Obadiah 1 13

Obadiah 1:13 kjv

Thou 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;

Obadiah 1:13 nkjv

You should not have entered the gate of My people In the day of their calamity. Indeed, you should not have gazed on their affliction In the day of their calamity, Nor laid hands on their substance In the day of their calamity.

Obadiah 1:13 niv

You should not march through the gates of my people in the day of their disaster, nor gloat over them in their calamity in the day of their disaster, nor seize their wealth in the day of their disaster.

Obadiah 1:13 esv

Do not enter the gate of my people in the day of their calamity; do not gloat over his disaster in the day of his calamity; do not loot his wealth in the day of his calamity.

Obadiah 1:13 nlt

You should not have plundered the land of Israel
when they were suffering such calamity.
You should not have gloated over their destruction
when they were suffering such calamity.
You should not have seized their wealth
when they were suffering such calamity.

Obadiah 1 verses

Obadiah 1 13 Meaning

Obadiah 1:13 condemns Edom's actions during the fall of Jerusalem, identifying three grave sins: entering the city, gloating over Judah's catastrophe, and seizing their wealth. This verse highlights Edom's opportunistic and malicious betrayal of a related nation during its time of utter helplessness.

Obadiah 1 13 Context

Obadiah is the shortest book in the Old Testament, a powerful prophetic oracle primarily condemning the nation of Edom. The context of Obadiah 1:13 is the aftermath of the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC. While Jerusalem faced its direst hour, Edom, a kindred nation descended from Esau (Jacob's brother), demonstrated not only a lack of compassion but actively exploited Judah's calamity. Edom's transgressions began with standing aloof (v. 11), progressed to rejoicing in their brother's downfall (v. 12), and climaxed in the active plundering described in verse 13. This historical setting emphasizes the deep betrayal by a "brother" nation, which magnified the sin in God's eyes and warranted severe divine judgment.

Obadiah 1 13 Word analysis

• You should not have entered (לֹא־תָבוֹא - lōʾ-ṯāḇōʾ): A strong prohibitive command. This is not merely an accusation but a direct rebuke, indicating an act that violated a fundamental principle or covenantal expectation. It denotes transgression of boundaries and opportunistic invasion.
• the gate (בַּשַּׁעַר - baššaʿar): The city gate symbolized access, control, and authority. It was the hub of social, economic, and judicial life. Edom's entry into the gate signifies a complete breach of Judah's defense and a usurpation of its territory during a time of weakness.
• of my people (עַמִּי - ʿammī): Emphasizes God's personal identification with Judah. An attack or exploitation against His chosen people is an offense against Him. It underscores the special covenant relationship.
• in the day of their calamity (בְּיוֹם־אֵידָם - bəyōm-ʾêḏām): This phrase is repeated three times within this single verse, highlighting the precise, opportunistic timing of Edom's wickedness. 'אֵידָם' (eidām) signifies profound disaster, ruin, or catastrophe. Its repetition emphasizes the heightened gravity of Edom's actions committed against Judah when they were at their most vulnerable.
• you should not have gloated over (וְלֹא־תֵרֶא - wəloʾ-ṯērêʾ): The Hebrew verb 'ראה' (ra'ah), meaning "to see," combined with the context of "their disaster," conveys the strong sense of looking with malicious satisfaction, reveling in another's suffering, or demonstrating schadenfreude. This highlights a sinful attitude of the heart.
• their disaster (בְּאֵידָם - bəʾêḏām): Refers to the profound ruin and destruction that befell Judah. Edom's sin included taking perverse pleasure in this specific catastrophic event.
• you should not have laid hands on (וְלֹא־תִשְׁלַחְנָה יָד - wəloʾ-ṯišlaḥnāh yāḏ): This is an idiomatic expression, meaning "nor should you send forth a hand." It denotes active seizure, plundering, harming, or violation. This moves beyond passive observation or even malicious delight to direct physical action of robbery and aggression.
• their wealth (בְּחֵילָם - bəḥêlām): 'חֵיל' (cheyl) refers to material strength, riches, substance, or property. Here, it explicitly points to the valuable possessions and assets that Edom seized from the besieged and fleeing Judahites.

Words-group Analysis

• Repetition of "you should not have...": The anaphoric structure with three direct negative commands (a form of tricolon crescendo) intensely highlights the multifaceted nature of Edom's transgression. It's a comprehensive indictment covering invasion, malicious attitude, and active plunder, each at the most heinous time.
• Escalation of Action: The verse shows a clear progression from transgressing physical space ("entered the gate"), to indulging in sinful emotion ("gloated over"), and finally to active material aggression ("laid hands on their wealth"). This demonstrates an increasing depth of depravity and participation in Judah's ruin.

Obadiah 1 13 Bonus section

The specific emphasis on Edom's actions being "in the day of their calamity" transforms the condemnation from simply bad behavior to truly egregious sin, as it violates the most fundamental human instinct for empathy during suffering. The Hebrew term 'אֵידָם' (eidām) carries a connotation of overwhelming, often divinely ordained, catastrophe, further highlighting the impiety of Edom's opportunistic actions. This verse strongly contributes to the biblical theme that the Lord closely observes how His people are treated by others, holding nations accountable for their responses to His purposes and to those He has chosen.

Obadiah 1 13 Commentary

Obadiah 1:13 unveils Edom's profound ethical and spiritual failing: a cruel opportunism against their "brother" Judah during its most devastating hour. Edom did not merely observe Judah's suffering from afar; they crossed crucial lines, first by invading Jerusalem itself (passing through its gates), then by actively indulging in malicious delight (gloating) at the sight of its ruin, and finally by plundering its last remaining wealth. This triplicate indictment, reinforced by the repeated phrase "in the day of their calamity," underscores the extreme lack of compassion and brotherly love. God's judgment against Edom is severe precisely because their actions violated not only general human decency but also the expected conduct of kindred nations, turning shared suffering into a moment of greedy exploitation and hateful satisfaction. The principle derived is that such acts of malicious indifference and exploitation towards the suffering, particularly of God's people, invite divine reckoning.