Obadiah 1:18 kjv
And 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.
Obadiah 1:18 nkjv
The house of Jacob shall be a fire, And the house of Joseph a flame; But the house of Esau shall be stubble; They shall kindle them and devour them, And no survivor shall remain of the house of Esau," For the LORD has spoken.
Obadiah 1:18 niv
Jacob will be a fire and Joseph a flame; Esau will be stubble, and they will set him on fire and destroy him. There will be no survivors from Esau." The LORD has spoken.
Obadiah 1:18 esv
The house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau stubble; they shall burn them and consume them, and there shall be no survivor for the house of Esau, for the LORD has spoken.
Obadiah 1:18 nlt
The people of Israel will be a raging fire,
and Edom a field of dry stubble.
The descendants of Joseph will be a flame
roaring across the field, devouring everything.
There will be no survivors in Edom.
I, the LORD, have spoken!
Obadiah 1 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Joel 3:19 | Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom a desolate wilderness, for the violence... | Judgment on Edom and Egypt. |
| Amos 1:11-12 | For three transgressions of Edom, and for four... fire upon Teman. | Divine wrath against Edom's cruelty. |
| Isa 34:5-6 | My sword is sated in heaven; behold, it descends for judgment upon Edom... | God's specific judgment on Edom. |
| Jer 49:7-22 | Concerning Edom... I will bring disaster upon Esau in the time of punishment. | Prophecy of Edom's downfall. |
| Eze 25:12-14 | Thus says the Lord God: Because Edom acted revengefully... I will lay my vengeance. | Edom judged for vengeful actions against Judah. |
| Eze 35:1-15 | Son of man, set your face against Mount Seir and prophesy against it... | Detailed prophecy of desolation for Edom (Mt Seir). |
| Mal 1:2-5 | "I have loved Jacob but Esau I have hated. I have laid waste his hills and... Edom." | God's historical disposition and judgment on Edom. |
| Num 24:18-19 | Edom shall be a possession... one from Jacob shall exercise dominion and destroy... | Balaam's prophecy: Israel's future dominance over Edom. |
| Isa 10:17 | The Light of Israel will become a fire, and his Holy One a flame, and it will burn... | God as consuming fire, burning opponents. |
| Deut 4:24 | For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. | God's nature as a consuming fire. |
| Heb 12:29 | For our God is a consuming fire. | God's divine nature and power. |
| Psa 83:9-12 | Deal with them as with Midian... who said, "Let us take possession of the pasturages of God." | Prayer for judgment on enemies, including Edom (implicitly through general enemies). |
| Psa 137:7 | Remember, O Lord, against the Edomites the day of Jerusalem... "Lay it bare!" | Prayer recalling Edom's role in Jerusalem's fall. |
| Zec 12:6 | On that day I will make the clans of Judah like a blazing pot... They shall devour. | Judah as an instrument of destruction against foes. |
| Zeph 2:9 | Moab shall become like Sodom, and the Ammonites like Gomorrah, a land... like Edom. | Future judgment makes hostile nations desolate, like Edom. |
| Isa 47:14 | Behold, they are like stubble; fire will consume them. They cannot deliver themselves... | Wicked consumed by fire like stubble. |
| Nah 1:6 | Who can stand before his indignation? Who can endure the heat of his anger? His wrath is poured out like fire... | God's uncontainable wrath like fire. |
| Joel 2:30-31 | I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke... | Day of the Lord imagery: fire and judgment. |
| Matt 3:12 | His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor... burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. | Judgment against the wicked (chaff/stubble). |
| 2 Thess 1:7-8 | The Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance... | Future judgment upon those who do not know God. |
| Rom 9:13 | "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated." | God's sovereign choice, providing context for judgment on Edom. |
| Oba 1:17 | But on Mount Zion there shall be deliverance, and it shall be holy... | Contrast: Israel's deliverance precedes Edom's destruction. |
Obadiah 1 verses
Obadiah 1 18 Meaning
Obadiah 1:18 declares a comprehensive and final judgment against Edom. The "house of Jacob" (representing Judah) and the "house of Joseph" (representing the northern tribes of Israel, thus all Israel unified) are depicted as fire and flame. Edom, the "house of Esau," is likened to dry stubble. This imagery signifies that Israel, as God's instrument, will utterly consume Edom with overwhelming divine power, resulting in no survivors from Edom. It is a pronouncement of total and decisive retribution for Edom's treachery against Judah.
