an adversary, whenever the Philistines captivated his army, or strangers entered his gates and cast lots on Jerusalem, thou also wast as one of them.

BrentonFrom the day that thou stoodest in opposition to him, in the days when foreigners were taking captive his forces, and strangers entered into his gates, and cast lots on Jerusalem, thou also wast as one of them.

GreekἈφʼ ἧς ἡμέρας ἀντέστης ἐξεναντίας, ἐν ἡμέραις αἰχμαλωτευόντων ἀλλογενῶν δύναμιν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀλλότριοι εἰσῆλθον εἰς πύλας αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐπὶ Ἱερουσαλὴμ ἔβαλον κλήρους, καὶ σὺ ἦς ὡς εἷς ἐξ αὐτῶν.

KJVIn 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.

JPSIn the day that thou didst stand aloof, In the day that strangers carried away his substance, And foreigners entered into his gates, And cast lots upon Jerusalem, Even thou wast as one of them.

ThomsonBut thou shouldst not have looked on thy brother’s day in the day of strangers, nor rejoiced over the children of Juda in the day of their destruction; nor shouldst thou have vaunted in the day of affliction;

BrentonAnd thou shouldest not have looked on the day of thy brother in the day of strangers; nor shouldest thou have rejoiced against the children of Juda in the day of their destruction; neither shouldest thou have boasted in the day of their affliction.

GreekΚαὶ μὴ ἐπίδῃς ἡμέραν ἀδελφοῦ σου ἐν ἡμέρᾳ ἀλλοτρίων, καὶ μὴ ἐπιχαρῇς ἐπὶ τοὺς υἱοὺς Ἰούδα ἐν ἡμέρᾳ ἀπωλείας αὐτῶν, καὶ μὴ μεγαλοῤῥημονῇ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ θλίψεως,

KJVBut 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.

JPSBut thou shouldest not have gazed on the day of thy brother In the day of his disaster, 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.

Thomsonnor entered people’s gates in the day of their distresses. Thou especially shouldst not have beheld their congregation in the day of their destruction, nor joined to fall on their army in the day of their defeat;

BrentonNeither shouldest thou have gone into the gates of the people in the day of their troubles; nor yet shouldest thou have looked upon their gathering in the day of their destruction, nor shouldest thou have attacked their host in the day of their perishing.

Greekμηδὲ εἰσέλθῃς εἰς πύλας λαῶν ἐν ἡμέρᾳ πόνων αὐτῶν, μηδὲ ἐπίδῃς καὶ σὺ τὴν συναγωγὴν αὐτῶν ἐν ἡμέρᾳ ὀλέθρου αὐτῶν, καὶ μὴ συνεπιθῇ ἐπὶ τὴν δύναμιν αὐτῶν ἐν ἡμέρᾳ ἀπωλείας αὐτῶν,

KJVThou 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;

JPSThou shouldest not have entered into the gate of My people In the day of their calamity; Yea, thou shouldest not have gazed on their affliction In the day of their calamity, Nor have laid hands on their substance In the day of their calamity.

Thomsonnor beset the passes to cut off such of them as were escaping; nor shouldst thou have hemmed in his fugitives, in a calamitous day.

BrentonNeither shouldest thou have stood at the opening of their passages, to destroy utterly those of them that were escaping; neither shouldest thou have shut up his fugitives in the day of affliction.

Greekμηδὲ ἐπιστῇς ἐπὶ τὰς διεκβολὰς αὐτῶν, ἐξολοθρεῦσαι τοὺς ἀνασωζομένους αὐτῶν, μηδὲ συγκλείσῃς τοὺς φεύγοντας αὐτοῦ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ θλίψεως.

KJVNeither 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.

JPSNeither shouldest thou have stood in the crossway, To cut off those of his that escape; Neither shouldest thou have delivered up those of his That did remain in the day of distress.

ThomsonBecause the day of the Lord against all the nations is near, as thou hast done so shall it be done to thee: thy dealings shall be returned on thy head.

BrentonFor the day of the Lord is near upon all the Gentiles: as thou hast done, so shall it be done to thee: thy recompense shall be returned on thine own head.

GreekΔιότι ἐγγὺς ἡμέρα Κυρίου ἐπὶ πάντα τὰ ἔθνη· ὃν τρόπον ἐποίησας, οὕτως ἔσται σοι· τὸ ἀνταπόδομά σου ἀνταποδοθήσεται εἰς κεφαλήν σου.

KJVFor 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.

JPSFor the day of the LORD is near upon all the nations; As thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee; Thy dealing shall return upon thine own head. .

ThomsonFor in the same manner as thou hast drunk on My holy mountain, all the nations shall be drunk up as wine. They shall be drunk up and swallowed down, and be as if they had never been.

BrentonFor as thou hast drunk upon my holy mountain, so shall all the nations drink wine; they shall drink, and go down, and be as if they were not.

