Obadiah 1 1

Obadiah 1:1 kjv

The vision of Obadiah. Thus saith the Lord GOD concerning Edom; We have heard a rumour from the LORD, and an ambassador is sent among the heathen, Arise ye, and let us rise up against her in battle.

Obadiah 1:1 nkjv

The vision of Obadiah. Thus says the Lord GOD concerning Edom (We have heard a report from the LORD, And a messenger has been sent among the nations, saying, "Arise, and let us rise up against her for battle"):

Obadiah 1:1 niv

The vision of Obadiah. This is what the Sovereign LORD says about Edom? We have heard a message from the LORD: An envoy was sent to the nations to say, "Rise, let us go against her for battle"?

Obadiah 1:1 esv

The vision of Obadiah. Edom Will Be Humbled Thus says the Lord GOD concerning Edom: We have heard a report from the LORD, and a messenger has been sent among the nations: "Rise up! Let us rise against her for battle!"

Obadiah 1:1 nlt

This is the vision that the Sovereign LORD revealed to Obadiah concerning the land of Edom. Edom's Judgment Announced We have heard a message from the LORD
that an ambassador was sent to the nations to say,
"Get ready, everyone!
Let's assemble our armies and attack Edom!"

Obadiah 1 verses

Obadiah 1 1 Meaning

Obadiah 1:1 introduces the book as "The vision of Obadiah," signaling a divinely revealed message from God through His prophet concerning Edom. It states that the message comes directly from the sovereign Lord GOD and announces that a decree, described as a "rumor from the LORD," has been sent among the nations. This divine declaration prompts a call to action, urging nations to prepare for battle against Edom. The verse sets the stage for God's impending judgment upon Edom, orchestrated by divine power and communicated through His appointed messenger.

Obadiah 1 1 Context

Obadiah is the shortest book in the Old Testament, consisting of a single chapter of 21 verses. The core subject of the book is the condemnation of Edom (descendants of Esau) for their cruelty and treacherous actions against Judah (descendants of Jacob), especially during a period of Jerusalem's distress and fall. While the precise historical setting for Obadiah is debated among scholars, a prominent view places it shortly after the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians in 586 BC. During this catastrophic event, Edom, Judah's kin and historical adversary, gloated over their suffering, looted the city, and participated in the capture of escaping Judeans, actions deemed a betrayal of brotherly covenant. Obadiah 1:1 serves as the direct introduction to this divine indictment and the prophecy of Edom's complete downfall.