Obadiah 1 18 Context
Obadiah 1:18 stands as the climatic pronouncement of Edom's fate within the entire book of Obadiah, the shortest book in the Old Testament. The prophecy focuses solely on Edom, highlighting God's severe judgment against them for their pride, violence, and particularly their treachery against Judah during Jerusalem's fall to the Babylonians (around 586 BCE). Edom, descendants of Esau, historically held a deep-seated enmity against Israel, descendants of Jacob. The verse declares a divine retribution where Israel will become the instrument of Edom's complete annihilation, signaling God's justice and the vindication of His covenant people. It transitions from judgment to a hopeful future for God's kingdom.
Obadiah 1 18 Word analysis
- house of Jacob (בֵית יַעֲקֹב, bêt Ya‘aqōv): Refers to Judah and by extension, the southern kingdom, representing the chosen people of God. Spiritually signifies the righteous remnant.
- house of Joseph (בֵית יוֹסֵף, bêt Yôṣēph): Historically refers to the northern kingdom of Israel (Ephraim/Manasseh). Here, it broadens the scope to include all of Israel, indicating unity between the two houses in God's judgment, or perhaps specifically referring to northern tribes regaining their land. Symbolizes the complete re-establishment of the entire Israelite people.
- fire (אֵשׁ, ’ēš): A potent biblical symbol for God's divine presence, purification, and, crucially here, His wrath and consuming judgment. It indicates overwhelming power and destruction.
- flame (לֶהָבָה, lehavah): An intensified form of fire, suggesting an even more powerful, blazing, and irresistible force of destruction. Together, "fire and flame" emphasize absolute consumption.
- house of Esau (בֵית עֵשָׂו, bêt ‘Ēśāv): Refers to the nation of Edom, the descendants of Esau, Jacob's brother. Represents the perpetual enemies of God's people, characterized by pride and hostility.
- stubble (קַשׁ, qaš): Dry, cut stalks or straw, highly combustible and easily consumed by fire. Metaphorically portrays Edom as utterly weak, vulnerable, and completely powerless before the "fire and flame" of Jacob/Joseph (God's instrument).
- they shall burn (וְהָיָהוּ לְבֹעֵרִים, wĕhāyû ləḇō‘ărîm): The action of setting on fire, emphasizing the certainty and totality of the burning.
- and consume them (וַאֲכָלוּם, wa’ăḵālûm): Indicates utter consumption and destruction, leaving nothing remaining.
- there shall not be any survivor (וְלֹא יִהְיֶה שָׂרִיד, wəlō’ yihyeh śārîḏ): Emphasizes the completeness and finality of Edom's destruction. This signifies absolute eradication.
- For the Lord has spoken (כִּי יְהוָה דִּבֵּר, kî Yahweh dibbēr): A strong prophetic affirmation, declaring that this judgment is not merely human wish but the decreed will of God, ensuring its fulfillment and truth.
- house of Jacob as fire, house of Joseph as flame: This group of words emphasizes the united strength and divine authority of Israel as the instrument of God's righteous judgment against Edom. It is a reversal of roles; those who once seemed vulnerable now become the agents of consumption.
- house of Esau as stubble: This highlights Edom's fragility and susceptibility to destruction when confronted by divine judgment, represented by Israel. Their arrogance and strength turn to dust.
Obadiah 1 18 Bonus section
The intense destruction foretold for Edom reflects the lasting biblical theme of divine retribution against those who actively oppress or oppose God's people, specifically stemming from the ancient sibling rivalry of Jacob and Esau, which escalated into national animosity. The total eradication "no survivor" indicates a complete historical disappearance for Edom as a distinct entity, which indeed happened as they faded from historical records after being absorbed or dispersed by later empires. This judgment ultimately underscores the truth that while human empires rise and fall, the covenant promises of God to His people endure, culminating in the establishment of His eternal kingdom as stated in the concluding verses of Obadiah. The phrase "the Lord has spoken" also reiterates the inspired and authoritative nature of this prophetic message, ensuring its ultimate fulfillment regardless of immediate appearances.
Obadiah 1 18 Commentary
Obadiah 1:18 delivers a definitive statement of divine justice, showcasing God's commitment to His covenant people and His righteous judgment against their oppressors. The imagery of Jacob and Joseph as consuming fire and flame against Edom as stubble powerfully illustrates the overwhelming nature of this divine retribution. This is not simply human vengeance but a divinely ordained action where God uses His chosen people as His agents of judgment. The pronouncement of "no survivor" underscores the completeness of Edom's obliteration, reflecting their absolute moral bankruptcy in God's eyes due to their pride and particularly their "violence against your brother Jacob" (Oba 1:10). This prophecy served as a comfort and vindication for Judah in their distress, affirming that God sees, God remembers, and God will act. It points to a broader biblical truth: nations or individuals who set themselves against God's people and His purposes will ultimately face His inevitable, all-consuming judgment. For believers today, it serves as a reminder that God remains sovereign over history and holds all nations accountable for their actions, ultimately bringing about justice.