GreekΔιότι ὃν τρόπον ἔπιες ἐπὶ τὸ ὄρος τὸ ἅγιόν μου, πίονται πάντα τὰ ἔθνη οἶνον, πίονται καὶ καταβήσονται, καὶ ἔσονται καθὼς οὐχ ὑπάρχοντες.

KJVFor 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.

JPSFor as ye have drunk upon My holy mountain, So shall all the nations drink continually, Yea, they shall drink, and swallow down, And shall be as though they had not been.

ThomsonBut on mount Sion shall be safety and a sanctuary;

BrentonBut on mount Sion there shall be deliverance, and there shall be a sanctuary; and the house of Jacob shall take for an inheritance those that took them for an inheritance.

GreekἙν δὲ τῷ ὄρει Σιὼν ἔσται σωτηρία, καὶ ἔσται ἅγιον· καὶ κατακληρονομήσουσιν ὁ οἶκος Ἰακὼβ τοῦς, κατακληρονομήσαντας αὐτούς.

KJVBut upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.

JPSBut in mount Zion there shall be those that escape, And it shall be holy; And the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.

Thomsonand the house of Jacob shall possess those who possessed them; and the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph, a flame; and the house of Esau shall be as stubble; and upon these they shall kindle and consume them, so that there shall not be a torch-bearer to the house of Esau. For the Lord hath spoken.

BrentonAnd the house of Jacob shall be fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau shall be for stubble; and Israel shall flame forth against them, and shall devour them, and there shall not be a corn-field left to the house of Esau; because the Lord has spoken.

GreekΚαὶ ἔσται ὁ οἶκος Ἰακὼβ πῦρ, ὁ δὲ οἶκος Ἰωσὴφ φλὸξ, ὁ δὲ οἶκος Ἡσαῦ εἰς καλάμην, καὶ ἐκκαυθήσονται εἰς αὐτοὺς, καὶ καταφάγονται αὐτοὺς, καὶ οὐκ ἔσται πυροφόρος τῷ οἴκῳ Ἡσαῦ, διότι Κύριος ἐλάλησε.

KJVAnd 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.

JPSAnd 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.

ThomsonAnd they in the south shall inherit the mountain of Esau; and those in Sephale shall inherit the Philistines; and they shall possess mount Ephraim and the plain of Samaria and Benjamin and Galaaditis.

BrentonAnd they that dwell in the south shall inherit the mount of Esau, and they in the plain the Philistines: and they shall inherit the mount of Ephraim, and the plain of Samaria, and Benjamin, and the land of Galaad.

GreekΚαὶ κατακληρονομήσουσιν οἱ ἐν ναγὲβ τὸ ὄρος τὸ Ἡσαῦ, καὶ οἱ ἐν τῇ σεφηλὰ τοὺς ἀλλοφύλους· καὶ κατακληρονομήσουσι τὸ ὄρος Ἐφραὶμ, καὶ τὸ πεδίον Σαμαρείας, καὶ Βενιαμὶν, καὶ τὴν Γαλααδίτιν.

KJVAnd 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.

JPSAnd they of the South shall possess the mount of Esau, And they of the Lowland the Philistines; And they shall possess the field of Ephraim, And the field of Samaria; And Benjamin shall possess Gilead.

ThomsonAnd this shall be the dominion of the captivity—to the Israelites shall belong the land of the Chananites to Sarepta; and to the captives of Jerusalem, to Ephratha: they shall possess the cities of south [Juda].

BrentonAnd this shall be the domain of the captivity of the children of Israel, the land of the Chananites as far as Sarepta; and the captives of Jerusalem shall inherit as far as Ephratha; they shall inherit the cities of the south.

GreekΚαὶ τῆς μετοικεσίας ἡ ἀρχὴ αὕτη τοῖς υἱοῖς Ἰσραὴλ, γῆ τῶν Χαναναίων ἕως Σαρεπτῶν· καὶ ἡ μετοικεσία Ἱερουσαλὴμ ἕως Ἐφραθά· κληρονομήσουσι τὰς πόλεις τοῦ ναγέβ.

KJVAnd 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.

JPSAnd the captivity of this host of the children of Israel, That are among the Canaanites, even unto Zarephath, And the captivity of Jerusalem, that is in Sepharad, Shall possess the cities of the South.

ThomsonAnd they who have been preserved shall go up from mount Sion to execute vengeance on the mountain of Esau. And the kingdom shall be the Lord’s.

BrentonAnd they that escape shall come up from mount Sion, to take vengeance on the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the Lord's.

GreekΚαὶ ἀναβήσονται ἀνασωζόμενοι ἐξ ὄρους Σιὼν, τοῦ ἐκδικῆσαι τὸ ὄρος Ἡσαῦ, καὶ ἔσται τῷ Κυρίῳ ἡ βασιλεία.

KJVAnd saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’s.

JPSAnd saviours shall come up on mount Zion To judge the mount of Esau; And the kingdom shall be the LORD’S.