Obadiah 1 1 Word analysis

• The vision of Obadiah:
  • Vision (Hebrew: חָזוֹן, chazon): Not a mere dream, but a direct, authoritative prophetic revelation or oracle received from God. It implies seeing with the mind's eye a divinely communicated message, emphasizing that this prophecy originates from God Himself and is not of human making. It aligns Obadiah with other prophets who received "visions," such as Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Nahum.
  • Obadiah (Hebrew: עֹבַדְיָה, ʿOḇaḏyâ): Meaning "servant/worshiper of Yahweh" or "Yahweh's servant." This name fittingly introduces a prophet who faithfully delivers God's message.
• Thus says the Lord GOD:
  • Thus says (Hebrew: כֹּה אָמַר, koh amar): A common prophetic formula used to introduce a direct divine declaration, underscoring the authority and infallibility of the message as God's own words. It leaves no doubt that what follows is from a supreme divine source.
  • Lord GOD (Hebrew: אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה, Adonai YHWH or Adonai Elohim here, specifically Adonai Yahweh or Adonai Yahweh Tsebaoth variations): "Adonai" means "my Lord," signifying ownership and mastery. "YHWH" (often transliterated as Yahweh, the tetragrammaton) is God's personal covenant name, revealing His unchanging, self-existent nature. This combined title emphasizes God's sovereign authority as the ruler of all creation, as well as His faithfulness to His covenant people, even as He judges others. It denotes divine authority and power in issuing judgments.
• concerning Edom:
  • concerning (Hebrew: אֶל, el): Indicates the object or direction of the prophecy, clearly pinpointing Edom as the target of this divine decree.
  • Edom (Hebrew: אֱדוֹם, Edom): The nation descended from Esau, Jacob's twin brother (Gen 25:30). The name means "red" and relates to Esau's ruddy complexion and the red lentil stew for which he sold his birthright. Edom inhabited the rugged, mountainous region south and east of the Dead Sea, characterized by formidable rock fortresses like Petra. Throughout biblical history, Edom was a persistent enemy and rival of Israel, marked by centuries of animosity.
• We have heard a rumor from the LORD:
  • We have heard (Hebrew: שְׁמוּעָה שָׁמַעְנוּ, shāmaʿnū shemūʿāh): The first word "we" refers to Obadiah and possibly other prophets or divine messengers who received the same message, or perhaps a prophetic collective consciousness aware of God's coming judgment. The double use of the root shmʿ ("hear," noun "report/rumor") emphasizes the certainty and origin of the information.
  • rumor (Hebrew: שְׁמוּעָה, shemūʿāh): While "rumor" often implies uncertainty in English, in this biblical context, it refers to a definitive, divinely issued decree or report that is already being disseminated. It's not speculative hearsay, but God's established word circulating in the divine councils or through prophetic channels. It's a certainty destined for fulfillment.
• and an envoy has been sent among the nations:
  • envoy (Hebrew: מַלְאָךְ, mal’akh): Meaning "messenger" or "angel." Here, it likely refers to a divine messenger (angel) sent from God or a human agent/prophet tasked with conveying this specific message. This underscores that the "rumor" is not simply overheard, but deliberately proclaimed and spread by God's authority.
  • among the nations (Hebrew: בַּגּוֹיִם, ba-goyim): "Nations" refers to the Gentile peoples surrounding Edom, indicating that God's plan for Edom's judgment will involve other countries. God is sovereign over all nations and will use them as instruments of His will.
• "Rise up! Let us rise against her for battle!"
  • Rise up! (Hebrew: קוּמוּ, qūmū): An imperative verb, a direct command or rousing call to action. It suggests urgency and readiness for engagement. The initial "Rise up!" is the divine command.
  • Let us rise (Hebrew: וְנָקוּמָה, wə-nāqūmāh): This follows the divine command, indicating either a self-motivation of the nations (incited by the divine envoy) or the envoy himself leading the charge (as in, "let us join the divine initiative"). It signals that the nations will actively participate in executing God's judgment.
  • against her (Hebrew: עָלֶיהָ, ʿalēhā): Clearly identifies Edom as the feminine "her," the designated target of the upcoming military action.
  • for battle! (Hebrew: לַמִּלְחָמָה, lammiḷḥāmāh): The ultimate objective of this rising up—open conflict and warfare. This specifies that God's plan involves literal military action by the surrounding nations against Edom.

Obadiah 1 1 Bonus section

The unique nature of Obadiah having only one chapter makes this opening verse particularly significant as it carries the weight of the entire prophetic message. It functions as the comprehensive title and thesis statement for the book, outlining the source (God, via Obadiah), the recipient of the prophecy (Edom), and the imminent event (a divinely orchestrated war leading to judgment). The urgency of the command "Rise up!" implies that the fulfillment of this prophecy is imminent or already in motion within the divine plan. The declaration of God raising up nations to fight each other for His purposes is a recurring theme in prophetic literature, affirming God's ultimate sovereignty over history and political powers, often as an act of both judgment and eventual restoration for His people. This verse subtly contrasts Jacob (Israel), whom God chose, with Esau (Edom), whom He disowned, foreshadowing the deeper theological tension explored in later biblical texts concerning election and covenant.

Obadiah 1 1 Commentary

Obadiah 1:1 is a powerful overture to a concise yet impactful prophecy of divine justice. It establishes immediately that the message is not a human opinion but a direct, authoritative revelation from the sovereign Lord GOD concerning Edom. The opening phrase, "The vision of Obadiah," anchors the prophecy in divine origin, placing it squarely within the tradition of biblical prophecy where God reveals His plans to His chosen messengers. The term "Lord GOD" emphasizes both God's personal covenant name (YHWH) and His supreme rulership (Adonai), signifying that this is a non-negotiable decree from the ultimate authority.

The heart of the verse, "We have heard a rumor from the LORD, and an envoy has been sent among the nations," unveils the divine mechanism of judgment. This "rumor" is not uncertain gossip, but God's fixed resolve already being disseminated in the heavenly courts or among nations through an envoy (either an angelic messenger or a prophetic utterance heard and carried by human agents). This shows God's active involvement in human history, orchestrating events to fulfill His righteous judgment. The nations are not merely spectators; they are divinely incited to execute this judgment, as commanded by the stirring call: "Rise up! Let us rise against her for battle!" This highlights God's ability to manipulate geopolitical forces to achieve His purposes, ensuring that Edom's punishment is divinely decreed and universally acknowledged. This verse effectively introduces the central theme of divine retribution against Edom for their actions against God's people.